The master spy or Puss in the boot adventures

The way of the ninja 26, Part 118

With a ferocious roar, the small green figure lunged forward and snatched the Eye of Night from its pedestal. In a split second, Shadowcat's blade struck the altar, sending sparks flying in all directions.

Nyx and Solaris' expressions of horror were quickly replaced with smug grins, but only for a moment. The green man vanished into a swirling portal behind him, which closed shut with a deafening bang.

"Our stone!" Nyx shouted, his voice filled with rage. "After him!"

He wasted no time in opening another portal, beckoning Solaris to follow as they both leapt into it before it disappeared.

Meanwhile, our heroes stood frozen in shock, their mouths hanging open in disbelief.

"Who was that?" the princess finally managed to ask after collecting herself.

"That," scratched Gnash, rubbing his forehead in frustration, "is unfortunately a distant relative of mine...a prankster who enjoys playing funny jokes on unsuspecting travellers by challenging them with riddles."

"And why did he steal the stone?" Ragnar demanded, his fists clenched at his sides.

"I have no idea," Gnash replied with a sigh. "He must have been watching from the shadows and saw how powerful the stone was...and couldn't resist taking it for himself."

"But we have to find it before Solaris and Nyx do," the princess insisted.

"Do you know where we can find it?" Ragnar asked Gnash.

"In the realm of the dark dwarves," Gnash answered grimly. "Deep underground in the bowels of Iron Mountain."

"How will we get there?" the princess asked fearfully.

Gnash's expression turned grave as he spoke. "The tunnels leading to the dark dwarves' realm are guarded not only by their fearsome warriors riding fire-breathing boars, but also by deadly traps and nightmarish creatures. It will be a treacherous journey and not all of us may make it out alive. But if we want to retrieve the Eye of Night, we must win over the dark dwarves to our side...before Solaris and Nyx do."

To win the dark dwarves to our side?" Ragnar asked, concern etching his brow. "How do we even begin to approach such a task?"

Gnash crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. "Dark dwarves are known for their cunning and fierce loyalty to their kind. They respect strength and the promise of treasure. We must present them with something valuable—an offering that catches their interest."

The princess nodded in agreement, her mind racing with ideas that could sway such formidable creatures. "What if we were to retrieve a legendary artifact rumored to be hidden deep within the Iron Mountain? Something they would consider worthy of their respect."

"Indeed," Shadow-cat said, excitement glimmering in her eyes. "An artifact lost to time—a relic of their ancestors—could turn the tide in our favor! But what is this artifact, and how do we find it?"

Gnash uncrossed her arms, a sly grin creeping onto her face. "Ah, my dear friends, there is an ancient tale about the Crystal Hammer of Dorrak, forged by the first-blacksmiths of the dwarven realm. This hammer is said to possess the power to channel the earth's raw energy through its wielder!"

Ragnar's enthusiasm grew as he envisioned the hammer in action. "Then that's our quest! We retrieve the hammer, gain the dark dwarves' trust, and use it to locate the Eye of Night before Nyx and Solaris can harness its full power!"

"Then let's prepare for an adventure!" Shadow-cat exclaimed, her claws twitching at the thought of battle.

As they began gathering supplies for their descent into the depths beneath Iron Mountain, Gnash laid out a rough map she had sketched over the years.

"The entrance lies hidden among twisted trees at the base of Iron Mountain," she pointed out on an old parchment that fluttered in the breeze. "To reach it, we must navigate through treacherous terrain filled with darkness and lurking dangers."

The princess stepped forward with resolve shining in her eyes. "Together we will face whatever challenges this path brings; our bonds will guide us through!"

With spirits high and determination ignited like a fire in their hearts, they set off toward Iron Mountain as dusk settled and stars twinkled overhead—each member driven by hope and camaraderie.

Gnash pointed toward a jagged mountain range looming in the distance. "Iron Mountain is our destination," she declared. "But be wary; dark dwarves are  easily provoked."

Their spirits high from training and a shared sense of purpose, they set out for Iron Mountain under the cover of twilight.

The journey was treacherous; rocky terrain and dense underbrush hindered their progress as they climbed higher into the mountains. They encountered strange creatures along the way—shadowy beasts that darted behind rocks and peered at them with glinting eyes—but together they pressed on.

Finally, after what felt like hours of climbing, they reached a massive stone entrance carved into the mountainside—a wicked depiction of snarling faces adorned with jewels glimmering in the dim light.

"This must be it," Ragnar breathed as he exchanged glances with his companions.

"But how do we get inside?" Shadow-cat wondered aloud.

Gnash approached the stony entrance cautiously,inspecting intricate runes etched into its surface. 

The once vibrant and powerful runes were now overrun by a thick layer of green moss and tangled vines, barely visible in the dim light of the underground cavern.

Shadow-cat cautiously pressed his dagger against one of the runes, feeling a surge of ancient magic coursing through his body.

"This place may look deserted, but I fear it is the entrance to the Dark Dwarf realm," she warned.

Gnash's sneer turned into a sly grin. "Yes, this was once the grand entrance to their underground capital. But they have long abandoned it."

"Why did they leave?" Ragnar asked, intrigued.

"Who knows," Gnash shrugged. "But since then, they have sealed the entrance with these powerful runes."

The princess looked worried. "Is there any way to bypass them?"

"We could try finding someone who can decipher these ancient markings," Gnash suggested. "But that won't be easy."

"Do you know anyone who could help?" Ragnar asked.

"I'm afraid not," Gnash sighed. "But we could ask my sister or the dragon-horse for guidance."

"Is there any other way?" Ragnar inquired.

"There is," Gnash chuckled darkly. "But no one has ever returned from the treacherous Iron Mountains to tell us where the entrance to the Dark Dwarf realm truly lies..."

Ragnar's heart sank at the thought of facing such danger. But they had no choice if they wanted to rescue Solaris and Nyx before it was too late.

"We must hurry before Solaris and Nyx find the cunning little boy, Little-puppy," Gnash said with a devilish glint in his eye. "He was known as the biggest mischief maker in our family... until he disappeared after angering a vicious dog with his pranks."

Everyone couldn't help but laugh at the thought of Little-puppy's misfortune, but Ragnar knew they needed to focus on their mission.

 "How do we ensure Solaris and Nyx don't find him before us?"

"Unless they can somehow win over the dark dwarves and turn them against Little-puppy," Gnash said with a sly smile. "But that is highly unlikely. The dark dwarves are loyal to their own kind."