Ely: "Cap, you expect us to defend ourselves with these?"
Kylock: "If you want to."
The living skeletons attacked them.
The battle was easy for Kylock. Using his speed, he struck the skeletons with his tactical staff, tearing them apart. Meanwhile, Ryan and Ely used the small electrical devices Kylock had given them. With short bursts of electricity, they tore the creatures into pieces. Even though they were hit several times, they endured the attacks. They were prepared to lose anything—but not their lives.
The fight continued for a while. Ryan and Ely began to grow tired, but the skeletons kept coming. They moved closer and closer.
Ryan: "When is this going to stop?"
Kylock: "It seems the Prolectile's energy is giving them mechanical life force."
Ely: "Like powering up a robot?"
Kylock: "Exactly. That's why they keep repairing themselves."
Ryan: "Then what do we do?"
Kylock: "I need you two to stall them."
Ely: "Stall them?" (confused)
Kylock: "Yes. I need more time to find the source of the Prolectile's energy."
Ryan: "Is there no better idea than this?"
Kylock: "If you two get close to the radioactive core, you'll die."
Ely: "Then what are you waiting for, Cap? Go!"
Immediately, Kylock dashed away at incredible speed, leaving the cave while Ryan and Ely remained behind to hold off the skeletons.
Ryan and Ely stood back-to-back as the living skeletons moved closer.
Ryan: "I have an idea."
Ely: "Spit it out."
Ryan: "We have to break this device into two pieces. Once it becomes overloaded, it will explode. We'll throw the pieces into the middle of those things."
Ely: "Why? We'll get blasted too!"
Ryan: "I know. But the moment it becomes unstable, we'll throw it at them before it explodes."
Ely: "Yeah... they'll get busted."
Ryan: "Bingo."
Ely: "Are you sure this will work?"
Ryan: "The risk is worth taking if we want to get out of here alive."
Ely: "Fair enough."
Ryan: "On my count. One... two... three... now!"
The two broke the electrical device into two pieces and threw them into the middle of the advancing skeletons.
A powerful electrical explosion erupted, instantly tearing the skeletons apart. The cave echoed with the blast as fragments scattered across the ground.
Ryan looked around carefully.
Ryan: "I think we did it."
Ely: "I think so too."
The two smiled and hugged each other in relief.
Suddenly, they noticed the shattered skeletons beginning to pull themselves back together.
Ely: "What the hell?!"
Ryan: "Something told me this couldn't end so easily."
The broken bones slowly reassembled themselves, rising once again.
Fortunately, Kylock had found what he was looking for.
He forcefully pulled a brown crystal-like stone from beneath the ground and crushed it into pieces.
Instantly, the skeletons collapsed and stopped moving.
Ely: "Great!" (relieved) "And something told me we couldn't die here."
Ryan gave him a long stare.
Kylock rushed back to them at incredible speed.
Kylock: "Are you two okay?"
Ryan: "Yeah. Thanks to you."
Kylock: "I found what we were looking for."
He led them to where he had found the brown stone. He widened the opening he had created and reached his bluish hand into the light.
He pulled out the same crystal Ryan had seen at Alfred's place.
Ryan: "Fantastic."
His eyes widened as the crystal glowed brightly.
Ryan: "It's the same thing."
Kylock: "I hope this works."
Ely: "No... it has to."
He gave the crystal a determined look.
Ryan: "Seems like it's time to go home after a long day."
Kylock: "Yes. Initiate teleportation sequence."
He tapped the crystal, and immediately they were teleported out of the cave.
Alvarox smiled.
---
The four stood around the Collapser, a prism-like device, while the Prolectile was connected to its top. Around them stretched a vast landscape covered with bluish particles that resembled sand. The area looked like a barren desert.
Hazel (through the communicator): "It's better if you guys put on the protective hoods."
The four pressed the switches on their suits, and protective hoods and face masks automatically formed around them.
Ely: "Great."
Hazel: "Here goes nothing, guys."
Kylock: "Be ready for anything."
Hazel pressed the power button, her heart beating faster than normal. The moment she did, a red force field surrounded them, and a bluish pattern spread across the ground.
The Prolectile released a powerful blast that shot high into the skies of Marthadon.
Something was wrong.
The skies of Marthadon began reacting abnormally, as though they were embracing the energy of the blast. Darkness started spreading across the horizon, slowly consuming the light.
This was when Hazel knew something was wrong.
Ely: "Is this supposed to be happening?" (with a fearful voice)
Kylock: "What's wrong?"
Hazel: "Someone is tampering with the Prolectile. It is spreading dark energy."
Alicia: "It's ripping the atmosphere apart!"
Immediately, Alvarox appeared at the site, causing everything to change.
Kylock: "Seems like we know who we're dealing with."
Alvarox broke through the force field and attacked the Mart Force. The force of his attack created a portal that swallowed them all.
Alvarox: "Thanks, Mart Force."
Immediately, Kylock appeared.
Alvarox was already increasing the power of the Prolectile. The two locked eyes.
Alvarox: "The foe isn't your problem now, Captain. Your real problem is where your team is."
Immediately afterward, he teleported away. Everything at the site stopped. The Prolectile and the Collapser were gone, and so was the overwhelming darkness.
That was when it dawned on Kylock and Hazel.
It had all been a trap.
Alvarox had beaten them to the game.
Chapter 22 is out now! ⚔️🔥
Thank you so much for reading and supporting The Mart Force: Heirs of Prophecy. Your comments, likes, and shares mean a lot to me.
The next chapter drops on Thursday. Don't miss it—the story is only getting bigger.
Love you all! ❤️ Stay safe, and see you on Thursday.