Dark Blue Crystals

Hexel stood behind Azure waiting patiently to enter. It was then a man name Bob reached out to them and offered them a task. Hexel wasn't too sure about this but seeing how Azure wouldn't argue with him, Hexel decided to just go along. Besides this may be good time to bond with his captain. Hexel was given a big bag, however, Hexel didn't pay attention to where he had to go. As Bob turned around and went back to deal with other crew members, Hexel and Azure stood there confused. Hexel put the bag over his shoulder and faced Azure.

"Sooo.. you are the captain..lead the way!" said Hexel stepped back one pace, standing behind Azure.

"Umm.. I guess we should leave now?" said Azure.

Hexel noticed Azure was concerned about something but didn't bother to ask. As both of them started to walk towards the forest, Azure leading, Hexel looked up the sky and noticed a hawk flying around them somehow informing them that this is a trap. Hexel looked back down and asked Azure.

"Oii captain...you know where to get this crystals right?" said Hexel as they now stood in-front of the entrance of the forest. The forest was dark and gloomy, just the way Hexel liked.

As they made their way further into the forest, Hexel was amazed by the glow it made. Even in the darkness, these little crystals glow like a brightest start in the sky. Hexel looked around, admiring the forest.

"Huh.. What do you think of this place Hexel?" asked Azure.

"How about we just get all the crystals we can and leave this island...and sell it for high price! I am sure we will make fortune Azure..." said Hexel as he kept admiring the forest.

Soon, they stopped by two different path. Hexe looked at Azure and without asking he made the face expression of, which way. Hexel soon noticed Azure was walking towards the sign that said Elder's Forest.

"Huh.. Digger Moters? I wonder what those are.."

"Digger Moters? Maybe it's another name of this forest? I don't know.. let's get going. We don't wana be stuck here forever do we now?" whined Hexel as he grabbed Azure's shoulder and pushed her towards Elder's Forest.

As they were walking deeper and deeper into the forest, they found all kinds of crystals. Both big and small ones. Hexel stopped and stared at one that was stuck on a tree. It was small emerald colored crystal. Hexel grabbed it and started to pull it. Soon after with enough force, he managed to pull the jewel out. It was then a liquid that was trapped inside the tree squirted out and hit Hexel on the face. Luckily he was wearing a mask so the liquid didn't got on his face but the smell it produced was awful.

"AHHHH! WHAT THE HELL!!!" yelled Hexel as he took of his mask and swung it couple times to get the liquid off from the mask. After couple times, the liquid came off and he put his mask back on and stared at his crystal he obtained. He smiled behind his mask and put it in his pocket. Little known both Azure and Hexel didn't know about the law in this forest.


---Back by the wall----

"Ohhh that's what I forgot to tell them,,, do not touch any other crystals other than the ones I asked them too...Ohhh I hope they didn't touched it or they will attract all kinds of monsters living in the forest....." said Bob as he continued to write down the names of people who are going to participate in the tournament.

---Forest---

Hexel catch up to Azure, he was falling behind due to him trying to get the crystal out from the tree. As he was running towards Azure he heard little faint growling sound coming from the forest. Hexel stopped and looked around only to find nothing. Hexel wondered if it was his stomach that made the sound since he didn't eat anything yet.

"OIII Azure Wait up!! Look what I got!!" said Hexel as he now stood couple feet behind Azure.

As Hexel was walking with Azure he heard the growling noise again. This time he was certain that it wasn't his stomach but rather it was monsters that lurk around the forest. Hexel noticed Azure's crimson eyes got brighter. 'Hmp..seems like she figured it out' though Hexel.

"hmmm.. lets get to that clearing up ahead first.. then we can battle this out.." said Azure as she kept walking toward the stump. This stump was huge. Hexel stood on middle of it and there was space for at least another 10 other fully grown man. Soon Hexel noticed Azure taking her two blades out and getting ready to fight. "This will be a good warm up for the Arena Games, don't you think?" said Azure in her excited tone of voice. Hexel wasn't sure if this was good idea. I mean, what if these animals just wanted to play catch with them. Hexel wasn't the type to show affection but he did show some sympathy towards animals.

It was then two large tigers jumped out from the bushes and launched attack against them. One of the tiger was in front of another one as they ran faster and faster towards Hexel and Azure. Hexel quickly unsheathed his blade and ran towards two tigers.

Hexel now stood about 3 meters between them as he turned his blade and got ready to cut down the tiger that was closer to him. However, the tiger ignored Hexel and ran passed him towards Azure. Hexel was caught off guard. He did not expected these tigers would be fighting with a tactics. As he looked back towards Azure hoping she is ready, the second tiger rushed towards Hexel. Hexel turned around only to find the second tiger was about few feet away from Hexel, raising his front legs and about to slash him with his claws.

Hexel drew his blade once again and blocked to attack causing a massive wind power as they clashed. Hexel felt how strong this tiger was. Looking at this tiger from close view, Hexel noticed this tiger was ripped! Hexel quickly back off and re-balanced himself and launched towards the tiger. The tiger too launched himself towards Hexel as he roared and raised his right front leg revealing his sharp claws. As both of them jumped up to the air, the tiger swung his leg about to cut Hexel's chest open. Hexel quickly placed his blade in front of him and blocked the attack and using the force, pushed himself to his right side and stabbed the tigers side with his blade. He then continued to run forward, cutting open the tiger side completely.

Hexel swung his blade and wiped the blood off from his blade and looked back. The tiger was down on the ground dead, laying on puddle of his own blood.

Beasts:

When Hexel looked back he noticed Azure already took down the tiger, and not only that she took down another monster. Within couple minutes of entering this forest, they were already being attacked by the owners of this island, the beasts. Hexel walked towards Azure as he sheathed his blade.

"Ohhhh you did you damage on these poor animals! how cruel..." said Hexel without any sign of emotion behind his words. Azure seemed to ignore his statement.

".. Didn't expect that odd creature to attack.. i wonder if there is more ahead. Probably, huh?" said Azure as walked deeper in to the forest ahead. Hexel quickly followed her.

"Ehhh I am sure there are more, but I don't think they will be too hard to kill don't you think? I mean... pfft with skills we have, nothing on this forest can defeat us now! hehehe" said Hexel as he jumped around like a little kid.

The forest was even more glowing and the crystals were even prettier than ones from earlier. This surely was interesting forest. Hexel wondered how these crystals have formed around the island and why no one tried to steal these crystals from this island. Of course at this time, Hexel didn't know how strong Azure's aunt really was.

The forest was soon filled with a cry of birds as they started to fly away to new destination. Hexel looked up to see the magnificent view of so many birds moving around at once. Even he was surprised.

"Soo Azure...are we there yet? I am tired and hungry..I think I am going to pass out before the tournament!" said Hexel in his angry voice as he picked up on of the acorn from the ground and tried to bite it. It was then he was stopped by a rock that was thrown at his face.

Hexel looked around to see who threw a rock at his face and didn't find anything that could possible do such a thing besides Azure. Hexel looked towards Azure like if he was trying get her to confess that it was her who threw the rook. It was then a crystal which was in middle of the cave, rose up 7 meters and revealed it's true form. It was crystal monster!!! Hexel couldn't believe his eyes. This was something he never seen before, he did hear the tails of mythic creatures but a crystal monster?

Soon four other creatures surrounded Hexel and Azure. These creatures all had small crystals on their back, and wielding crystal armors and weapons. It was strange. It was like they were a soldiers from a crystal kingdom. Hexel was very fond by their look. Soon Azure unsheathed her two blades and was about to fight. At same time, Hexel took his blade out and jabbed it against the ground. Two of four creatures launched towards Hexel with their crystal spears hoping they will kill him. Hexel quickly took the blade out and parry their attack by turning his body while blocking their attacks. Hexel now stood side of these two creatures. One of the creature jumped up and thrust his spear against his face as the other one lowered his body and thrust his spear against Hexel's stomach. Hexel quickly back off and swung his blade cutting the spears in half. The two creatures were stomped and changed their tactics.

They grabbed each other's hand and the bigger creature started to swing the smaller creature, soon creating a momentum enough to launch the creature towards Hexel, which they did. As the creature was launched towards Hexel, he laughed and easily chopped him down into two pieces. It wasn't hard to him, their moves were very predictable. The bigger creature were stunned in the fact that Hexel killed his partner so easily. Being in fear of death, the creature fled deeper into the cave abandoning other two creatures and the big crystal monster.

"Ohhhhhh...what a cowards these little creatures are.... oh well..." said Hexel as he thrust his blade down on the ground again and lean against it, resting while Azure took care of other two.

Hexel stood there and seeing Azure easily defeating two crystal creatures, once again reminded Hexel how strong she was. A sweat ran down his forehead. It was then Hexel noticed Azure fixing her self and ran towards the crystal monster. At that time Hexel was day dreaming about how he is going to win the tournament and later becoming a shichibukai.

"Let do this!" A faint sound of Azure echoed in Hexel's head. This caused his day dream to pop and Hexel came back to the reality. Azure was already running towards the crystal monster and was about to attack. Hexel was few meters away from her and he was very tired. He already told Azure that he was tired and hungry, therefore, Hexel thought that Azure wouldn't mind him just resting. However, it was not as a psychopathic killer's character to avoid fighting because he was tired.

Hexel summoned his hellhounds and let them do the work. The five Hell Hounds jumped out from the darkness and started to run towards the crystal monster, passing Azure. The hell hounds ran faster and faster and bite down the legs of the crystal monster. Slowly burning the monster away.

As his hell hounds burn the beast, Azure finished him off quickly. Hexel took his blade out from the ground and sheathed it and recalled his hell hounds back to the darkness.

"Oiii! you were great! that is what I expect from my captain hehehe" said Hexel as he was thankful that he didn't had to physically help Azure. Azure looked back towards Hexel and smiled as she was happy to tell him that they gathered 3 out of 8 crystals they needed. Soon Azure walked over to the nearest tree and bend down and picked up something. It was some mushrooms! She threw some at Hexel. Hexel wasn't a vegetarian, therefore, he wasn't too sure about eating these mushrooms. Some time after Hexel noticed Azure couldn't hold her self together and felt like she was about to fall down to the ground. Hexel wondered what she was doing, maybe she got too tired from fighting these creatures, but he doubted that. Hexel threw away his mushrooms and walked towards Azure, about to ask her if she was ok. However, like if nothing happened, Azure regained her balance and told Hexel to let's continue as she put the crystals in the bag. Hexel followed Azure from few steps back.

"Hmmm so if these crystals can only be obtained by creatures like that from earlier? the one you killed?" asked Hexel as they were deeper in the forest.

As they were walking, he seemed to feel like the ground was moving, but he wasn't too sure. Hexel yawned as he placed both of his hands behind his head and walked slowly as he looked around the another side the forest offered to them.

Hexel was took few steps back further from Azure as she got even more crazier. He continued to see Azure swinging her blades all around her. Hexel thought this was one of those moments he heard about when the females lose everything and become a ultimate monster. Hexel took out a notepad and started to write down.

-What happens to females-

1. They become crazy. Do not give sharp objects to them.

Hexel continued to observe her as he continued to write. She was still swinging her blades every where and yelling and screaming. Soon she attracted some monsters and two monsters came out from the forest. Hexel was about to help her out, but seeing how wild she became, he thought it would be better to stay away from her. Soon she stopped and attacked the monsters at ease however, this only lasted for few minutes as she kept on cutting them down to a point there was nothing left of them. Hexel thought he was crazy but he was dead wrong. He started to write down again.

2. They like to over exaggerate. Stay away!!

Hexel nodded as he put his notepad away and soon Azure looked behind towards Hexel. This made him stop and made him unconsciously grabbing his blade.

"Shouldnt have eaten those Techno Mushrooms.. Im lucky they didnt last for longer.." said Azure.

"Mushrooms? what mushrooms?" thought Hexel as he relaxed, he completely forgot about the mushroom she ate earlier.

Soon they entered the forest, that had large glowing tree on the middle of the ground. Around it, two crystal monsters and four beasts surrounded it.

Hexel started to count. "So if we got 3 from one of those monsters,,, there are two,, so that would be 6...ohhh that means we will be done after killing them!" said Hexel in his excited tone of voice as he took his blade out and making three replicas of it with his darkness fire element. He sent them flying, creating a triangle around these monsters. Each of the sword was about 5 meters away from each of it creating a 5 meters of area within the triangle. The immediate area of the blades started to burn and got ready for the eruption. Anything caught in this triangle is now about to b burned alive.

"Oii Azu..whatever you do...stay out of that triangle in next 5 minutes (1 post) or so ok?? I don't want you all going beast on me" said Hexel as he grinned.

Soon, the group erupted and burn every monster that were within the triangle to the ashes. Hexel was very satisfied with his power and especially with his blade. Being one of the legendary blade, Hexel expected nothing less from it. Hexel looked towards Azure with a smile behind his mask, noticing they were about to be done. Hexel was again, impressed by her swordsmanship, taking down these foes with ease, Azure sure have earned his respect, but of course that doesn't mean she is still off the hook from his kill list, but that is for another time.

As Hexel and Azure chop down every foe that stood their way Hexel asked Azure how many more crystals they needed. If he was right, just 1 or 2 more crystals and they can get out from this forest for good. Hexel looked around, the forest was filled with fog and sound of frogs started to ring across the field. It wasn't that he was spooked out but he sure was getting worried what will happen if he ever got lost in this forest. He would probably try to burn the forest down to a point where he can just walk straight forward, but then again this is one strange and unique place.

"OIIIII Azu! Let's just go, we can tell the man that we only found this many, I mean come on, if he is too weak to do it by himself he should be thankful for even getting one of these crystals" said Hexel in his usual whining tone.