The Raid

Deep within the Forbidden Level, Matthew searched for a way to capture Bridget and Asia. His sinister plan was to imprison them and torture them until they revealed the location of their five sisters.

The evil artifact known as the Gildebane flooded Matthew's mind with visions of immense destructive power. It whispered promises that the magic of the Seven Sisters could be twisted into a force capable of bringing ruin to the world.

Suddenly, the Gildebane granted him a vision. He saw a weathered farmhouse surrounded by dead trees, with an old barn standing nearby beneath a gray, haunted sky. As the vision faded, an evil smile spread across his face.

"I've found them," Matthew muttered. "Tyler, Chris, gather an army of ninjas. Raid the farmhouse and the barn just before sunrise. This time, Bridget and Asia won't escape."

Far away, Tyler was practicing ninjitsu at an abandoned temple. As he finished a series of swift strikes and kicks, Matthew's telepathic command echoed through his mind.

"So the hunt begins," Tyler said, sheathing his weapon. Without another word, he set off to assemble the ninja forces.

Meanwhile, in the Iceland Level, Chris—one of the Big Seven—stood outside an igloo wearing an oversized penguin costume. Matthew's telepathic message reached him as well.

Chris smirked and stepped inside the igloo. From a wooden chest, he pulled out a black top hat and a polished cane. Straightening the bow tie on his ridiculous costume, he grinned wickedly at his reflection.

"Soon," Chris said, "I'll finally get rid of this penguin costume. Then I'll look human again... just like the duelist I defeated."

With a cold laugh, he grabbed his cane and headed out into the frozen landscape to join Tyler for the coming assault before dawn.

Inside the old barn that had been transformed into a hidden command center, alarms suddenly erupted. Red warning lights flashed across the walls as the advanced computer systems detected and intercepted Matthew's telepathic message.

Monitors flickered to life, displaying the threat analysis. The system recognized the danger immediately—the Forbidden Level was preparing an attack.

Activate emergency response procedures," Guardian 20276-7 commanded. "Go get Rain, Boze, Jacob, Delilah, Bridget, and Asia. We must activate Continuity of Operations Protocols immediately."

Data-G-01 turned toward the exit and nodded.

"Yes, sir," Data-G-01 replied.

Rain, Boze, Jacob, Delilah, Bridget, and Asia entered the barn. Alarms blared as flashing red lights filled the room.

"What's going on?" Rain shouted at the top of her lungs, trying to be heard over the deafening alarm.

"Matthew has sent Tyler, Chris, and an army of ninjas to raid both the command center and your living quarters to capture Bridget and Asia," Guardian 20276-7 explained.

"Oh my gosh," Delilah said, covering her mouth with her hands.

Tears began rolling down Asia's cheeks.

"It's my fault. If I hadn't come to this realm, they never would have found you," Asia said.

Bridget wrapped her arms around her sister, trying to comfort her.

"We have a Continuity of Operations plan in place for an occasion such as this," Guardian 20276-7 said. "There is a secret underground bunker large enough to house both the living quarters and the command center."

"We just need a few of you to hold the ninjas off until all the systems are online," Data-G-01 continued. "Then we will activate the automatic self-destruct sequence and destroy the command center. Unfortunately, Matthew has divided his forces into two groups—one to raid the living quarters and the other to attack the command center."

Boze clenched his fists.

"Man, I wish there were a way to get all of them into the command center and defeat them when the building self-destructs."

"There is," Asia said, beginning to regain her composure.

"How?" Boze asked.

"What if the ninjas saw Bridget and me run into the barn?"

"That plan is much too dangerous, and I will not allow it," Guardian 20276-7 replied.

"I wasn't talking about Bridget and me actually going into the barn," Asia clarified. "I was talking about using a hologram."

Data-G-01 paused as he calculated the probabilities.

"Using holograms to lure the ninjas into a trap is a clever strategy," he said. "The chances of success are favorable."

"Now the question is," Guardian 20276-7 said, "who is willing to volunteer to hold the ninjas off until everything is online?"

With his fists still clenched, Boze stepped forward. Rain, Bridget, Asia, and Delilah immediately joined him.

"Very well," Guardian 20276-7 said. "The others will help Mr. Data bring all systems online as quickly as possible."

Data-G-01 walked to a storage closet and removed five double-barreled phaser rifles. He set each weapon to its highest power setting—powerful enough to disintegrate a target's molecular structure within seconds.

He handed a rifle to each volunteer.

"Mr. Data," Guardian 20276-7 ordered, "begin transferring all computer programs."

"Transfer initiated," Data-G-01 replied.

Armed with powerful double-barreled phaser rifles, Boze, Rain, Bridget, Asia, and Delilah stepped outside the old barn.

Rain closed her eyes and conjured two pairs of binoculars with her magic.

She handed one pair to Delilah and pointed toward a bush near the old farmhouse.

"I want you and Bridget to take cover there," Rain said. "When you see them coming, use your shadow powers to stay hidden until they're within firing range."

She handed the other pair to Asia, pointed to a bush near the old barn, and gave her and Boze the same instructions.

"I'll take the center position in that bush over there," Rain said, pointing to another patch of cover. "I'll try to take out the ones advancing between your positions."

Everyone hurried into place, gripping their phaser rifles with fingers resting on the triggers, waiting in tense silence for the enemy to appear.

Delilah saw Tyler and one group of ninjas approaching her position. She and Bridget activated their shadow powers, becoming nothing more than dark silhouettes hidden from the approaching enemies.

"What the freak?" Asia whispered when she saw Chris wearing a penguin costume while leading a group of ninjas.

Asia and Boze closed their eyes and activated their shadow powers, disappearing from sight as well.

Rain watched both groups from her position. She focused her energy and used her shadow powers to become invisible.

When both groups moved within firing range, Delilah, Bridget, Asia, and Boze opened fire with their phasers. Several ninjas were struck immediately, causing the others to become confused and scatter for cover.

The chaotic situation confused both Tyler and Chris. They had not expected an ambush and quickly found bushes to hide behind.

The confused ninjas scrambled for cover. Some were disintegrated by the powerful phasers, while others threw exploding ninja stars in every direction, hoping to strike whoever was attacking them.

About forty-five minutes into the firefight, Rain received a telepathic message informing her that the automatic self-destruct sequence would begin once the ninjas were inside the barn.

Rain immediately sent a telepathic message to everyone.

"Stop firing. Let the holograms lead them into the trap."

Everyone ceased fire. The sudden silence left the ninjas staring around in confusion. They could not understand why the attack had abruptly stopped.

Then they saw them.

A hologram of Bridget and Asia appeared, running toward the barn.

Tyler raised his hand and motioned for the ninja army to follow.

"After them!" he ordered.

The ninjas rushed into the barn. As soon as the last one entered, a burst of magic sealed the doors shut.

Moments later, the barn exploded.

Tyler and Chris stared in horror as the entire ninja army had been eliminated.

They stepped out from their hiding places and immediately began running.

Suddenly, Delilah and Bridget appeared in front of them, each holding a deck of duel magic cards.

"You are not getting away this time," Bridget said.

Tyler and Chris looked at each other.

"This is the opportunity we have been waiting for," Chris said, adjusting the bowtie on his oversized penguin costume.

A sinister grin spread across Tyler's face.

They closed their eyes, and a deck of duel magic cards appeared in each of their hands.

"We accept your challenge," Tyler said.