KING LUKE'S POV

He paced back and forth in the cave they had sheltered in when Mount Mayon had erupted. The other three were also deep in thought as to how they could stop a young lady in her prime age with the reflexes of a ninja and the power to travel between dimensions.

He ran through his three methods again, even if they were unrealistic and would probably not be able to stop her completely.

His first method was to steal all of Naomi's Amaroks from her. Even though he knew that there was a very high probability that Naomi would be stuck in a dimension where the original Naomi of that dimension existed, and therefore there would be a realm collapse.

His second method was to try and convince Naomi to stop using his authority, which in itself sounded stupid. His last method was just killing her, but he knew he could resolve this with minimal violence.

He stopped pacing and turned to the others. “We need a concrete plan to deal with Naomi. The risk of a realm collapse is too great if we misstep, and time isn’t on our side.”

Hara, seated on a jagged rock near the cave entrance, glanced up from a piece of parchment she had been scribbling on.

“The issue is her ability to travel between dimensions at will. Even if we take her Amaroks, she might have backup plans we don’t know about.”

Yanna leaned against the cave wall, her arms crossed. “We can’t just focus on defense. If Naomi has xerxesium, she could be planning to forge something more powerful than the Gems of Fortune. Whatever it is, it could spell the end for us all."

King Luke rubbed his temples, trying to quell the mounting frustration. “And we can’t forget Kiarha. Naomi told her about the xerxesium on purpose, from our recent visit to young Luke's realm. It’s clear she’s trying to set up a trap.”

Hara nodded. “A Gem of Fortune’s creation would definitely attract Kiarha. She’ll stop at nothing to obtain the material. That alone makes Naomi’s move dangerous. She’s manipulating everyone around her like pieces on a chessboard.”

Yanna’s eyes narrowed. “Then let’s stop being pieces and start playing as equals. We need to anticipate her next move.”

Luke considered her words, a flicker of determination igniting in his chest. “Agreed. First, we need to secure the Amarok in this dimension. If Naomi fuses it with the others, she could become unstoppable.”

Hara frowned. “I’ve been thinking about that. If we could use the Gem of the Winds, we might be able to counteract her dimensional abilities. Chief Na’ankhum wrote to me just before we left for the Philippines—his hunters found a map to the Gem’s location. It’s in Venom Valley.”

“Venom Valley?” Luke repeated, his voice heavy with concern. “That place is a death trap. I lost great people there during the Great Rift Wars. It’s swarming with venomous creatures and unpredictable terrain, and who knows what Naomi's brought with her as backup.”

Hara met his gaze. “I know. But if we want a chance to stop Naomi, we have to take risks.”

King Luke hesitated, then nodded. “Alright. We’ll retrieve the Gem of the Winds. But first, we need to find a way to travel there safely. Let’s go to the trio and tell them our plan.
The sooner we secure the Gem, the better our chances are against Naomi.”

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NAOMI’S POV

Naomi sat in her dimly lit chamber, her fingers tracing the intricate designs of her Amarok. The glow from the artifact cast shifting patterns across the walls, but her focus was elsewhere.

Kiarha’s reaction had gone exactly as she’d anticipated. The mention of xerxesium was enough to light a fire in her rival’s eyes, but Naomi wasn’t about to let her adversary act unchecked.

She leaned back in her chair, her lips curling into a sly smile. “Kiarha will go straight for Lord Luke’s stash. She won’t even think twice about the consequences.”

Standing, Naomi strode to the window and looked out at the sprawling city below. The people were blissfully unaware of the machinations happening behind the scenes—Naomi’s games, Kiarha’s ambition, Luke’s strategies.

But there was one wild card Naomi couldn’t ignore. Hara.

Hara’s influence stretched farther than Naomi had initially believed. The A’kun Tribe’s loyalty to her was an unexpected obstacle, and if the rumors were true, they had already located the Gem of the Winds.

Naomi clenched her fists. “Hara’s always one step ahead. But not for long.”

She turned away from the window and activated a small portal device on her desk. The swirling energy reflected her cold determination as she stepped through, ready to execute the next phase of her plan and get away before any of the good guys noticed.

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CHIEF NA’ANKHUM’S POV

The wind howled through the jungle as Chief Na’ankhum stood at the edge of Venom Valley. His hunters had returned with detailed accounts of the treacherous landscape ahead. Even with the map, the journey would be perilous.

Na’ankhum’s hand rested on the hilt of his ceremonial blade. He knew he couldn’t accompany Hara to the valley—his duties to the tribe came first. But he had to ensure she understood the risks.

He glanced at the letter he had prepared earlier, then handed it to one of his most trusted messengers. “Deliver this to Lady Hara. Make sure she understands the dangers of what lies ahead.”

The messenger bowed and set off on horseback, disappearing into the dense foliage.

Na’ankhum turned back to the valley, a sense of unease settling over him. The winds here were unpredictable, carrying whispers of the past and promises of peril. He only hoped Hara was ready for what awaited her as he and his men started making their way through the valley.

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LUKE’S POV

By the time the squad reached Tacloban, the sun was beginning to set. The city was alive with activity, its streets bustling with vendors, vehicles, and pedestrians.

Luke scanned the area, his gaze falling on the Tacloban City airport in the distance. “There it is. If we can secure a flight, we’ll be in Venom Valley by morning.”

G frowned. “Securing a flight might be tricky without local currency.”

Trihara held up a sleek black card. “Not a problem. Chief Na’ankhum gave me this. It should cover any expenses we encounter.”

Luke raised an eyebrow. “What is that?”

“Let’s just say it’s a gift from someone with deep pockets,” Trihara replied with a smirk.

They made their way to the airport and quickly arranged for a private plane to take them to the nearest landing strip to Venom Valley. As they waited for the flight, Luke couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched.

Hara noticed his tension and placed a hand on his arm. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know,” Luke admitted. “Something feels… off.”

G glanced around. “You think Naomi’s onto us?”

“Maybe,” Luke said. “Or maybe it’s just paranoia. Either way, we need to stay alert. She could be watching us right now and we wouldn't even know."

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NAOMI’S POV

From a secluded vantage point, Naomi observed the squadron boarding their plane. Her portal device had brought her to Tacloban ahead of them, and she had spent the past hour tracking their movements.

She smirked as she watched the plane taxi down the runway. “So, they’re going after the Gem of the Winds. Predictable.”

Naomi activated her own portal and stepped through, emerging in the heart of Venom Valley. The air was thick with humidity, and the faint hissing of unseen creatures echoed through the dense foliage of the deadly oasis.

She adjusted the straps of her travel pack and set off toward the Gem’s supposed location. “If they think they’ll beat me to it, they’re sorely mistaken. They'll never know what hit
'em."

VENOM VALLEY

They disembarked their plane and began their trek towards Venom Valley. The jungle seemed to close in around them, the vibrant greenery masking countless dangers as they finally made it to the valley.

Hara held the map Chief Na’ankhum’s hunters had found, her brow furrowed in concentration. “According to this, the Gem should be located near a clearing about two miles east of here.”

G pulled out a small device, scanning the area for signs of movement. “We’re not alone. There’s something—or someone—out there. It's either Naomi or Naomi."

Luke gripped his sword tightly. “Stay close. If Naomi’s here, we need to be ready for anything.”

As they moved deeper into the valley, the tension grew. Every rustle of leaves and distant cry of an animal set them on edge. They knew the dangers of Venom Valley all too well, but the stakes were too high to turn back now.

Unbeknownst to them, Naomi was already closing in on the Gem, her every step calculated and her resolve unshaken. None of them knew each other's present locations, so ambush risks were at an all time high.

A battle was about to begin.

(Alright, so I'll quickly explain who's going into Venom Valley to get the Gem of the Winds.
- Luke and King Luke.
- G.
- Queen Kiarha from an unknown realm.
- Trihara and Royahara.
- Yanna from King Luke's realm.
- Naomi.
- Chief Na'ankhum.
- Chief Na'ankhum's A'kun army of 100 archers and 100 swordsmen.
It would be quite a chaotic battle, don't you think, readers?)