The Legend of the Ethereal Spheres

The cave was quiet, but only at first. At every step, the light of the runes on the walls shifted, as if the cave itself was breathing, pointing to an unseen power lying beneath the earth. Zorak's troops weren't far behind. The group was ready for a fight, but they all felt something in the air—an inevitable battle against forces that surpassed everything they had faced before.

Kai stood in front, his scar pulsing, almost as if it were alive. This was not just his battle energy, but something much deeper, connected to the Ether. But it was only a matter of time—nothing would stop them until they found the sphere.

"Miko, what's up with the runes?" Kai asked, watching as Miko carefully studied the stone.

"These runes are strange," Miko replied, focusing on the ancient symbols. "It's possible they lead to the sphere, but it won't be easy. It's like something is pulling us deeper, to something dangerous."

Reika stood off to the side, surveying the surroundings. "We need to hurry. If Zorak gets here before we're done, it's over."

Suddenly, they all fell silent. There were faint footsteps, as if someone was following them. No one knew what to expect, but something in the air suggested it was someone who didn't belong to Zorak's army. In an instant, from the darkness, a fighter emerged, dressed in black attire, with a hood that concealed most of his face. Only his eyes gleamed through the shadow.

"Who is this?" Kai asked, drawing his sword.

"Don't!" the fighter said, raising his hands in a sign of peace. "I'm not an enemy. I've come to help."

"Where did you come from?" Reika asked, tense, keeping her sword ready.

The fighter didn't answer immediately. He looked at the group, his gaze settling on Kai. "My name is Xander," the fighter said, slowly lowering his hood. Beneath it, his hand revealed a scar in the shape of a spiral. Kai froze. This scar... it was identical to his own. But there was no time to ask questions. Zorak's troops were already at the entrance.

"Whoever you are, now is not the time for questions," Kai said, looking toward the mechanical soldiers coming from the darkness.

Xander drew his sword, his fighting stance calm but determined. "Don't worry. We'll deal with them."

The moment Xander took a step forward, Zorak's soldiers attacked. But Xander moved with incredible precision and speed. Each swing of his sword was accurate and deadly. He was like snow falling, silent but lethal strikes. No one could keep up with his movements. The fighter's body seemed like part of the world itself, as though he were an element of battle.

"We'll shorten their path to the sphere! Let's push them toward Xander!" Kai called out, launching an attack on the mechanical soldiers.

"Then it's time to really start fighting!" Xander replied, his sword flashing in his hands as soldiers fell one after another.

While the two of them fought side by side, Zorak's soldiers were falling like fruits squeezed in a hand. The soldiers became helpless before their speed and precision. It was as if they were working as one.

Reika struck beside them, her energy glowing brightly, although she was cautious. "Don't forget about the runes! We need to focus on the clues that lead to the sphere!"

Miko was on the stone, trying to decipher the rune that might be the key to further movement. "I won't be able to finish this if you keep getting distracted!"

"We'll take care of them!" Kai called out, hitting one of the soldiers, while Xander dodged an attack from another. Zorak could send as many soldiers as he wanted, but the fighters here, now united, would not stop.

Through all the chaotic fighting, Kai felt a connection to Xander. As if they were in the same rhythm, as though they had learned the same fighting techniques. He couldn't explain why, but something told him this fighter had much more to do with his past than he knew.

The fight raged on. Zorak's soldiers came in waves, but Kai and Xander didn't stop. Finally, when all the soldiers had fallen, Zorak stood before them, cold and above all, his evil gaze fixed on Kai and Xander.

"It ends here," Zorak said, raising his hand, summoning his dark energy. "This is my end, and you are nothing but obstacles."

"No more running, Zorak!" Kai replied, raising his sword, ready to finally face the enemy. "We finish this now."

Xander stood beside him, his sword in hand. "We're ready."

In that moment, everything froze. The ground beneath them trembled, and the fight was just a step away from the final showdown.