Navigating the Aftermath
The crumbling tower finally met the ground with a deafening roar, sending shockwaves through the city. Dust and debris clouded the air, settling like a mournful shroud over the devastation. Within the golden barrier cast by the king, the survivors braced themselves against the violent tremors. Though the runes flickered under the strain, the magic held firm, a testament to the king's power and resolve.
From amidst the wreckage, the Elven woman who had rescued Ziraiah emerged. Her shield, battered but intact, hung loosely at her side. She bent down and shook Ziraiah gently. “Can you move?” Her voice, though calm, carried urgency.
Ziraiah’s eyes fluttered open, her face pale with disbelief. “What… what just happened?”
The woman smiled faintly as she inspected Ziraiah for injuries. “You’re fine. Don’t worry—the dizziness will pass.”
Ziraiah nodded weakly, whispering, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” the woman replied, her voice steady but devoid of warmth. Without warning, she bound Ziraiah’s hands with deft precision. The younger girl blinked in confusion, trying to protest, but her words were cut off.
“Sorry,” the woman said flatly, hoisting Ziraiah over her shoulder with practiced ease. “You’ll feel dizzy for a while longer.” Before Ziraiah could muster another word, the woman shot forward, leaving behind a deafening sonic boom as she vanished into the horizon.
---
The Plot Unfolds
Far from the chaos of the tower, in the ruined corridors of the castle, a tall Elven man strode through the destruction. Dust swirled around him as he surveyed the scene with calm detachment. With a subtle nod, he spoke into a communication device concealed in his palm. “Anuel has the girl. Sumshus, it’s time.”
Miles away, in the dimly lit corner of a bustling bar, a man with vivid orange skin, piercing blue eyes, and hair the color of the sea sat at ease. Hearing the command, he smirked. “Understood, boss.” He downed his drink, the glass clinking softly as he set it on the counter. Standing, he flipped a coin onto the bar.
“This is more than the cost,” the bartender remarked.
Sumshus grinned, his voice smooth and ominous. “Keep the change. Not like you’ll have time to spend it.” He turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing just as an earth-shattering explosion erupted behind him. A massive green tornado of energy spiraled skyward, obliterating the bar and everything in its vicinity.
The tornado was a ferocious spectacle, its narrow base anchoring a chaotic vortex that widened as it ascended. It twisted with violent energy, reaching 400 meters into the air and obliterating everything it touched. The entire city turned its gaze toward the monstrous phenomenon, the very earth trembling beneath its might. Houses, objects, and even people were lifted into the storm’s merciless grasp.
Sumshus stood within the eye of the tornado, his face calm but his mind racing. “At this size, I can maintain it for about five minutes. Boss, you’d better finish soon.”
Across the city, screams pierced the air as the green vortex consumed everything in its path. Families clung to each other, their faces etched with terror as their homes were ripped apart. Market stalls overturned, sending wares spiraling into the storm.
“Run!” a vendor shouted, dragging his child as debris rained down around them. A mother shielded her baby with her body, her cries lost in the roaring winds.
From the safety of a distant rooftop, an elderly man gazed at the destruction, his voice trembling as he whispered, “The gods have abandoned us.”
---
Chaos in the Courtyard
Valerius, standing amidst the rubble, stared in horror at the distant tornado. “What the hell is that?”
Before anyone could answer, a guard stumbled into the scene, his face pale with fear. “My lord! The Sulstice Gloves have been stolen!”
The king’s head snapped toward the guard, his eyes alight with fury. “What? How?”
“All the guards were found unconscious, my lord, and the door—it… disappeared.”
The king’s voice turned sharper, a blade honed by rage. “Doors do not simply vanish! Summon the spell warriors immediately!”
The guard hesitated, his trembling form betraying his terror. “W-we cannot wake them, Your Majesty.”
“What?” The king’s voice reverberated with power, his aura expanding like a storm unleashed. The sheer weight of his presence forced the guard to his knees, his forehead pressed against the ground in abject submission.
“They… they gathered last night, my lord,” the guard stammered. “We found them moments ago, collapsed on the floor. Poisoned, we believe.”
The king’s fury burned brighter, yet his voice turned cold as ice. “Very well. If my warriors are incapacitated, I shall rectify this debacle myself.”
While the king raged, the people below faced a nightmare as a result of Beily’s attack. Entire neighborhoods lay in ruins, the once-bustling streets now reduced to rubble.
A boy crouched beneath a shattered archway, clutching a broken toy as tears streamed down his face. “Mama… where’s Mama?”
“Stay with me!” a soldier barked, pulling a wounded comrade from the wreckage. Around them, survivors gathered, their eyes wide with disbelief as they surveyed the carnage. “What is happening to us?”
The cries of the wounded mingled with the sobs of the grieving, their voices carried by the wind like a mournful hymn to a city undone.
---
Desperation and Determination
Nearby, Valerius frantically searched the rubble, his voice rising in desperation. “Ziraiah! Ziraiah!” He ran to Eryndor, his panic evident. “Eryndor, I can’t find Ziraiah!”
Eryndor’s expression darkened, his gaze scanning the ruins with precision. “Then we search until we do.”
Above them, on the edge of a fractured hallway, the same Elven man who had coordinated the theft stood watching. A sly smile played on his lips as he observed the chaos below. “It seems the king is finally making his move.”
---
The Chase
Far from the crumbling castle, the Elven woman carrying Ziraiah sprinted across the terrain, her speed leaving shockwaves in her wake. “Too fast for you, little girl?” she teased, her tone laced with mockery. “Don’t worry. I’ll slow down. We’ve gotten far enough.”
At the Hefestir Hospital, Kaelan stepped outside just in time to see the woman blur past him. His enhanced reflexes allowed him to catch a clear glimpse of Ziraiah draped over her shoulder. His eyes widened in recognition. “Ziraiah?”
Without hesitation, Kaelan bolted after them. His strides grew longer, his speed increasing with every step as the two figures ahead came into view. Catching up, his eyes locked with the Elven woman’s. Her expression was calm, almost playful, as she brought two fingers to her lips, kissed them, and gestured toward Kaelan.
Adjusting Ziraiah’s position, she cradled the unconscious girl protectively before accelerating once more. The force of her speed caused another sonic boom, throwing Kaelan off balance.
Determined, Kaelan pushed himself to the limit, his feet carving deep craters into the ground as he skidded to a halt. Breathing heavily, he muttered, “Who… was that?”
---
A Stone in Flight
Meanwhile, in the castle, the Elven man approached the massive stone bearing Elvhein script. His hands, straightened like blades, struck the base of the monolith with surgical precision. The stone cleaved effortlessly, as though it were mere parchment.
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Guards arrived at the scene, but before they could react, the Elven man vanished. When he reappeared, the guards collapsed, their heads severed with blinding speed. The man stepped beneath the falling monolith, catching it with ease. Bracing himself, he muttered, “This angle will do.” With a powerful stomp, he adjusted his stance and hurled the stone through a castle window. The resulting sonic boom echoed like a thunderclap, shaking the already unstable ruins.
---
The Queen’s Plight
The stone’s flight tore through the air, an unstoppable missile. Far from the chaos, two towering Valphraxsis children stood watching.
The younger girl pointed. “Festron, it’s coming.”
“I see it,” the older boy replied, bracing himself. The stone hurtled toward him with unrelenting force. With a determined grin, Festron caught the projectile, his feet skidding against the ground as he absorbed the impact. Trembling with effort, he raised a shaky thumbs-up. “Told you I could catch it.”
The girl clapped excitedly. “You did it, Festron!”
---
Dreados Revealed
Back at the ruins, Eryndor sat amidst the rubble, his head in his hands. “No. This can’t happen again.” His voice broke, and he yelled, “I won’t allow it!”
A deep, mocking voice interrupted him. “Won’t allow what?”
Eryndor looked up to see the Elven man standing near the barrier protecting the queen and the princess. The man tapped the glowing shield, a smirk curling his lips. “Impressive magic. But nothing I can’t handle.”
He turned to the siblings. “You Elvheins are coming with me.”
Valerius stepped forward, defiant. “Why would we?”
The man didn’t answer. Instead, he struck the barrier with the back of his hand, launching it into the sky. “Beily, catch that.”
Above, Beily sprang into action with unerring precision. His form blurred as he leaped, his movements swift and calculated. In one fluid motion, he snatched the barrier mid-air, its shimmering glow casting fleeting shadows across his sharp features. Balancing effortlessly on his floating energy disk, suspended high above the chaos, he stood as a formidable silhouette against the fractured skyline. The disk hummed faintly beneath him, stabilizing his imposing stance as he surveyed the scene with a smirk of satisfaction.
On the ground, the Elven man dislocated the siblings’ legs with precise, brutal efficiency. Eryndor gritted his teeth in pain, but Valerius screamed. With a disdainful glance, the man knocked Valerius unconscious. “Such a crybaby, you wont survive in yilheim like this.”
Turning to Eryndor, he smiled coldly. “I am Dreados.”
Dreados raised the device in his hand, his tone calm but laced with authority. “Open the portal.”
As the swirling energy vortex appeared before him, he grabbed Eryndor and Valerius without hesitation. Despite Eryndor’s defiance and Valerius’s unconscious form, Dreados threw them both into the portal with effortless precision, as if discarding mere objects.
Turning his gaze to his right, Dreados noticed Gustein, trembling within the protective barrier. A sly smile curled on his lips as he approached. “My team has a pressing need for someone with your... unique talents,” he said, his voice dripping with mock courtesy. Without waiting for a response, he delivered a powerful kick to the barrier, sending it careening through the portal.
Above them, Beily, who had been keeping watch, observed the scene. Seeing Dreados step toward the portal, he acted swiftly, hurling the barrier he had caught earlier into the vortex. Beily then landed gracefully in front of the portal, his towering frame casting a shadow over the chaos. Turning back, he smirked, his voice carrying a taunting edge. “Come and get us.”
Without another word, Beily stepped into the portal, the energy swirling violently as it began to shrink.
As the portal collapsed, sealing the escape of Dreados and his team, a faint shimmer illuminated a nearby crevice. Silvie, hidden in the shadows and clutching the Sulstice Gloves tightly, felt a sudden pull beneath her. A second portal materialized, its energy latching onto her. Before she could react, she was swallowed by the vortex, disappearing into the unknown.
The area fell eerily silent, the aftermath of the events leaving the ruins even more desolate.
---
The King’s Wrath
As the king arrived at the dissipating twister, his presence radiated power and fury. With a single, commanding gesture, he conjured an immense blade of glacial ice, its form towering above the remnants of the storm. The blade shimmered with deadly elegance, dwarfing the twister and casting a chilling glow across the ravaged landscape.
Sumshus, standing amidst the dissipating vortex, trembled as the blade loomed over him. His voice quivered as he muttered, “No, no, no, I don’t want to die…”
Before the king could unleash his wrath, a swirling portal materialized beneath Sumshus within the twister. Relief washed over the orange-skinned figure as he exhaled sharply, muttering, “Oh, thank the heavens.”
In a sudden burst of confidence, Sumshus turned to face the king. With a mischievous grin, he raised both arms in a dramatic flourish, and the twister vanished entirely, revealing him in all his insolent glory. He met the king’s seething gaze and mockingly protruded his rear, tapping it with exaggerated flair. “Kiss my rear end, Your Graciousness! You magic users are so slow.” he taunted, his voice dripping with audacity.
As he fell backward into the portal, his laughter echoed through the air, a defiant sound that lingered even as the portal snapped shut, leaving the king's icy blade to slash through empty space.
The king, now standing amidst the ruins, trembled with rage. His voice thundered, regal and furious. “ These cursed Unbound!I will tear apart the very heavens if I must, they will pay for their atrocities!”
As silence fell over the remains of the city, only the sound of crackling fires and distant weeping remained. The once-proud skyline of Ignir was a jagged silhouette against the ashen sky.
The king looked around and saw a young girl stood in the middle of the street, look down at her impaled mother with tears in her eyes. She turned to her brother, her voice trembling. “Where is daddy?”
He embraced her as their tears fell like rain onto the broken earth.
As the Elfen kings eyes scanned the city, all he saw was blood and destruction.
The survivors of the city looked on, fear and awe etched into their faces as they awaited the storm they knew would follow.
The king’s fists tightened, his voice low but filled with promise. “They think they’ve won,” he muttered. “But they have no idea what storm they’ve unleashed. I will see them shattered before this is done.” Above, the smoke curled into the heavens like a silent warning, the winds carrying whispers of vengeance yet to come.
---
A Restless Calm
Several miles from the city, amidst a vast expanse of barren land, the Velphraxis children rested near the colossal stone they had caught earlier. Festron, lying lazily on his side with his head propped on his palm, idly picked at a piece of food stuck in his sharp tooth. A half-eaten meal lay before him as he muttered to himself.
“I think they’ve forgotten about us,” he said, chewing slowly. Stretching his free arm, he gestured toward his sister. “Hey, Lisa, pass me the bowl of sowsi.”
Lisa, lying nearby, gave him a look of disgust. “Why do you even like that stuff? It’s gross.”
“That’s because you’ve got a taste disorder,” Festron shot back, his tone teasing. “How could someone call this delicious sowsi disgusting?”
Lisa sat up and squinted at her brother, unimpressed. Before she could retort, her eyes caught movement in the distance—a faint trail of dust rapidly growing closer. She tapped Festron urgently. “Festron, Festron! Something’s coming.”
Festron, entirely unbothered, turned onto his back, resting his head on his interlocked fingers and crossing one leg over the other. “Don’t worry,” he said with a yawn. “It’s an ally.”
Lisa frowned. “Who is it?”
“I don’t know. My sentinel range isn’t that strong.”
Lisa rolled her eyes. “Maybe it’s you who doesn’t know how to use it.”
Festron smirked. “If you think it’s so easy, go ask Dreados to train you. You’ll come crying back to me after one minute of his ‘lessons.’”
Before Lisa could argue, the trail of dust revealed itself as Anuel, the tall Elf woman, carrying Ziraiah securely in her arms. As she approached, her speed decreased until she gracefully landed near the stone.
Festron glanced over without moving from his reclined position. “It’s Anuel.”
Lisa raised an eyebrow. “I thought you couldn’t tell?”
“She was too far earlier,” Festron replied nonchalantly.
---
Anuel’s Arrival
Anuel leaped onto the stone, placing Ziraiah down carefully before turning to Festron. “Well done, Festron,” she said with a nod. “I didn’t think you’d actually catch it.”
Still sprawled out, Festron smirked. “It was easy.”
Lisa snorted, sitting up straighter. “He’s lying. You should’ve seen him—his eyes were bulging, and he was trembling all over.”
Anuel chuckled, sharing the laugh with Lisa, while Festron scowled, his annoyance growing as he turned onto his side. “Hilarious,” he muttered.
Ignoring his grumbling, Anuel looked around. “Festron, where’s the bag I gave you?”
With a lazy thumb, Festron pointed to a nearby spot on the ground. “Over there.”
Anuel’s sharp eyes narrowed as she spotted the bag. She jumped down, grabbed it, and held it up, her tone shifting to exasperation. “Festron, how could you be so careless? These are artifacts!”
Festron, now lying on his stomach with his chin resting on his hands, smirked. “Really? I thought they were toys.”
Lisa groaned, folding her arms. “You were there during the briefing! We told you they were artifacts.”
“Oh, sorry,” Festron said with a mock shrug, clearly unbothered.
Anuel ignored his antics as she rummaged through the bag. In her mind, a single thought lingered: Why am I always the one babysitting these kids?
---
Preparing for Departure
Anuel pulled out a small, intricate object with wheels. With a quick motion, she tossed it to the ground, and the artifact expanded with a faint hum, transforming into a sleek vehicle adorned with glowing runes.
“Get in,” she ordered, stepping into the driver’s seat.
Lisa hesitated. “What about the stone? Are we just going to leave it here?”
Anuel tapped a small device on her wrist and spoke into it. “Hey, why is the stone still here? The mission ended a while ago.”
After a brief pause, a frustrated voice responded. “Do you think transporting all of you across such a large distance is easy? I almost passed out from exhaustion!”
Anuel sighed. “Well, since you’re feeling better, open a portal for the stone.”
The voice replied, “I don’t know where you are.”
Anuel’s tone sharpened. “I’m where Festron’s team is!”
Silence followed for a few seconds, then Anuel called out again. “Daiel? Daiel?” She groaned. “He hung up on me.”
Just then, Festron, still lying on his stomach, pointed toward the glowing stone. “The portal’s open.”
All three watched as the monolithic stone slowly sank into a swirling, dark portal edged with faint blue light. As the portal disappeared, Festron stretched and yawned. “So, what now?”
Anuel glared at him. “Seems like you weren’t paying attention. Get in the cruiser.”
Lisa rolled her eyes as she climbed into the vehicle, muttering under her breath. “Babysitting. Always babysitting.”
---
The Final Order
Once inside, Anuel strapped herself in and placed a helmet with glowing cables over her head. The interior of the vehicle hummed to life as runes lit up across its surface, pulsing faintly with energy.
As the kruiser roared to life, Anuel’s voice cut through the noise. “This is our last mission for the day,” she said, her tone steady but resolute. Her gaze turned toward the horizon, her eyes sharp with determination.
“Free the Earthers.”
---
To Be Continued...