Crystal Symphony

Bonus: Book 4: Edition 1 2013: Ch-9

Bonus Chapter: Original Version of Ch-9

Author’s Note: This was the original script I wrote back in 2013 from book 4. As you can see, there are notable differences. A lot have been changed overtime from my writing:) At the time I did not wrote book 1 so a lot of the ideas and concepts I had at the time were very rough and not polished. This was the easiest starting point for me to write back then. The changes have been made for the best to improve the flow and development for the characters. Also, the changes where made to tie in with the events of Book 1.

Chapter 9

Trial and Tribulation

Within the tower… The party strolls through a great spiraling hall. The walls as cold as ice

on the edge of a glacial cap.

-Katty-

Brrr!! It's even cold in here. What could they be planning with the cannon? Five opponents

wait for us…Hmm wonder how good they are.

-Swifter-

Hopefully they’re all not like Umbrella Master. I hope…

-Alistor-

You can say that again. The four of us stick close we should be fine. I can’t wait

to face Havok.

-Plasmus-

“We’ll have to plan carefully. This tower will test our skills and endurance. Hey I can see a

room straight up ahead.”

The room temperature immediately shifts upon entering the room. A room filled with gravel

of stones piled up. Solid ground dirt and stacks of mud and clay surround the field. The floor

begins shaking as the party tries to stand their ground. Two hands erects out from the dirt

as a massive torso begins pulling itself out. A monster of earth stands in their path. A solid

diamond shape embodied on its base. No visible sign of a face.

-Alistor-

Looks like our first opponent is ready.

-Katty-

“That was fast. They sure don’t waste any time. A huge rock monster.”

The monster takes its first step towards them, grounds shaking.

-Block mugger-

“Welcome to the Nova tower. I'll be your first opponent. Well, which one of you wants to go

first?”

Swifter was the first to step up.

-Katty-

Are you sure you want to go? You’re still tired from that fight with Umbrella Man. I’m still at

full power. Let me fight!

-Swifter-

“No! It’s okay…let me take this one. I insist.”

He pulls out his blade, dust emitting from the back of his cape.

-Block mugger-

“He insists! Well first come first served. Here I come!”

The monster throws the first swing for Swifter to dodge as the rest moves back. A heavy

swing to shake up the ground. Swifter retaliates back with a technique of cutting air chipping a

part of the monster’s back. The monster turns around to strike back knocking him across the

floor. It begins rooting itself to the ground, fist of earth starts to pop out from the distance.

Swifter rolls across the dirt flooring trying to make a recovery.

-Swifter-

“I have to get in close…”

He charges in strafing through what monster throws at him. Block mugger forms

a wall of clay but Swifter didn’t hesitate to take a swing at it. A huge purple gash of darkness

pierce through the wall from the tip of his blade. The wall shatters catching the golem off guard

as he delivers a heavy swing. A whole part of the monsters arm breaks off.

-Katty-

He seems to have this one in the bag.

-Plasmus-

“I wouldn’t celebrate just yet. Look!”

Block Mugger turns around, no feeling of pain or damage. Stones begin pulling back to

reform its lost limb. The monster makes a huge leap in the air directly in Swifter’s position.

-Katty-

“Get a move on! What are you doing?”

Swifter move out the way as quick as possible avoiding the impact but gets plummeted from

the debris flying across the room. A gaping crater is left as a dust storm begins brewing. Alistor

and the rest moved even further back to take cover. Katty suddenly notice Swifter breathing

pretty hard.

-Katty-

“You’re tired. Tag out and let me in.”

He refused and the monster starts hurling stones at him. He gets close to the monster once

more to fire a burst of dark energy. Giving all he had in one shot shattering the monster to

pieces. The dust clears but something was still amiss. The remains from Block Mugger swirls

across. Swifter begins taking chump damage from the monsters parts. He was down to his

very knees.

-Katty-

“That’s it! I’m going in.”

Katty attempt to jump in but Alistor stops him. Swifter got back up to mindlessly swing at the

oncoming stones impacting him. The swirling motion of the rocks begin slowing down as he

catches something out of place moving away from his mindless swinging. It was a glowing

object visible within his sight.

-Swifter-

“What’s that? A core! Of course!”

Distance away he fires a small electrical shard from his blade at the glowing core. The

swirling stones begin to stop as the monster quickly rushes to reform itself. Damage and sparks

burst out from the monsters body.

-Swifter-

“So that’s the source of your power. You need it to retain your certain form.”

Cracks begin forming across the monster. It struggles to hold its body together. Another

quake suddenly commence from the monster shaking things up. Stalagmites start falling from

the ceiling. Swifter didn’t hesitate this time to back away. He suddenly trips. A sword begins

forming from one of the monsters arms. It charges straight at Swifter with all its might.

-Katty-

“Move it Swif! He’s right behind you.”

Swifter gets back on his feet but it was nearly too late. Swerving to the left, he takes the

impact from the blade ramming straight by his left rib. He plunge his blade back at the monster’s

center exposing its core.

-Swifter-

If I go down…I’ll take you with me.

-Block Mugger-

“You'll never defeat Havok!!!!”

Alistor and the rest this time rushes in but he was able to break free beforehand. The monster

self-destructs with his blade stuck to its core. Swifter takes cover from the debris under the soft

cloth from his cape. The three helped Swifter back up on his feet.

-Alistor-

You’ve sustained quite a bit of injury.

-Plasmus-

You did good take it easy.

-Swifter-

“Heh…I can’t believe I lost my sword. Ugh…. Look like I won’t be able to fight on. Go on

ahead without me. I’ll try catching up later.”

He grasp tight on the side of his left rib wrapped in a cloth. The rest make their way to the

next door. They advance through the next floor with another spiraling hallway waiting for them.

The next room was cold filled with solid ice. A massive Ice titan in the shape of a crystal

appears before them.

-Katty-

Brrr! It’s cold again.

-Plasmus-

“Doesn’t matter, look our next opponent is here.”

Taking a first look Katty gets intimidated by the size of the Ice titan. It stares intensely down

at him. Spiked from the base of its crystal structure. It has its hands opened out.

-Katty-

This one’s even bigger than the last one.

-Glaliath-

“I am the Glacier of the Crystal Vortex. Which one of you wants to bathe in a deep freeze?

Ha ha ha ha ha.”

Plasmus takes the first step in but Katty stops him.

-Plasmus-

Why?

-Katty-

You both are still bit beaten up from Umbrella Man’s battle. Let me handle this. You both

need to conserve your strength if we’re goanna reach Havok. Swifter now unable to battle so I

won’t take any chance with you.

-Alistor-

Fine Katty, just don’t be reckless.

-Katty-

“Just leave it to me. Sit back and watch. This won’t take long. Besides , I’ve been waiting to

start. Let’s go!”

The two move back as the next fight begins. Katty instantly vanish from sight at the very

first start. The monster was confused turning its head around.

-Glaliath-

“What? We’re did you go?”

The monster kept its guard up. Katty reappears from behind to make the first strike delivering

an explosive impact from behind the monster. Chunks of ice chipping off from the top. The

monster claps both its hands to deliver a freezing powder of icy air at him. Katty gets flung back.

Shards of Ice begin firing from the monsters mouth.

-Katty-

Oh snap!

He was forced to roll across the room dashing while shards continuously fire. He fires a

charged shot at the monsters face to stop the attack. Pillars of Ice begin stabbing out from the

ground catching him by surprise. Katty moves in to attack as the monster was unable to keep

up with his speed.

-Katty-

“Let’s see how you like my Nova Finisher!”

Alistor suddenly recalls to a scene when Katty first used that attack to finish Moon’s first

monster. Another scene of Katty taking on the Baronia King is remembered as well. Katty rush

in taking the form of a golden light. A massive energy of Nova impacting at the Ice titan.

-Glaliath-

“You think that can stop me?”

The monster catches the Nova by the palm of its hands slowly getting pushed back. A

struggle between two forces before the attack died out. Katty gets punched back by the monster

taunting him. He gets back up from his knees surprised.

-Katty-

“Well, this is a first. No monster was able to stop my technique before. The Crystal Vortex

are sure something. My Nova finisher…”

Ice Spikes from the titan’s body begin firing out. Katty takes damage trying to counter

back as it explodes upon impact. The monster starts to rush in for a heavy ram, but he

moves instantly out the way. The monster gets stunned for the moment impacting the wall of the

tower. This gave him an idea.

-Glaliath-

This is it! Your technique failed you. I will finish you now.

-Katty-

Come on! Bring it!

A swift golden blade of energy forms across from his staff. He was more than ready to go all

out at the titan. He rushes in along with the monsters charge. Both opposing side passing through

each other. A s***h of heavy cutting can be heard. Glaliath turned around at Katty only to notice

its vision split into four.

-Glaliath-

“What? I can’t lose! Havok!!!”

The monster was cut more than sixteen times. One hand the titan tried putting all its effort to

grab him before it explodes.

-Katty-

Well…That was a work out. I’m still good to go.

-Alistor-

“Heh…Let’s move on then.”

Meanwhile back below from the first floor…

-Swifter-

“Huh…You again?”

Sarah and Winoa arrived in the tower.

-Winoa-

Where’s the rest of your team? You guys already started?

-Swifter-

They went on ahead of me. What brings you both here anyway?

-Sarah-

“To get stronger that’s all. If I can beat their key general at the top of this tower I’ll be one

step closer destroying Auroa. Come on! Winoa let’s go.”

The two make their leave to the next floor while Swifter continues to stay behind to recover.

Sarah and Winoa advance through the spiraling hallways.

Back from the Crystal Vortex hideout, Auroa and Kabuki begin transferring power to the

Nova Tower. Havok is on screen to report to them.

-Kabuki-

The power transfer is now commencing. What’s your status with Alistor and his team?

-Havok-

“They seem to have bested two of our five tower monsters. One of their friends is already

unable to fight so three remains. But no matter, they’ll be long tired before reaching me ha ha.”

A Vortex Soldier reports to Havok from behind. Kabuki now seem skeptical from the Vortex

soldiers message to Havok whispering on screen.

-Kabuki-

Well?

-Havok-

What? Two more intruders have entered this tower. Now we’ll have to deal with those pesks,

sigh… How long will this transfer take? We need to get the cannon going.

-Kabuki-

It will take some time. This is not easy as you think. Requires careful coordination. We want

it at its best.

-Havok-

“I suppose…Carry on.”

Havok turns the screen off. Looking back at the other screen he sees Alistor and his party

on the third floor. A standoff between them and the next monster itching to fight.

-Katty-

Come on Alistor, let me take this one. I’m still good to go.

-Alistor-

Don’t worry you sit back this time. I already have enough rest watching friends

fight my battles. Bring it!

He makes his first step to confront the next monster. Armless and swirling like a twister it

stares down at him with its one great eye. It towers greatly compared to the last two monsters.

-Top Head-

Top head is the name and your game ends all here. Nothing will stop us from rocking this

world.

-Alistor-

“I always wanted to battle an air elemental. Let’s see how good you are.”

The room gets dark, high gust of air begins blowing across the entire room. The monster

dissipates within the darkness. Alistor keeps his guard up. A sound of an attack approach him

and he dodges an air cutter. It slices through solid stone. More cutters begin firing out as he

was on the move running from rock to rock.

-Top Head-

Can’t hide forever. Give it up now.

-Alistor-

“He’s right. Hmph! Better yet why not turn up the lights.”

He leaps out from hiding unleashing a bang of light tossed at the ceiling. The monster is

mildly stunned from the bright flash hitting its eye. A beam of shooting stars fires out from

his blade hitting the monster. Top Head begins covering its eye with its twisting tail.

Alistor moves in close to take a swing at the monster, his sword slips through its hollow body.

It swipes its tail back knocking him away.

-Top Head-

“Is that the best you got?”

The monster begins swiping its tail consecutively slapping him back and forth. Alistor was

forced to fall back for some distance.

-Alistor-

“No good. The eye and the upper part is its only vulnerable spot. I need to gain some high

grounds. Hmm?”

Katty begins pointing out to a high ledge in the room.

-Katty-

Over there! That ledge!

-Alistor-

“Nice! I’ll use that then.”

He begins rushing to the ledge as the monster approaches swinging its tail at him. Air cutters

fire out from the monster’s base but he evades them easily. Alistor jumped from stone to stone

reaching the top. He dashed off making his great leap. Fire and Ice begins bursting around his

blade for the big attack.

-Katty-

You can do this.

-Alistor-

“Here goes!”

The attack punctures the monster nearly missing its whole eye by an inch. A part of the

monsters eye is blinded. It begins swirling harder rampaging in a mindless rage.

-Top Head-

“I’ll find you! Make you pay!”

It starts ramming and tackling mindlessly across the room. He nearly gets thrown in the air

from one of its attack. Katty had to catch him.

-Alistor-

“Damn! Missed by a slight inch. I’ll have to try again.”

He rush back to reach for the edge once more, but suddenly another force intervene to

impact the monster. A huge fire in the shape of a demon consumes the monster. On fire and

overwhelmed by the immense heat Top Head immediately exploded. Alistor goes to find the

cause of this. It was none other than Sarah and Winoa at the doors.

-Alistor-

Hey! He was mine. I totally had this under control.

-Sarah-

Huh? Well that doesn’t matter.

-Alistor-

So you’re here to help?

-Winoa-

No time to waste! They already began powering up for the cannon.

-Katty-

Huh what? The Cannon? Is this what it’s all about? This tower...

-Winoa-

“Yeah! It’s a weapon capable enough to destroy a whole city. We must stop whoever’s

up there now and destroy it.”

This left them with a wakeup call.

-Alistor-

“Then what we’re waiting for? Let’s get a move on.”

They continue their advance through the next spiraling hallway. Havok is seen walking in

the cold. A golden beam of energy from far above powers the four central pillars at the top. He is

seen holding the next crystal key in his hands. Two monsters now only remain by the general’s

side. Watching the cannon getting powered by the fortress. Cold chilling air continues to breeze

through rapidly.

-General Skyark-

We’re halfway there. Ha ha ha ha ha.

-Havok-

Yes…Yes…Though three have already fallen. We must not let their efforts be in vain. SPIKE!

SKYARK! Gather all the Vortex soldiers in the fortress. You are to delay Alistor and his petty

crew as long as possible. Now Go!

-General Skyark-

“Affirmative general!”

The two remaining monster’s make their leave while Havok remains at the top. He stares out

into the distant cold of the horizon.

-Havok-

Just try and stop me. I’LL BE WAITING!!!