"Well, what do I do? What do I do?" Chiro muttered under his breath, his thoughts spinning in a whirlwind of indecision. Finally, he recalled a phrase from his grandfather: "If you don't take risks, you don't gain." Drawing inspiration from those words, he decided to leap into the unknown.
The word "Yes!" escaped his lips with firm intonation, though his voice still trembled slightly.
Meloc, pleased to have gained a new adherent to Tertrol's cause, smiled to himself. It's a win-win, he thought. Not only had he secured another ally for his mission, but also someone who might prove useful in the future. It was an investment already beginning to bear fruit.
"Alright, Ribras, open the door," Meloc commanded with an authoritative gesture.
The large red door began to open slowly, emitting a metallic screech that echoed through the underground space like an ancient lament. The sound reverberated off the walls, creating an almost palpable sense of anticipation. Suddenly, a blinding flash escaped from within, flooding the area with an intense light that seemed intent on devouring everything in its path. Instinctively, Meloc and Chiro raised their arms to shield their eyes, dazzled by the brilliance.
"Quickly, put these glasses on," Ribras instructed calmly, handing them special goggles. His voice was serene, as if he were accustomed to such displays. His movements were precise, without a trace of surprise, revealing his experience with whatever lay beyond that door.
Meloc and Chiro hurried to put on the glasses, fumbling clumsily as their eyes still struggled to adjust to the searing brightness. Through the dark lenses of the goggles, the glare dimmed enough to allow them to see what was inside.
Meloc and Chiro quickly donned the special goggles. Through the lenses, they could see what lay within the room: a tank sealed on all sides, like an impenetrable box guarded by machines buzzing with feverish activity. Thick cables snaked from the floor up to the tank, pulsing with energy that seemed to throb like a mechanical heart. On the exterior of the tank, a mixture of energies danced in hypnotic patterns, as if the four elements—earth, water, fire, and air—had been encapsulated and forced to coexist in an eternal cycle. These energies enveloped something inside that glowed with an almost supernatural intensity, like a star trapped in a crystal prison.
Inside the tank, a strange gas moved frantically, sliding back and forth like a living creature trying to escape its confinement. However, every time it touched one of the transparent walls, it was violently repelled back toward the center, as if an invisible force compelled it to remain trapped. The erratic movement of the gas created irregular flashes that illuminated the room with intermittent bursts, like contained lightning.
"Well, well... I almost thought your crazy ideas wouldn't work, Meloc," Ribras remarked with a mocking smile. "But I see we've caught the big fish. And no one can say otherwise."
"What is that?" Chiro asked, utterly awestruck by what he saw before his eyes.
"That, boy, is something unprecedented," Meloc replied with overflowing pride. "They called me mad and useless when I proposed my invention, but Lord Tertrol gave me his support. And look, I did it!" He spread his arms dramatically as he continued: "This tank could contain something no one thought possible: the creator of this world. It's like putting an entire planet in a box… Well, in a tank. No one believed it could be done, but here it is."
"Allow me to introduce you to the great and only Avocios," Meloc announced with enthusiasm, pointing to the tank with reverence.
"Avocios?" Chiro repeated, confused. "And who is that?"
"What do you mean, you don't know who he is? Are you stupid or what?" Ribras interrupted sarcastically, crossing his arms.
"Calm down," Meloc interjected, before Ribras could continue with his biting remarks. "Surely, being young, he doesn't know. Well then, boy, this is the supposed god who created this planet. But remember, there are many planets out there waiting to be conquered. Something Tejod would never do, but for Lord Urugas, anything is possible. Now that we've eliminated one of his greatest enemies, we'll be able to take down the others and seize the vast universe."
"That's incredible, Mr. Meloc. I didn't think there were other planets besides this one," Chiro said with genuine admiration, feeling his scientific curiosity grow exponentially.
"Hmm, I thought you were one of mine, someone who thinks outside the box," Meloc said with a slightly disappointed tone as he looked at Chiro. "But well, what can you do… Not everyone falls from the same tree." He paused before continuing, his voice adopting a more resolved tone. "On the way, I'll make you into a better scientist."
"I'm sorry, sir, and thank you for your support," Chiro replied sincerely, though he still felt a slight weight in his chest from the implicit critique. Then, trying to shift the focus towards something more constructive, he asked: "But tell me, why is it like this? I mean, it looks like some kind of gas."
"Good question, boy," Ribras interjected, looking at Meloc with an expression that seemed to challenge him to explain his invention.
Meloc needed no further encouragement. With an enthusiastic gleam in his eyes, he began to explain: "Well, because it's the only way we could dismantle him. We captured his essence when he was distracted and placed him in this state so he couldn't use his powers against us. The four elements coursing through the tank act as a kind of energy cage, preventing him from escaping." He paused dramatically, savoring the moment. "But it's not just the four elements that contain the prisoner. There's something more: the Avoteno, an ultra-resistant material I specifically developed for this task."
"Avoteno?" Ribras and Chiro asked in unison, both surprised by the term.
"Ah, yes! Good that you asked," Meloc replied, visibly pleased by the interest. "The Avoteno is an alloy I created, fusing a mineral called Luxteno brought from a distant planet—the same vessel that brought Urugas—with a rare mineral from this world called Avoreo. After many failed attempts, I managed to combine both materials and create something entirely new: an ultra-resistant and unbreakable alloy, both inside and out."
Chiro frowned, processing the information. Then, with genuine curiosity, he asked: "And if it's so strong, why didn't they seal Urugas with that?"
Meloc hesitated for a moment, but it was Ribras who quickly responded, almost defensively: "Well... well, because you hadn't thought of that."
"Well, it's not possible," Meloc continued, regaining his composure. "Urugas is much stronger than this being. I tried testing it on him, but he broke through the tank in an instant. It seems being contained in that Luxteno prison made him immune, even with the Avoteno present."
"How can that being be more powerful than the creator himself?" Chiro asked, incredulous.
"I don't know," Meloc admitted, rubbing his chin as he squinted at the tank. "It's as if he distorts reality or something like that. He doesn't even turn into a gaseous state like Avocios."
"Maybe this Urugas doesn't have a physical body and is pure energy. That's why he couldn't be contained," Chiro suggested thoughtfully.
"Wow, kid! You impress me," Ribras exclaimed, genuinely impressed by the young scientist's insight.
"Yes, it could be a possibility," Meloc reflected aloud, staring intently at Avocios' prison. I'll have to investigate further, he thought to himself, mentally filing away that hypothesis for future experiments.
"And why not do the same to Tejod?" Chiro asked with genuine curiosity, leaning slightly forward as if fearing his question might be too bold.
Meloc let out a dry laugh, laced with disdain, his eyes gleaming with a mix of hatred and anticipated satisfaction. "Ah, no, boy. A prison would be the least we could do to that egotistical fool," he replied in a venomous tone, each word sharp as a knife. "Tejod must truly suffer. It's not just about locking him up; it's about making him pay for all the damage he's caused."
Chiro swallowed hard, feeling the atmosphere grow heavier with every word from Meloc. It was clear that the scientist harbored deep resentment toward Tejod, a bitterness that went beyond mere betrayal.
"Imagine this," Meloc continued, gesturing with his hands as if painting a scene in the air. "We won't just defeat him; we'll destroy him slowly, making him feel the weight of every one of his mistakes. We'll humiliate him in front of everyone, showing him that he's no longer the powerful leader he believes himself to be. And when he finally falls… ah, then he'll know what true suffering feels like."
Chiro nodded slowly, though he wasn't sure he shared Meloc's level of hatred toward Tejod. Still, he could feel how Meloc's determination was unshakable, like an implacable force that left no room for mercy.
"I see…" Chiro murmured, more to himself than to Meloc. He realized this mission wasn't just about conquering and controlling—it was personal. Meanwhile, Meloc remained lost in thought, delighting in the plans he had prepared for Tejod.
"Well, back to the topic, for now Avocios sleeps and only moves by inertia," Ribras explained, returning to the main subject. "But then he returns to the center because we've added sedatives to prevent him from using his power against us as a safety measure."
"Perfect, I trust you'll keep taking care of this prisoner, Ribras," Meloc said, adjusting his glasses as he prepared to leave. "It's time for me to return to Tertrol. I'll let you know when the moment comes."
"I hope it's soon," Ribras responded with a slight nod of his head.
Without another word, Meloc and Chiro climbed into the tank and departed, leaving behind the blinding flash and oppressive silence of the underground prison. Their destination: the realm of Hassdalia.