"Move fast!" Kael yelled, grabbing Lina's arm. "Dark Crow's reinforcements will be here in an hour—maybe less."
Morrigan stepped forward, her eyes sharp. "The secret exit's through that alcove. I helped build it—hidden behind the corruption veins." She sliced at the wall with her sword, and a stone door rumbled open, revealing a narrow tunnel.
"Go!" Agus urged, pushing Lila ahead. "Nam, get your mentor. Gareth, cover the rear."
Nam helped her mentor—Mara—stand, supporting her wobbly steps. "Can you walk?"
Mara nodded, her voice hoarse. "Slowly. But I know these tunnels—Council used them to move corruption ore."
The group filed into the tunnel—Morrigan first, leading the way, then Lina and Tan Kai, Lila and Tong, Nam and Mara, Gareth, Agus, Kael, and Bright last, clutching his mango sack.
The tunnel was darker than the last, the air thick with the stench of burnt corruption. Lila's red stone glowed soft, casting faint orange light.
"Watch the walls," Morrigan warned. "Council coated them with sticky corruption—touches skin, it latches on."
Bright yelped, jumping back from a glistening black patch. "Gross! Mangoes don't like corruption. Good thing I'm holding 'em tight." He smudged mango juice on the tunnel wall. "Mango trail—so we don't get lost. Genius, right?"
He pulled a mango from his sack, holding it out like a shield. "Mango protection spell—activate!"
Tan Kai laughed, but he kept an eye on the walls. "Stick to the center. Don't touch anything."
Lina's hand brushed his, her palm warm with Lotus Heart light. "You okay? That fall looked bad."
"I'm fine," he said, squeezing her hand. "Thanks to you."
The tunnel curved, and distant footsteps echoed ahead. Kael froze. "Residual guards. Left to patrol the exit."
Morrigan drew her sword. "Three of them. Corrupted, but weak—no armor. I'll take the first."
Gareth stepped up, his blade glinting. "I'll take the second. For my village."
Bright grinned, pulling a mango out. "I've got the third. Mango juice attack—2.0!"
They crept forward, the footsteps growing louder. Around the bend, three guards stood, leaning against the wall, their eyes glowing black.
Morrigan lunged first, her sword slicing through the air. The guard didn't stand a chance—she knocked him out with a punch to the jaw.
Gareth charged, tackling the second guard. They rolled on the ground, and Gareth slammed his head into the stone.
Bright snuck up behind the third, squeezing his mango hard. Juice sprayed into the guard's eyes. He yelled, rubbing his face, and Bright kicked his legs out from under him.
"Boom! Mango power strikes again!" Bright cheered.
"Quiet!" Kael hissed. "Reinforcements might hear."
They kept moving, the tunnel widening as they neared the exit. Mara stumbled, pointing to a patch of slime on the ground. "Corruption黏液 trap. Steps on it, and it pulls you down—feeds you to the ore below."
Bright frowned, holding up a mango core. "Test subject number one." He tossed it onto the slime. It sank instantly, vanishing with a squelch.
"Yikes," he said. "Good thing I didn't step there. Mangoes would've been ruined."
Morrigan knelt, studying the trap. "There's a path—see the dry stones? Follow them. I helped lay these—they're immune to the slime."
She led the way, stepping carefully on the stones. One by one, they followed—Tong carrying Lila over the widest gap, Agus helping Mara.
Bright hesitated, then jumped onto a stone. He wobbled, arms flailing, and Tan Kai grabbed his shirt.
"Steady!" Tan Kai laughed. "Your mangoes are counting on you."
They reached the exit—metal bars rusted shut. Kael pulled a small pick from his pocket. "Give me two minutes."
Mara leaned against the wall, catching her breath. "Dark Crow's plan—he wants to use the Lotus Heart to awaken the Abyss Ore. Once it's awake, a corruption wave will sweep the valleys—turning every living thing into his slaves. By sundown, it'll be irreversible."
Nam's jaw tightened. "Why? What does he gain?"
"Power," Morrigan said, her voice cold. "The ore feeds on corruption—controls it. He wants to be a god."
Kael grunted, prying the bars open. "Done. Let's go—before we're trapped."
They squeezed through the bars, stepping into the cool mountain air. The Eastern Forge loomed behind them, smokestacks still belching faint purple corruption.
"Over there," Gareth said, pointing to a cluster of pine trees. "We can hide there till dawn."
They hiked through the snow, boots crunching. Bright's mango sack rustled, and he pulled out a fruit, peeling it. "Last three. Gotta make 'em count."
He split one into pieces, passing them around. Lina took a bite, smiling. "Sweet. Just like the ones we grew in the valley."
Mara took a piece, her eyes softening. "I haven't tasted fruit in years. Council only feeds us corruption sludge."
Nam squeezed her hand. "We'll get you real food soon. Fresh bread, berries—whatever you want."
By midnight, they reached the pine trees. Tong and Gareth built a small fire, using dry branches. Yara added a pinch of fire herb, making the flames glow warm orange.
They huddled around the fire, passing around the remaining mangoes. Bright held onto the last one, staring at it like a treasure.
"Save it for morning," Lina said, smiling. "We'll need the energy."
Bright nodded, tucking it back into his sack. "Fine. But only because you're the Lotus Heart hero."
Morrigan sat apart from the group, staring at the fire. Tan Kai walked over, sitting beside her. "You did good back there. Saving Lina from Dark Crow."
She sighed, her hands trembling. "It's the least I can do. I helped him build that Forge. Helped him hurt spirits. Hurt people."
"You're making up for it now," Tan Kai said.
Morrigan nodded, looking at Lina and Lila. "Dark Crow's base—Western Peaks. It's surrounded by a corruption ward. Touch it without protection, and it burns through skin. It also distorts vision—shows you your worst fears. Only two things can break it: the Lotus Heart… or a shard of the Abyss Ore itself."
Kael joined them, his face serious. "I have a shard. Stashed it when I left the Council. Thought it might be useful someday." He pulled a small black stone from his pocket—oozing faint corruption, but dulled by a lotus leaf wrapping.
"Perfect," Tan Kai said. "With the Heart and the shard, we can get through the ward."
Mara leaned in, her voice low. "But be careful. Dark Crow's got a weapon—forged from Abyss Ore. It can absorb lotus light. He's calling it the Corruption Scepter. Last I heard, he's already testing it on captured spirits."
Lina's chest glowed faintly. "The Heart can counter it. I can feel it."
Agus stood, stretching. "We'll rest till dawn. Then head west—slow and steady. Avoid Council patrols."
Bright yawned, curling up next to Tong. "Wake me if mangoes appear. Or if Council attacks. Whichever comes first."
Everyone laughed, quiet and tired. The fire crackled, and the wind howled through the pines.
Lila snuggled up to Lina, her red stone glowing dim in her hand. "Mom, will we win?"
Lina kissed her forehead, wrapping an arm around her. "We will. Because we're together. And we've got mangoes."
Bright perked up. "Hey! I heard that!"
Lina smiled, looking at Tan Kai. He smiled back, the Lotus Spear resting beside him. The token in his pocket pulsed, warm and steady.
As the night wore on, the fire died down to embers. Gareth kept watch, his eyes sharp for danger. Nam and Mara whispered together, sharing stories of before the Council. Morrigan polished her sword, her face determined.
Tan Kai couldn't sleep. He sat by the embers, staring at the stars. Lina joined him, sitting close.
"Are you nervous?" she asked.
He nodded. "Dark Crow's powerful. The Scepter… what if we can't stop it?"
Lina placed her hand on his chest, her Lotus Heart light warming him. "We have each other. And the team. And Kael's shard. We'll find a way."
She pulled out her diary, flipping to a blank page. "I want to write down what we've done. For when this is over. For Lila."
Tan Kai watched her write, her hand steady. The firelight flickered on her face, and he felt a surge of hope.
At dawn, they packed up. The snow had stopped, and the sun peeked over the mountains—low in the sky, reminding them of sundown's deadline. Bright pulled out his last mango, grinning.
"Breakfast of champions!" He took a bite, juice dripping down his chin. "Who wants the last bite?"
Lila raised her hand, and Bright fed her a piece. "Yum! Better than berries."
Morrigan held out her hand, and Bright hesitated—then gave her the final bite. "You earned it. For not being evil anymore."
Morrigan smiled, a real smile. "Thank you. That's the best compliment I've had in years."
They set off, heading west. The path was clearer now, winding through valleys and over small hills. Lila's red stone glowed faint, warning of distant corruption. Bright kept ducking into bushes, searching for fruit.
"Wild mango? No. Sour berry? Gross. Dead bush? Useless." He grumbled, shoving a handful of dry berries into his mouth. "These are a crime against snacks. I'm saving one for victory—call it a 'fake mango.'"
By midday, they reached a river—frozen over, but thin in spots. Kael tested the ice with his boot. "Safe here. But stick to the center—thin ice near the banks."
Bright stepped onto the ice, sliding a little. "Whoa! Ice skating! Mango-powered skating!"
Tong laughed, grabbing his arm to keep him from falling. "Slow down. We don't need you falling into the river."
Halfway across, Lila's stone blazed bright. "Corruption! Close!"
They spun around. Three Council guards stood on the riverbank, their armor glinting. Behind them, a larger group—at least ten, led by a man with a crow tattoo on his neck.
"Dark Crow's lieutenants," Morrigan hissed. "They're tracking us with the crushed tracker stone."
Agus drew his sword. "Plan. Tan Kai, Lina—take the lieutenants. Yara, Nam—fire traps. Gareth, Tong—hold the grunts. Kael, Mara—protect Lila. Morrigan—with me."
Bright grinned, pulling out the "fake mango" berry and wrapping it in a fire trap. "Mango stand-in bomb! Let's go!"
The guards charged, swords drawn. Tan Kai and Lina ran forward, their lights merging—green and gold, burning through corruption.
Lila's red stone glowed, pushing back the nearest guard. "Stay away!"
Mara pulled a small knife from her pocket, but her hand shook—flashbacks of being corrupted flashing in her eyes. "I can't… I'm scared."
Nam grabbed her wrist, squeezing tight. "You're not alone. For our villages!"
Mara nodded, jaw tightening. She lunged, stabbing a guard's knee. "For my village!"
Bright hurled his berry bomb, and it exploded—berry juice and fire blinding the guards. "Boom! Fake mango power!" He tackled a guard, using his empty sack as a shield.
Morrigan sliced through a guard's sword, her eyes blazing. "This is for the spirits you corrupted!"
Nam and Yara worked together, tossing fire traps and golden lotus petals—burning corruption, weakening the guards.
The fight was over in minutes. The guards fled, or fell unconscious. The lieutenant with the crow tattoo lay on the ice, groaning.
Agus knelt beside him, gripping his collar. "Where's Dark Crow? What's he planning?"
The man sneered. "He's already at the ore chamber. By sundown, the wave will hit. You'll all be his slaves—if you're lucky."
Kael kicked him, knocking him out. "We need to run. The sun's sinking fast."
They crossed the river, leaving the guards behind. The sun hung low in the west, painting the sky pink—sundown was hours away.
Bright patted his empty sack, sighing. "Official mango shortage. Crisis level: extreme. But this fake mango berry? It's growing on me."
Lina laughed, pulling a handful of dried berries from her pack. "Here. Stock up on 'fake mangoes.'"
As they walked, the landscape changed—mountains growing taller, pine trees thicker. Lila's red stone glowed brighter, pulsing with each step. The air turned cold, and a faint purple glow flickered ahead.
"We're getting close," she said.
Morrigan nodded. "The ward's energy. Feel that burn? It's trying to seep into your skin. And the hum—those are the spirits trapped inside."
Kael pulled out his shard, the lotus leaf wrapping glowing faint. "Plan: Gareth and Tong, draw the perimeter guards. Morrigan and I, take the shard to the ward's core. Tan Kai and Lina, use the Heart to amplify the shard's power—break the ward. Nam, Mara, Lila—stay back, protect the rear. And watch for the Scepter."
Tan Kai gripped the Lotus Spear, its blade glowing green. "Let's move. Before the sun sets."
They picked up the pace, hiking through the thick pines. The purple glow grew brighter, the hum louder, the burn on their skin sharper.
By late afternoon, they rounded a bend. And there it was—the Western Peaks. A range of black mountains, topped with snow, surrounded by a roiling purple barrier—the corruption ward. At the center, a dark castle—Dark Crow's base, smoke curling from its towers.
Bright froze. "Whoa. No mango trees. Rude. But hey—we've got fake mangoes. And each other."
Lina's chest glowed brighter, the Lotus Heart responding to the ward. "We're here. It's time."
Morrigan drew her sword, her voice firm. "Let's end this. For the spirits. For the villages. For everyone Dark Crow hurt."
Tan Kai looked at his friends—tired, but determined. Bright, grinning despite his empty sack. Lila, holding her red stone high. Nam and Mara, back-to-back. Gareth, Tong, Agus, Kael, Yara—all ready.
The sun dipped lower. The ward hummed louder.
The fight to break the ward, stop the Abyss Ore, and defeat Dark Crow was about to begin.
And even without real mangoes (for now), they were ready.
Because they were together.
And together, they were unstoppable.