As Samuel and Helena made their way through the desolate landscape littered with the fallen, Samuel utilized his telepathic abilities to reach out to the original Eldorian troops. His voice echoed in their minds, a beacon of reassurance amidst the chaos.
"Listen to me, soldiers of Eldoria," Samuel's telepathic message resounded within their minds. "This is Samuel. Do not trust anyone wearing Eldorian military attire except for those you know to be true. Infiltrators have breached our ranks. Gather to me, and we shall regroup, united against this threat."
His words spread like wildfire among the troops, drawing them closer, a cohesive force in the face of treachery. Helena, ever vigilant, stood by his side, ready to assist in whatever way she could.
Together, they forged ahead, navigating the perilous path back to safety, their minds linked in purpose and determination.
Aldeen, accustomed to evening clean-ups, was inundated with reports of a dire situation in the forest—disappearances and unrest. Jung vacated his office, prompting Aldeen to rush towards the forest. However, his path was blocked by a battalion of 100 soldiers, under the command of Mark.
Aldeen assessed the situation swiftly as he faced the imposing battalion led by Mark. Despite the urgency of the moment, he maintained his composure, keenly aware of the danger that surrounded him.
Mark's eagerness to confront Aldeen was palpable, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Seems like I finally get to meet you, Aldeen!" Mark exclaimed with excitement, locking eyes with Aldeen.
However, Aldeen remained focused on his objective, searching for any sign of the elusive white-caped figure bearing the Faurecia sigil.
"Aoooooaaaaaaaa!" Mark roared, his voice echoing through the ranks of his army, spurring them on with heightened enthusiasm.
"Attack him!" he commanded, his words laced with a promise of reward. "Land one blow on that guy, and you will get 1000 gold coins!"
Aldeen's thoughts raced as he observed Mark's leadership and appearance, realizing that this figure didn't match the descriptions he sought.
As the attack signal was given, the soldiers under Mark's command moved with synchronized precision. Energy balls were hurled towards Aldeen from all directions, forcing him to dodge and weave amidst the onslaught. Some soldiers rushed at him, aiming to tackle him to the ground, while others launched drop kicks or swung their swords in sweeping arcs. Amidst the chaos, daggers flew through the air, aimed with deadly accuracy at Aldeen's vulnerable points.
Despite his valiant efforts to dodge and evade the barrage of attacks, Aldeen found himself overwhelmed in the final moments. As he braced himself for the incoming assault, his senses heightened to the impending danger.
Then, ten soldiers behind him began chanting mantras, channeling their collective energy into a massive fireball, akin to a wrecking ball in size, hurtling towards him with destructive force.
With lightning reflexes, Aldeen conjured a powerful tornado at his location, its force hurling away the soldiers attempting physical attacks; the tornado span with such ferocity that trees were uprooted in its wake. As the tornado raged, Aldeen swiftly shifted his focus to the fire ball coming his way, placing his palm upon the ground.
In response, three towering walls emerged from the earth, rising swiftly to intercept the incoming fireball. The walls absorbed the fiery impact, shielding Aldeen from harm as the flames dissipated harmlessly against their sturdy defenses.
As Aldeen caught his breath, the formidable organization of the soldiers weighed heavily on his mind. However, in a brief moment of respite, Mark seized the opportunity, launching himself into the air and unleashing a lightning bolt. Despite Aldeen's efforts to shield himself, he still felt the jolt coursing through his body, singeing his clothes but leaving him otherwise unscathed.
Reacting swiftly, Aldeen countered by hurtling towards Mark like a bullet, delivering a powerful elbow strike that sent Mark hurtling through the air at tremendous speed. However, Mark's mastery of electricity allowed him to regain control mid-flight, landing safely despite the force of Aldeen's blow. The battle between the two adversaries intensified, each determined to emerge victorious in this clash of wills and powers.
"Are you invincible?" Mark exclaimed, his disbelief evident in his voice. "That was my strongest electricity spell, yet you remain unscathed!"
"Hahaha! I'm buzzing with this!" Mark exclaimed, his excitement palpable as he charged towards Aldeen with manic fervor. Unleashing a relentless barrage of electrified punches, the air crackled with energy as their clash echoed through the surroundings. Each strike sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, pulverizing pebbles and small plants in their wake.
Despite Mark's fervent onslaught, Aldeen remained unyielding, effortlessly evading every blow with precision and grace. Despite Mark's best efforts, not a single strike landed on Aldeen, his invincibility seeming almost otherworldly amidst the chaos of battle.
"Get him now!" Mark bellowed, his command urging the soldiers behind him to intensify their efforts. With fervor, they chanted mantras, pooling their energies to conjure another immense fireball.
"Get both of us, I don't care now!" Mark's fury surged, channeling even more power into his barrage of punches, determined to ensure the fireball would find its mark this time.
But Aldeen, seizing the moment, swiftly caught both of Mark's hands in a vice-like grip. With a deft maneuver, he swung Mark around, aiming his trajectory directly towards the oncoming fireball.
Mark grimaced in pain, coughing up blood as he struggled to stand on his feet once more. His injuries were evident, and the realization that he couldn't defeat Aldeen began to weigh heavily on the morale of the mercenaries. Some of them, seeing their leader falter, began to contemplate retreat.
"What a monster! Run! Run!" one of the mercenaries exclaimed, the fear evident in his voice as he urged his comrades to flee from the seemingly unstoppable force that was Aldeen.
With a grim determination, Mark unleashed torrents of electricity in the form of deadly lasers, targeting the soldiers who dared to retreat. In an instant, the crackling beams found their mark, striking down those attempting to flee as they collapsed to the ground, overcome by the searing energy coursing through their bodies. The air crackled with electricity, a grim reminder of the consequences of defying Mark's command and attempting to escape from the battlefield.
Aldeen, fueled by determination, surged forward like a speeding bullet towards Mark, aiming to deliver a decisive blow. However, Mark's mastery over electricity granted him unparalleled agility and reflexes, allowing him to evade Aldeen's attack effortlessly. No ordinary man could match the speed of thunder, and Mark's defense proved impenetrable as he deftly avoided Aldeen's assault.
"This electricity power is annoying," Aldeen admitted silently. "I need but one blow to defeat him. But he keeps running."
A moment of contemplation followed as Aldeen weighed his options. "Mmm, I wonder if I should use it,"
Yet, even as he considered this, the memory of the elusive white-caped man lingered in his mind. "I have to keep in mind that I could still face the ever-elusive white-cape man," Aldeen reminded himself, wary of expending too much energy prematurely and leaving himself vulnerable to unforeseen threats.
I have an idea, but it’s going to take some times. Mmm… Guess I ll take care of the small fries for now. With a decisive shift in strategy, Aldeen redirected his focus from Mark to the surrounding soldiers. With swift and precise movements, he unleashed a flurry of spells and elemental attacks, casting fire spells to engulf his enemies, summoning tornadoes to disorient them, and creating soldiers from the earth to aid him in battle.
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The combined might of his elemental prowess proved overwhelming as Aldeen's creations dismantled and incapacitated each and every one of the mercenaries. In a whirlwind of chaos and destruction, the threat posed by the soldiers was swiftly neutralized, leaving Aldeen to confront Mark with renewed determination and resolve.
Mark's words hung heavy in the air, his frustration evident as he addressed Aldeen.
"Phew! Phew! Truly, truly you are a monster, Aldeen!" Mark exclaimed, acknowledging Aldeen's formidable power. "I wonder, and this is honestly said. Why does a man with your power yield to the capital? Why do you pay tribute to those nasty advisors? Why do you yield to men who are weaker than you, Aldeen? I don’t understand!"
His frustration and confusion echoed the sentiments of many who questioned Aldeen's allegiance to the capital despite his undeniable strength.
Aldeen's response was measured yet firm, his gaze steady as he addressed Mark's accusations.
"I could ask the same of you, you think you're a reasonable man?" Aldeen countered. "What is the objective of such attacks? What makes you different from the capital? As far as I'm concerned, the ways of the capital, though flawed, still hold a semblance of honor. Yet your actions have targeted civilians, inserted infiltrators, and even rebelled against Michel. You've sacrificed the people of Jambodia and its citizens to satisfy your pride."
"Sacrifices are necessary," Mark asserted, his voice unwavering. "In order to achieve true strength and progress, sometimes sacrifices must be made. The weak citizens should serve the strong, it's the natural order of things. Those who cannot fend for themselves should rely on those who possess the strength to protect them."
He continued, his tone gaining intensity. "The capital is fake, an illusion of power fueled by people like you, Aldeen who willingly give up their powers to maintain a false sense of order. They claim to protect the weak, but in reality, they only serve to perpetuate their own dominance and control."
"Sacrifices may be necessary at times, but not at the expense of innocent lives," Aldeen countered. "True strength is not about dominating the weak, but about using power responsibly to protect and uplift those who are vulnerable."
He continued, his voice unwavering. "And my actions are not fueled by a desire to save the weak, but by a sense of duty to uphold justice and protect the innocent."
"What a bunch of rubish, you can search heaven and earth, and you still want fight the justice you are looking for!" Said Mark with an intense tone.
"Well, I suppose someone who kills their own teammates wouldn't understand," remarked Aldeen, his tone reflecting a mixture of resignation and disappointment.
Anger swirled within Mark as he retorted sharply, his voice laced with indignation.
"Don't you dare judge me, Aldeen!" he spat out, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. "You know nothing of what I've been through, the sacrifices I've made. You may think you're some righteous hero, but you're just as flawed as the rest of us. Don't pretend otherwise!"
With a fierce glare, Mark's voice boomed as he announced, "Let's get this fight over with!" His determination burned bright, ready to confront Aldeen head-on and settle the conflict once and for all.
As Mark prepared to summon his power, his palm pressed against the ground, extracting a cluster of cubes pulsating with swirling yellow energy. "Divine God of Thunder, Divine Zeuus," he began to chant.
Before he could complete his summoning, Aldeen intervened swiftly, delivering a drop kick that shattered most of the cubes and disrupted Mark's incantation.
Enraged by Aldeen's interruption, Mark's eyes flashed with fury. "You meddling fool!" he roared, his voice reverberating with anger. "I was so close to summoning the power of the Divine God of Thunder, and you dare to disrupt me!"
"Are you stupid?" Aldeen retorted, his voice edged with incredulity. "You think I'm going to stand by and watch you summon Zeus? Even I would have a hard time matching against him!"
"Also... playtime is over!" Aldeen declared, his tone firm and decisive.
I have gathered enough energy, I can now cast the tree of life, he can not run anymore, but I guess I ll make tired first, he might me hiding an ace or something.
Aldeen's relentless pursuit forced Mark to push himself to the limit, his agility fueled by his manipulation of electricity. With lightning-fast movements, he leaped from branch to branch, leaving behind a trail of crackling shockwaves with each touch. But despite his efforts, Aldeen remained hot on his heels, refusing to relent in his chase.
As the pursuit wore on, exhaustion began to take its toll on Mark, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he struggled to maintain his speed. The weight of Aldeen's presence bore down on him, urging him to keep moving despite the fatigue that threatened to overwhelm him.
Sensing that his exhaustion would eventually lead to his capture, Mark's desperation drove him to take drastic action. With a quick motion, he pressed his palm against the ground once more, calling upon the forces of Xeno-arcanery.
"ThunderCloud!" he cried out.
As Mark's invocation took hold, small artificial clouds began to materialize around them. Unlike natural thunderclouds, these clouds moved with a deliberate slowness, almost as if they were biding their time. However, despite their leisurely pace, they crackled with the same raw power of thunder, ready to unleash their fury upon command.
As the artificial thunderclouds loomed above, Aldeen's response was swift and decisive. With a resolute gesture, he pressed his palm against the earth "Xeno-arcanery, Secret Arcane”
“Tree of Life, Release," he commanded.
In a dramatic response to Aldeen's invocation, towering walls of wood, each standing at a height of 100 meters, surged forth from the earth, encircling both Aldeen and Mark within their imposing embrace. These walls were fortified with thick branches at their extremities, poised to spring into action at a moment's notice.
With a sudden burst of energy, the branches expanded outward, weaving together to form a dense canopy that obscured the sky above. Locked within this natural fortress, Aldeen and Mark
"You're trapped! You can no longer run!" declared Aldeen, his voice echoing within the confines of the wooden walls.
"Shut up!" Mark retorted with a growl of frustration, his words laced with pain as he coughed up blood. Ignoring his injuries, he directed the thundercloud towards Aldeen with a fierce determination.
Aldeen reacted swiftly, summoning a dome made of clay to protect himself from the impending onslaught of lightning. Mark, sensed that the clash of powers would the determine the outcome of the confrontation.
“Hmph! I m just gonna keep striking that dome until it breaks apart!” Mark's determination blazed as he vowed to break through Aldeen's protective dome.
“Aghhhh!”
With a primal scream, he unleashed the full extent of his life energy, channeling it into the thunderous clouds above.
The relentless assault threatened to break through its defenses. Aldeen knew he must act swiftly to reinforce the barrier or face the full fury of Mark's onslaught.
Mark retrieved a cube from his vest, its value weighing heavily on his mind. "This cube is worth 1000 gold coins," he muttered to himself, a sense of urgency creeping into his voice. "Renauld will kill me if I waste it! But I guess it's worth it if I can manage to catch Aldeen with it."
With resolve hardening his heart, Mark prepared to unleash the power contained within the cube, knowing that the outcome of this pivotal moment could determine the course of their battle.
Mark unleashed the cube, watching as it morphed into a metallic prison with ethereal walls. The structure expanded rapidly, encompassing not only the dome but also its surrounding area, ensnaring everything within its confines.
As the realization of his success washed over him, Mark's strength faltered, and he collapsed to the ground, his breaths coming in ragged gasps, and blood coming out his wounds, and nose. Despite his exhaustion, a triumphant smile graced his lips. "I did it," he murmured softly.
Mark's eyes widened in disbelief as the dome where Aldeen once stood; inside the metallic prison collapsed, revealing an empty space, dirt, and nothingness. Panic surged through him as he frantically scanned his surroundings, searching for any sign of his elusive adversary.
In a moment of chilling realization, Mark felt a presence looming behind him. Before he could react, Aldeen emerged from the shadows. "Consider it an honor," Aldeen murmured, his voice cold and resolute. “This dagger is one of the relics of Xelar” the dagger radiated with ancient power, and was embued with a golden energy that vibrated and created a numbing sound. With swift precision, he drove the dagger into Mark's back, delivering a fatal blow that sealed his fate.
With a solemn nod, Aldeen whispered, "Rest in peace," his duty fulfilled as he stood over the fallen foe.
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Explaining why the prison didn’t catch Aldeen:
As Aldeen casted the dome to shield himself from the thunderous clouds, he simultaneously began digging underground with his hands, swiftly and silently burrowing beneath the earth's surface. Unseen by Mark, he maneuvered behind his adversary, taking advantage of the distraction caused by the cube.
When Mark unleashed the metallic prison, its ethereal walls expanded rapidly to ensnare the area. However, Aldeen's swift underground movement allowed him to evade capture, ensuring that he remained outside the perimeter of the prison. From this vantage point, he observed Mark's actions, biding his time until the opportune moment to strike.
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Though Aldeen had triumphed over his adversary Mark, the conflict with the mercenaries still persisted, casting a shadow over the land even in the wake of his victory.
"Damn it! I wasted so much energy! Mark, you were strong," Aldeen muttered, his frustration evident as he clenched his fist. "I should've asked Michaela for help. I'm being arrogant here. Anyway, I still have to deal with the infiltrators and that white-caped man. But for now, I'll retreat."
As he contemplated his next moves, Aldeen's mind churned with thoughts of the battles yet to come, recognizing the need to regroup and strategize for the challenges ahead.