An explosion suddenly occurred outside the building, shaking the place where the heroes and Marvell, along with his tail, were gathered. Everyone was shocked by the sudden event, except for Marvell, who calmly looked up after the explosion.

Dewi, startled, asked, "What is that!?"

Marvell's tail looked at the ceiling, seemingly staring at something beyond the walls. Its mouth opened wide in excitement, mirroring Marvell’s subtle smile as he glanced at his tail.

Confused, everyone asked at the same time, "What!?"

Marvell closed his eyes, while his tail continued to stare at the heroes.

Suddenly, in an instant, they were all transported to the center of the city. The time was in the middle of the night, The ground shook beneath their feet as they took in the scene: chaos everywhere. Fire spreading as the a barrage of altilerry and flaming arrow piercing through, Citizens were panicking, running in all directions to avoid the danger as they could.

Marvell, now seated on the ground in the midst of the chaos, appeared completely unbothered. He casually stood up, stretching his body. Without hesitation, he raised his hand toward the sky, pointing to the source of the attack.

Out of nowhere, white snow began forming in midair. The snow expanded rapidly before hurling itself into the sky without Marvell moving his hand. More snow formations appeared, creating a barrage of snow-like artillery aimed at the invaders.

Angel, confused and worried, asked, "Why snow?"

Marvell smiled, replying calmly, "Just see it for yourself. I don’t want to spill the tea."

Confused but determined, Angel ran toward the direction where the snow was being thrown, followed by the others who were equally perplexed.

Marvell stayed behind, relaxed but focused, continuing to unleash snow artillery at random directions in front of him. The seemingly innocent snowballs streaked through the air, their purpose yet to be revealed.

As soon as they reach the destroyed wall, they can't see nothing because the dark that covering the whole place, Nana Cast a spell to everyone eyes creating a vision to see in the night, they were shock seeing thousan of skeleton struggling inside the snow create by Marvell, the torch they was holding wad extinguish by the snow, and dark environmen in the night causing them to can't see in the night.

while they were stunned to see it, Marvell's tail suddenly passed through, extending its neck like a serpent at high speed, launching itself into a battlefield full of skeletons. Seeing the danger and unwilling to be left behind, the group quickly charged in, starting to fight without further thought, joining the battle alongside Marvell's tail.

Dewi, wielding a giant shield on her arm, bashed her way through the horde of skeletons, followed by Andreas leaping behind her. With his sword igniting in flames mid-air, he slashed downward, creating a fiery arc that flew through the enemies and destroyed them.

The skeletons, unwilling to give up, began to attack, starting with Andreas as he landed on the ground. Suddenly, Marvell's tail appeared and started biting the skulls of the skeletons one by one.

Other skeletons, seeing the tail's neck, prepared their weapons with the intent of cutting it down. Suddenly, something caught their attention as multiple purple magic missiles launched into the sky and began striking the skeletons one by one.

With her staff raised, Angel cast a purple spell aimed at the sky while directly facing the skeletons charging toward her. The missiles rained down in a barrage against the enemies she targeted, all while she remained focused on Marvell's dragon-like tail, which continued biting and consuming the enemies.

Nana came beside Angel, her expression confused as she voiced her curiosity. "Where do you think all these skeletons came from!?" she asked, swinging her staff and casting a spell that pierced through the enemy line.

Hearing this, Angel, sharing the same curiosity, replied, "I don't know... it was too sudden," while keeping her focus on aiming her staff toward the sky.

A massive explosion suddenly erupted at the center of the enemy line, causing dust to blow everywhere, including toward Nana and Angel.

In the center of the battlefield stood Aldir, wielding both a spear and a sword in his hands. Beside him was Andreas, whose flaming sword was melting yet remained intact, with molten parts dripping to the ground like shedding skin.

Skeletons began rising from the ground, one of them grabbing Andreas' foot. Without hesitation, Andreas quickly raised his flaming sword and stabbed the skeleton to the ground. Aldir, noticing this, turned around, his face filled with panic as he saw Andreas’ sword embedded in the earth.

"JANGAN NDRE!?" Aldir shouted in alarm.

Andreas, however, turned to Aldir with a calm yet cold expression. "Sorry, Dir, it’s too late," he replied.

Suddenly, the ground beneath Andreas started glowing and cracking, resembling an erupting volcano. Aldir's face turned to panic as he glanced around at the ominous signs.

An explosion erupted from beneath them, launching Aldir through the air toward Dewi, who was shielding Marvell's tail from getting chopped. With her shield, she continued bashing through the enemies surrounding them.

She glanced at Aldir, who landed nearby, and asked with concern while staying on guard, "Aldir!? You okay?"

Aldir, lying on the ground, groaned before pushing himself up. His face twisted in anger and frustration as he stood. "Memang anjinglah," he muttered, his expression full of fury.

Without hesitation, Aldir gripped his weapon tightly and charged into the skeleton army, his anger fueling his attacks. He slashed and destroyed every skeleton near him, cutting through the horde as he ran directly toward the flaming fire in the middle of the battlefield. The fire lit up the area, illuminating the chaos within the skeleton army.

As the battle raged on, far from the chaos, a mage clad in a dark robe stood atop a hill, watching the heroes obliterate her army of skeletons. Her face turned pale, her hands trembling as fear consumed her.

"What the fuck is this…?" she muttered, her voice shaking.

Her wide eyes suddenly filled with terror as flashes of a gruesome memory overtook her. In her vision, she saw a man approaching her, his sword glinting menacingly. He raised the blade and swung, severing her head. From the ground, she saw her own lifeless body as the man walked away, leaving her to be engulfed by encroaching flames.

Snapping back to reality, she gasped, sweat dripping down her face. "Fuck, fuck, fuck! No, no, no, no—this can’t be happening!" Her voice rose in panic. "I need to get the fuck out of here!"

Clutching her staff tightly, she turned and fled from the battlefield, abandoning her skeletal army to its fate.

Meanwhile, back on the battlefield, Aldir noticed something odd. The once relentless wave of undead seemed to be thinning. Glancing at the ground, he realized there were no more skeletons rising to join the fray. He called out to Andreas, who was fighting nearby.

"NDRE!?"

Hearing Aldir, Andreas turned his head slightly while deflecting an incoming attack with his flaming sword. "Kenapa, Lek?" he replied, dodging another swing.

Aldir pointed at the ground as he shouted, "Kau lihat tanah itu? Ngak ada lagi tengkorak-tengkorak bangkit lagi. Kau tahu kan artinya apa?"

Andreas quickly realized what Aldir meant, his eyes lighting up with understanding. He nodded and yelled back, "Iya!"

"Bagus," Aldir continued, "Bilang sama mereka! Artinya kita tinggal basmi aja semua yang ada di sini!" While continue slaying the enemy infront of him

Acknowledging the command, Andreas immediately moved into action. He swung his sword with fiery precision, cutting down any skeletons in his way as he sprinted toward Angel’s position. Angel was relentlessly casting magic missiles into the sky, her focus unwavering and her stamina seemingly endless.

Far away from the battlefield, Marvell stopped firing the snow and began walking toward the destroyed wall of the city. Rubble scattered across the ground as he moved, his attention caught by the explosion on the enemy's side. He followed the direction where his tail's extended neck led him.

Reaching the wall, he looked over to see his tail enjoying itself and the heroes fighting fiercely against the monsters.

"Ahh, such a beautiful scene to be seen from afar," Marvell said in a calm and happy tone. "Too bad I never invented a spell to take a picture of it." as he watch the hero shine in the dark of the battle

He stroked his tail, which was lying atop the rubble of the wall, and added, "Hmph...judging by the enemy's number, the caster must be fleeing, seeing such chaos, I suppose. Too bad you can't crack any bones or... skulls."

Turning his gaze toward the heroes, he remarked, "Just as I expected, they are indeed capable," watching as the battle slowly turned in favor of the heroes and his dragon tail.

As time passed, the battle raged until morning. The sun rose, revealing the aftermath of the fierce fight. The heroes returned, unhurt but exhausted, while Marvell’s tail continued to bite and eat the bones of the fallen skeletons. The heroes, worn from the battle, stood silently, reflecting on the carnage around them.

Angel, also exhausted, collapsed to the ground where she stood, sitting down and gazing at the defeated army of the dead. She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, finding a moment of calm after a long night of battle. Nana, her friend, approached and sat beside her, chuckling.

"I can't believe we finally showed the result of our training," Nana said, then playfully punched Angel. "How are you, Gel? You alright?"

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Angel smiled and replied, "Yeah, those training sessions really paid off after all," as she gazed at the rising sun.

Meanwhile, Aldir and Andreas stood up, looking at the sun with their weapons in hand. They stabbed their weapons into the ground, both of them taking a moment to appreciate the beautiful view of the new day.

Meanwhile, Dewi was busy gathering the weapons scattered across the battlefield, dropped by the skeletons. She placed each weapon into a magical medium bag that seemed to hold more than its size suggested, with no change in weight or size, no matter how much she put inside it. As she continued gathering, her attention was drawn to the scattered bones on the ground. Picking one up, she noticed Marvell’s tail eating a leftover bone. Without hesitation, she placed the bone into the bag, continuing her task of collecting weapons while collecting bone scattering in the battlefield as fast as she could.

Marvell arrived, walking with a group of horses trailing behind him, their reins held firmly in his hands. As he walked through the battlefield, his gaze swept across the motionless army of the dead scattered across the ground. He stopped suddenly, his eyes catching sight of a particular bone—a pristine, white, and clean fragment lying among the carnage. Marvell bent down, picked up the bone, and smiled as he studied it. Without a word, he tucked it inside his robe and continued forward, approaching the heroes who were visibly exhausted from their ordeal.

When he reached the group, Marvell stopped behind Angel and Nana, who were sitting on the ground recovering. Lowering his body slightly, he bowed gracefully before extending his hands, offering each of them a glass of cold water. Angel looked up at him and shook her head gently.

"Sorry, it’s not good to drink something cold in the morning, so I’ll have to refuse," she said kindly, her tone polite but firm.

Nana echoed her sentiment. "Same here. Sorry for the trouble," she added with a small smile.

Before Marvell could respond, Aldir and Andreas appeared, their expressions lighting up at the sight of the water. Without hesitation, they each grabbed a glass. "Thanks, Marv," they said in unison, grateful for the gesture.

As they drank the water, a wave of relaxation and vitality washed over them. The exhaustion that had weighed them down moments before seemed to evaporate entirely. Aldir noticed this remarkable effect and turned to Marvell with a curious expression.

"Vell, apa aja yang kau masukkan ke dalam minuman ini? Langsung segar dan semangat lagi ini tubuhku " Aldir asked, his voice brimming with newfound energy.

Marvell smiled warmly at the question and replied, "Please speak English. I’m more comfortable explaining it that way. And yes, let’s just say I added a bit of magic to the drink. It helps you feel relaxed and refreshed. I mean, I know what it’s like to be so tired, so of course, I had a solution to that."

Aldir laughed, nodding in understanding. "Thank you lah, Vel. I’ll try my best to speak in English." While having another sip of the cold water in his hands.

Marvell chuckled and responded, "Thanks for understanding my situation," clearly pleased with Aldir’s effort. The exchange lightened the mood as the group savored the brief respite after their hard-fought battle.

Marvell watched Dewi with amusement as she held a bone in her hand, shaking it playfully. His dragon tail, behaving much like an excited dog, wagged and quivered with anticipation. Dewi grinned and threw the bone far into the distance. Without hesitation, the tail darted after it, chasing the bone eagerly. Marvell chuckled, finding the sight of his own tail enjoying the game rather entertaining.

Aldir approached Marvell, tapping his shoulder. "What were you doing with our horses? Are we leaving this city?" he asked, his tone curious but serious.

Marvell turned to him and replied, "Unfortunately, yes. Judging by the behavior of the city’s citizens, it’s best for all of us to move as soon as possible." His voice carried a calm yet concerned tone. "I’ve already paid the bill for our room. The city is safe now, but we need to find another place to live and start preparing for..." He trailed off, pausing briefly before continuing, "Not my move—what you and the rest of the group here want to do. I’ll just follow." His gaze shifted to the sunrise, the golden hues painting the battlefield in light.

Andreas, who overheard the conversation, nodded in agreement. "I agree. We should move to another city and find a place to rest."

Marvell turned back to the group, except Dewi, who was still busy collecting weapons and bones. "I know of a city nearby. It wouldn’t take us long to get there." His eyes then landed on Dewi. "But I think we should help her gather all those weapons."

Aldir, noticing Dewi’s meticulous efforts, questioned her. "Dwi, what are you doing collecting all those weapons?" His voice was a mix of curiosity and surprise.

Dewi, without breaking her focus, replied in a calm tone, "To sell them. I want to sell all these weapons to the blacksmith. I think it’s worth our time gathering them."

Marvell stepped forward, passing the group. "What she said makes sense. I suppose we should help her. After all, money doesn’t duplicate itself in our pockets." He moved quickly toward Dewi, picking up scattered weapons and bones nearby and handing them to her. She promptly placed them into her magical bag.

Aldir and Andreas followed Marvell's lead, joining in to help Dewi with her task, while Angel and Nana remained seated, still recovering from the battle’s exhaustion. Angel glanced at the glass of cold water sitting on the ground beside her, its surface glistening in the morning light. Finally, she picked it up and took a sip, feeling the relaxation spread through her body.

Nana noticed and turned to her friend. "Can you pick up the glass for me?" she asked, her voice tinged with fatigue.

Angel nodded, picking up the glass and handing it to Nana. "Nah," she said simply. Nana grabbed the glass and drank deeply, savoring the refreshing sensation. "Minum yang banyak, panjang perjalanan kita inih," she remarked, looking out at the beautiful sunrise.

Meanwhile, Marvell, Aldir, Andreas, and Dewi continued scouring the battlefield, diligently collecting bones and weapons to ensure nothing was left behind, preparing for the journey ahead.

Hours after fleeing the battlefield in the dead of night, the unknown mage found herself deep within a forest. Her legs burned, her lungs heaved, and her heart raced as if the fear she was escaping was still nipping at her heels. Finally, she stopped beneath the moonlight filtering through the canopy above. Exhausted, she collapsed against a tree, her body sliding down its rough bark.

"Finally... I am free... huff..." she gasped, her voice trembling as she tried to catch her breath. She tilted her head upward, gazing at the full moon shining down on her, its pale light bathing her tear-streaked face.

"I..." she began, her voice breaking. Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. "I am finally... free." The words escaped her lips in a whisper, as if she hardly believed them herself.

Her body trembled as the pent-up fear, pain, and despair of the battle overwhelmed her. She pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them tightly, and buried her face into the crook of her arms. Sobs wracked her slender frame, the sound echoing through the stillness of the forest.

Unnoticed at first, skeletons began to rise from the ground around her. Their hollow eyes glowed faintly in the moonlight as they stood motionless, encircling the girl. They did not move closer nor make a sound, their eyeless sockets fixed on her as if waiting for her command—or perhaps simply drawn to her sorrow.

But the mage did not care. She cried louder, letting out all the emotions she had suppressed for so long. Surrounded by her silent, unfeeling guards, she wept openly, her cries mingling with the distant rustle of the forest. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she allowed herself to be vulnerable, bathed in the light of the moon that seemed to offer her a shred of solace in her pain.

The quiet forest echoed with the distant rustling of leaves under the moon's pale light. The mage girl, her tears now dried, glanced at the skeletons surrounding her. Their hollow eyes stared back, unblinking and unmoving. Slowly, a faint smile crept across her face as she reached out, wiping away the remnants of sadness from her cheeks.

One of the skeletons extended its bony hand toward her, an offer of support. She hesitated for a moment but then placed her hand in its cold, rigid grasp. The skeleton pulled her to her feet, steadying her. She smiled softly, the weight of despair that had crushed her beginning to lift.

For a fleeting moment, it felt as though she might find solace in the company of the dead.

But then, the air shifted. A chilling, deep voice emerged from the darkness of the forest, freezing the girl and the skeletons in place.

"I don’t think I can let you go yet," the voice said, its tone calm but laced with menace.

The girl’s blood ran cold as the skeletons turned, their hollow eyes locking on the source of the voice. She recognized it instantly, a voice that struck terror deep into her heart.

The unseen figure continued, his words smooth and calculated. "To be honest, you gave the best performance in that fight. It got me thinking... I could use someone like you in the future."

Fear surged within her. She instinctively stepped back, the skeletons moving protectively around her, forming a barrier of bone. Her voice trembled as she pleaded, her earlier sadness now replaced by raw terror. "Please, I am begging you! Please just let us go... just let my mother go already!"

From the shadows, a figure stepped forward—a man clad in a dark robe, his face obscured by a white mask. In his hands, he held a picture frame. Within it, her mother’s image thrashed, slamming her fists against the glass, her mouth open in a soundless scream.

"Right," the man said, tilting his head slightly. "Unfortunately for you, there’s still one more thing I need. Just a little something to spice things up, you know? Otherwise, what’s the point of splitting myself across the world if I don’t make it worthwhile?"

The picture trembled violently in his hands, the trapped woman continuing her futile struggle. The man’s glowing blue left eye narrowed as he glanced at the image. "You just won’t shut up, will you?" he said coldly, his voice devoid of empathy.

Desperation overcame the girl as she stepped forward, her hands trembling. "Let my mother go! I’ll do anything, please!"

The man chuckled softly, the sound chilling her to her core. His head turned toward her, his glowing eye piercing through the shadows. "Anything, you say?" he repeated, his voice both amused and threatening.

The girl froze, realizing the weight of her words as his gaze bore into her. Slowly, he held up the picture, her mother’s tear-streaked face visible within.

"Let’s hear what she has to say," the man said, his tone eerily composed, as he stared at the image, the tension in the air suffocating.

"Uh..." A hesitant voice emerged from the picture, trembling with fear and disbelief.

The mage girl's eyes widened, her breath caught in her throat. "Mom!? MOM!" she cried out, tears streaming down her face as she reached helplessly toward the picture.

The woman trapped within the frame saw her daughter's anguish and began to cry as well. Her voice cracked with desperation. "Why are you doing this to us? Please, release my daughter from this torment!"

The mysterious man turned his glowing blue eye toward the image, his tone cold and unyielding. " Slave, intresting isn't, just like you once told me," he said, his anger simmering beneath his calm facade. The glow in his eye intensified. "If they have a use, you keep them alive. As long as you can."

The woman’s eyes widened in horror as he continued, his voice carrying the weight of malice. "So you can use them as much as you need."

Suddenly, the man extended his hand toward the mage girl, his movement too fast for the eye to follow. The skeletons around her sprang into action, trying to intercept him, but before they could take a single step, their bodies crumbled to dust, their hollow eyes extinguished.

The girl screamed in terror, attempting to run, but a powerful force pulled her toward the man’s hand. She was lifted off her feet, her body suspended in the air as an overwhelming energy engulfed her. Her cries turned into wails of despair as her form was slowly crystallized, her body turning into a shimmering gem in the man's palm.

"NOOO!" her mother screamed from within the picture, pounding helplessly against the glass. The man, unfazed, lifted the picture to his face and spoke with chilling composure.

"Don’t worry," he said, slipping the crystalized girl into his robe. "She’ll become one of the most important pieces in my chess game."

The mother continued to scream and slam against the confines of the picture, but her cries were silent, absorbed into the cursed frame.

The man lowered the picture, his focus shifting as he extended his other hand. A flame ignited in his palm, its small, controlled flicker reflecting in the eerie glow of his mask. He brought his face close to the fire and blew gently on it.

What started as a small breath erupted into a massive explosion of fire, roaring outward and consuming everything in its path. Trees and foliage turned to ash in an instant, the once-lush forest reduced to a hellscape of flame.

The man stood amidst the chaos, watching the inferno with an almost artistic appreciation. "Such beauty," he murmured, his tone carrying a twisted sense of satisfaction.

But just as quickly as the fire had begun, a cold, icy mist emanated from the man himself. The frost spread with an unnatural speed, smothering the flames and freezing the charred remains of the forest. In moments, the blaze was extinguished, leaving only a barren, dead landscape in its wake.

The man observed his handiwork, the desolate silence amplifying his presence. "Now," he said, his voice low and deliberate, "for the next step."

Without another word he put the picture back to his robe, he turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving the deadland.