"Well, you know, I bet they imagine us as ghosts haunting these remote lands," Bain mused, his face twisting into a wry smile. "And the day we return with that artifact, their jaws will drop so low they'll need shovels to pick them up!" The old map bearer's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Bain's brows furrowed as he continued, "But seriously, brother, it's been months, and all we've seen are these never-ending waves of mountains." His expression resembled that of a weary traveler who had seen too many peaks.
Mykon Taro, his face lit up with jest, countered, "Already tired of our grand adventures? Don't you hunger for more, Bain?"
With a playful grin, Bain replied, "Oh, the only craving I've got right now is for your wife's mouthwatering delicacies. It's been an eternity since I enjoyed a real meal!"
Mykon Taro raised an eyebrow at Bain's complaint. "But you polished off a hearty meal just a few hours ago," he remarked, his expression a mix of amusement and mild disbelief.
Bain's eyes twinkled with mischief as he explained, "Well, there's a world of difference between sustenance and a proper meal." He wore a playful smile, emphasizing the distinction.
Mykon Conho looked puzzled and asked with a quizzical expression, "What's your unrelenting obsession with food, Bain?"
Bain's face broke into a grin, and he replied with conviction, "Mykon Conho, life loses its flavor without a belly full of good food!" His expression conveyed the importance of this culinary philosophy.
"I think we've arrived!" The Map bearer's eyes lit up with excitement as he shouted, and a spark of hope ignited on the faces of the Swordsmen. Eagerly, they hastened their steps, their expressions transitioning from weariness to anticipation.
As they approached the cave entrance, their gazes fixated on the enigmatic markings adorning the barred entrance. Each swordsman wore a distinct look of bewilderment and curiosity, except for Mykon Taro. His face displayed a subtle recognition and understanding of the markings, suggesting a deeper connection to the ancient script.
"The tongue of the Mind," Mykon Taro declared with a flourish of his hands, a mysterious smile gracing his lips. His expression was one of knowledge and intrigue.
Mykon Conho furrowed his brows in confusion, asking, "The Mind of the Tongue? What's that supposed to mean?"
With a patient correction, Mykon Taro clarified, "Actually, my friend, it's 'the Tongue of the Mind,' not the other way around." His face held a mix of amusement and wisdom.
Mykon Conho shrugged dismissively, wearing an expression that said, "Whatever! Just tell us what it means." His curiosity was evident on his face.
"My mind lacks the capacity to decipher it. Only those with heightened mental prowess, like Maestro," Mykon Taro explained, his expression revealing a sense of reverence for the mentioned individual.
"Why is it that Maestro's name always comes up when you talk about the Ultrax?" Mykon Conho queried, his face reflecting a blend of curiosity and skepticism.
Mykon Taro replied, his face serious, "Because, my friend, we owe our very presence here to him. He was the guardian of this Map for years."
Shocked by this revelation, Mykon Conho's face contorted with disbelief. He couldn't hide his astonishment as he questioned, "How did an elderly recluse like Maestro, who never spoke to anyone, come into possession of such a valuable artifact? And why didn't he embark on the search himself?"
"Maestro finds no interest in the worldly possessions; his passion is solely for the realm of ideas and knowledge," Mykon Taro explained with an air of admiration, his face reflecting his deep respect for Maestro's values.
"Are we opening the entrance already or are we waiting till you're both done admiring the ancient inscriptions?" asked Bain interrupting the moment of contemplation, Bain's impatient inquiry cut through the conversation. His face conveyed a sense of urgency and a hint of playful impatience.
In response, Mykon Taro swiftly retrieved a small piece of paper from his Blue and White uniform, his face focused and intent. As he read the word
"Jovana"
His expression shifted from concentration to a flicker of realization, as if this word held the key to a hidden world waiting to be unlocked.
As Mykon Taro uttered the word "Jovana," a thunderous, aggressive sound erupted from the entrance, jolting the very earth beneath their feet. Fear gripped the faces of some of the swordsmen, their expressions contorted with wide-eyed terror.
But then, the colossal stone guarding the entrance began to move, rolling away with a deafening grind. A collective gasp of awe and astonishment escaped the lips of the Swordsmen. Their faces transformed from fear to sheer wonder, illuminated by the vibrant, otherworldly green ray of light that poured forth from within the cave.
Excitement radiated from their expressions, as if they were on the brink of uncovering something truly extraordinary.
Mykon Conho, driven by curiosity and wonder, was the first to boldly step towards the entrance. His face glowed with amazement and anticipation, an expression of someone about to witness the extraordinary.
The other Swordsmen, one by one, joined him, their faces echoing the same sense of awe. As their collective gaze fell upon the spherical body enveloped in a mesmerizing, lightning-like green field, their expressions became a symphony of astonishment. Their eyes widened, and their jaws dropped in sheer disbelief.
The artifact seemed to defy gravity, hanging suspended in the air, and the Ultrax radiated an undeniable sense of unparalleled power. Their faces reflected a potent mix of excitement, reverence, and the thrill of standing before something beyond human comprehension—a moment of wonder that would be etched in their memories forever.
"It is the size of a human fist, but with the might to shake worlds!" Mykon Taro exclaimed with fervor, his face alight with awe and hype. "Behold, one of the Tears of the 4 Supremes, a power shrouded in secrecy for millennia. Before us lies the Ultrax!" His words carried an electric sense of excitement, emphasizing the profound significance of their discovery.