Xu Wei, Alexis, and Marco exchanged determined looks before stepping forward, their eyes locked on the swirling vortex that separated them from the familiar halls of the Fae Academy. This was it – the point of no return.
"Take care of yourselves," Milo urged, his voice cracking with emotion. "I'll see you all again soon."
"Stay safe, Milo," Marco replied, his grin belying the concern in his eyes. "Don't forget to send us some souvenir from your adventures, will you?"
"Of course," Milo managed to chuckle, grateful for his friend's attempt to lighten the mood. "I promise to bring back something extraordinary."
"Remember what we've taught you," Xu Wei advised, his demeanor calm yet commanding. "And trust in your instincts."
Milo nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude for the wisdom Xu Wei had imparted during their time at the academy. He would carry those lessons with him every step of the way.
"Watch your back, Milo," Alexis warned, her dark eyes shimmering with unspoken emotions. "You know you can't trust everyone." She glanced at Alistair for a brief moment, her gaze sharp and calculating. Milo couldn't help but wonder what secrets she still held close to her chest.
"Thank you, Alexis," he replied, swallowing the lump in his throat. "I'll be cautious, I promise."
"Good," she said, softening slightly. "Now go and save the world. We'll be waiting for you."
With one last look at Alistair, who offered a nod of encouragement, Milo's friends stepped toward the portal. It rippled around their forms like liquid glass.
"Are you ready?" Alistair asked, his eyes searching Milo's face for any sign of doubt.
"Let's do this," Milo said, steeling himself for the journey ahead. Every fiber of his being screamed out in protest, urging him to turn back, to cling to the safety and familiarity of his friends. But he couldn't – the fate of the world rested on his shoulders.
Milo's heart clenched in his chest as he watched Xu Wei, Alexis, and Marco approach the portal. The faint pulsating light reflected off their faces, painting them with an ethereal glow. He bit the inside of his cheek to keep his voice steady.
"Remember," Milo started, his voice thick with emotion, "we're all in this together, even if we're miles apart. I promise I'll come back to you."
As they stepped closer to the shimmering surface of the portal, Milo added, "Stay strong and hold onto each other. We'll reunite soon, and then we'll celebrate our victory."
Xu Wei smiled, her eyes glistening. "We believe in you, Milo. You have the strength to see this through."
"Damn right, we'll be waiting for you at the Academy," Marco said, his voice quavering despite the bravado.
"Thank you," Alexis whispered, her gaze locked onto Milo's, a shadow of sadness clouding her eyes.
Just as they were about to step into the portal, the room shook violently, a deafening roar echoing through the outpost. Milo's breath caught in his throat as the thundering of boots filled his ears.
Milo ran to the nearest window and looked outside. His heart sank as a dark cloud filled the sky. Dark magic crackled in the atmosphere and a dozen hooded figures flew toward the outpost.
"Shit," Alistair shouted. "They found us, kids, hurry and get into the portal!"
The Alliance of Three had found them.
"Attack!" a guttural voice snarled from outside.
Milo's instincts snapped into action as he prepared to defend himself and his friends.
"Go!" Alistair shouted at the others. "Get to the Academy – now!"
"Come on!" Xu Wei pulled at Marco and Alexis, her face twisted in determination. They hesitated for a split second, then surged forward into the portal just as it began to shrink.
But it was too late; the portal dissipated into nothingness.
The chaos around Milo threatened to consume him, but he focused on the task at hand. With calculated precision, thrust his hands forward, causing vines to sprout in front of the window. Glass shattered as the window broke from the impact of a black bolt, but the vines stood strong. Alistair stood beside him, a fierce light burning in his eyes as he fought with equal ferocity.
"Stay close," Alistair growled, sweat dripping down his brow. "We can't let them breach our defenses."
Milo nodded, anger and adrenaline coursing through his veins. He had to protect everyone and escape.
Milo felt the weight of responsibility settle heavily on his shoulders. But beneath it was a spark of determination that refused to be extinguished. He would see this journey through, no matter the cost.
With the portal sealed, Milo and Alistair stood their ground, facing the oncoming storm of the Alliance. As the hooded figures closed in, Milo's body began to shift and contort, his form morphing into that of a sleek, powerful jaguar. His Void magic surged, enhancing his physical abilities and nullifying incoming attacks.
The jaguar leaped into action, claws slashing through the air as he pounced upon the nearest foe that had entered the outpost. Dark magic met Void magic in a clash of power. Milo's speed and agility were unmatched as he darted between the opponents, delivering precise strikes before dodging their rebuttals.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Not far from Milo, Marco summoned flames that danced and roared at his command. Fire erupted from his hands, creating a blazing barrier that seared the approaching attackers. The intense heat drove them back, their hooded forms stumbling and screeching in agony.
Xu Wei, wielding his Qi and wind magic, spun gracefully through the chaos. He conjured swords of razor-sharp wind, wielding them with the skill of a seasoned swordsman. Each stroke sliced through the air, sending gusts of razor-edged wind tearing into their adversaries.
Alexis, standing her ground, unleashed her frost magic. Icy tendrils snaked out from her fingertips, freezing the ground beneath the Alliance members' feet and creating a shield surrounding the outpost. Their movements slowed as their bodies became encased in ice, rendering them immobile.
Alistair stood at the center of the maelstrom, his magic a swirling tempest of elements. Earth, fire, water, and air converged around him as he created a protective barrier, warding off attacks and deflecting dark magic spells with ease. His eyes blazed with power as he channeled the forces of nature to shield their group.
The battle raged on, each member of the Alliance of Three finding themselves outmatched by the combined might of Milo and his friends.
As the battle raged on, the group could almost taste the sweet scent of impending victory. Their adversaries stumbled backward, driven back by their combined might. Yet, in the midst of this chaos, a surge of treachery erupted.
Without warning, Alexis' frost magic, once their shield, twisted into a sinister force. The air itself turned frigid as icy tendrils erupted from her outstretched fingers, snaking through the chaos like vipers seeking prey. In a horrifying twist of fate, they coiled around Alistair, their freezing grip turning the air into a crystalline prison. Panic flashed in Alistair's eyes as he fought against the suffocating chill, but his powers were rendered useless in this icy vice, and he remained immobilized.
"What are you doing?" Milo shouted. "They must be controlling her mind!"
"Traitor!" Marco roared, his face twisted with anger and disbelief.
"Deal with her later, focus on the attackers now!" Xu Wei shouted.
"Damn it, Alexis," Milo muttered under his breath, dodging another attack. "Why would you do this?"
As he continued to fight, his mind raced with questions. Had Alexis been working against them all along? What could have possibly motivated her to betray her friends? The answers eluded him, leaving him feeling even more vulnerable amidst the chaos.
But now was not the time for answers. Now was the time for action. And with every pulse of magic and clash of weapons, Milo became more determined to see this mission through – for the sake of the world, and for the friends who still stood by his side.
Alexis grinned. "Who is controlling me?" she responded. Twelve black spears materialized out of thin air and sped at Milo.
Before the spears impaled Milo, the scorching tide of Marco's fiery magic surged forward, erupting into a monstrous wall of flames that stretched high into the obsidian sky. It rose between them like an unbreachable barrier, the intense heat radiating from the blaze causing the very air to shimmer with distortion.
"You're welcome," Marco uttered.
As the roaring firestorm seared through the air, Milo's vision was obscured by a blaze of crimson and gold. He felt the blistering heat wash over him, his skin prickling with the intensity of the flames.
Milo's voice strained as he shouted over the crackling inferno, "Shit! What do we do? We need to save Alistair."
Marco's eyes, gleaming like molten embers, met Milo's for a brief moment. "Go! Find the Crystal!" he called back, determination etched across his face as he maintained his control over the flames.
Meanwhile, Xu Wei was embroiled in his own fierce struggle, his wind blades slashing through the air as he clashed with the insidious frost tendrils Alexis wielded. Their dance of elemental magic played out in a whirlwind of clashing forces. Xu Wei's every movement was a masterstroke, the invisible blades of wind he conjured slicing through the icy tendrils with precision.
Their eyes locked in a fierce battle of wills, Xu Wei said through gritted teeth, "Alexis, snap out of it! You don't have to do this!"
A shiver passed through Alexis's form, her eyes flickering as if her true self was fighting to regain control. "I... I can't," she stammered, her voice laden with sorrow.
The outpost had transformed into a shattered battleground, its crumbling walls scattering dust into the air. Milo leapt out of the way of a falling pillar, his heart almost lurching out of his chest.
The encroaching Alliance of Three, undeterred by the turmoil within the group, began to regroup with menacing intent.
They moved with a cold and calculated precision, forming a deadly vanguard that threatened to overwhelm the defenders.
And then, amidst the chaos and uncertainty, Marco made a heart-wrenching decision. With a final, determined look at his friends, he unleashed his most potent magic. In a blaze of white-hot brilliance, his body transformed into a magnificent, blazing Phoenix. Feathers of fire and wings of inferno burst forth, illuminating the battlefield with their radiant, incandescent glow. With a triumphant cry, Marco soared into the tempestuous sky, leaving a trail of blazing glory in his wake. The fiery Phoenix was now their beacon of hope, a symbol of sacrifice and indomitable spirit.
The Phoenix's scorching wings unfurled, and with a deafening cry, Marco soared into the sky. He collided with the advancing Alliance members, a fiery explosion engulfing them in a cataclysm of flames.
Milo was thrown into a wall by the impact. He coughed out blood and then pushed himself onto his feet. As he looked up at the sky the phoenix was already lessening in size.
"Marco," he shouted.
"Go!" Marco's commanding voice echoed, its power enough to make the very ground tremble. "Don't let my sacrifice be in vain, my friend."
Amidst the blazing inferno, the trio regrouped. Without a moment's hesitation, they dashed towards the sanctuary hidden beneath the frozen lake, leaving the smoky chaos behind. Marco's valiant sacrifice had granted them a momentary respite, but the relentless enemies were hot on their heels.
Milo's heart raced as he struggled to keep his focus on the enemy. The deafening roar and thundering of boots echoed in the landscape, drowning out the panicked thoughts that threatened to consume him. He gritted his teeth and launched a torrent of thorns at an approaching Pyros warrior clad in red, who barely managed to dodge.
"Keep it together, Milo," Alistair shouted, unleashing a bolt of lightning that struck down a Hyphos sorcerer. "We have to hold them off!"
"Right!" Milo replied, his voice wavering slightly. He shook his head, trying to dispel the cloud of fear and confusion that hovered over him. He had to be strong.
As the chase intensified, spells and weapons clashed all around Milo. The air crackled with energy, casting eerie, pulsating shadows across the room. He could feel the raw power of the Alliance members as they attacked relentlessly, seeking to break through their defenses.
"Alexis! Why?" Milo cried, his voice cracking as he tried to process the betrayal. He was met only with silence, as Alexis turned away, her expression inscrutable.
"Traitor!" Marco roared, his face twisted with anger and disbelief.
"Deal with her later, focus on the attackers now!" Xu Wei shouted, her voice strained as he fought to maintain the portal's stability.
"Damn it, Alexis," he muttered under his breath, dodging another attack. "Why would you do this?"
As he continued to fight, his mind raced with questions. Had Alexis been working against them all along? What could have possibly motivated her to betray her friends? The answers eluded him, leaving him feeling even more vulnerable amidst the chaos.
But now was not the time for answers. Now was the time for action. And with every pulse of magic and clash of weapons, Milo became more determined to see this mission through – for the sake of the world, and for the friends who still stood by his side.