While the girls were having their own adventures, Ben, Zala and Robin continued to walk up the path. Zala leaned onto Ben and held his hand. Robin saw this and held his other hand.
"Girls?" Ben asked.
"So that we do not get lost," Robin said. She smiled.
"Yeah, lost," Zala added. They both leaned closer. Ben could feel their breast touching his arm.
He did not mind. They walked through the path and got to an opening.
They saw a white marble structure. The main building features a colonnade with fluted columns and a pediment adorned with intricate sculptures. Surrounding these main structures are remnants of other ancient buildings, including a monumental entrance gateway and a temple.
The temple within this ancient citadel was of classical design, characterised by its use of enduring materials and meticulous craftsmanship. The temple featured an array of columns. The interior of the temple exuded a sense of sanctity, with spaces for religious rituals and ornate decor.
"Let's check out that temple," Ben said.
Zala and Robin nodded. They walked towards the temple. "There are weeds on this but it's largely still got the marble," Robin said.
They walked in the temple. They saw large statues of the monsters. The monster had mechanical arms, a large orb on their head, circular bodies and long necks. There were tubes on its back.
"These are those monsters," Zala said.
"We saw these in drawings everywhere," Robin said. She left Ben`s side and walked to the front. Ben and Zala followed, they counted 12 statues. Ben thought that was in line with the quest. They kept talking to the front of the temple. They were behind Robin.
They got to the front and saw a large statue. It was a roundish shape resembling a robot with three arms, with one extending from the middle of its torso. It had a large mouth and tubes on the back.
"This is not the first time we are seeing this one," Ben said.
"I don't think it will be the last either," Robin said.
"He looks different for sure," Zala added.
"Shushibaruba," Robin said. Ben looked and saw the ancient language on the wall.
"The ancient language," Ben said.
"What does it say?" Zala asked.
"A monster whose destruction knows no bounds. The brave warriors of the sea fought the monster and kept it hidden," Robin explained.
"Interesting," Zala said.
"I don't think these people knew the true story," Ben said.
"We should be careful," Robin said.
"We will but if the Simon Pirate is after this there is something more dangerous," Ben said.
Robin and Zala nodded. Robin approached the statue and looked behind it.
"Ben, Zala, there are stairs here," Robin said.
They walked behind the statue and saw the stairs. "Let's check it out," Ben said.
They all nodded and headed down the stairs. There were cobwebs on the stairs. It was also pretty dark.
Zala and Robin started to cling onto Ben. They both giggled. "Ladies," Ben said.
"We are just a bit scared," Zala said in a weak voice.
"There are scary spiders here so we need a big man to protect us," Robin teased.
Ben sighed. He thought he needed a flashlight for this. There was still light coming through the cracks of the walls. They slowly made it down until they saw a lantern on the ground. Ben picked it up and saw a body lying on the ground. He moved the lantern around and saw multiple bodies. Then they saw a blue monster with a circular body. It had a long neck and the face of a dog. Its green orbs were on his hand and head. The monster had tubes in his hands. It looked angry.
"Looks like we found it," Ben said.
"He does not look friendly," Zala added. Zala and Robin left Ben's side and got ready. Ben transformed into his hybrid form. He put the lantern down. There were lanterns from the other people so there was light in the room.
"Robin, Zala be careful, the other girls said these things are tough," Ben said.
Robin looked at his chest and said, "Chamiapac."
"Chamiapac?" Zala asked.
"It's written on his chest," Robin pointed out.
Chamiapac fired a beam from his mouth.
"Demon Beam," Ben said as he raised his hand and fired an energy beam towards the robot. The two beams hit each other and created an explosion.
Zala ran up to Chamiapac. "Double Stinger," Zala said as she turned her hands into a single, large spike. She then stabbed the monster multiple times in his circular body in rapid succession. The monster looked at Zala and attempted to punch Zala. Zala saw the punch coming and jumped back. The monster fired his hand towards Zala.
Zala dodged the attack again. The hand went back to the monster. "Once Fleur," Robin said as she sprouted 11 arms on the monster. "Slam," Robin added. She used her arms to slam the monster against a wall.
"Demon Blast," Ben said as he used two of his hands to fire a beam at Chamiapac. The attack hit. The monster looked at Ben and fired a tornado from his mouth. Ben flew out of the way of the tornado.
"No damage," Zala said, looking at how there were no scratches on his body.
"We just need to hit harder," Ben said.
"Nojiko said his hands were the weak point," Robin said.
"Okay, aim for this right hand," Ben said.
Chamiapac stared at Zala and fired a laser beam from his eyes. Zala jumped out of the way. The robot tracked Zala as he fired his lazer beam at Zala. Zala ran out of the way.
Ben flew up towards Chamiapac. He kicked the monster in the face. The laser beam hit the ceiling. Chamiapac looked at Ben and sweeped his neck. Ben flew back and dodged the attack.
"Ochenta Fleur," Robin said as she sprouted eighty arms on the neck of the monster. "Cuatro Manos," said as she combined her eighty arms into four gigantic hands on the upper part of his neck. "Shock," Robin finally said as her two pairs of large arms started punching the head of the monster. The monster took hit after hit on the face.
Zala ran up towards the right arm of the monster. "Stinger Lance," Zala said as she turned her hand into one single spike like a lance and hit Chamiapac directly. She hurt his metal hand.
Zala jumped back. "Demon Blast," Ben said as he fired a two handed blast attack at Chamiapac`s right hand. There was a small explosion.
Champiapac sweeped his necks and Robin let's go. Her arms vanished. She gritted her teeth. Chamiapac opened his mouth and threw a tornado towards Robin. The tornado hurled towards Robin. Robin saw this and realised she was about to get his. Ben sweeped in and grabbed her in his hands. "Got you," Ben said. Robin smiled. They both dodged the attack.
Zala ran up to right arm again. "Stinger Hedgehog," Zala said as she rolled her body into a ball and sprouted spikes in all directions. Zala rolled and launched herself onto his right arm. She went up his arm with her spikes piercing it in various places. She rolled off and saw there were small sparks in his arm.
Chamiapac launched his left arm towards Zala. Zala saw this last minute and crossed her arms and got hit by the arm. She slid backwards. The arm went back. Zala thought she would feel that.
Ben landed and let Robin go. She was back on her feet. Ben then flew towards the right hand. "Demon Fist," Ben said as he channelled his energy into his fist. He threw a punch at Chamiapac's right arm. The punch connected and Ben broke his right arm off. The monster let out a loud scream. Ben flew back.
"Good job Captain," Robin said.
"It's not over," Ben replied.
"Zala, are you okay?" Ben asked.
"Never better," Zala replied. She confidently stood.
"Okay, next arm," Ben ordered. Robin and Zala nodded.
Ben flew towards Chamiapac. He kicked the circular body. He then landed a punch on the body. Ben then jumped up and kicked his long neck and then punched his face. Chamiapac used his one arm to punch back. Ben caught it. Chamiapac then moved his neck and swung it towards Ben. Ben jumped back. "Demon Beam," Ben said as he fired a one handed blast towards Chamiapac. Chaamiapac fired a laser beam with his eyes onto the attack. They both clashed with each other and created a small explosion.
Zala ran up towards Chamiapac's left arm. "Double Stinger," Zala said as she turned her hands into single, large spikes and rapidly hit his left arm. She hit up, down, centre, left and right. The monster looked down and saw Zala. He opened his mouth and fired a tornado. Zala jumped out of the way in the nick of time.
"Once Fleur," Robin said as she sprouted 11 arms on the monster. "Slam," she added as she used her eleven arms to grab and slam Chamiapac against a wall. Robin did this strategically and slammed his left arm against the wall. The monster stumbled out. He launched his left arm towards Robin. Robin jumped out of the way.
The robot then fired a beam from his mouth towards Ben. Ben jumped out of the way. "That's a new attack," Ben said.
Zala then ran up and "Stinger Balls," Zala said as she turned her hand into spike balls. She started to punch his left arm rapidly. The spikes were punchering his metal arms. There were sparkes after each punch. Chamiapac tried to bite Zala, but Zala jumped out of the way.
"That is another new attack," Zala said.
"It sure was," Ben said as he ran up to Chamiapac. He jumped into the air and put his leg forward. He channelled his energy into his leg. "Demon Kick," Ben said as he kicked the left arm of the monster. Ben broke the arm and it snapped off. He jumped back.
Chamiapac limped left and right. He looked weakened. "Time to finish this," Ben said.
"Demon Abyssal Lance," Ben said as he formed a spear-shaped projection of dark energy. He hurled at high speed, piercing through Chamiapac's body. The attack hit and went through his body. Chamiapac froze and exploded. There was a big explosion as he went down in a fireball.
Zala and Robin looked. "Wow," Zala said.
"That is some strong attack," Robin added. They both then smiled at each other and approached Ben.
"That was a bit tricky," Ben said.
"They are durable and have some powerful attacks," Zala said.
"I wonder who built or created them," Robin thought.
"They had more machines than flesh," Ben added.
"Either way, let us claim our treasure," Zala said. They all nodded and walked forward. They saw a tall stand with the orb. It was pink. Zala picked it up and was about to give it to Ben.
"You can hold it," Ben said. Zala smiled and held the orb in one arm and held Ben`s hand. Robin did the same.
Ben just smiled and accepted his fate. They all walked out of the underground room and back up to the temple. They left the other pirates there, they looked like they were in good condition.
They got to the temple and exited. As they were talking out, they saw a piece of paper flying towards them. "Sefer Ha-Bahir," a voice was heard. The paper hit Ben and caused an explosion. He threw the girls away from him. The explosion resulted in a fire.
Robin and Zala rolled away. "Ben," they both shouted. The orb fell from Zala`s hand. They looked up and saw a man in the air. He had paper wings on his back.
"Simon," Robin said.
Simon smiled. "I see, I am already this famous, once the world knows about me, I will be truly famous," Simon said.
"Sefer Ha-Zohar," Simon said as he threw various pieces of paper around Zala and Robin. The papers exploded and Zala and Robin were caught in the explosion. At the same time they were electrocuted. Zala and Robin`s body had smoke leaving it. They both fell to the ground. Zala looked angry.
"This was the crew that was giving me a hard time," Simon laughed. He flew down and approached the orb. At this time, Ben flew out of the fire towards Simon. "Demon Punch," Ben said as he channelled his energy into his fist. He punched Simon however he turned to paper and missed. Ben saw this.
Simon smiled. "Sefer Ha-Barak," Simon said as he threw another piece of paper at Ben. The paper touched him and released a brilliant bolt of lightning. Ben got hit by the electricity. He was stunned and disoriented. He stumbled backwards. Simon kicked Ben in the stomach and he fell down.
"Very weak," Simon said.
Zala got up. She ran up to Simon. "Double Stinger," Zala said as she turned her hands into a single, large spike.
"Devil fruit users," Simon noted. "Sefer Assiah," added as he threw a piece of paper at Zala. Zala`s spike pierced the paper, damaging it. Simon saw there was no effect when Zala touched the paper. Her hands, which were spikes, hit Simon. Simon tried to transform into paper. However as Zala hit Simon, she pierced the paper and rapidly stabbed it. Simon got hit. He looked surprised as he felt pain. Simon jumped back. He could feel his chest in pain where she hit him. He looked angry.
Ben and Robin were back up. They both looked like they were ready to fight Simon. Simon saw the orb near his feet and picked it up.
"We will finish this later," Simon said as he sprouted wings on his back and flew away.
Ben was about to pursue when he saw Zala and Robin looked slightly hurt. They were okay, however they had scratches and were panting. They had fought the monster and it had taken a toll on their stamina.
He decided not to pursue and get the orb back another time. "Girls let him go," Ben ordered.
"But Ben," Zala said.
He approached Zala and patted her head. "We will get him next time," Ben said.
"We both have two orbs now, we will get the next one for sure," Ben added.
"That is a wise decision, Captain. We do not know his true power and we do not know if there is a trap to lure us," Robin said.
"Good point, let's play it safe," Ben said.
"Let's head back to the path where we started and see where the other girls are," Ben said. They both nodded. Ben held his hand out and both Robin and Zala hugged his body.
Ben flew up in the air and headed in the opposite direction of Simon. He looked back in the direction and thought next time.