TRENCHES
CHAPTER 104 — CHERUBIUMS STRIKE
The mountains were silent.
Too silent.
Moro and his squad had spent the night hidden between the enormous cliffs of northern Basira. Their temporary camp was surrounded by rocks, trees and narrow passages that made it difficult for anyone to approach unnoticed.
Or so they thought.
Morning arrived slowly.
A pale light appeared beyond the mountains.
Kaya stood beside a small stream, gathering water into her hands.
Steven was sitting on a rock, staring toward the sky.
Herbet was checking the damaged equipment from their escape.
Kiro remained near the entrance of the mountain passage, his Nin sword resting against his shoulder.
Yaya was still recovering.
And Moro...
Moro sat quietly beneath a tree.
His injuries from the battle with Scaro had not completely healed.
He looked exhausted.
But he was awake.
Kaya glanced toward him.
"You should still be resting."
Moro gave a faint smile.
"We don't have time."
Kiro immediately looked over.
"That's exactly what worries me."
Moro stood.
"We can't stay here forever."
Steven suddenly raised his head.
"Wait."
Everyone stopped.
"What?" Herbet asked.
Steven stared at the sky.
"The temperature changed."
Kaya looked around.
"What do you mean?"
Steven's eyes narrowed.
"Ice doesn't lie."
A strange shimmer appeared between the mountains.
Then another.
Then another.
Seven points of light.
Kiro immediately drew his sword.
"Everyone!"
Moro's expression changed.
"The Cherubiums."
The sky exploded with light.
BOOM!
Seven figures descended from above.
Their armor gleamed brilliantly.
The Cherubiums had arrived.
Their leader looked down at Moro.
"Moro Kim Jama."
Moro clenched his fists.
"You people really don't know when to quit."
The Cherubium leader raised one hand.
"We were ordered to bring you back."
Moro stepped forward.
"Then come and try."
The leader smiled.
"Gladly."
---
THE AMBUSH
The Cherubiums vanished.
Not moved.
Not jumped.
Vanished.
Kiro's eyes widened.
"Behind us!"
A flash appeared.
Kiro swung his sword.
CLANG!
The Cherubium's light blade collided with his Nin sword.
Another Cherubium appeared beside Kaya.
Kaya immediately summoned a wall of water.
WHOOSH!
The attack passed directly through it.
Kaya's eyes widened.
"They're intangible!"
The Cherubium emerged from the water and struck.
Kaya barely moved aside.
Steven unleashed a massive wave of ice.
"FREEZE!"
The entire mountain path became covered in ice.
But the Cherubiums simply became flashes of light and passed through it.
Steven stared.
"Again?"
One appeared directly behind him.
Herbet fired several energy devices.
"Take this!"
The projectiles exploded around the Cherubium.
But the warrior phased through the explosions.
Herbet froze.
"That's not fair!"
Yaya suddenly appeared.
BOOM!
Her Cheetah Aura erupted around her.
She accelerated.
Her fist collided with one of the Cherubiums.
For the first time, one of them was pushed backward.
Yaya grinned.
"Got you!"
But the Cherubium turned into light.
Yaya's eyes widened.
"What—?"
A flash appeared behind her.
She was struck and thrown across the ground.
"Moro!"
Kaya rushed toward her.
Moro stepped forward.
His Aura erupted.
"Enough."
The ground shook.
Moro launched himself toward the Cherubiums.
His fist connected with one of them.
For an instant, it looked like he had succeeded.
Then the Cherubium became intangible.
Moro's fist passed through.
A second Cherubium struck him from the side.
Moro stumbled.
A third appeared above him.
A fourth below.
The attacks came from every direction.
Moro blocked one.
Dodged another.
Then another.
But their speed was overwhelming.
"They're too fast!" Kiro shouted.
Moro gritted his teeth.
He activated more of his power.
His Aura expanded.
"COME ON!"
He unleashed a powerful energy blast.
The mountain path shook.
Dust filled the air.
For a moment, everything disappeared.
Then—
Seven glowing silhouettes emerged from the dust.
Untouched.
Moro's expression fell.
"No..."
The Cherubium leader raised his hand.
"You possess tremendous potential, Moro Kim Jama."
He looked at the others.
"But your strength is not enough."
---
THE SQUAD'S LAST STAND
Kaya unleashed everything she had.
Water spiraled around her body.
Her Aura intensified.
"You're not taking him!"
A massive wave rose behind her.
Steven joined her.
"I'll freeze the attack!"
The water transformed into an enormous frozen barrier.
Kiro rushed forward.
Yaya forced herself back onto her feet.
Her Cheetah Aura returned.
Herbet activated every remaining device.
Moro stood at the center.
"Everyone..."
He looked around.
"Together."
They attacked.
Water.
Ice.
Aura.
Technology.
Swordsmanship.
Speed.
Everything collided with the Cherubiums.
The mountains shook.
But the Cherubiums moved through the attacks like flashes of sunlight.
One by one, the squad was forced backward.
Kiro dropped to one knee.
Yaya's Aura weakened.
Steven struggled to remain standing.
Kaya's breathing became heavy.
Herbet's equipment began failing.
Moro remained standing.
Barely.
The Cherubium leader appeared before him.
"You fought well."
Moro raised his fist.
"I haven't..."
He struggled to remain upright.
"...finished."
The Cherubium summoned a blade made entirely from concentrated light.
Moro attempted to dodge.
But the attack came too quickly.
The light blade struck him.
Moro froze.
His eyes widened.
His strength suddenly disappeared.
Kaya screamed his name.
"MORO!"
Moro fell unconscious.
The mountain became silent.
---
KAYA'S RAGE
Kaya stared at Moro.
Something inside her snapped.
Her Water Aura erupted.
The stream beside the mountain rose into the air.
Clouds gathered overhead.
The entire area became surrounded by water.
"You..."
Her voice trembled.
"You took him from us."
Her Aura intensified.
"I'LL BRING HIM BACK!"
Kaya attacked.
A gigantic wave crashed toward the Cherubiums.
They phased through it.
Kaya followed.
Another attack.
Then another.
But the Cherubiums were already moving.
One appeared behind her.
Another beside her.
Another above.
Kaya's attacks became slower.
Her energy was running out.
Kiro shouted,
"Kaya! Stop!"
She ignored him.
"They're taking Moro!"
Yaya grabbed her arm.
"Kaya!"
Kaya struggled.
"LET ME GO!"
"They've already won this fight!"
Kaya stared toward Moro.
The Cherubiums had surrounded him.
His unconscious body was lifted from the ground.
"No..."
Kaya's eyes filled with tears.
"Moro..."
The Cherubium leader turned.
"His trial will determine what happens next."
Kaya clenched her fists.
"You won't get away with this."
The leader simply disappeared into light.
One after another, the Cherubiums followed.
And then—
They were gone.
---
THE CAPTURE
Moro was carried far from the mountains.
His squad remained behind.
Kaya fell to her knees.
Kiro stood silently.
Yaya's breathing was heavy.
Steven stared toward the horizon.
Herbet looked down at his broken equipment.
Nobody spoke.
Finally, Kiro whispered,
"They got him."
Kaya slowly stood.
"No."
Everyone looked at her.
Her expression was filled with determination.
"They captured him."
She looked toward the direction in which the Cherubiums had disappeared.
"That isn't the same as defeating him."
---
THE NOBLES' PRISON
Hours later...
Moro opened his eyes.
Darkness.
A cold stone room surrounded him.
His arms were restrained, preventing him from using his powers freely.
He tried to move.
His body was weak.
A door opened.
Several guards entered.
Behind them stood members of the noble authority.
Moro looked at them.
"Where are my friends?"
Nobody answered.
Moro's expression hardened.
"Where are they?"
A noble stepped forward.
"They are alive."
Moro relaxed slightly.
Then the noble continued.
"But your situation is different."
Moro stared at him.
"You've been declared an enemy of the established order."
Moro laughed weakly.
"Established order?"
He looked around the prison.
"If this is your idea of order..."
His eyes sharpened.
"...then maybe you deserve to be challenged."
The noble's expression darkened.
"You will be taken before the Scales of Balance."
Moro said nothing.
"Your powers, your actions and your connection to the Matrix will all be examined."
The door opened again.
Moro was escorted from the room.
He walked slowly.
Every step reminded him of how badly the previous battles had exhausted him.
Yet he kept his head raised.
---
THE TRIAL AWAITS
Deep beneath the Golden Castle, enormous doors opened.
Beyond them stood the chamber of the Scales of Balance.
Hundreds of nobles, officials and guards had gathered.
At the center stood the massive golden scales.
Moro was brought into the chamber.
The entire hall became silent.
He looked around.
So many people.
So much power.
Yet Moro didn't bow.
He simply stared at the nobles.
Then he noticed someone standing at the far end of the hall.
Grey hair.
Sunglasses.
White coat.
A familiar smirk.
Scaro.
Their eyes met.
Scaro smiled.
Moro's expression hardened.
Scaro quietly whispered:
"Welcome back, Moro Kim Jama."
The enormous doors closed behind Moro.
BOOM.
The Scales of Balance began to move.
And for the first time...
Moro stood alone before the power that wanted to control his destiny.
His trial was about to begin.
TO BE CONTINUED...