When the boat hit the docks, Nick hopped off the boat along with Stella, Mahdi, and Hati, who fell off the boat. They all looked up to see a mountain, with a temple made out of steel that sat on the top, two metal wolves wrapped around it.
"There it is, the temple of Prophetia," The captain said, tying his boat off. Nick started to walk while Mahdi thanked the captain, them following the steps that wound up the mountain. After a while, Nick kept climbing the steps while everyone else gasped for air. They finally came to a flat spot, when Nick stopped, making everyone sighed in relief.
"Finally, can we rest now?" Hati asked, when Nick raised his hand, silencing her. They all looked at the flat spot to see crimson eggs laying all over the ground, the size of Nick. Stella approached him, staff in her hand as she looked at them curiously.
"What are those?" She asked when Nick approached the nearest egg, looking at it to see a creature inside. It had the head of a lion, bat wings, and a scorpion tail, curled up inside.
"A scorpius," He said, pulling out his Kusari. He slashed the egg open, the scorpius spilling out, screeching. Nick stepped on it's back and grabbed it's tail, ripping it off. It screamed before it laid still, green blood spilling out of its wound. He dropped the tail and kicked the corpse off the side, it falling to the bottom. He looked at the rest of the eggs when Stella pointed her staff at the eggs.
"Arescet!" She yelled and the eggs turned into ash leaving a clear area with ash piles everywhere. He smiled and was going to continue when a giant scorpius landed in front of them, the size of a boat. It roared and Nick looked at the beast as it started to fly, the ash piles disappearing from the wind. Nick pulled out both of his Kusaris and yelled, running at the scorpius, who belched flames at him, scorching the ground all around him. He rolled out of the flames way just to be smacked by its tail. He flew into a wall when the rest of them charged, Stella yelling a spell.
"Ignis!" She yelled and fire ignited at the end of her staff, a beam of flame flying straight at the scorpius, it doing nothing to its face. It turned toward her and growled, her shocked face looking at its green eyes.
"What?" She said when Nick coughed, pulling himself out of the wall.
"It's fireproof!" He yelled when it charged her, smoke flying out of its nostrils when a curved sword flew into its back leg, cutting deep, making it trip. Mahdi charged it, a knife in his hand when it smacked him with its wing, sending him sliding almost off the cliff. Hati jumped on its back and began ripping parts of its back out when it started to fly, shaking all around when it flipped her off of its back, sending her into Stella. They were all in a pile when the scorpius roared, flames seeping out of its mouth when a chain wrapped around its neck, making it stop inches in front of them. It choked on the chain as Nick yelled, pulling on his chain as he flipped the scorpius over, it landing on its back. It flipped around, looking at Nick with rage. He pulled his Kusari back and ran at the scorpius, it charging him as well until Nick swung his Kusari at the scorpius, cutting its wing off, making it trip onto its back. He then wrapped his chain around its neck and began slashing it across its belly when it swung its tail at him but he ducked, cutting the barb off and shoved it through its head. He slowly turned to them as he hopped off of the dead scorpius.
"You guys want to help?" He asked, looking at the three of them.
"Yes," They all said.
"Then stay out of my way!" He yelled, slinging his Kusaris on his waist as he continued up the path. Hati stood up, looking at his back as he walked away.
"A thank you would be nice," She mumbled, following Nick as they continued up the mountain when they reached the top, to see Nick standing on a metal platform, right in front of the temple. Stella stopped to see an old man at the front door, holding a cane and a bundle.
"These offerings will please Prophetia this time, I know it," He said, when he tripped, the bundle falling on the ground to spill apples on the ice.
"No, my offerings! She must have them all!" He yelled as Nick walked past him, not even giving him a second glance. Stella stopped to help pick up the apples, handing them to the old man. She smiled as Mahdi handed the old man the bundle and he smiled, revealing rotten teeth.
"Thank you kindly," He said, standing up slowly. Stella looked at the giant door, frowning when the old man brushed himself off.
"These doors only open to the ones who brought the appropriate sacrifices," He said, walking up to Nick, who was staring at the door.
"They won't open," He said, smiling at Nick. He rolled his eyes and walked to the door, rubbing his hands together. He put his fingers under the door and lifted with all his might, the door slowly opening up. Suddenly, they heard a hiss and Nick dropped the door, pulling out his Kusaris just to see a giant monster with a body of a bear and a snake for a head. It hissed at all of them and Nick looked at Stella, who pointed her staff at it.
"What the hell is that?!" She yelled, confused.
"That, is a Ursa," Nick said, swinging his Kusari. The creature hissed and charged them, jumping out of the Ursa's way but the old man was too slow. It grabbed him with its mouth and looked at Nick as the old man pleaded for help, but Nick didn't even move as it belched acid, cutting the old man in half. It hissed and slowly stepped in a circle, looking at Nick. Stella was about to cast a spell when Nick looked at her, his eyes full of fury. She lowered her staff, anger in her face when the ursa tackled Nick, his Kusaris flying out of his hands. The ursa tried to bite him, but he grabbed its fangs, pushing with all of his might as the creature leaned in closer. Nick screamed in defiance when a fireball hit the ursa in the side. The creature whipped around to look at Stella, her staff smoking at the tip. The creature hissed and Mahdi and Hati looked at each other, nodded, and charged the beast.
The beast spat acid and they dodged, it melting the ice. Mahdi stabbed the ursa in the side while Hati climbed on its back and started clawing, blood pouring all over its fur. It roared and bucked all over before Nick stood up, swinging his Kusari at it, cutting its leg off and a fang. It fell on its side as he grabbed the fang, shoving it through its eye, killing it. He sat down, covered in blood as he looked at the three of them, sighing.
"I thought I told you to stay out of my way," He said, breathing heavily. Stella rolled her eyes and looked at him.
"You were struggling to survive," She said, pointing at the ursa. He frowned and walked over to the door, lifting it up to reveal a dark hallway.
"Come on," He said and they followed, going into the temple.