(Book 2) Legends of the new world: Silent death

Chapter six: journey to the center

Shade clung to Namielle's back, refusing to look down. "Just a little bit farther, and we will arrive at the entrance tunnel." Shade said. After flying for a few more minutes, they arrived at the entrance tunnel, landing on a ledge nearby. The area surrounding the entrance was a mountain forest that grew at the base of the mountain that Velkhana had taken residence in. "I don't get it. How is this colony surviving in the hoarfrost reach of all places?" Valomyr asked. "I don't know. I never understood how jade colony grew so big in these conditions." Shade said. "Well, let's go inside and stop Queen emerald from going on a genocidal rampage with Alatreon." Velkhana said, starting forward. Suddenly, Shade blocked Velkhana with one of his forearms. "What are you doing Shade?" Velkhana asked. "You can't just walk into the colony and not expect to get captured by the guards!" Shade hissed. "Well, what's your big idea then?" Namielle said, annoyed that Shade was stalling them from entering. "We must sneak our way in, without one of those idiotic beetles seeing us." Shade said, pointing his forearm at two seltas guards that were guarding the entrance tunnel, their sharp forearms gleaming. "Good point." Velkhana said, crouching to hide from the guards. "How do you think we should sneak past them?" Namielle said. "We cannot kill them, they would know that we killed them if they sensed a dead body outside of jade colony. Our only option is to knock them out." Shade said, his eight eyes scanning the forest for any way to incapacitate the guards. Shade suddenly spotted a thick branch that was conveniently above the guards. "That will work." Shade said, firing his webbing at the branch. Once shade reached the branch, he slowly lowered himself behind the guards. Then, he quietly stepped onto the ground. Then, Shade struck. He grabbed the unsuspecting guard, and stung him, putting him into a deep slumber. The other seltas guard turned to see what was wrong, when he saw a blur of white dash behind him. He then passed out from the narcotic venom that was secreted in Shades abdomen. Shade looked down at the unconscious seltas guards, then waved his forearm at the three elder dragons that were still hiding on the ledge. "All clear. We must advance." Shade said. As Shade crawled into the entrance tunnel, he was soon followed by Velkhana, Valomyr, and Namielle. "You have some remarkable skills in terms of combat." Namielle said. "Well, I do that for a living" Shade said. "While we are trekking through this hole, tell us more about jade colony, such as it's origins." Velkhana said, being careful not to accidentally hit Namielle with the sharp end of her tail. Shade took a breath, ready to explain. "A long time ago, before the reign of the second Xeno'jiiva, the first Xeno'jiiva had taken residence near this area. However, a human hunter tracked down the elder dragon emperor, with the Intent to kill it, due to its ability to increase its power by absorbing the life force of its prey before consuming it. After a long battle, The first Xeno'jiiva let out a dying  scream, and collapsed, crushing the human in the process. However, the sheer size of the first Xeno'jiiva caused the ground to cave in, causing the first Xeno'jiivas corpse to become ensnared in some vines, resulting in it hanging in the cavern, where it would remain untouched for fifteen days. Then, Queen emerald discovered the cavern that the first Xeno'jiiva had inadvertently created, and turned that cavern into jade colony." Shade said, cutting through some vines that hung in front of him. "So.... There are multiple Xeno'jiivas?" Velkhana asked, confused as to how the emperor of elder dragons could reproduce. "Every so often, it is rumored that the sapphire star gives birth to a new Xeno'jiiva, and has it appointed to be the emperor of elder dragons." Shade said. "How is that possible?" Valomyr said, tilting his head. "I do not know if this portion of this information is true, but when there are no more Xeno'jiivas in existence, the most recently deceased Xeno'jiivas bio energy merged together inside The Xeno'jiivas core, where a new Xeno'jiiva begins to form." Shade said. "So.... it creates its offspring within its heart after it dies?" Velkhana asked, unsettled by the imagery of a creature forming in the one organ that keeps an organism alive. "Yes. Gross, but yes." Shade said. "Do you think that this "secret weapon" that you keep mentioning could be an infant Xeno'jiiva?" Valomyr asked. "No. Queen emerald said that she disposed of the first Xeno'jiivas body after she found it." Shade said. Namielle wanted to inform Shade of the possible lie that Queen emerald came up with, but silenced herself, not wanting to make the nerscylla question his purpose any longer. Soon, after what seemed like an eternity of walking, they finally arrived at the exit of the entrance tunnel. "Is this jade colony?" Velkhana said in amazement at the large cavern that held an advanced society. "Yes, this is jade colony." Shade said. "We must move, do not engage in conversation with any of the seltas here, you three are wanted criminals here." Shade said. "Well, I can assume that's true." Valomyr said, glancing at some seltas guards that were patrolling the colony, questioning any seltas that crossed their path. "Alright let's move forward." Shade said, crawling up the wall of the cavern. Velkhana and the other two elder dragons followed him on foot, using the shadows as a means of stealth. As the three elder dragons followed Shade, Shade knew what his new mission was. Shade wanted to stop the invasion, and find out the truth. However, Shade knew that he would have to confront Queen emerald. Something inside Shade resonated within him. He did not want to kill the monster who saved his life, but he did not want to betray the three elder dragons, not after the friendship they offered him. Shade became conflicted, knowing that he would need to make a choice that would decide his whole future, as well as the new world's future.

Light burned the weapons eyes as it squintied through the bright blue barrier that prevented it from moving forward. However, even with the blinding lights hurting its eyes, it could now slightly make out the appearance of the monsters that passed by it. The weapon felt cramped, resulting in him wiggling around in a fruitless attempt to make itself comfortable. However, the weapon had begun to think about what it wanted to do the most. Suddenly, it hit it. He could break free from his bright and uncomfortable prison, and Escape.