Tempest arrived at the village, expecting chaos, but found a calm that felt wrong. Doors slammed shut, windows latched, and the faint growls from the outskirts crept in with the wind. Just beyond the forest, a rift hovered, twisting dark energy through the air. Below it, goblins and orcs spilled over the landscape.
Leon acted without hesitation. He held a Knullifier—a small, smooth stone designed to close rifts—in his hand and summoned a gust of wind, launching it into the heart of the rift. Almost instantly, the rift began to shrink, folding in on itself, with its dark energy swirling and collapsing.
The fight was easier than expected—the horde was nothing more than a nuisance. Tempest made quick work of the creatures, cutting down the goblins and orcs lurking in the trees. When the last one fell, Eli let out a triumphant yell.
“Well, that was a breeze! I'm just glad we didn’t have to face a Leviathan. I don't think I'd have the energy for that.”
Kamari, still riding the high from battle, smirked.
“Don’t worry. We’d just beat it with the power of friendship!”
He winced as soon as the words left his mouth.
“Ugh, that sounded better in my head.”
Imani’s laughter rang out. Kamari found himself chuckling, too, despite his embarrassment. But Eli, his eyes on Imani, sent a pointed glare Kamari’s way. Kamari raised an eyebrow in response, giving Eli a look that said, "Relax." Eli took a deep breath, forcing a smile.
Imani’s laughter faded.
“But seriously... doesn’t this all seem a little too easy?”
Eli shot her a cocky smile.
“Maybe we’re just that good. But just know. No matter how bad things get, I’ll always protect you, Imani. Even if it’s against Zenersha, the Black Wyvern herself.”
Leon laughed.
“That’s bold talk from the guy who was just glad we didn’t have to face a Leviathan. Zenersha’s power was on another level. You wouldn’t last past her first strike.”
"Yeah, well, I'm full of surprises."
The mood shifted as a chill crept into the air. The forest, which had been alive with distant sounds, fell silent. Before anyone could react, a figure materialized behind them, cloaked in shadow—Zaire.
The tension in the air was palpable as everyone's gaze was fixed on the demon.
“I searched the entire continent—one village after another. But finally, I found you.”
The squad stood ready. Three new rifts tore open above them, spinning violently. Infernals poured through—goblins, orcs, wyverns, and worse. The ground shook under the weight of the new invasion.
“This time, Young Phoenix, there’s no escape.”
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Zaire struck without warning. Shadows erupted from his body, twisting into dark tendrils that lashed across the battlefield. The force of his power sent the squad scattering. Kamari was separated from the rest of the team and found himself standing alone, facing Zaire.
Kamari's heart pounded, but he pushed the fear aside. Squaring his shoulders, he steadied his breath as yellow flames ignited around his fists. Zaire’s presence was oppressive like a heavy storm bearing down, but Kamari surged forward. Flames trailed his fists as he threw rapid strikes, each punch fueled by bursts of fire. The dark space between them crackled with heat, but Zaire moved like a shadow, slipping through Kamari’s attacks with effortless grace.
"You have no idea what I’m trying to accomplish! This isn't merely about acquiring power. The realm will be consumed by darkness unless you hand over the Core!"
Kamari ducked under a brutal swing, countering with a flaming uppercut that connected with Zaire’s torso, forcing him back.
"I don’t care for your reasons! You’re not taking the Phoenix Core."
"You’re a fool, Young Phoenix!"
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While Kamari fought Zaire, the rest of Tempest was locked in battle with the Infernal horde. Leon took control.
"Eli, take out the goblins! We need to thin their numbers before they overwhelm us."
Eli nodded. In a flash, he tore through the forest, electricity crackling in his wake. Every goblin that crossed his path fell, their bodies crumbling to ash with each precise zap. Lightning danced around him, and with every fallen enemy, Imani couldn't help but admire his speed and precision.
Imani and Leon, meanwhile, took on the larger threats. The ground shook as orcs, Cynders, and Vexes charged, but the pair held their ground. Imani moved with deadly grace, her water swirling into blades that sliced through the air. With a flick of her wrist, she froze several orcs in place, then used their solidified bodies to leap into the sky. From above, she summoned shards of ice that rained down like deadly spears, impaling the enemies below.
Leon, focused and calm, directed his power toward the Cynders and Vexes. With a wave of his hand, he pulled the oxygen from the air, snuffing out the Cynders’ flames in an instant. As the Vexes swooped in, he unleashed a barrage of wind blades, slicing through their leathery wings.
Meanwhile, Eli had finished the goblins and turned his sights on the High Orc, commanding the element of air. The creature raised a hand, summoning a fierce gust of wind aimed at Eli, but Leon was faster. Absorbing the gust, he redirected it, sending the orc flying backward.
Imani seized the moment, slamming her hands into the ground—ice shot from her palms, snaking toward the orc and encasing its feet in jagged spikes. The creature roared in frustration, struggling against its icy bonds.
With a smirk, Eli’s hands and body crackled with lightning.
"Night night."
In a flash, he launched himself forward, piercing through the High Orc’s chest with electrifying speed. The creature collapsed, and Eli skidded to a halt.
"Yeah!"
He threw his fists in the air in triumph. But the celebration didn’t last. He watched, horrified, as the corpses of the fallen Infernals began to dissolve, their forms breaking down into pure Nether Energy.
"Eli, get back over here!" Leon shouted.
The three of them stood, eyes wide as the swirling Nether Energy gathered, merging into something far more sinister. The earth trembled beneath them as the energy took shape, forming a massive Leviathan. Its serpent-like body rose high into the sky, dark scales gleaming with malevolent power.
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Eli's face dropped in horror.
"Ah, fuck."
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Kamari gasped for air, sweat pouring down his face. Each breath was heavier than the last. Zaire's attacks came with the force of a storm—faster and more brutal, forcing Kamari to stumble back with each hit. His fire lashed out in desperation, but Zaire’s dark energy smothered it, making every move more precise and crushing. Kamari gritted his teeth, his eyes darting for an opening, but Zaire's presence felt like a suffocating cloak, pinning him down.
With a sharp cry, Kamari threw himself forward, flames gathering in his palm, and he thrust it towards Zaire’s chest. Fire erupted, more intense than ever, leaving a ragged hole in Zaire's torso.
But the demon didn’t falter. Zaire’s lips curled into a grin as shadows swirled, knitting his body back together like nothing had happened.
“You fight well, Phoenix, but you won't get the better of me this time.”
Shadows surged from Zaire’s body, wrapping around Kamari—pinning him to the ground. Kamari fought back, but the darkness pressed harder, suffocating his power.
“Did you truly believe you can best me? I could easily end your life in a heartbeat. But your death would be unnecessary—detrimental, even. Now, stop resisting and relinquish the Core to me."
“Shut up!”
Suddenly, Kamari's flames blazed with violent intensity, turning from yellow to a fierce, radiant blue. Zaire’s face dropped as the shadows binding Kamari began to burn away.
Kamari stood, his body engulfed in azure fire—his eyes locked on Zaire. He felt the new power surging through him, stronger than before. His muscles screamed for rest, but he ignored them, stepping forward, his voice low.
“You want the Phoenix Core? Come and take it.”
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Back with the others, the Leviathan reared its massive head. Its eyes glowed with malice as it unleashed a torrent of acidic breath onto the battlefield. Trees dissolved instantly, their trunks turning to sludge under the Leviathan’s assault, forcing Leon, Imani, and Eli to scatter in all directions. The ground hissed as the acid ate through the soil, leaving a bubbling trail of destruction in its wake.
Leon took to the sky, his control over the wind carrying him effortlessly above the beast. He blasted the Leviathan with powerful gusts of wind, hoping to disorient or knock it back, but the creature didn’t flinch. Its thick, scaly hide shrugged off the attacks as if they were nothing more than a breeze.
Below, Eli darted across the forest floor, lightning crackling around him as he unleashed a bolt of electricity at the Leviathan’s side. The attack landed, causing the beast to roar in pain, but the damage was superficial—nowhere near enough to take it down.
Imani, however, focused her energy, her hands raised toward the sky. Above her head, a giant spear of ice began to form, swirling with power as she concentrated on it. With a fierce look in her eyes, she launched the ice spear at the Leviathan’s chest. The spear pierced its thick hide, sinking deep into the beast’s flesh. For a brief moment, the Leviathan bellowed in agony. Its chest split open, but the ice shattered before it could deliver a killing blow. The wound began to heal almost instantly. Its flesh knitted itself back together as the creature’s powerful regenerative abilities kicked in.
Imani cursed under her breath, frustrated.
"It’s healing too fast!"
Leon, watching from above, narrowed his eyes as an idea began to form. He called out to Eli over the crystal comms.
"Eli, I have a plan."
"Is it a good plan?"
"You’re not going to like it."
"I figured."
Leon quickly descended, relaying the plan to Imani.
"Target the Leviathan’s chest again with the same ice spear. We’ll handle the rest."
Imani nodded, determination flashing in her eyes as she summoned her power once more. This time, the ice spear she created was even larger. She hurled it at the Leviathan’s chest with all her might, the spear slicing through the air and driving itself deep into the same spot, creating a larger wound that bled dark, oozing energy.
But once again, the Leviathan's incredible healing abilities kicked in, and the wound began to close almost as quickly as it had formed.
"Not this time," Leon said.
He unleashed a constant cutting gust of wind, directing it at the Leviathan’s gaping chest wound. The sharp air pressure kept the wound from healing, preventing the beast from closing it.
"Eli, you’re up!"
Eli groaned in response as he pieced together Leon’s plan.
"Couldn't you have come up with a better plan?"
In a blur of crackling energy, Eli flew toward the Leviathan, his body arcing with lightning as he collided with the creature’s open chest wound. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, followed by a loud boom as his lightning-infused body tore through the Leviathan’s flesh. The explosion of energy was massive, sending chunks of the Leviathan’s body flying across the forest.
The Leviathan roared in its death throes as its body began to dissolve, the flesh turning to dark ash that scattered across the battlefield. Eli landed on the ground, his body still sparking with residual electricity. His eyes were fixed on the remains of the Leviathan, a nervous expression creeping across his face.
"Please... don’t regenerate."
He repeated the phrase, almost like a mantra, as he and the others watched the dissolving corpse.
After a few tense moments of nothing happening, they allowed themselves to relax, the threat seemingly neutralized.
"Yes!" Eli shouted.
Imani exhaled deeply, wiping sweat from her brow.
"Nice work, Eli."
Eli winked at her. "It was light work. But let's not do it again."
With the Leviathan defeated, the trio didn’t waste any more time.
"Let’s move!" Leon said.
They quickly regrouped and rushed off to help Kamari.
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Kamari’s blue flames surged, enveloping his fists as he pressed the attack against Zaire. Each punch carried the weight of his newfound power, and for a moment, it seemed like he had the upper hand.
With a snarl, Zaire unleashed a wave of shadows, overwhelming Kamari’s flames. The tendrils of darkness wrapped around Kamari’s arms and legs, pinning him to the ground once again, and despite his struggle, Kamari couldn’t break free.
"Enough!"
With one swift motion, Zaire slammed his claws into Kamari’s chest, dark energy swirling as he reached for the Phoenix Core. Kamari’s body convulsed in pain, his breath ragged as the demon's claws pierced deeper.
"No, you don't!"
Eli's voice echoed, followed by a blast of lightning that tore through the clearing, striking Zaire and launching him backward.
Imani, Leon, and Eli burst onto the scene and immediately moved to form a protective line in front of Kamari.
Enraged, Zaire snarled and raised his hand, summoning four massive Orcs in front of him. The hulking creatures appeared from the shadows.
"Why must you insist on interfering?"
Imani and Eli exchanged a glance, and without missing a beat, they darted toward the Orcs. Imani was a blur of motion, her hands glowing with icy energy as she conjured blades of water and ice. With a swift gesture, she froze the ground beneath the Orcs, trapping their legs in solid ice. She then leaped into the air, forming jagged spears of ice that rained down upon them, piercing through their thick hides with ease.
Eli, meanwhile, unleashed a flurry of lightning bolts. The Orcs howled in pain as electricity surged through their bodies, their muscles spasming violently. Within moments, all four Orcs collapsed, their forms crumbling into nothing as Eli and Imani regrouped with Kamari and Leon.
With the orcs vanquished, Kamari and Leon turned their attention to Zaire. Kamari's flames flickered, his body still recovering from the demon's previous attack, but his resolve remained unshaken.
Imani seized the moment. With a wave of her hand, she conjured a wave of freezing energy, encasing Zaire in a thick layer of ice. His body stiffened as the cold overtook him, freezing him in place.
Leon, acting quickly, materialized a Suppressor Collar—a device designed to dampen the Enre of even the most powerful beings. He approached Zaire, ready to lock the collar around his neck.
But just as Leon reached out, a shadowy tendril erupted from Zaire's chest, shooting straight at Leon’s heart. Reacting instantly, Leon coated his chest with hardened Enre, forming a protective barrier just in time. The shadow struck, but instead of piercing him, it launched Leon backward with incredible force, sending him crashing through the trees and out of sight.
"Leon!" Kamari shouted.
Zaire broke free from the ice, shattering it in all directions.
"I can’t afford to be captured! Not until I've accomplished my mission."
He roared, and his aura expanded, suppressing the Enre of everyone in the clearing. In an instant, Kamari, Imani, and Eli felt their powers falter.
Kamari gritted his teeth.
"Damn it!"
He reached out his hand, and Imani and Eli followed suit, materializing crystals in the palms of their hands. Kamari materialized an Irei Crystal, its fiery red glow casting a warm light over his face. Imani summoned an Aewa Crystal, its blue hue shimmering in her hands, while Eli materialized a Source Crystal, its white light crackling with energy.
"We will hold him off. Eli, check on Leon and make sure he is okay."
Eli hesitated for a moment, his gaze flicking between Zaire and the forest where Leon had disappeared.
"Got it."
He then dashed into the forest.
Kamari and Imani stood side by side, their crystals glowing brightly in their hands.
"Thirty seconds," Kamari said.
His flames had returned to their standard yellow color.
"We just need to hold him off for thirty seconds until his aura fades."
Imani nodded.
"Thirty seconds."