"We hurtled through the landscape, our speed nearing that of lightning, covering nearly two hundred miles per hour. Fear gnawed at us—the longer we took, the slimmer our chances of finding Aleazm alive. My void nature aided us, propelling us even faster, but there was no way we'd reach home in a matter of minutes.
As I pondered our impulsive decision to investigate the explosion without a plan, regret gnawed at me. Why hadn't we convened a meeting before venturing out? The journey there had consumed hours; how were we supposed to return in time? What guarantee did we have that whatever caused the explosion wouldn't swiftly end Aleazm and then turn its wrath upon us? Unless, of course, that energy surge was a rare occurrence—a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon.
But caution tugged at my thoughts. Perhaps it wasn't a singular event. Maybe it could unleash its destructive force repeatedly, without a care in the world.
'We're here,' Toko announced."
His words halted me, an unnecessary pause given our dire situation. We needed to race back home, inform the Chief and the Grand Elders. Panic surged within me.
"Why are you stopping?!" I screamed at him.
Toko's gaze bore into mine. "Do you honestly think we could send three of our strongest warriors to an explosive site without a plan? With the threat of an unknown enemy roaming there, and believed to be even stronger than the three sent."
A calm voice chimed in. "He's right, Waka. We're not that foolish."
I recognized that voice—it was Joheki's. As I turned toward him, I saw both the Chief and the Defense General standing before us. When had they arrived?
"Report," the Chief demanded, his gaze fixed on Tada.
With a nod, Toko began. "Yes, a massive crater has formed, dimensions unknown. Aleazm remains on-site, reporting extreme heat levels. The surrounding land is scorched black but bearable. Our progress halted at a region where sand has vitrified into molten glass. Aleazm urgently requests your presence, along with that of the Grand Elder. That's the current situation, Chief."
As soon as Toko finished, the Chief vanished. I turned my head, following his disappearance—to the crater, to Aleazm. My confusion had lessened; I pieced together the plan from Toko's report to the Chief. But something still troubled me.
"What were you planning to do if it attacked?" I asked Joheki.
"It wasn't going to," Joheki replied calmly.
"How can you be so sure? That was too risky!" My anger flared.
"It was the decision of the Grand Elder, the Chief, and Mul. They were certain you all were not in harm's way. Now tell me what you both know, and I'll explain further on the way," Joheki said to me and Toko.
Then, a sudden explosion—**BOOOM!** I leaped back, distancing myself from both Toko and Joheki. My power and domain were ready, poised to be unleashed at the slightest hint of betrayal.
"I'll say this now: You'd better explain clearly what's going on, or nobody is leaving here," I declared.
Joheki met my gaze. "The plan was for you and the Chief to follow us from behind, tracking the energy signatures. Meanwhile, Aleazm, Toko, and I would lead the way. the fact that you waited for our report suggests that you believed—without a doubt—that whatever the creature was, it wouldn't attack. Or if it did, it wouldn't harm us significantly. Perhaps we were bait to lure it out."
"Am I wrong?" I challenged.