"I can't believe it… Do you think the stealth and vanishing techniques you taught me will work?" Lukeandria whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Of course, my dear. I'm an excellent teacher. Naturally, they'll work," Lume replied calmly, his voice resonating in Lukeandria's mind like a soothing breeze.
She reached the main tank, the largest of the three vehicles. Upon entering, she discovered an impressive laboratory, its table scattered with reports. She quickly began scanning them, aware of the potential importance of the information they contained.
"Golden, can you hear me? I know you're out there listening," Lukeandria said, closing her eyes to focus.
"Here I am. What do you need?" Golden responded telepathically, his mental voice firm but distant.
"You can record everything from my memory—these documents—so you can analyze them later and figure out what they mean," Lukeandria explained as she carefully flipped through each page.
"Got it," Golden replied, beginning to access what Lukeandria's mind transmitted. Together, they reviewed every folder and document they found, until a noise alerted them.
"Well, well… This is pure gold," Meloc muttered with enthusiasm, entering the lab. "That Treelion they planted was brilliant, and this soil it left behind was the component I needed. It seems it fed on all this energy. If I can replicate it, Lord Tertrol will be thrilled with this discovery."
Meloc picked up a conch communicator and activated it. "Master, we'll soon have what we need for the secret weapon," he announced proudly.
"Well done, very well, my dear scientist Meloc," Tertrol's voice responded from the conch, laced with satisfaction.
"Thank you, Master," Meloc replied, bowing his head slightly.
"Not like those incompetent Spelectrums. That's what I get for playing with those useless spirits," Tertrol growled, clearly irritated.
"I told you, Master. Those things are useless entities, which is why they were defeated and returned to the ritual collar," Meloc added disdainfully.
"Yes, I know. You don't need to remind me. Besides, remember that I pulled you out of that state," Tertrol reminded him, his tone wavering between warning and pride.
"I know, Master. All because of that wretched Prince Paltio. If I find him, I'll kill him," Meloc hissed, barely containing his rage.
"You can't do anything yet, Meloc," Tertrol interrupted coldly. "According to my sources, wherever he goes, he leaves chaos and destruction. The other Shadow leaders have already felt the damage he's caused. Only the final piece of the scepter remains. Once we have that, we'll ask Tejod to hand it over as a gift, and then we'll do whatever we want with that meddling prince."
"Excellent, Master," Meloc replied, a malicious laugh echoing alongside Tertrol's at the other end of the line.
"Good, Meloc. Hurry up with this. With the ultimate weapon, we'll even be able to defeat that fool Tejod," Tertrol ordered before hanging up.
"Yes, my lord," Meloc responded, stowing the conch away.
"And, Meloc… Make sure none of the other faction leaders see you. Is that clear?" Tertrol warned before ending the communication.
"Yes, perfectly clear, Master," Meloc confirmed, adjusting his gloves as he headed toward a group of scientists.
Together, they entered a laboratory inside the colossal tank, which resembled an enormous station—almost like a house on the inside. It vaguely reminded Lukeandria of Professor Kuang's Ciertarias, though with one notable difference: from the outside, the vehicle was equipped with heavy weaponry, including a cannon and what appeared to be a machine gun, ready for combat.
"I knew it… That cursed Tertrol is plotting against Tejod," Lukeandria murmured to Lume from her hiding spot, her voice tinged with both concern and cunning. "Well, that might work in our favor."
"Alright, we'd better leave," Lukeandria said finally, slipping silently out of the laboratory. As she reached what seemed to be a narrow opening, she noticed the tank beginning to move. Without a second thought, she sprinted with all her strength and, upon exiting, grabbed onto a branch of a tree that looked as if it might collapse under her weight.
Lukeandria returned to the others after ensuring the massive tanks had moved far enough away and there was no immediate danger. She recounted everything she had heard and seen inside the lab.
Everyone fell into deep thoughts at the revelation. What was this secret weapon they were building? Why had they taken all the soil where the Treelion had been planted?
"I don't know," Mok reflected, stroking his chin. "But surely some of the power Krasper absorbed must have remained embedded in the ground, creating a source of energy. That's my theory."
"Yes, it could be true," Paltio added, though his tone betrayed frustration. "But what can we do? We know nothing about that weapon, and without being able to read their minds, we're flying blind."
"The best we can do for now, Master Paltio, is head for the final piece of the scepter and train," Mok suggested calmly. "Remember, we only have two more days to reach it if we take this route."
"How do you know that, Mok?" Paltio asked, surprised.
"Well, because I told him. That's why we came this way," Lucca replied proudly, adjusting his helmet.
"Yes, but now that I think about it, I remember this place. After all, this was the path I took when I left the realm where I once lived," Mok explained, a touch of nostalgia in his voice.
"So you're a citizen of Reedalia… Interesting," Lucca commented, looking at him curiously.
"Yes, I once was. But now I belong to Avocadalia," the butler responded, his voice carrying a mixture of sadness and fondness, as if recalling a past he could no longer reclaim.
Paltio observed Mok with some surprise, seeing him in this light. It was clear the butler harbored deep, painful memories.
"Right, it's best you all return to training," Mok said finally, steering the conversation toward practical matters.
"Yes, alright," Paltio replied, nodding with determination.
Paltio and Lukeandria returned to their respective planes of training, while Geki, the small purple gecko, accompanied Mok to teach him defensive techniques.
"Alright, Mr. Butler, you should go too," Geki said sweetly. "If I'm going to assist you, you need to understand how my support powers work in combat."
At first, Mok hesitated. Leaving Paltio and the others unprotected could be dangerous. However, Lucca intervened: "Don't worry, I'll take care of them. Of course, you'll be alone on the journey until you reach Reedalia, but I don't think that will be a problem."
Finally, everyone prepared to train. Everyone except Lucca, who volunteered to maneuver the carriage. Their destination remained Reedalia, and time was running short.
"Eight days remain until Tejod's deadline ends," Lucca thought as he guided the carriage under the light of the moon, determination gleaming in his eyes.