The ninjas stood on the verge of a new trial awaiting them ahead—a massive ice cave where, according to Master Wu, the Crystal of Frost was kept. This was a place where the element of ice and cold ruled over everything. The freezing wind lifted the snow, and even the most resilient among them felt the cold creeping into their bones.
- This place...
Master Wu began, surveying the landscape.
- It's not just cold. This place has its own power. The ice spirits guard the Crystal of Frost. Only those who can overcome this trial may take the crystal.
The ninjas felt each breath grow heavier as the icy wind pierced through them to their very cores. Ice stalactites hung from the cave's ceiling, resembling massive, curved fangs. The reflections of crystalline formations created the illusion of endless corridors leading deeper into the cave, where, according to legend, the Crystal of Frost was hidden.
- How can we get through this?
Niya asked, wrapping her arms around herself in an attempt to keep warm.
- Remember, this is not just about the cold. It is a test of your hearts. The ice spirits will not allow anyone to pass who is impure of heart or unprepared for hardship.
Master Wu explained.
- Only those who can withstand its power will have the chance to reach the crystal.
Jay, respecting the master, carefully observed the surroundings.
- What do we need to do?
He asked.
- Pass through without losses. The ice spirits will try to stop you. They will test your nerves, your strength. But most of all, they will test your ability to stay together as one team.
The ninjas exchanged glances, understanding the gravity of the situation. Each of them had their own inner fears, but they all knew that only together could they overcome this challenge.
***
The ninjas walked through a narrow corridor, its walls covered in ice that reflected their every step like a mirror. Each of them moved along their own path, lost in their thoughts, but their eyes and attention were always fixed on their surroundings. Though they remained silent, they could all feel each other's presence and the invisible tension hanging in the air.
Suddenly, movement appeared in the distant dark part of the corridor, and small creatures began emerging from the shadows. These were ice spirits—tiny beings made of transparent ice, resembling miniature beasts. They had enormous ears that looked like fragile stone shards, trembling with every breath, and short legs that carried them swiftly across the icy surface, leaving behind shimmering trails.
The spirits approached the ninjas, their large ears twitching, and their small feet moving quickly across the ice, leaving behind sparkling traces. They surrounded the group, silently watching their every move.
- What are they doing?
Kai asked, eyeing the spirits warily.
- Are you asking me?
Elis responded with a smirk, though she was just as puzzled by their behavior.
- Of course not you!
Kai shot back, keeping his gaze locked on the tiny creatures.
- What do they want?
Zane asked, carefully observing the spirits that were slowly approaching.
Meanwhile, Elis noticed something black and glossy within the icy surface. She crouched down and carefully pulled out a black crystal, which began to pulse faintly in her hand, emitting a dark glow. The crystal was smooth and cold, but its unusual radiance drew everyone's attention.
As soon as the spirits saw it, their eyes gleamed. They crowded even closer around Elis, their gazes filled with an indescribable curiosity, and the entire corridor seemed to pulse with an eerie energy.
- What is that?
Kai asked, trying to make sense of what was happening.
The spirits, upon seeing the crystal, suddenly recoiled from Elis and began to hiss, releasing cold waves that seemed to pierce the air. Their large ears trembled, and their short legs twitched with tension. They no longer looked as friendly, and their behavior had become noticeably more aggressive.
- What's wrong?
Nya asked, watching the spirits hiss at Elis in confusion.
- These spirits react to energy. Maybe something is off with this crystal.
Master Wu explained, carefully observing the shift in their behavior.
Elis looked the same as always, but something in her demeanor had changed. She couldn't understand why the crystal triggered such a reaction—she didn't feel any different. She tried to recall if anything had shifted within her, but she couldn't explain it.
- I don't kn—
Elis started, but her words faded as she looked at the spirits again. They continued hissing, as if they understood something she couldn't grasp.
- Something has changed in her...
Kai said quietly, watching Elis with slight apprehension.
Cole, standing nearby, had noticed the same thing. Elis' appearance hadn't changed outwardly, but something about her energy field had become different, unpredictable. He couldn't pinpoint it, but he knew something was off.
- This isn't just a crystal.
Cole murmured, casting a glance at Elis.
Elis turned toward Master Wu, her eyes blank, and when she spoke, her voice was rough, deep, and did not belong to her. It was a voice Master Wu recognized immediately—the voice of his brother.
- Wu...
Elis spoke, but it wasn't her voice.
- Brother...
Master Wu uttered, his face paling as he recognized the tone.
- It's been a long time.
The voice continued, so familiar that Wu felt an instant sense of dread.
- Looks like you're searching for Father's weapons too.
- What's happening? Am I dreaming?
Jay asked, staring in disbelief at the transformed Elis.
The ice spirits hissed even louder, and the ninjas tensed, preparing for action. They all realized that the situation had become serious, and they couldn't predict what would happen next.
- Don't worry, Wu. I won't do anything just yet. You know... the time hasn't come.
The voice echoed through the freezing air.
As if guided by an unseen force, Elis walked toward a nearby ice wall that reflected her face. She stared into her own reflection, not recognizing herself. The ice spirits surrounding them hissed louder, as if they had some special connection to the process.
- I see you have some decent students.
The voice continued, while Elis observed her reflection, as if she were merely a spectator of her own reality.
- But, as I said... the time hasn't come yet, so I'll leave you for now. Goodbye, brother.
And with those final words, the ice spirits began to calm.
A moment later, Elis, as if waking from the influence of the mysterious voice, snapped back to reality. Her eyes cleared, and there were no traces of the other presence in her expression. She looked around, seemingly unaware of what had just transpired.
The spirits cautiously approached her, as if assessing whether she had fully returned to normal.
- What?
Elis asked, her voice back to its usual tone.
The ninjas immediately rushed toward her, with Kai and Cole reaching her first. Both looked deeply concerned after witnessing her under the control of an unknown force.
- Elis, do you remember anything?
Cole asked, his voice gentle but filled with evident worry.
The other ninjas stood nearby, watching closely, ready to step in if necessary.
- Remember what?
Elis asked, her face full of confusion.
Without hesitation, Kai quickly grabbed the black crystal from Elis' hands and threw it aside. It skidded across the icy floor before colliding with a wall and shattering into nothing but ice fragments scattered across the corridor.
Kai immediately placed his hands on Elis' shoulders, carefully but firmly, scanning her face as if searching for any sign that something was wrong.
- Are you okay? Everything normal? Nothing changed?
He asked, his eyes intensely focused on hers.
Elis looked at him in surprise, her voice calm as she answered:
- Yeah, I'm fine.
- Phew...
Everyone exhaled in unison, feeling a wave of relief wash over them. The tension that had gripped the ninjas began to fade as they saw that Elis was unharmed.
- Seems like he does care, after all.
Jay whispered to Nya, watching as Kai continued to fuss over Elis.
Nya glanced at Cole, who stood nearby, watching Elis intently, as if searching for any lingering effects of what had just happened.
- And so does Cole. If I remember correctly, he didn't trust her much at first.
Nya murmured back.
Kai let go of Elis and leaned forward slightly to be level with her face. He lifted a hand and gently tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
- What's with him?
Elis asked, glancing at Cole.
- I have no idea.
Cole replied with a small shrug.
Kai rolled his eyes, sighing in frustration, then straightened up.
- Let's go.
He said, unwilling to waste any more time.
He was about to move forward when suddenly, the ice spirits reappeared. This time, they each took one of the ninjas by the hand. Their cool, transparent touch sent a wave of tension through the group as they hesitantly followed.
- Where are they taking us?
Zane asked, his voice filled with unease.
- Definitely not to a dance party.
Jay quipped, trying to lighten the mood.
But everyone knew the situation was far more serious than he let on.
***
The spirits led the ninja through a winding corridor, and eventually, they found themselves in a vast ice hall. The space was enormous, its walls and ceiling gleaming with cold light emanating from massive ice crystals hanging throughout the hall, reflecting every movement like mirrors.
In the center of the hall, on a massive pedestal, shone the Frost Crystal. Its bright white glow illuminated the darkness, and it seemed to radiate cold that pierced straight to the heart. The crystal was enormous, larger than any they had seen before, and from its surface, thin beams of ice extended, seemingly enhancing its magical power even more.
The ice spirits that had guided the ninja stood nearby, their eyes once again clouded, their bodies barely moving, as if guarding this place they had preserved for centuries.
- There it is.
Master Wu said quietly, pointing at the crystal.
- The Frost Crystal. But something is wrong... I don't know what's happening.
The spirits did not move and remained still, but the atmosphere around them was tense. Everyone could feel that this moment was of great significance.
Suddenly, everything began to shake, and the ice walls hissed with cracks forming across them. The ice began to collapse, with massive chunks crashing down, threatening everything in their path. The ground beneath their feet creaked, as if anticipating destruction.
- Zane!!!
Niya shouted, throwing him a look that spoke louder than words—they had to get to the crystal before it was too late.
- This feels familiar!!
Jay yelled, his voice ringing through the silence before the catastrophe.
- Jay, shut up and run!!!!
Cole shouted, shoving Jay aside as a massive chunk of ice whizzed past, missing him by mere inches.
- I WANT TO GO HOME!!!!
Jay screamed, not hesitating or looking back—he was the first to sprint toward the exit, dodging falling ice shards along the way.
- Zane, did you get the crystal?!
Master Wu asked, his voice filled with both urgency and awe.
- Yes!
Zane shouted, raising his hand high with the Frost Crystal. The crystal glowed with a bright, cold light, almost alive, its radiance cutting through the cave's darkness.
- What about them?!
Niya glanced at the ice spirits, who remained in the hall, surrounded by ruins.
- Nothing can help them now!!
Elis shouted, her voice firm and resolute—she understood that the spirits would not escape their fate.
Kai and Cole rushed to Elis, and unable to bear the danger any longer, placed their hands on her shoulders, urging her to run with them.
- Let's go!!
Kai shouted, his gaze full of determination.
And together, without looking back at the danger, they dashed toward the exit, leaving the collapsing cave behind.
***
The ninja ran out of the ice cave, and now their path led to a new danger. The ground beneath their feet felt hollow and heavy, carrying an unwelcoming presence with every step. The air, though crisp and clear, was thick with the foreboding sense of great peril. Each of them felt it, like a weight hanging in every breath.
Walking beside Master Wu, Jay couldn't hold back his curiosity. His gaze was sharp, uneasy, and he couldn't help but ask:
- Sensei, what are we heading toward next?
Master Wu responded calmly, but there was a weight to his words that was impossible to ignore.
- We are heading for the Fire Katana, which rests in a temple at the heart of the strongest volcano. Its name is Irikanmo—the Flame's Soul.
The name of the volcano, Irikanmo, sounded mysterious, yet it carried power, like the fire it was named after. This volcano wasn't just a place of erupting lava—it was a volcano with a soul, with flames that could consume everything around them. And if someone could withstand its blaze, they could gain power capable of changing not just the world, but the very essence of existence itself.
Elis, her eyes slightly clouded with thought, asked, trying to piece together the significance of their quest:
- Why is the Hirao weapon the last one?
Her voice was a bit uncertain, as if she was trying to put the puzzle together in her mind.
Kai, hearing the question, couldn't hold back his signature smirk. He had long understood the importance of this weapon, and his answer was simple:
- Because fire is better than a breeze.
He glanced at Elis and grinned, as if there was some unshakable truth in his words that he had always believed in.
Elis seemed even more confused, and unable to hold back, she asked again:
- Sensei, could you remind me why he is with us?
The usual tension between Kai and Elis didn't take long to appear, and, as always, they started bickering. Kai waved his hands animatedly, as if it was his natural reaction to any question Elis asked.
- Hey!
He exclaimed, determined not to let her have the last word in the argument.
And as always, their squabbles had become so routine that no one else was even surprised anymore.
Niya, walking behind them, smiled slightly and commented:
- I think this is just their habit now.
Her voice was calm, with a slight hint of irony, like that of an observer who had witnessed these arguments countless times before.
Zane, glancing at them, asked with mild amusement:
- You've noticed it too?
There was a trace of laughter in his voice, but he seemed more interested in how this dynamic duo reacted to every little thing.
Their journey to Irikanmo continued. With every step, the sense of approaching something enormous and unpredictable grew stronger. The tension was rising, and even the ground beneath their feet seemed to respond to their uncertain yet determined strides. Despite the heated atmosphere around them, there was no turning back now—fate had led them here, and each of them felt it, like a burning flame that threatened yet also promised newfound strength. They had to pass through Irikanmo to find out if they were truly ready for what awaited them in the Temple of the Flame's Soul.