Nate yanked Risa to one side to help her avoid an arrow. “Can you keep flying in race mode?”

“I think so,” Risa said shakily.

“You better try,” Nate said. “If you hold still, they’ll pick you off.”

Down below, the illusionary Cleon flickered, and his actual self came into view. One of his arms hung limp at his side. Blood sheeted from a gash on his forehead. He fought on, one-handed.

Protector in hand, Chris took to the air, racing toward the gate. An arrow hit him, bouncing away harmlessly.

“Nate!” Katie cried from below. “Help guard the Protector!”

Risa started flying around at a higher speed, and Nate zoomed to help Chris. Apparently they were hoping that placing the Protector on the pedestal Risa had found might help the situation. Nate hoped it wouldn’t make everything worse.

Chapter Twenty-Two

The Protector

Chris led the way through the open gate and into the neighboring chamber. The vast room had a high ceiling. A third of the spacious floor remained covered by warriors pressing toward the gate. The pedestal in the center of the room was unguarded.

On the far side of the room, a monumental statue stood against the wall. In form and stance, it matched the Protector perfectly—stocky, thick-limbed, with a large club in each hand.

Chris landed beside the pedestal and slammed the Protector down on top of it. The Protector took on a faint inner glow. Nothing else happened.

Most of the ceramic soldiers continued to surge toward the gate, but those toward the rear turned and headed for Chris. Several archers targeted Nate all at once, forcing him to dive and contort himself to avoid the volley of arrows. Despite his maneuvering, two arrows breezed close enough that he felt the wind of their passage.

In frustration, Chris jostled the Protector, evidently hoping that by shaking it enough he might make something happen. His actions caused one of the Protector’s arms to stretch out to one side. The arm of the larger statue extended in precisely the same way.

“Use the statue!” Nate called. “Use the big statue to fight the others!”

Chris tried to pick up the Protector, but failed. Gripping the legs, he made one of them step forward, then the other. The imposing statue took two steps away from the wall. Nate noticed a small door behind where it had stood.

Nate arrived at the pedestal, landing nimbly. “Cover me,” Nate blurted. “With the gum I’m better at this.”

Chris relinquished the Protector, and Nate began using the small statue to make the large one come bounding to their aid. As the first ceramic warrior reached the pedestal, Chris destroyed it with his bat. Chris waded forward resolutely. Spear tips snapped against his chest as each swing spewed ceramic chips into the air.

Lindy flew in to lend support. She landed roughly, and although she failed to bash soldiers as efficiently as Chris, she diverted the attention of many.

Nate only needed a few seconds. Under the influence of Peak Performance, he could visualize perfectly how to manipulate the Protector in order to make the big statue move exactly how he wanted.

Chris and Lindy hastily flew out of the way as the big statue stomped forward. A mighty swipe of one club blasted several ceramic warriors into confetti.

Nate swiveled the statue to attack in multiple directions. Swinging liberally, it shattered soldiers in droves. The tallest of the ceramic warriors failed to stand higher than the waist of the stout stone guardian. Weapons struck the massive statue harmlessly, as if the ceramic warriors were attempting to kill a mountain. Unfortunately for them, the mountain was fighting back.

Despite his elation at his success, Nate controlled the gigantic statue calmly. Lindy and Chris dealt with the warriors that slipped by, freeing Nate to concentrate on his demolition work. Risa zoomed by a couple of times in race mode, lending extra assistance.

The ceramic soldiers that had marched into the other room had now reversed their course. Nate made the giant statue plod forward until it stood at the gate to receive them. The ceramic forces advanced recklessly, and the big statue mowed them down until the air filled with dust and the area around the gateway became heaped with rubble.

Toward the end, Nate felt the effects of the Peak Performance dwindling. His hands began to feel a little clumsier, and the ways he needed to manipulate the small statue became less intuitive. But by then, the battle was essentially over. As he swiped at the remaining soldiers with less precise swings, Nate trusted the others to dismantle the stragglers. He decided to save his other two sticks of Peak Performance for whatever dangers might lie ahead.

Led by Katie Sung and Chris, the others pounded the remaining warriors until they lay broken and inert. Nate let go of the Protector and backed away from the pedestal. The huge statue stood motionless once more.

Cleon came limping through the gate, using an ancient spear as a crutch. He seemed to have use of both arms. Dried blood stained his face, neck, and shoulder, but no fresh blood was flowing. Jeanine strolled beside him, apparently unhurt.

“You all right?” Nate called as Cleon approached.

“Mr. White patched me up as best he could using my simulacrum,” Cleon said. “My leg took an ugly blow. I’m lucky I can walk at all.”

Risa leaned against the pedestal. “I’m dizzy and tired,” she said, head bowed. “Near the end, I was sure I would pass out.”

“What now?” Chris asked. Scars and dents marred his heavy baseball bat. His clothes were punctured and torn.

Katie motioned to the location where the statue had originally stood. Recessed into the wall was a small door, intricately carved with concentric circles and swirling patterns.

“It’s for short people,” Lindy noted.

“It’s too small for the big statue to fit,” Nate realized. “Whoever designed this place didn’t want us using the Protector beyond this room.”

“You’re probably right,” Katie acknowledged.

“Any idea what comes next?” Chris asked, bat resting on his shoulder.

“My guess?” Cleon said. “Something beyond that door will try to kill us.”

“Mind if we rest for a minute?” Risa asked. “The high-speed flying wore me out.”

“Take a load off,” Katie said. “We can’t proceed until we get this next door open.” She started toward the door.

Grunting and squatting, Cleon sat down on the floor. Risa sat down as well, leaning her back against the pedestal. Chris and Jeanine followed Katie.

Lindy sidled over to Nate. “No keyhole,” she whispered. “No seams. I can’t see through it, but I can see into it a little. It’s at least three feet thick.”