Lost Morals (Brawl Stars)

Chapter 21: Out the Mine

The four walked through the ominously lit tunnel as random heaps of stones and rocks littered the area.

Jade held his lamp high as he shined them onto walls, carefully analysing them for any signs of interest.

As Jade examined a broken crystal on the ground, Jacky called the others.

"Hey guys, we got'a problem." Jacky said as Dynamike went beside her. "This heap of junk is blocking our way!"

Carl and Jacky looked at each other before taking out their weapons—a pickaxe and a drill.

Carl stopped Jacky before striding towards the boulders and knocking on the rock.

"According to my calculations, the hollowness is high, meaning it'd collapse rather easily if damaged. We should be prepared to evade its debris.

Jade looked at the boulders and stretched his mechanical hand and took a quick glance at the crew, who were mining tirelessly.

The scientist thought carefully before pulling his sleeve down, revealing a canister of the crystal shards.

"I have an idea."

"The wall is about to collapse! Just a little more!" Carl stated as he broke more boulders.

"Guys! Let me try something!" Jade shouted from behind as he used the shards the power his hand.

Dynamike frowned before shaking his head, "Just what do you think you a-" before the old man could finish, Jade rushed towards the wall, arm raised.

Jacky and Carl jumped away before the collision. A small shockwave was seen, staggering the miners and following up with rocks rolling on the ground.

The miners went by Jade and looked at him.

"Now that was awesome! Hell yeah!" Jacket complemented while Dynamike just scoffed. "Not bad for a newcomer."

Carl continued forward and pressed the side of his head/helmet. "Records show a stagnant value for the stability of the cave. We shall proceed!"

...

It wasn't long before they reached a close proximity to where it all started. Carl had warned them of the approaching electro pulses coming from a nearby room.

Dust cleared as Jade shook his hand and took in the surroundings. The walls of the previous caves started dotting with gems around, hinting that they were close to the unstable room.

Jade scanned the room and saw many gems and ores around the large room. There was a small bridge towards a rock formation at the end of the room.

Jade looked over the bridge as he glanced down at the abyss down below. Carl went by his side, "When I made refuge here, these large apertures were already naturally formed."

Jade nodded in affirmation before looking at the rock formation in front. A gleaming shard bright enough to conceal any surface was seen.

Jade rolled his sleeve up as he compared his shards with the one embedded in the rock.

In a sudden burst of electricity, the shard vibrated in the rock violently. Jades mechanical arm was pulled forward towards the shard as he resisted the pull.

Carl gasped as he hopped back, "The seismic activity has drastically increased! In a few minutes time, this place would fall apart!"

Jacky and Dynamike stopped their observation and turned to run towards Jade. "Hey kid! Come over here!" Jacky yelled as Jade moved closer towards the shard.

Bright flashes of blue light whipped at the room as energy concentrated in Jade's arm.

"I don't lava this! I'm outta here!" Carl shouted before getting in his minecart he had found and driving out.

Dynamike stepped back from the bridge as he looked at Jacky, "Jacky, he won't make it! The cave is falling apart! We should move!"

Jacky scraped her teeth as she stood unmoving. Dnamike signed and left as a boulder fell nearby.

"Jaaade! We have to go..." Jacky looked at the exit, "NOOOW!" Jade was now almost touching the shard. Debris and pebbles circled the shard as it sent another electric wave.

The shard finally gave in and was sucked into Jade's canister, together with all the other shards.

Jade was knocked back as Jacky went to the ledge to help Jade up. He gasped as the surface beneath gave way.

Jacky held on to Jade's arm as she pulled him up to the surface. "Thanks. Let's go." Jade rushed as he made it straight for the exit. In the midst of the chaos, a large stagliside was headed straight for the construction worker.

Jacky looked up and gasped, but Jade pushed her away in time. Jacky rolled into the cave exit before it collapsed behind her. "JADE!" Jacky screamed before she sighed and backed away.

She broke into a sprint as the cave continued shaking violently, causing the pebbles on the floor to shiver. A blast of energy broke past the barrier and Jade came running forwards, winded but unharmed.

"Run! I'll cover the ceiling!" Jacky was confused as she yelled back, "What do ya mean?" Dust fell on her as she covered her mouth with her arm.

Jade slid in and summoned a barrier of swords towards the ceiling, redirecting some boulders away. The slope down encouraged countless boulders rolling down.

The light at the end of the cavern was seen, "We're almost there! Just a little mor-" a sudden heap of rocks came crashing down and Jade was injured on his arm. He rolled backwards and recovered as he created a last ditch of swords to block the cave entrance from flooding out with rocks.

Jacky made it out as she turned and saw Jade's barrier shatter and the recoil shooting him backwards, out of the mine.

Jade hit the ground hard as he rolled to a halt. His mechanical arm was exposed and a canister full of shards was present, attached near his wrist.

The miners looked at each other, speechless.