With a nod, we sprang into action, each determined to end this battle and the Djinn's reign of terror. The fate of our mission depended on it, and failure was not an option.

Of course, the Djinn threw the first fireball in the middle of our arguing. The explosion sent us rocketing backward, the force of the blast rattling my bones. My vision blurred for a moment, and the heat singed my skin. I could feel the scorch marks on my arms, the pain sharp and searing. As soon as I recovered, I sprinted to my feet and let out a scream. "This reign of terror ends now!" I shouted, my voice echoing in the vast chamber, reverberating off the stone walls. The air was thick with smoke, and the acrid smell of burnt hair filled my nostrils.

I pulled out the lamp, my hands trembling with a mix of fear and adrenaline. I didn’t think—I just wished. The barriers blocking the lamps shattered into a pile of sand with a deafening crash, and my lamp floated out of my hands. Inky cyan smoke flowed from the Djinn as he grabbed the lamp back, the tendrils of smoke wrapping around it like claws. The temperature in the room seemed to drop, the cold air prickling my skin.

“Foolish mortals, you can’t defeat me,” the Djinn taunted, his voice dripping with contempt. His laughter echoed, a sinister sound that sent chills down my spine.

I groaned at how clichéd the Djinn sounded—like every villain from a Shooksword play.

"Seriously? Foolish mortals? That's what you're going with?" I taunted back, trying to mask my fear with bravado. The effort to maintain my composure was palpable, every word feeling like a lifeline in the midst of chaos.

[He sounds like a comic book supervillain,] Crystal laughed in my mind. I had half a mind to ask her what a comic book was, but another fireball came hurtling toward me, forcing me to leap to the side. I could feel the heat of the blast singe my hair, the acrid smell of burnt fabric stinging my nose. My heart raced, each beat pounding in my ears.

He was still invisible, cradling the lamps in a pile of smoke. Meanwhile, I heard a scream as the Goblin King reared up on his hind legs and attacked Klericho. Panic surged through me as I realized things were spiraling out of control. If we didn't do something to change the situation soon, we would have to restart. There was no way for me to revive my friends; there wasn’t any Aerlyntium in the room. My hands shook, the weight of the situation pressing down on me like a vice.

I glanced at Thomas, who was fiercely fighting off the goblin boss. His movements were swift and precise, every swing of his sword a calculated strike.

"Rod, we need to make him visible now!” Thomas said to me.

“Any ideas?" I yelled, desperation creeping into my voice. My throat felt tight, the words barely escaping my lips.

"I'm working on it!" Thomas shouted back, his voice strained with effort. His sword flashed in the dim light, cutting through the guards with deadly accuracy. Sweat dripped down his face, his breathing heavy and labored. He didn’t look like he’d have a chance to help.

Klericho, struggling against the Goblin King, cast a spell that weakened the wards around one of the lamps. It was odd, because it was a spell I’d never seen him use before. His hands moved in intricate patterns, the magic flowing from him in shimmering waves.

"Hurry, Rod!" he called out, his voice a strained whisper. The effort of the spell was evident in his trembling hands and pale complexion. I rushed forward to grab a lamp, and tried making another wish.

But nothing happened.

”What are you doing?” Thomas shouted, frustration in his voice. “Those lamps aren’t real.”

He was right, it felt odd in my hands like a cheap recreation. I turned to face where the djinn had last cast an attack but I knew it was the wrong location.

I wasn’t sure what they wanted me to do. I had no way to make him visible. Nothing in the room seemed like it could help. Suddenly, Klericho went down.

I rushed forward to him kicking up a cloud of dust from the sand as I went. By the time I got to him he was casting a heal spell.

He shoved me off and said, “I’m fine, do your job.”

I looked around the room uncertain what we were supposed to do, when I spotted it. The pile of sand. It felt silly, but I rushed forward and grabbed handfuls of the sand. I waited for the djinn to attack, hoping that my standing around like an idiot wasn’t about to backfire.

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He sent out a beam attack at Thomas, and I knew where the djinn was.

i rushed forward sand spilling from my hands and threw the dust at the djinn. He shrieked as if I had stabbed him with a sword, the sand causing red welts to appear and his invisibility to vanish.

"There! He's visible!" I cried out, hope rekindling within me. The sight of him sent a thrill of fear down my spine, but I pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand.

He was unlike anything I had ever seen. He appeared human, but his skin was a translucent shade of shimmering blue. His torso ended in a tornado of blue smoke. The red welts vanished almost immediately but he continued floating in the room smoke wafting off him now like a dying fire.

With the Djinn now vulnerable, we launched our final assault, each fighting with everything we had. The room was a blur of motion, the clash of weapons and spells echoing in the chamber. The battle raged on, but we no longer fought in the dark. Together, we had a chance to end this once and for all. My body ached, every muscle straining with exertion, but I refused to let up.

I rushed forward, reveling in the freedom of not being stuck in turn-based mode. The sensation of real-time action was exhilarating, the adrenaline pumping through my veins like fire. I dived into the inky cyan smoke, grabbing another one of the lamps.

The glass was cold under my fingers, and I could feel the power thrumming within it. this one was real. With a decisive motion, I smashed it against the ground. It shattered into a thousand tiny pieces, the sound ringing out like a death knell.

“You dare destroy my lamps? You’ll pay for this!” The Djinn roared, his voice seething with rage. His eyes blazed with fury, and the air around him crackled with dark energy.

"Again, man, what is with the lines?" I retorted, rolling my eyes. My voice was shaky, betraying the fear lurking beneath my bravado. Crystal snickered, her amusement a strange comfort amidst the chaos.

[Are you trying to be a Spiderman villain? C'mon, stop bantering and kick this guy to the curb!] her voice echoed in my mind, tinged with exasperation.

I couldn't help myself. “Spiderman? That sounds incredibly creepy,” I muttered, shuddering.

I hate spiders. The thought of a spider-themed hero was unsettling, and I pushed the image from my mind. The Djinn was incensed now, launching fireball after fireball in volleys aimed at me. The heat was intense, the flames licking at my skin. My breath came in ragged gasps, the air thick with smoke and the smell of burning.

I ran to see if Thomas and Klericho were okay, but the relentless onslaught forced me to focus on avoiding the fireballs. My muscles screamed in protest, each dodge a struggle against fatigue. The heat seared my skin, and my heart pounded in my chest like a drum.

"I need a little help here, guys! I can't do anything with him targeting me like this!" Klericho shouted, desperation creeping into his voice. His voice was strained, and I could hear the fear in his words.

I kept running, not waiting to see if Thomas would do anything to help. Instead, I focused on keeping my feet out of the fire. Then, I felt the glow surrounding me, and I knew what I needed to do to relieve the pressure on us all. The warmth of the golden shield was a welcome relief, a barrier against the relentless heat.

Thomas was dominating the Goblin King, his movements precise and controlled. He didn’t step in to help Klericho, so I needed to run interference on the Djinn. With the golden shield around me, I changed tactics. I kept running but angled myself and started to run toward the boss. My heart pounded in my chest, the thrill of the chase coursing through me.

He kept launching fireballs, but as I dodged side to side, I could see uncertainty on his face. The Djinn's confidence seemed to waver, the anger in his eyes flickering with doubt. When I thought he would keep throwing fireballs, he changed tactics and vanished, taking the lamps with him. The room plunged into an eerie silence, the absence of the Djinn's presence palpable.

I couldn't quite tell what he was up to in the dim light of the room. Suddenly, he reappeared and slammed a fireball into Klericho's face, downing the Cleric. The blast sent Klericho crashing to the ground, his body limp and motionless. His face charred beyond recognition.

“No!!! Klericho!” I shouted, my voice cracking with panic. The sight of him lying there, unmoving, sent a surge of terror through me. My chest tightened, and I struggled to breathe.

I was shocked that Klericho went down so quickly, but I had no time to react as the two bosses changed their targets. The Djinn focused on Thomas, his eyes blazing with malice, while the Goblin King turned his gaze on me. His massive form loomed over me, his eyes burning with rage.

Panic surged through me, but I forced myself to focus. The Goblin King's presence was overwhelming, his sheer size and strength intimidating. Knowing I wasn't a physical match for the King, I backpedaled, launching fireballs as quickly as I could. The spells were draining, the effort leaving me breathless. The pain was almost blinding, the strain of casting taking its toll on my body.

I'm not sure if my aim was better or if the Goblin King is weaker and slower, but either way, more of my attacks are connecting than I expected, I thought, adrenaline coursing through my veins. Each successful hit felt like a victory, a small triumph in the midst of chaos. Then, because I hadn't been paying attention to my feet, I tripped over the small altar the lamps had been placed on. The cold stone scraped against my skin, and I stumbled, my heart racing.

The Goblin King reared back and pounced for me, his massive form a shadow in the dim light. His claws gleamed, and his eyes burned with a fierce intensity. In that split second, I made a decision that likely changed everything. The weight of it settled in my chest, heavy and suffocating.