A scream echoes from the temple.
"Mom, save me!"
Outside, all the villagers gather.
Villager 1: "Saree, what could have happened to all of them?"
Villager 2: "We should go there and check."
Sheon: "No, we shouldn't do that. Who knows, our lives might be in danger too."
Just then, the four of them come out from inside, carrying a piece of paper.
Standing outside, Zixu says:
"Phew, the fight was a bit tough, but it was also a lot of fun."
Sai says: "We survived today, otherwise we would have been toast."
Sheon asks:
"How did you guys escape from there?"
Villagers:
"And what was inside?"
Sai and Zixu look at each other and laugh.
"For that, we have to go into a flashback."
Flashback
Karma was just about to attack Jai when Sai's hand transforms into veins.
Sai uses them to grab Karma, but he couldn't keep him held in his hand.
Right then, Sai uses water from his other hand.
Sai:
"(Water Jet!)"
Karma falls to the ground and turns into ashes. Inside those same ashes, a piece of paper is found.
Zixu sees it and jumps with joy.
Zixu:
"Saiiiiiii! Quick, look at this! Look what it is!"
Sai:
"What is it? Let me see."
The paper shows the way to Kaiga Town.
Sai: "Found something great. Now, let's head out."
Present
Sai:
"So that's what happened. Now tell me, when is the feast?"
Villagers:
(Everyone laughs)
Zixu:
"Alright, shall we leave now?"
A voice comes from the temple:
"Wait!"
Kay:
"Won't you take me with you?"
Sai:
"Why? You were the one who said you didn't want to come."
Kay:
"What, can't I change my mind?"
Zixu:
"Fine, come along, but on one condition."
Kay:
"What kind of condition?"
Zixu:
"Promise you won't do it... man, I'm really scared of injections."
(Everyone laughs)
They all set off for the next destination, Kaiga Town.
Sai:
"By the way Jai, you can fly, right? So why are you sitting on my shoulder the whole way?"
Jai:
"Oh, well, I..."
Zixu:
"Anyway guys, did you notice what Sai did back there in the temple?"
Everyone tries to remember.
Kay:
"Don't ask me, I was unconscious."
Sai:
"You're a different level of guy anyway, what's even the point of asking you. Hey Zixu, tell me what actually happened."
Zixu:
"Sai, you used Shift 2 of your power."
Sai:
"Shift 2? What's that?"
Zixu:
"You don't even know about your own power? Look, I did some research on that Avatar, and I found out its power has 4 stages. The power upgrades at every stage."
Sai:
"Huh? Is that so? I just found out today."
While they are talking, they reach Ambhora Village.
Sai:
"Woohoo! Hey guys, look at this, the people here are so strange."
Zixu:
"This is Ambhora Village. The eyes of the people here are completely black, and I've even heard that the tears from their eyes are more dangerous than acid."
Sai:
"Jai, did you see that? You better be careful, after all, we eventually have to eat you."
Jai hits Sai on the butt with his beak.
Sai:
"Aiiiiii! I was just joking!"
Jai:
"Keep such jokes to a minimum from now on."
Zixu:
"Are you two just going to keep fighting or are we moving forward?"
Erina (Village Chief):
"Oh, you all seem new here. Where are you from?"
Zixu:
"Greetings, ma'am. We have come here in search of Aarvan. We have already found the first piece and are now looking for the second."
Erina:
"Oh, you actually found it? Let me see it for a moment."
Zixu (to himself):
"Is it right to give this to her? We don't even know them well yet."
In the meantime, Sai hands the piece over to Erina.
Zixu:
"Hey! What was the hurry?"
Erina:
"Children, it's fine for now, but don't just give this to anyone like that."
Sai:
"We trust you completely. By the way, do you know where the second piece can be found?"
Erina:
"I heard that the path to Aarvan is divided into eight pieces. The first one you found is one, and the second one is likely in the town ahead of here."
Sai:
"Then shall we head there?"
Zixu:
"Why are you always in such a rush? Let's eat something first."
Sai:
"Yeah man, I'm starving."
Erina:
"Do one thing, stay here for tonight and leave tomorrow."
Everyone happily stays back.
It is night time, and Sai is sleeping in the house. Suddenly, a shadow appears at the window; its eyes were red.
When Sai opens his eyes, he is in a cave. His friends Zixu and Kay are also there. Jai is hanging from above. Sai is broken from inside.
Sai:
"They... they are trapped here because of me. No... I have to save them no matter what."
Sai is sitting on his knees on the cave floor, crying. His regret and fear are so intense that his eyes begin to glow completely white.
Sai:
(Screaming)
"No... this can't be happening because of me!"
Just then, Sai's tears turn into acid as they hit the ground, and smoke begins to rise. Sai feels a new power emerging within him—Shift 2 (Power Copy).
Sai immediately stands up and grabs the magical cage of the cave. The acidic energy flows from his hands, and the cage melts away like clay.
Erina:
(In shock)
"How can this be? You broke my cage?"
Sai:
"You said this was your magic, right? Now watch how your own magic turns against you!"
In an instant, Sai reaches Erina, grabs her by the throat, and pins her against the wall. Erina's men try to attack Sai, but Sai releases acidic smoke from his other fist and pushes them all back.
Erina:
(Choking)
"L-Let me go... even if you kill me, he (Zixu) won't survive! This is my spell, and even I don't have the cure for it!"
Sai:
(Furiously)
"If it's your spell, then your body should be able to endure it, right?"
Sai casts Erina aside, but then he sees Zixu's condition getting even worse. He wasn't coming out of the spell. In a rage, Sai slams Erina down and rushes to Zixu.
Sai:
"Zixu! I won't let anything happen to you!"
Sai lifts Zixu onto his shoulder and starts heading out of the cave. His heart is sinking because that blueness had now reached Zixu's neck.
Sai:
(Crying)
"Brother, open your eyes... listen to me!"
Sai is unable to save him, and guilt is beginning to overpower his mind.
To be continued