A Beast at Bay

Mei-Lin watched the destruction from afar. The once-beautiful city Vuban of Neptune was now a smoldering wasteland. The blue-green island was now an eerie shade of gray. The ocean’s waves no longer lapped at the shore, instead replaced with debris and rubble. She had arrived too late to stop the attack, but she was determined to find those responsible.

She walked through the destruction, careful not to step on anything that could harm her. She saw the bodies of the victims of the attack, and her heart sank. She knew that she had to do something to bring those responsible to justice.

As she walked, she found a piece of paper that had been partially burnt but still had legible writing on it. The paper was a flyer for a party that had been held the night before the attack. Mei-Lin knew that it could be a clue, so she took it with her.

Mei-Lin went to the address on the flyer, which led her to a luxurious apartment building. She knocked on the door of the apartment where the party had been held but got no answer. She tried to listen for any sounds from inside but heard nothing.

She decided to wait, thinking that someone would eventually come out of the apartment. After a few hours of waiting, a man came out, and Mei-Lin followed him. He led her to an underground parking lot where he got into a car and drove off.

Mei-Lin tried to memorize the license plate number and the make and model of the car, but it was too dark to see. She decided to ask around and see if anyone had seen the car.

Mei-Lin asked the local authorities if they had any information about the car she had seen. They told her that they had seen a car matching the description she gave, but it had been reported stolen.

She then went to a local bar and started asking questions. She learned that the car belonged to a local gang, and that the gang had been seen in the area around the time of the attack. She also learned that the gang was known for being ruthless and for having a leader named “The Tiger.” What? Wasn’t he in prison? Did he escape?

Mei-Lin found out where the Tiger’s hideout was and made her way there. The hideout was a dingy warehouse on the outskirts of the city. Mei-Lin could hear music coming from inside, and she knew that the gang was having a party.

She sneaked around the warehouse, looking for a way in. She found an open window and crawled inside. Once inside, she realized that she had underestimated the size of the gang. There were dozens of members, all heavily armed and dangerous.

Mei-Lin tried to blend in, but she knew that it was only a matter of time before someone recognized her. She started to look for any clues that might help her find the Tiger.

Mei-Lin found a notebook with a list of the gang’s hideouts. She also found a journal that belonged to the Tiger. She read through it, hoping to find any information that would lead her to him.

She was in the middle of reading when she heard footsteps. She turned around and saw a man standing in front of her. He had a gun pointed at her, and he looked angry.

“You don’t belong here,” he said.

Mei-Lin knew that she had been caught. She tried to talk her way out of the situation, but the man was not interested in listening. He takes a step towards her, but she was faster. While she was talking to him, she pulled a small vial out of her pocket. Now she threw it in his face. The vial was designed to burst when it hit the guard’s forehead. Its contents, a strange green liquid, spilled onto the guard’s face. He immediately fell down and was unconscious.
“It was a boring conversation anyway,” Mei-Lin murmured. She searched the guard and found an access card. This could be useful so she took it from him. Then she turned back to the papers and found what she was looking for: a map! On this map was marked a point that seemed to be important.

Mei-Lin was about to sneak away when she noticed another piece of paper. What was that? The outline of a building was drawn on the paper. It took a moment, then Mei-Lin realized that it was the outline of the prison where the Tiger had been held captive. So someone had freed him! But who?

She had just asked herself the question when she saw a mark on the paper. She had to look closely, but then she could make out the letters: L-O-R-D P-A-V-O-R. She had heard that name before. Like the Tiger, he too was a terrorist leader. But that he was now working with the tiger…
“One thing at a time,” Mei-Lin said to herself. Do the urgent things first. Find out more about what’s going on and then hunt down the Tiger, Lord Pavor or whoever.

Mei-Lin left the city and headed towards the coordinates on the map. After several hours of driving, she finally arrived at the destination. It was an abandoned building in the middle of nowhere. The windows were shattered, and the roof was caved in. Mei-Lin hesitated for a moment, but then she steeled herself and got out of the car.

She entered the building with caution, taking each step carefully. The place was filled with debris and garbage, but there was a path that looked recently cleared. She followed it, and after a few turns, she found herself facing a steel door. There was a card reader next to it, and Mei-Lin used the access card she had obtained from the guard. The door slid open with a hiss, and Mei-Lin stepped inside.

The room was dimly lit, and Mei-Lin could hear the sound of machinery in the background. She could see a figure sitting in front of a console, typing away at the keyboard. Mei-Lin approached the figure cautiously, and when she was close enough, she saw that it was a woman. The woman was in her early thirties, with short blonde hair and green eyes. She was wearing a lab coat over her clothes, and Mei-Lin could see that there were various tools and gadgets scattered around the room.

The woman looked up when Mei-Lin cleared her throat, and a smile appeared on her face. “Ah, you must be Mei-Lin,” she said, standing up from the console. “I’ve been expecting you.”

Mei-Lin narrowed her eyes. “Who are you?”

The woman chuckled. “My name is Dr. Rachel Lee. I’m the one who designed the weapon that was used in the attack on Neptune.”

Mei-Lin’s eyes widened. “You’re the one responsible for killing all those people?”

Dr. Lee shrugged. “I’m a scientist. I don’t concern myself with the ethics of my work. I’m only interested in pushing the boundaries of what is possible.”

Mei-Lin gritted her teeth. “Where is Lord Pavor?”

Dr. Lee shook her head. “I don’t know. He’s gone into hiding, and I haven’t heard from him in weeks.”

Mei-Lin’s fists clenched. “You expect me to believe that?”

Dr. Lee shrugged. “Believe what you want. The fact remains that I can help you find him.”

Mei-Lin raised an eyebrow. “And why would you want to do that?”

Dr. Lee smiled. “Let’s just say that Lord Pavor and I have a difference of opinion. I’d like to see him brought to justice, and I’m willing to help you do that.”

Mei-Lin hesitated for a moment, but then she nodded. “Fine. What do you know?”

Dr. Lee walked back to the console and typed something into the keyboard. “I’ve been tracking his movements, and I’ve found that he’s been communicating with someone on Mars. I don’t know who this person is, but I do have their location.”

Mei-Lin frowned. “And where is that?”

Dr. Lee turned to face her. “It’s a secret facility on the outskirts of Olympus Mons. It’s heavily guarded, but if you’re careful, you should be able to sneak in.”

Mei-Lin nodded. “Thank you, Dr. Lee. I’ll take it from here.”

Dr. Lee smiled. “Good luck, Mei-Lin. And be careful. Lord Pavor is not someone to be trifled with.”

Mei-Lin left the room and headed back to her car. The term “car” was a bit imprecise, it was a vehicle that worked with antigravity. However, Mei-Lin didn’t care, the main thing was that she could reach her goal. Frighteningly, finding the tiger’s lair was very easy. It was exactly where the scientist had described it. One facility, one big building. And an inviting staircase leading upstairs.

Mei-Lin’s heart raced as she reached the top of the stairs. She could hear voices coming from the other side of the door. Taking a deep breath, she slowly pushed the door open.

The room inside was dark and filled with smoke. Mei-Lin could barely make out the shapes of people moving around in the shadows. She could hear the sound of weapons being loaded, and her heart rate increased even more.

Suddenly, a beam of light shone in her direction, and she realized that she had been spotted. Without thinking, she drew her gun and fired, taking down the man holding the flashlight.

The other terrorists quickly sprang into action, firing their weapons at Mei-Lin. She dove behind a nearby crate, returning fire as quickly as she could.

The sound of gunshots echoed through the room as the two sides exchanged fire. Mei-Lin could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she dodged bullets and fired back at her attackers.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the gunfire died down. Mei-Lin slowly stood up, scanning the room for any signs of movement. She could see the bodies of several terrorists lying on the ground, but there was no sign of Dirus.

As she cautiously made her way towards the exit, she heard a faint sound coming from behind a nearby door. She approached it slowly, gun at the ready, and pushed it open.

Inside, she found Dirus, his hands on a console. He turned around, a wicked smile on his face.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Mei-Lin,” he said.

Mei-Lin raised her gun, aiming it directly at Dirus. “It’s over, Dirus. You’re going to pay for what you’ve done.”

Dirus just chuckled. “You have no idea what you’re up against, Mei-Lin. Lord Pavor is more powerful than you can imagine. He’s been planning this for years, and you’re just a small piece in his game.”

Mei-Lin didn’t flinch. “I don’t care. I’ll stop him, no matter what it takes.”

With that, she pulled the trigger, and Dirus crumpled to the ground. Mei-Lin let out a sigh of relief, feeling the weight of the world lift off her shoulders.

But even as she left the room, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something bigger was at play. Lord Pavor was still out there, and she knew that he wouldn’t give up until he had achieved his ultimate goal.

Mei-Lin made her way back to the surface of Neptune, feeling a mix of exhaustion and triumph. She knew that the fight was far from over, but she was determined to see it through to the end. She had come too far to back down now.

As she boarded her ship and set course for the next destination, Mei-Lin couldn’t help but wonder what other challenges lay ahead. But one thing was for sure: she was ready for anything that came her way.

Symbol of Death

Jarmo Dorak had been on a series of dangerous adventures. He narrowly escaped from the notorious intergalactic criminal known as “the Tiger.” The experiences had left him feeling lonely and depressed. So he decided to take a break and relax on Planet Neptun. With its vast oceans and small islands, it seemed like the perfect vacation spot for him.

As Jarmo wandered through the local market, he saw a small pendant being sold by a local salesman. It was an old and intricate pendant, with symbols etched into the metal. Jarmo couldn’t decipher the symbols, but he felt drawn to the pendant. The salesman noticed Jarmo’s interest and approached him with a story.

“This pendant holds the power of the Symbol of Death,” the salesman said. “It’s an ancient artifact that’s been lost for centuries. Those who possess it are said to have control over life and death itself.”

Jarmo was skeptical, but the story intrigued him. He had spent his life searching for ancient artifacts and relics, and the idea of finding the Symbol of Death was too tempting to ignore. He bought the pendant from the salesman and began to ask around about the artifact.

It wasn’t long before Jarmo discovered that the Symbol of Death was real and somewhere on the planet Neptun. The search would be dangerous, but Jarmo was willing to take the risk. He couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.

During his search, Jarmo stumbled upon a beautiful woman named Lana. She had long, flowing hair that shimmered in the sun and deep, piercing eyes. They met when Jarmo was asking around about the Symbol of Death at a small café.

“Excuse me, do you know anything about the Symbol of Death?” Jarmo asked the bartender.

Lana, who was sitting at the bar, overheard the question and chimed in, “I know a thing or two about the Symbol of Death. Why do you ask?”

Jarmo was taken aback by her beauty but composed himself enough to explain his search for the artifact. Lana seemed genuinely interested and offered to help him with his search.

But was that a good idea? He didn’t even know this woman. On top of that, he had had enough bad experiences in his relationships, which always started wonderfully and ended disastrously. But there was a voice inside him that said: Why not? You feel lonely anyway. And who says it’s going to be a relationship again this time? Maybe you can just stay friends.

So he convinced himself to take the young woman with him on his adventures. Or maybe he was flattered by the fact that she was interested in him. When he was younger, women had never been interested in him. What was it now? Doesn’t matter! The search should begin.

Jarmo and Lana had been searching for the Symbol of Death for days, trekking through the rugged terrain of Planet Neptun. They were exhausted, and their spirits were starting to sag.

As they sat by the shore of a calm lake, Jarmo looked out at the water, lost in thought. Lana watched him for a moment before speaking up.

“You look like you’re a million miles away,” she said with a smile.

Jarmo turned to her and forced a smile. “Just thinking about our mission. We’ve been searching for so long, and we still haven’t found anything.”

Lana nodded sympathetically. “I know, it’s been tough. But we’ll find it. We’re a good team, remember?”

Jarmo looked at her, struck by how much he had come to rely on her over the past few days. He had always been a lone wolf (inevitably), but Lana had changed something inside him.

“You’re right,” he said softly. “We’re a great team.”

They sat in silence for a few moments, listening to the sound of the water lapping against the shore. Suddenly, Lana stood up and began to strip off her clothes.

“Let’s go for a swim,” she said, grinning mischievously.

Jarmo hesitated for a moment, but then he too began to undress. They ran into the water together, splashing and laughing as they dove under the waves.

As they swam and played, Jarmo felt something stir inside him. He had been hesitant to let himself feel anything for Lana, but he couldn’t deny the way his heart raced whenever she was near.

“Hey,” Lana said, swimming over to him. “You okay?”

Jarmo nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Yeah, I’m good. This is nice.”

They swam for a little while longer, until they were both breathless and exhausted. Then they floated on their backs, gazing up at the stars above.

Lana turned to Jarmo and took his hand. “You know, I’ve really enjoyed being with you on this journey. I feel like we’ve grown so close, and I don’t want it to end.”

Jarmo looked at her, his heart swelling with emotion. “I feel the same way,” he said softly.

Without another word, they leaned in and kissed, their bodies entwined in the water. They stayed like that for a long time, lost in the moment, before finally pulling away. They got out of the water and wrapped towels around themselves, shivering in the cool night air. But they were both glowing, their hearts full of love and happiness.

As they walked along the beach, hand in hand, Jarmo knew that he had finally found what he had been looking for. He had not yet found the Symbol of Death, but more importantly, he had found true love with Lana. At least that’s what he told himself.


Finally, after some time of searching, they found themselves in a remote temple in the heart of the jungle. The temple was dark and foreboding, and they could hear strange whispers and eerie sounds coming from within. But they pressed on, their eyes fixed on the prize.

As they entered the temple’s inner chamber, they saw it. The Symbol of Death. It was a small, ornate statue that glowed with an otherworldly light. Jarmo approached it, entranced by the statue’s beauty and power.

But as Jarmo reached out to touch the Symbol of Death, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head. He fell to the ground, writhing in agony as images flooded his mind. He saw visions of a dark and malevolent force, seeking to use the Symbol of Death for its own nefarious purposes. Lana rushed to Jarmo’s side, trying to comfort him as he struggled against the pain. Finally, the visions subsided, and Jarmo looked up at Lana with a mixture of awe and fear.

“We have to destroy it,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “The Symbol of Death is too dangerous to fall into the wrong hands.”

Lana nodded in agreement. They tried the most obvious, their laser pistols. They set it to full energy and were successful. As the statue crumbled to dust before their eyes, Jarmo felt a sense of relief wash over him.

As they made their way back to civilization, Jarmo knew that he couldn’t leave Lana behind. He had to stay on Planet Neptun, with her by his side. They continued to explore the planet, discovering new wonders.

And as they sat together on a pristine beach, watching the sun set over the endless ocean, Jarmo knew that he had found his true home on Planet Neptun, with the woman he loved by his side.

Jarmo and Lana continued to explore the planet. They visited different towns and villages, meeting new people and learning about the culture of Neptun. One day, they stumbled upon a hidden temple deep in the jungle. The temple was ancient, its walls covered in hieroglyphs and intricate carvings. Jarmo’s curiosity was piqued, and he urged Lana to come inside with him.

As they made their way through the dark corridors, they could feel a strange energy emanating from the walls. They finally reached the inner sanctum, where they found a massive chamber filled with strange artifacts and relics.

But as they approached the center of the room, they found themselves face to face with a group of armed men, led by none other than the Tiger himself.

“I knew you couldn’t resist the lure of ancient artifacts,” the Tiger sneered. “And now, I have you right where I want you.”

Jarmo and Lana were outnumbered and outgunned, but they refused to give up without a fight. They battled their way through the Tiger’s men, their fighting skills honed by months of adventuring on the planet.

In the end, they emerged victorious, and the Tiger was nowhere to be found. Jarmo and Lana took the artifacts they had found and fled the temple, unsure of what other dangers lay ahead. As they made their way back to civilization, Jarmo realized that he had once again fallen into the trap of seeking ancient relics. But this time, he had Lana by his side to remind him of what was truly important.

Together, they decided to leave the planet and explore other worlds, but they promised to come back to Neptun someday. For Jarmo, it would always be a special place, filled with memories of danger, adventure, and most importantly, love.

Shattering Doom

Jarmo Dorak had survived the strange experiences and the escape from the strange organization injured. Marion had delivered him to an ASTROCOHORS hospital in good time. He was able to recover, but as soon as he felt better, he became restless. Marion had been called to another mission. And he was still searching for the Temple of the Wind Harp. He had a new lead he was dying to pursue.

Photo by Kal Visuals on Unsplash

Jarmo had been on the planet Neptun for three weeks now. His mission was to find a space ship that had crashed on the planet two years ago. The ship carried a slab with a map that lead to the sunken palace of Oogramosh, located somewhere in the depth of the oceans of Neptun. It was said that the palace contained treasures beyond anyone’s imagination – and a hint to the Temple of the Wind Harp, the slab with the map. Jarmo, being an adventurer at heart, hoped that the temple was finally at hand.

Neptun was a water planet with only small islands dotting its vast ocean. Jarmo had to use dive gear to breathe under water, which made his search for the sunken space ship even more difficult. He had been diving for days, covering a large area of the ocean floor, but he had yet to find any trace of the ship.

On the fourth day, as Jarmo was diving near a small island, he saw a figure swimming towards him. It was a woman, about his age, with long blonde hair and green eyes. She looked human, but something about her was different. As she approached, Jarmo noticed that her skin was slightly shimmering, almost like it was coated with a thin layer of water.

“Hello,” she said in a soft voice as she came closer. “My name is Tashana Oyan. Are you lost?”

Jarmo was surprised by her sudden appearance, but he was glad to see another person on this desolate planet. “No, I’m not lost,” he replied, trying to sound friendly. “I’m looking for a sunken space ship. Have you seen anything like that around here?”

Tashana nodded. “Yes, I have. I can help you find it, but you have to promise me something in return.”

Jarmo raised an eyebrow. “What do you want?”

“I want to come with you,” Tashana said with a smile. “I’ve been watching you. You are very goal oriented. Something drives you. You want to find something that you have been looking for for a long time. And believe me, I also know these longings. So, will you take me with you?”

Jarmo thought about it for a moment. He didn’t know much about Tashana (he knew nothing about her, to be exact), but he could use all the help he could get in finding the ship. “Okay,” he finally agreed. “You can come with me. But be warned, it’s going to be a dangerous journey.”

Tashana smiled. “I can handle danger. I’m an amphibionid, which means I can breathe under water. Can you?”

Jarmo shook his head. “No, I have to use dive gear. But let’s not waste any more time. Show me where you saw the ship.”

Tashana led the way, swimming effortlessly through the water. Jarmo followed closely behind, feeling a little envious of her ability to move so gracefully. They swam for hours, until they finally came across a small group of looters who were trying to pry open the door of the sunken space ship.

Jarmo and Tashana quickly swam towards them, their dive gear making a loud hissing noise as they moved through the water. The looters turned around, startled by their sudden appearance.T hey also wore scuba gear. Jarmo could see that their helmets were equipped with a communications unit and he wondered if he would be able to talk to them.

“What do you want?” one of them growled, brandishing a harpoon. Jarmo could hear his voice clearly in his comm unit. So he was hooked into their system.

“We’re here to find a simple slab,” Jarmo said, trying to sound confident. “We don’t want any trouble.”

The looters looked at each other, unsure of what to do. But before they could make a move, a large water creature appeared out of nowhere and attacked them. Jarmo and Tashana watched in horror as the creature devoured the looters one by one, leaving only scraps of flesh and torn pieces of cloth floating in the water.

Jarmo and Tashana quickly swam away, not wanting to become the next meal for the creature. They swam for a while longer, until they found the entrance to the sunken space ship. It was partially buried in the sand, and the door was almost completely covered. Jarmo and Tashana used their strength to push the sand away, revealing the door.

Jarmo opened the door, and they swam inside. The ship was dark and damp, with water dripping from the ceiling. Jarmo turned on his flashlight, illuminating the interior of the ship. They searched through the debris, trying to find the slab with the map. After a few minutes of searching, Tashana finally found it. It was lying on the floor, covered in dust and sand. She picked it up, and they both swam back to the surface.

“Now that we have the map, we can finally find the target – the sunken palace,” Jarmo said, looking at Tashana. “Are you still up for the adventure?”

“Of course,” Tashana replied, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “Lead the way.”

Jarmo placed the slab in the sand and studied it for a few minutes. The map was carved into its surface. It was written in a language he didn’t understand, but there were some symbols that he recognized. He pointed to one of the symbols, which looked like a seashell that was native to Neptune. “I think this is where we need to go,” he said.

Jarmo got new scuba tanks and they both went back into the water. They swam towards the region that was marked on the map with the seashell symbol, which led them deeper into the ocean. As they swam, they saw more and more strange creatures, some of which were bigger than they were. Jarmo and Tashana had to be careful not to disturb them, as they didn’t want to get attacked.

Finally, after a few hours of swimming, they saw something in the distance. It was a large structure, made of white marble and adorned with intricate carvings. Jarmo and Tashana swam towards it, their hearts beating fast with excitement.

As they got closer, they saw that the structure was indeed a palace, and it was completely submerged in water. But what was even more amazing was that there were lights shining from inside the palace. It seemed that someone was still living there.

Jarmo and Tashana swam towards the entrance of the palace, which was guarded by two large creatures that looked like sea serpents. Jarmo pulled out his harpoon, ready to defend himself. But the creatures didn’t attack them. Instead, they simply watched as Jarmo and Tashana swam inside the palace.

The interior of the palace was just as magnificent as the exterior. There were marble pillars lining the walls, and the floor was made of polished white stone. But what really caught their attention were the treasures scattered throughout the palace. There were jewels, gold coins, and precious artifacts, all of which were worth a fortune.

As they were admiring the treasures, they heard a noise coming from one of the rooms. Jarmo and Tashana cautiously swam towards the room, their harpoons at the ready. They entered the room, and saw a figure sitting on a throne. It was a woman, with long dark hair and piercing blue eyes. She was dressed in a white robe, and had a regal bearing that made Jarmo and Tashana feel small and insignificant. Apparently she too was an amphibionid. When she spoke, her voice could be heard through the water.

“Who are you?” the woman asked in a commanding voice.

Jarmo stepped forward. “My name is Jarmo Dorak. I’m an adventurer, and I’ve come to explore this palace.”

The woman raised an eyebrow. “And who is your companion?”

“This is Tashana Oyan,” Jarmo said, gesturing towards Tashana.

The woman studied Tashana for a moment, her piercing blue eyes scanning over her features. Tashana felt a chill run down her spine as the woman’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary.

“What brings you here?” the woman asked, her voice still cold and commanding.

“We’re searching for something,” Jarmo said, taking out the slab with the map. “This map led us here.”

The woman’s eyes widened slightly as she saw the map. “I see,” she said. “And what is it that you’re looking for?”

Jarmo hesitated for a moment, not sure if he should reveal his true intentions. But then he decided that he had come too far to back down now. “We’re looking for the sunken treasure of Oogramosh,” he said. “Legend has it that it’s hidden somewhere in these waters.”

The woman’s expression changed at the mention of Oogramosh. Her eyes became distant, and she seemed lost in thought for a moment.

“Oogramosh,” she repeated. “I haven’t heard that name in a long time.”

“What do you know about Oogramosh?” Jarmo asked, getting a little bit closer to the woman.

The woman looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and determination. “I know more than you can imagine,” she said. “But before I can help you, I need to know that you’re worthy of this knowledge.”

“What do you mean?” Tashana asked, confused.

“I mean that you must prove your worthiness,” the woman said, swimming towards them. “If you want to learn the secrets of Oogramosh, you must complete a task for me.”

Jarmo and Tashana exchanged a glance, both of them unsure of what the woman was asking for. But they were determined to find the treasure of Oogramosh, no matter what it took.

“What kind of task?” Jarmo asked.

“I need you to retrieve a necklace for me,” the woman said, gesturing towards a chest at the other end of the room. “It was stolen from me many years ago, and I’ve been searching for it ever since. It was brought back to me in this chest, but there’s a magical curse on it. So far no one was able to take the necklace out of the chest. If you can retrieve it for me, then I’ll help you find the treasure of Oogramosh. Perhaps you are worthy.”

Jarmo and Tashana swam towards the chest, their hearts beating fast with anticipation. Jarmo opened the chest, and inside he found a beautiful necklace made of pearls and gold. As he reached out to grab the necklace, he heard a noise behind him. He turned around, and saw that the woman had disappeared. In her place was a group of armed guards, their weapons pointed at Jarmo and Tashana.

“What’s going on?” Jarmo demanded, his harpoon at the ready.

“You have stolen from the queen,” one of the guards said, his voice cold and emotionless. “You will be punished for your crime.”

Jarmo and Tashana backed away, realizing that they were outnumbered and outmatched. And they have been tricked. But then Jarmo had an idea. He took out the slab with the map, and showed it to the guards.

“We’re not thieves,” he said. “We’re explorers, searching for the treasure of Oogramosh. The queen promised to help us if we completed this task for her.”

The guards looked at the map, their eyes widening as they realized what it was. “The map of Oogramosh,” one of them said in awe. “It’s real.”

Jarmo and Tashana saw their chance. While the guards were distracted, they swam towards the entrance of the palace, determined to make their escape. They swam as fast as they could, their hearts racing with adrenaline as they dodged the guards’ attacks. Tashana led the way, using her amphibionid abilities to navigate the underwater terrain with ease.

Finally, they made it to the surface, gasping for breath as they emerged from the water. They looked back towards the palace, seeing the guards still standing at the entrance, their weapons raised in anger.

“That was a weird experience,” Jarmo said, grabbing Tashana’s hand. “We have the map, but we still need to find the treasure.”

Tashana nodded, her eyes filled with determination. “Maybe we try if there’s another entrance to the palace,” she said. “Let’s go!”

They swam back towards the location marked on the map, navigating through the treacherous waters with caution. The sunken palace of Oogramosh was a sight to behold. It was located deep in the ocean’s abyss, surrounded by shimmering schools of fish and brightly colored coral reefs. Jarmo and Tashana swam around the palace, their hearts racing with excitement. No guards were in sight. What was all this about? They found a small hole in the wall.

As they entered the palace, they saw that it was filled with treasure beyond their wildest dreams. There were gold coins and jewels scattered everywhere, along with ancient artifacts and valuable works of art. So was the encounter they had before just a distraction? Strange things were going on here.

Andthe true treasure of Oogramosh was something else entirely. It was a scroll in a sealed bottle, written in an ancient language that neither Jarmo nor Tashana could read. But they knew that it was important, and that it held the key to unlocking the secrets that Jarmo wanted to find.

They took the bottle, along with some of the other treasures, and swam back to the surface. As they emerged from the water, they saw that the sun was starting to set, casting a golden glow across the sky.

“We did it,” Tashana said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “We found the treasure of Oogramosh.”

Jarmo nodded, a smile spreading across his face. “And we have the scroll,” he said. “Who knows what kind of knowledge it holds.”

They hugged each other, their hearts filled with a sense of accomplishment and adventure. They knew that their journey was far from over, and that there were many more mysteries waiting to be discovered. But for now, they were content to bask in the glory of their victory, and to dream of the wonders that lay ahead.