>>5357290"Aku, end the shield." you say, the Shapeshifting Master of Darkness looking at you with a worried gaze. "I don't think that weapon will mix with your magic."
“You-You're really going to take that thing?” he asks you, looking nervously between you and the sword. “That weapon is radiating magic older than even me. Be very careful Karn, there's no telling how dangerous it is.”
“I will.” you reply, then take a deep breath as he ends the shield. The water rushes into the space it had been, you swimming over to the altar and grasping the weapon's hilt in both hands, bending at the knees so you can use your legs for additional leverage. Then with a focused exhalation you straighten up, pulling the weapon straight up and out of the stone altar. To your surprise it isn't stuck or anything, pulling the weapon free easily. As you do, however, suddenly you hear an unfamiliar noise.
“Uhh Karn? I think it is time to leave.” Aku says, as suddenly the sound of grinding stone fills the water while the gap in the altar the sword had been resting in starts to close up from the bottom. And you realize that the sword was holding some mechanism in place. Now, without the 'key' keeping that button pressed down, something's about to happen. You aren't sure what, but your instincts are telling you it can't be anything good. So without a moment's hesitation you dash straight through the narrowly opened doorway, turning and grabbing onto it with your telekinetic grip. But before you can close it, Aku grabs you around the waist and pulls you away. “No time! RUN!!”
Before you can say anything he jerks you back, swimming rapidly away from the room. Then after only two seconds or so, a massive blast of energy explodes out from the sealed room. It is the same sort of azure magical light that the sword radiates, and as the light ends you realize why the sword looks familiar. The doorway has been filled, rendered impassible by the sudden appearance of pale, slightly luminous crystals that have sprouted up. They look almost identical to your son's own magic, and looking back at the sword realize now where you've seen such a thing before.
“So that's why it looks familiar.” you think to yourself, then after a moment give Aku a thumbs up. He lets you go, and now that his barrier is gone you only have a limited time to act before you have to flee back to the surface. You then flare your aura up, and start flying through the water. Aku remains close, not quite close enough that with a sudden stop he'd get hit by the crystalline sword but enough that he can follow you easily as you keep looking around. And then, you find it. You point towards the narrowing path, glancing over your shoulder to see Aku nod. This is it.
cont