Chapter 35: Pushing back the Invaders and Farming
Coal gritted his teeth in anger as he saw the traitor.
He couldn't believe that someone within their own ranks would turn against them.
"Who are you?" Coal demanded as he summoned a ball of fire in his hand.
The traitor didn't respond, instead they charged at Coal, their own crystal armor glowing with a dark energy.
Coal braced himself for the impact, but he was surprised when the traitor suddenly veered off and attacked one of the other Crystal Guardians.
Coal saw an opportunity and quickly flew towards the portal.
He knew he had to destroy it before more of the enemy soldiers could pour through.
As he approached the portal, he was attacked by one of the enemy drones.
The machine was fast and agile, its weapons firing rapidly at Coal.
Coal dodged and weaved, summoning flames to deflect the energy blasts.
He managed to get close to the portal and with all his might, he unleashed another massive ball of fire.
This time, the purple field flickered and weakened under the intense heat.
Coal could feel the strain in his body as he continued to pour more and more energy into the attack.
Adding in the null affinity seemed to really affect the shield and once it was down, Coal and lots of other Crystal Guardians all reached out and grasped the air.
The dimensional break was closed in a moment and efforts were doubled to capture or eliminate the remaining enemy troops and the traitors.
Coal and the other Crystal Guardians fought fiercely against the remaining enemies.
They knew that they couldn't let any of them escape or they would come back with reinforcements.
Coal summoned waves of flames that crashed down on the enemy soldiers, while his fellow Guardians used their own abilities to attack from all directions.
The traitor, however, seemed to have disappeared. Coal searched the battlefield, but he couldn't find any trace of them.
As the battle began to wind down, Coal felt a deep sense of exhaustion wash over him.
He had used up a lot of energy in the fight, and his body was starting to feel the effects.
But he knew that he couldn't rest yet. They had to find the traitor and bring them to justice.
Coal reported the traitor to some higher ups giving every detail he could even if limited.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
The fact that they used spiritual energy and had an affinity with water or ice was a good start though.
After giving his report though tired he rushed over to help other areas with their dimension breaks.
Coal spent the next few hours helping his fellow Crystal Guardians close the dimensional breaks that had been opened by the enemy troops.
It was grueling work, but he pushed himself to keep going, fueled by a sense of duty and a desire to protect his people.
As the sun began to rise on the battlefield, the last of the dimensional breaks were finally closed. Coal collapsed to his knees, utterly exhausted.
He could barely keep his eyes open, but he knew that he couldn't rest just yet.
He got up slowly, his body aching with every movement. He looked around, searching for any sign of the traitor, but they were nowhere to be found.
Coal knew that they would have to launch a thorough investigation to find out who the traitor was and how they had managed to infiltrate their ranks.
He also knew that they would have to be more vigilant in the future, to prevent such a betrayal from happening again.
With a weary body, Coal told Gwen and Gary of the traitors and warned them to be wary and on the lookout for more traitors.
After that he headed back to the illusionary space, hopefully he could go back to where he left off as a blacksmith who had just met Lily.
Once more he was in a different life, he spent long hours on his farm tending to his cattle and crops.
It was a nice and simple life on a picturesque and serene farm, with rolling green hills and vast fields.
A sweet scent of freshly cut grass and wildflowers, and the sounds of chirping birds and buzzing insects was what greeted people the second they were near.
A rustic wooden farmhouse stood at the center of the farm, surrounded by a white picket fence and a lush garden with magical plants.
The front porch had a cozy feeling with rocking chairs where Coal could sit and just enjoy the peaceful scenery.
The cows and horses roamed freely and grazed lazily in the fields.
Off in the distance a cluster of tall, leafy trees provided shade over the perfect spot to fish into the lake.
One day a pitch black dark haired woman with pale skin and amethyst eyes collapsed in his field. Coal was alerted by some of his animals and carried her into his farmhouse.
Coal carefully carried the girl into his cozy farmhouse, cradling her in his arms as he laid her down on the soft couch in his living room.
The girl's black hair spilled around her like a dark halo, contrasting starkly with her pale skin and striking amethyst eyes.
As he examined her more closely, he saw that she was very thin and her clothes were tattered and torn.
Coal suspected that she had been wandering lost and alone for quite some time.
Without hesitation, Coal set to work nursing the girl back to health. He prepared a warm, hearty meal for her, and made sure she had plenty of fresh water to drink.
He also tended to her injuries, cleaning and dressing her wounds with the care and precision of a skilled healer.
Over the next few days, Coal watched as the girl slowly regained her strength.
She was quiet and reserved at first, but gradually warmed up to him as he continued to care for her.
It seemed she had a case of amnesia, as the only thing she could really remember was that she was being chased and that her name was Lily.
As she grew stronger, Coal invited her to explore his farm with him.
They walked through the fields together, admiring the rows of vibrant crops and breathing in the fresh country air.
Coal showed her the animals he cared for, introducing her to his loyal dogs and playful cats.
The girl's eyes sparkled with wonder as she took in the beauty of the farm.
As the days turned into weeks, the girl began to help Coal around the farm. She assisted him with the animals, feeding and grooming them with care.
She also helped him tend to the crops, learning how to plant and harvest them under Coal's patient guidance.
Together, they built a warm and cozy home on the farm, a place where the girl could finally feel safe and at peace.
Coal was initially surprised when the group of people arrived at his farm and demanded to take the girl away.
He didn't know who they were or what they wanted, but he could tell that the girl was frightened and didn't want to go with them.
Coal stood his ground and refused to let them take her. He asked them who they were and why they wanted her, but they wouldn't give him any answers.
After some tense negotiations, the group eventually left, but not before warning Coal that they would be back.
It took a few days, but things reverted back to how they were and together, they worked on the farm, tending to the animals and the crops.
They spent their evenings sitting on the porch, watching the sunset.