Chapter 3: Chapter 3 - Cloak of Elements, Activate!
Ethan's heart was racing as he ran through the dense foliage of the rainforest, twigs and branches snapping underfoot as he ran. Behind him, he could hear the thundering footsteps of a giant three-horned beetle. Trees were being knocked over and destroyed by the sheer power of the abnormally large three-horned beetle rampaging through the foliage. He cast a desperate glance over his shoulder and saw the beetle's razor-sharp mandibles snapping just inches away from his heels. He could hear Connor's laughter echoing nearby, and he gritted his teeth in frustration.
"Are you going to help me or just stand there laughing?" Ethan shouted over his shoulder.
Connor was a young man in his 20s with unruly jet-black hair, donning a scarlet red zip-up hoodie with gold trims. Connor smirked as he stood from a distance and watched his colleague zigzag through the trees. "I thought you said you wanted to get in shape. This is good cardio!"
"Very funny," Ethan said as he hopped over a fallen log. He could see the beetle closing in, its three sharp horns glinting in the sunlight. "Seriously, help me out here! Did you forget we're actually here on a mission?!"
Connor shrugged and adjusted his hoodie. "Okay, fine. Let's see what we can do." He scanned the surrounding foliage, looking for something to help them out. Ethan had a point, they were here on a mission and the sooner they found what they were looking for, the sooner they could go home.
The rainforest was thick with vines and trees, and the sounds of the wildlife filled the air. Ethan's heart pounded in his chest as he dodged around a large boulder for cover. Suddenly, he heard a loud rumble and turned to see a huge tree falling towards him.
"Watch out!" Connor shouted as he waved his hand towards the tree. A gust of wind suddenly picked up, and the tree veered off to the side, barely missing Ethan.
"Thanks," Ethan panted as he skidded to a halt. The beetle was still coming, its massive bulk barreling through the trees.
Connor's eyes lit up as he looked up into the canopy. "I've got an idea." He sprinted over to a nearby tree and placed his hand on the trunk. Suddenly, vines and roots began to snake out from the ground, wrapping around the fallen tree and lifting it up into the air.
"Whoa," Ethan said as he watched in amazement. "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to swing the tree at the beetle," Connor said with a grin. The tree was soon swinging back and forth, and Ethan could hear the beetle's screeches growing louder as it drew closer to the both of them.
"Ready?" Connor shouted as he grabbed Ethan by the arm and pulled him aside.
"Ready for what?" Ethan questioned, confused by the rapid developments.
"This!" Connor yelled as he swung the tree at the beetle. The trunk hit the creature's head, knocking it off balance and sending it crashing into a nearby thicket.
Ethan let out a sigh of relief as he watched the beetle stagger away. "You uncultured dolt. That was a close one."
Connor shrugged. "No thanks necessary. That's what friends are for, right?"
Ethan shook his head and grinned, "You're lucky you had the Cloak of Elements on you."
Connor shrugged and adjusted the zipper on his hood, the relic that was known as the Cloak of Elements, disguised as a plain hoodie. "Yeah, I guess I am. I still much prefer-...you know what? Never mind that. "
Ethan wiped the sweat from his forehead and took a deep breath while adjusting his glasses. "So, remind me again why we're risking our lives in this rainforest?"
Connor's expression turned serious. "We're here to meet with the local tribe leader. They requested some support from the old lady a while ago."
"The local tribe? The Kadazan-Dusuns right?" Ethan pulled a tablet out of his pocket and scanned through some information. "It says here they're the protectors of the Maliau Basin."
"That's right. They're one of the indigenous tribes that decided to retreat back into nature's sanctuary after Starfall," Connor said as the two of them continued through the rainforest, following the sounds of the local tribe's drums in the distance.
"I don't understand why anyone would give up the luxuries of technology and decide to live in this kind of place," Ethan sighed, missing the single horsepower air conditioning unit in his bedroom.
"After Starfall, relics made things convenient. Technology of old quickly lost its relevance...especially in this day and age." Connor said to Ethan who was trailing behind him.
Ethan pursed his lips in disapproval and said bitterly, "Heh, the convenience of relics? Not sure if I can relate to that."
Connor went silent after that, realizing that he hit a sore spot with his colleague. Ethan was classified as a non-user, someone who has no affinity with relics. It was something truly rare in the present age, seeing as how about 73% of the world were relic users. However, Ethan chose to involve himself with relics regardless, and nobody knew why.
They kept walking for about fifteen more minutes, until Connor sensed something familiar in the air. He gestured a finger towards his lips, signalling Ethan to slow down and be silent.
As they came to a stop, they could see evidence of the Stellanium radiation that had caused so many of the local flora and fauna to mutate. Trees grew at odd angles, and the underbrush was thick with tangled vines and strange fungi that were glowing.
Connor and Ethan made their way past the vastly mutated shrubs, plants and vines - some of which definitely seemed like they had a mind of their own.
"This place gives me the creeps." Ethan whispered lowly.
"Hush...lets try not to attract any unwanted attention. Have you forgotten your run in with our beetle friend earlier?" Connor shot Ethan a glare as they tread carefully across this zone.
-whoosh!-
Before they could proceed any further, a whistling sound could be heard in the distance as what looks like a dart flew past their faces and penetrated one of the trees.
"Kada insud mantad doino," a cold deep voice warned them in a foreign language. A very handsome tanned male who was in his late thirties stepped out from within the dense shrubs, his body marked with interesting geometrical tattoos and face paint. He was muscular and well toned, which was made more evident from his lack of modern clothing. The man wielded a long wooden spear, and around his waist was a red long red sash that danced in the wind.
"What's he saying?" Connor turned to ask Ethan as they both slowly raised their hands up into the air as a sign of peace.
"Basically...do not take another step further. It's one of the local languages." Ethan responded, while glancing around to scan their surroundings.
"That is correct, white man."
The man who spoke first approached the duo with his spear pointed at them, as other tribe members also started to appear to encircle them both.
"I would normally be impressed that someone else speaks our language...but, please, state your identities. The Maliau Basin is home to our sacred ground, and entry is forbidden to outsiders," the man said, staring down at both Connor and Ethan.
Connor sighed and took a badge out from his side pocket, showing it to the crowd around him. "Relax chief. Lady Enki sent for us. Your chief...the Molohingon, we are here to meet him."
The man, who seemed to hold the most authority amongst the other tribe members, took a closer look at the badge. He nodded and signaled to his companions to put down their spears.
"This is real. You are from Heaven's Watch." he marveled at the badge, which only a few in the world have seen.
Connor and Ethan both put down their arms and relaxed. Ethan in particular, sighed, feeling relieved that they would not be skewered alive by the Kadazan-Dusun tribe today.
"I am Aki Timbun, commander of the 5th division of the Maliau Guardians." Aki Timbun said as he placed his fist above his chest and thumped as a greeting.
"Now that this is sorted, let's go see your chief," Ethan stepped in and said with a sense of urgency.
"Let's not extend our stay here, something is giving me the creeps." he added, while adjusting his glasses.
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Connor, Ethan, and Aki Timbun's merry little group trudged through the thick undergrowth of the rainforest, their feet sinking into the damp soil with each step. Aki led the way, his spear in hand, while Connor and Ethan followed closely behind, their eyes darting around the dense foliage.
"So, Aki, have you seen any interesting creatures around here lately?" Ethan asked, trying to make small talk.
Aki glanced back at Ethan with a raised eyebrow. "Interesting creatures? You mean the ones that can kill you in an instant? Plenty of those around here."
Ethan chuckled nervously. "Right, right. I meant more like... weird ones. Mutated or something."
Aki's expression softened. "Ah, yes. We've seen quite a few of those. There was this one time we came across a giant millipede that spewed toxin from each of its legs. I've never seen anything like it before."
Ethan wrinkled his nose. "Sounds lovely. Remind me never to come back here again."
Connor chuckled. "It's not all bad, Ethan. There's plenty of beauty in the rainforest if you know where to look."
Ethan nodded in agreement. "Yeah, like those giant flowers we saw earlier. They were like... the size of a car or something."
Connor rolled his eyes. "Fancy giving those away at a romantic date?"
As they continued their trek, the group fell into a comfortable silence. The only sounds were the rustling of leaves underfoot and the occasional call of a bird or monkey.
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[Nunuk Ragang Village - home to the Kadazan-Dusun tribe, Maliau Basin]
Finally, they arrived at the tribe's base of operations, a collection of huts and tents nestled in a clearing beneath an overgrown and majestic banyan tree. The tree gave off the vibes of being ancient and mystical, and it seemed to welcome Aki and his warriors back. Aki led them towards the largest of the huts, where the chief was waiting to meet them.
As they approached, Connor couldn't help but feel a little nervous. He had heard stories about the fierce warriors who protected the rainforest, and he wasn't sure what to expect.
But as they entered the hut and were greeted by the chief, Connor felt his nerves begin to dissipate. The chief was a regal-looking man with a kind face and a warm smile.
"Greetings, travelers," the chief said in a deep, booming voice. "I am the Molohingon, chief of the tribe that protects this rainforest. I have been expecting your arrival."
Connor and Ethan bowed in respect. "Thank you for having us, chief," Ethan said awkwardly in what sounded like the local language.
The chief raised an eyebrow. "You speak our language fluently. Impressive."
Ethan grinned. "I have a knack for languages. Especially ones that are classified as endangered."
"Quit showing off," Connor cut in and cleared his throat. "We're here at Lady Enki's request, chief. She mentioned that something was troubling you."
"Yes, yes. Now, where should I begin?" the chief nodded and let out a long sigh.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
shypotattoo
shypotattoo Hey all! shypotattoo here, sorry for the infrequent updates. I'm still trying to catch a tempo and juggle this authoring thing besides my day job. But I hope you've enjoyed what you've been reading so far. Do leave a review or comment somewhere! I'll be updating the notes and glossary sections at a later time. If you've spotted a mistake or error - drop me a message! :D
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone