The molten lava boiled fiercely, radiating intense heat that made everyone around the crater tense and wary.
"The temperatures here are insanely high! We might melt if we're not careful," Jasmine complained, her voice trembling as they peered cautiously into the glowing abyss.
All remained mounted on their dragons, hesitant to dismount and face the dangerous reality so close to them.
"Nick! What's the plan? How do we get the hidden gem and the puzzle book?" Tiffy asked urgently.
"We need to find clues in their underground basements," Nick replied firmly. "Torturing the hybrids won't help — this is a secret they're protecting fiercely."
"So, you're saying we have to go deeper inside, face even bigger dangers?" Luca asked.
"I have poison gas bombs," Nick explained. "If we throw them inside all at once, it'll buy us time to search for clues without wandering aimlessly in this deadly place."
"Alright, let's move!" Mikal led his dragon as they descended toward the underground basements. Outside the main entrances, they fought off a few hybrid guards before Nick tossed in the gas bombs.
"Everyone, put on masks! Tiffy, do you have enough for the whole team?" Nick called out.
"Only two gas masks," Tiffy answered.
"Okay, the rest stay outside. Tiffy and I will go in to search for clues," Nick instructed. The others reluctantly agreed.
Equipped and masked, Nick and Tiffy carefully made their way into the main basement.
"Oh Nick, you're still such a mama's boy," Tiffy teased.
"Why's that?" Nick asked, curious.
"Because you don't even know how to help a lady descend safely. Haven't you heard? Ladies first!"
"I wasn't trying to be picky—just forgot. Let's focus on the mission," Nick said, shaking his head.
"Should've been me first, you know. My place in your life is irreplaceable."
"We don't have time for this debate. The gems will choose their bearer. We just have to focus," Nick said firmly.
"Remember your childhood dream of being a doctor?" Tiffy nudged.
"That dream faded because of my health problems—concussions, weak immune system, mental illness. But I'm happy as a soldier and scholar now."
"Dreams are valid. Want me to help you achieve them?"
"No, I'm contented being a family man and soldier. But you—you could be a leader. Imagine a female president."
"Nah. Royalty or presidency of a powerful nation—I don't boast. As long as I have you by my side, watching you achieve your dreams, that's enough."
"Do you want me to be president?"
"Absolutely—but no cheating. The end does justify the means."
"I don't need to cheat. I'm influential already. I just need your inspiration. You inspired me in basketball; now I inspire you for presidency."
"You'll always have my cheerleading support. But right now, focus. Everyone's unconscious. Where do we start looking for clues?"
"There must be a secret room or safe."
"Let's find it—but watch for traps."
They entered a room that looked like a library.
"Looks like a library," Nick noted as they stepped inside.
"Let's split up and search quickly," Tiffy urged.
Nick soon spotted a tall ladder and climbed carefully.
"Are you okay?" Tiffy called.
"Found a safe up here!" Nick shouted.
"What's inside?"
"No idea. We have to open it."
Nick grabbed a grenade from nearby and blew the safe open, triggering blaring alarms.
"Quick, climb up and check!" Tiffy urged.
Nick climbed and found two complete puzzle books.
"Two puzzle books! We've got them!" he exclaimed, starting to climb down.
Suddenly, the mutants awoke and surrounded them.
"Where do you think you're going, thieves?" one snarled.
"Those weapons won't work on us!" another boasted.
"Let's find out," Nick said, firing alongside Tiffy as they fought fiercely.
Using martial arts and ammunition, they fought past the hybrids, but Nick was shot in the leg.
"I'm the base director," the attacker growled. "Time for real bullets."
Just as he aimed to finish Nick, Tiffy dove to shield him and took a bullet to her chest.
The director was hit too but his thick skin kept him alive.
"Let me finish this!" he snarled, reloading.
Nick reacted swiftly, launching a barrage that finally neutralized the director.
Dragging himself outside, Nick called for help. The others rushed to carry Tiffy, who was unconscious. They began first aid, removing her clothes carefully.
"Tiffy, stay with us! We need you!" Nick pleaded, tears falling. Shaking her gently, he begged, "Please wake up! I'm sorry for everything—the abuse, the violence. Just come back!"
Elizabeth stepped in, "We need to act quickly! Mikal, do you know what to do?"
"These are traditional first aid skills I learned from my grandparents. I'm not a doctor, but I'll try," Mikal said determinedly.
"Alright, Dr. Mikal," Elizabeth said half-joking.
They worked swiftly, removing bullets, bandaging wounds, and giving her herbal medicine. Her heart was steady.
As they pressed on her chest and gave her water, Tiffy suddenly vomited but then slowly regained consciousness.
Nick hugged her tightly. "You're alive! We thought we lost you. Mikal and the team saved you."
"I'm back. Thank you all," Tiffy whispered, freeing herself from the embrace.
"Tiffy needs rest. Maybe we should leave her here while the rest continue," Mikal suggested.
"No," Tiffy insisted. "I'm staying. I need to be with Nick and finish this mission."
Nick knelt beside her. "I understand. But you must heal. Elizabeth and Jasmine will stay with you. The rest will go on. Trust me—everything here is safe now."
"Okay, Nick. I trust you. Good luck."
Nick gathered the team to study the puzzle books.
"I think I've figured out where the secret locations are," he said excitedly. "Let's go."
Nick, Mikal, Lama, William, and John mounted their dragons and took off.
At the volcano's peak, they landed cautiously.
"The gem is on the right side of the inner crater. The volcano erupts when foreign particles enter—just like sneezing. There's a trench or safe where they hide the orange gem."
Mikal and Nick prepared to enter.
"I think I found the safe," Nick whispered, stretching his hand into a hole.
After a tense moment, he pulled out the orange gem.
"We got it!"
Mikal's dragon accidentally shook its tail, knocking foreign particles into the lava.
"The volcano's about to erupt! We have to get out—now!" Mikal warned.
They fled just as the eruption began, racing back to their dragon habitat where they reunited with the girls.
"That was too close!" Nick gasped, catching his breath.
"Lava usually doesn't reach this far. This place is safe," Luca said. "Thanks for fighting our oppressors—they enslaved and tortured us for trespassing."
"They're neutralized now, but their allies might come back. Be ready," Nick warned.