The forest stretched endlessly before them, its towering trees whispering with the wind. Sunlight flickered through the dense canopy, casting shadows that danced with every step. Lucifer, Kris, and Hiro trudged forward, following a roughly drawn map Hiro had recovered from an ancient database. Their destination—the Temple of Gaia—was said to hold secrets about the Elementos. Lucifer's hands curled into fists. Every moment they spent walking was another moment Onyx held his parents captive. "You're awfully quiet," Kris said, nudging his shoulder. Lynx exhaled sharply. "I'm just thinking." "Thinking or brooding?" Kris smirked. Lynx gave him a sideways glance but said nothing. Hiro, walking ahead, chuckled. "You've got the weight of the world on your shoulders, kid. But you can't let it break you before the real fight even begins." Lynx nodded, though the tension in his chest refused to loosen. For now, all they could do was keep moving.
As they walked, Hiro glanced at Lynx. "Back at the lab, you mentioned visions. Any new ones?" Lucifer hesitated. "Not since I woke up." "Try closing your eyes," Hiro suggested. "Focus. Lynx's memories might still be there, waiting to resurface." Lynx hesitated but did as he was told. The moment his eyelids shut, the world around him shifted. Suddenly, he wasn't walking through a forest—he was standing in a grand stone chamber. The air smelled of incense and burning candles. The walls were adorned with tattered banners of a forgotten kingdom. And before him— A dying man lay sprawled on the floor, coughing violently, blood pooling beneath him. Lynx's heart stopped. "Lynx… my son…" the man rasped. "You must protect the kingdom… promise me…" Lynx's breathing quickened. He knew this man. "Father…?" His hands trembled as he reached out— Then—darkness. Lynx gasped as he snapped back to reality. His knees buckled, and Kris caught him before he hit the ground. "Hey—what happened?!" Kris asked, worry in his voice. Lynx pressed a hand to his forehead, his vision spinning. "I remembered something. My—Lynx's father." He swallowed hard. "I watched him die." Hiro's face darkened. "Then you saw the day the great king fell. The day the war truly began." Lynx took a shaky breath. "Yeah. And it felt too real. Like I was living it." Hiro nodded. "That means more memories might come back the deeper we go. Be ready." Lynx clenched his fists. "I will."
After hours of hiking, the dense forest finally thinned out—revealing a sight that made them all stop in their tracks. The Temple of Gaia stood before them, carved into the side of a mountain. Vines and moss crept along its ancient stone walls, and towering statues of warriors and deities flanked the entrance. The doors, once grand, now lay partially shattered. Kris let out a low whistle. "Now that's an entrance." Hiro stepped forward, examining the etched symbols along the archway. "These carvings… they're from an ancient language Lynx's people used."
Lynx, still shaken from his vision, exhaled and followed. "What do they say?" Hiro traced his fingers over the stone, his eyes narrowing in concentration. Then, he began to read aloud:
"In the beginning, there was nothing but the void.
From light came Gaia Xenon, the god of creation.
From darkness came Azrathul Xenon, the god of destruction.
They built the universe together—until war divided them.
To keep balance, Gaia created the six Elementos…
and entrusted them to worthy souls."
A heavy silence followed.
Lynx's breath hitched. "Gaia Xenon… that name sounds familiar." Hiro's jaw tightened. "It should. If Onyx is after the Elementos, then he's chasing Gaia's power." Kris crossed his arms. "So… if we find the rest of the Elementos before he does—" "We might have a chance to stop him," Hiro finished. Lucifer stared up at the temple's massive doors, his chest tightening. "Then we better get moving.
The temple was silent as they stepped inside. Dust floated through the air, the floor cracked from centuries of neglect. Stone pillars loomed overhead, depicting warriors wielding the Elementos in battle. But something about the air felt… off.
Lynx's instincts screamed at him. Then—a tremor. The walls shook, dust raining from above. And from the darkness, two figures emerged. They were humanoid, but their armor was pure white and black, glowing with an unnatural light. Their blades shimmered, appearing as if they were made of pure energy. Their voices echoed in unison. "Demonic presence detected." Lucifer's blood ran cold. One of the guardians took a step forward. "You are not welcome in the sacred Temple of Gaia." Hiro's face paled. "They're temple sentries. If they see you as a threat, they won't stop until you're dead." Lynx's breathing quickened. They sensed something inside him—the demon fox. He clenched his fists. "I don't have time for this." One of the guardians rushed forward, blade raised. Lynx's instincts kicked in. He dodged, narrowly avoiding the strike, his body moving faster than he thought possible. The second guardian lunged—this time, he wasn't fast enough. A searing pain shot through his side as the energy blade slashed across his ribs. Lynx gritted his teeth, stumbling back. The wound wasn't deep—but the fight had barely begun. Kris drew his weapon, stepping beside him. "We're doing this, huh?" Lynx nodded, eyes glowing blue. "Looks like it." The guardians charged.
The battle was a blur of speed and energy. Lynx's movements became sharper, more precise—as if something deep inside him was awakening. The guardians fought in perfect synchronization, their attacks relentless. But then—Lynx struck back. His aura flared, and the water in the temple's cracks responded to his call. It rose, forming a whip-like tendril that lashed out, slamming into one of the guardians. It staggered. The second guardian hesitated. "He wields the Water Elemento…" Their glowing eyes dimmed slightly. "Then he is the chosen one. The master of light and darkness" Lynx panted, watching as the guardians lowered their weapons. One of them stepped forward, presenting a stone tablet. "This map will lead you to the Elementos." Lynx reached out, his fingers closing around it. He exhaled. They had their next lead. The hunt for the Elementos had begun.
(End of Chapter 5)