Inside the hidden base, the sound of controlled explosions echoed softly as Ryan and Juliet continued their training.
Meanwhile, Isobel stood near the control panel, watching Damian with interest.
"Wow, Damian," she said honestly, "you understood the radar system almost instantly."
Damian rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. "Ah—haha. Not really. I just figured it out."
Nahru leaned over his shoulder dramatically. "Teach me too! I'm amazing as well!"
Damian smirked. "I can smell jealousy."
"I'm not jealous!" Nahru protested, sticking his tongue out. "Blahhh."
Before the argument could continue, Isobel stiffened. "Damian—look."
He turned to the screen.
A faint signal pulsed on the radar.
"…That has to be it," Damian muttered. "A scroll."
Isobel nodded. "Power scrolls can only be detected when they begin losing energy. It happens rarely—and only briefly. No tracker, no matter how advanced, can detect more than one at a time."
She turned sharply. "Nahru. Go get Ryan and Juliet."
"Okie dokie!"
Moments later, everyone gathered.
"We've located a scroll," Isobel announced.
Juliet leaned forward. "Where?"
"In an African forest."
Ryan nodded without hesitation. "Alright. Let's move."
Nahru jumped excitedly. "Yay! Our first mission!"
Juliet pulled out her phone. "I should message my mom."
Damian sighed. "Same here."
He called his grandmother, explaining everything calmly. She assured him she'd handle his mother.
Ryan watched silently.
After a moment, he took a phone from the table. "Give me some time. I need to inform my guardians."
He knew the truth.
If he left without telling them— There would be no returning home.
Once preparations were complete, Isobel spoke again. "Everyone ready? Then let's go."
Nahru waved them closer. "Come near me."
Juliet blinked. "Why?"
Nahru grinned proudly. "Because I can teleport."
Isobel's eyes widened. "…Impressive."
"Ahem," Nahru said smugly. "Thank you, thank you."
A white dimensional gate opened beneath them, forming a glowing path. In seconds, the world shifted—
They emerged inside a vast African forest.
Juliet gasped. "That was fast!"
Ryan watched Nahru closely. What else can you do? he wondered.
Damian checked the tracker. "…It's close."
They entered a clearing.
At its center stood a twisted, ancient tree—its roots glowing faintly with strange light.
Isobel's expression hardened. "That's it. The scroll."
"Let's take it and leave," she added quickly. "Before Shadow arrives."
Ryan's eyes narrowed. "…Someone's coming."
Juliet pointed. "Over there!"
A figure descended from above.
Red skin. Sharp grin. Thick tentacles writhing behind him.
"Oh?" the creature chuckled. "Shadow sends me on an errand, and I find competition?" His gaze swept over them. "Interesting… You look strong. Except one of you."
Damian scoffed. "Oh, come on."
Nahru laughed nervously. He look towards Damian try to tell him that something bad is going to happen. He shouldn't be here
Juliet stepped forward. "That scroll is ours."
"Shut up," the creature snapped. "If I return empty-handed, Shadow will kill me."
Ryan smirked coldly. "Forget Shadow. You're not leaving this place."
The creature attacked instantly.
Tentacles slammed into the ground, tearing massive craters open.
Everyone scattered.
Nahru instinctively retreated, glancing at Damian for guidance. Damian noticed—and tensed.
One tentacle shot straight toward Ryan.
Ryan caught it barehanded.
Ice spread instantly, freezing it solid.
"Oh?" the creature hissed. "Ice powers?"
Ryan's voice was calm. "Close enough."
He vanished.
Air rippled behind the creature.
"Wait—now you're air?!"
Flames erupted.
The creature screamed as fire blasted him forward—straight into Isobel's attack. Her stone-covered leg struck his spine, sending him crashing down.
Juliet moved next, grabbing him mid-fall and slamming him into the ground with a powerful punch.
He landed hard—right in front of Nahru.
Nahru face filled with worries
He tries to run away but
The creature looked up slowly.
"…I can sense you," he whispered. "A white-line dimensional guardian…?"
Nahru froze. He realizes it's to late. Damian covered his face .
"What are you doing here," the creature continued, voice trembling, "you murderer…?"
Nahru's face drained of color.
Memories flooded back.
Everyone stiffened. " MURDERER"
Nahru closed his eyes.
"…It's okay," he said quietly. "This had to happen."
He looked up at them.
"They deserve to know who I really am."
The forest fell silent.
The scroll pulsed behind them.
And the truth— Was finally about to surface.