"This is bad," Wanda thought, her grip on her wand tightening as cold sweat dripped down her temple. Her icy-blue ring glimmered faintly, reflecting her mounting fear. She turned, her heart pounding, to assess her teammates.

Lorenzo stood a few paces away, his twin blades drawn, their dark steel gleaming ominously in the faint moonlight. His usually confident expression was grim, his jaw clenched as he struggled to process the sudden ambush. On the other side of the clearing, Chan was struggling to his feet, his falcon-like transformation gone. His body was bruised, his movements sluggish as he tried to steady himself.

Wanda flicked her wand, summoning a shimmering field of frost that spread rapidly across the ground. The cold crept up the massive roots of the Tree Titan, slowing its movements as frost crackled over its bark.

But before she could catch her breath, an unexpected figure emerged from behind the towering Yggdrasil-like Titan. Another titan loomed into view—a Greater Cloud Titan. Its vaporous form shifted fluidly, like a storm condensed into a humanoid shape. Its glowing yellow eyes pierced the gloom, locking onto Wanda with unsettling intensity.

For a moment, Wanda froze as a sudden, intrusive voice echoed inside her head.

"Undo the ice. Do not fight us. Surrender yourself, child.”

The voice was calm yet commanding, as though the titan’s words were spoken from the depths of eternity. Wanda’s fingers trembled as her wand faltered, her other hand instinctively reaching out to undo the ice field she had just conjured. Her mind was no longer her own; the titan’s telepathic command consumed her thoughts.

But before she could act, Lorenzo’s voice cut through the haze like a blade.

“Wanda, stop!” he shouted, his tone sharper than she’d ever heard it.

In an instant, Lorenzo lunged toward her, tackling her to the ground. The sudden impact snapped her out of the titan's mental grip, and her vision cleared as the oppressive voice faded. She gasped, her breath ragged, and stared up at Lorenzo.

"Run!" Lorenzo barked, pulling her to her feet.

The Cloud Titan let out a shriek, its storm-like body twisting unnaturally as it surged forward with incredible speed. Lorenzo stepped in front of Wanda, his blades flashing in the moonlight as he met the titan’s charge. The clash sent shockwaves rippling through the clearing.

Behind them, the Tree Titan roared, its massive frame shuddering as it shattered the ice field Wanda had created earlier. Its heavy steps crushed the frost-covered ground, shaking the earth with every move.

Lorenzo didn’t hesitate. He grabbed Wanda, slung her over his back, and bolted toward the forest. His grip was firm, and his pace relentless.

“Wait!” Wanda cried, twisting to look behind them. “What about Chan? We can’t leave him!”

But Lorenzo didn’t stop. His eyes burned with a singular determination, his focus unyielding.

“He will only slow us down,” he spat, his voice cold and devoid of its usual warmth. “I need to survive. I have a mission to finish. This… this wasn’t part of the plan.”

Wanda stared at him in disbelief, her mind spinning as she tried to process his words. Lorenzo had always been stoic, even secretive, but this… this was different.

Behind them, the Cloud Titan, Mnemona, let out a piercing wail that seemed to vibrate through the very air. Its form twisted into a spiraling mass of storm clouds as it charged after them, crackling with latent energy.

The Tree Titan followed closely, its massive limbs tearing through the forest with ease, its glowing eyes fixed on its fleeing prey.

Wanda’s heart ached as she glanced back at Chan, who was still on the ground, struggling to push himself up. The shadow of Mnemona loomed closer.

“Lorenzo! Stop! We can’t leave him!” Wanda pleaded, her voice breaking.

But Lorenzo didn’t respond. His breathing was heavy, his steps unwavering as he pushed deeper into the forest, the sounds of the titans crashing through the trees growing louder behind them. Wanda clenched her wand, torn between the instinct to fight and the desperate need to survive.

The forest’s darkness swallowed them as the chase continued, with death trailing just a few steps behind.

Chan’s battered body dangled in the air, held aloft by the tightening grip of Yggdrasil’s vines. His arms hung limp at his sides, his strength utterly drained. The petrified forest blurred around him as tears streamed down his face. This is the end, he thought bitterly. All his dreams of glory, of one day becoming a proud member of the Phantom Shadows, now seemed so distant, so foolish.

But the Tree Titan didn’t crush him—at least, not yet.

From the shadowy mist, the Cloud Titan, Mnemona, glided forward, its semi-ethereal form shimmering under the faint light of the moon. Its glowing yellow eyes pierced through Chan’s despair, locking onto his trembling figure.

"Don’t be afraid, young one," the voice echoed directly into Chan’s mind, smooth and hypnotic. "Surrender to us. They have abandoned you. You’re alone now.”

Chan’s breathing hitched, his tears flowing more freely. He wanted to deny it, to resist, but the words burrowed deep into his consciousness. The images came next, vivid and all-consuming—a vision of himself clad in the dark armor of the Phantom Shadows, standing tall and proud, his name whispered in awe. He saw himself soaring above cities, his falcon form a blur of power and precision. This is what you want, the voice coaxed. This is your destiny. All you need to do is let go.

His struggles ceased. Slowly, his brown eyes faded, replaced by an eerie yellow glow that mirrored Mnemona’s gaze. His body slackened in Yggdrasil’s grasp, his will no longer his own.

The Tree Titan, satisfied, gently lowered him to the ground. The vines loosened, setting him on his feet as he stood, dazed but compliant.

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"Now, let’s find the rats, shall we?" Mnemona’s telepathic voice was soft but commanding, resonating in Chan’s mind like the ringing of a bell.

Chan nodded, his expression blank but determined.

"Bring them back to us, and you shall be rewarded," Mnemona instructed, its voice dripping with false kindness.

With the titan’s command firmly implanted in his mind, Chan’s form shimmered and twisted, feathers sprouting from his bruised body. In moments, he had shifted back into his falcon-like form. His wings beat with purpose as he took to the air, his glowing eyes scanning the forest below.

His prey—no, his former comrades—were fleeing through the petrified forest. A flicker of his old self might have hesitated, but the voice of Mnemona drowned out any remaining doubt.

“Fly, and do not fail me,” the titan whispered.

Chan surged forward, his mind consumed by the command, as the hunt began anew.

——

"Let me go! Let me go!" Wanda shouted, thrashing against Lorenzo's grip as he carried her deeper into the forest. Her fists pounded against his back, her struggles throwing him off balance. His foot snagged on a jagged root, and the two of them tumbled to the ground in a heap.

"What are you doing, you idiot?" Wanda snapped, scrambling to her feet and glaring at him. "Chan needs us!”

Lorenzo pushed himself up, his breathing sharp, his gaze steely and unrelenting. "Are you out of your mind?" he snapped back, his voice laced with frustration. "Those things aren’t like the titans we’ve faced before. Can’t you feel it? The power radiating from them—it’s on a whole other level!”

Wanda jabbed a finger in the direction they had come from, her expression fierce. "I don’t care! We can’t just leave him behind!”

Before their argument could escalate further, the ground beneath them rumbled violently, and the sound of splintering wood echoed through the hollow. Wanda’s head whipped around to see the massive figure of Yggdrasil advancing, its vines tearing through the forest like living whips.

"I won’t abandon him!" Wanda declared, turning on her heel. The icy glow of her ring intensified, and the air around her grew frigid. Without waiting for Lorenzo’s reply, she sprinted back toward the chaos.

"Dammit, you stupid—!" Lorenzo growled, tightening his grip on his swords. He bolted after her, calling out, "You’re going to get yourself killed!”

Wanda didn’t respond. Her focus was fixed on the looming shadow of Yggdrasil, its grotesque form crashing through the trees. She raised her wand, her ring glowing fiercely, and shards of ice materialized in the air around her. With a flick of her wrist, the frozen projectiles shot toward the titan, piercing the ground and tree trunks in a shimmering barrage.

The surrounding forest froze in an instant, the ground encased in a layer of ice that crackled ominously under Yggdrasil’s weight. Despite her earlier doubts, the stories of her fearlessness as the "Ice Witch" back at the academy rang true.

Lorenzo caught up just as Wanda charged, reckless and resolute. "You’re insane," he muttered under his breath, tightening his grip on his blades. "Stupid, reckless—" He cut himself off, his shadow tendrils writhing to life as he darted in front of her.

Yggdrasil roared, its massive arms slamming the ground in an attempt to shake off the ice encasing it. The titan lashed out with its vines, which Lorenzo slashed through with practiced precision. His dual swords scraped and dragged against the titan’s bark-like arm as he leapt forward, using the momentum to deliver a powerful double slash across Yggdrasil’s masked face.

The titan shrieked, its massive hand swatting Lorenzo midair. His body was flung back, crashing into a petrified tree with a sickening thud. He coughed violently, blood spraying from his lips, but his gaze remained locked on the titan.

Wanda stepped forward, summoning another barrage of ice shards that hurtled toward the titan. They struck its bark with dull thuds, barely leaving a mark. Yggdrasil groaned and lashed out, its massive arm slamming into Wanda and sending her flying. She crashed into the frozen ground, gasping for air.

"Stay down!" Lorenzo growled, forcing himself to his feet despite the pain. His shadow tendrils writhed angrily, wrapping around his blades as he advanced once more. "I’ll handle this!”

Before Lorenzo could land another strike, a sudden movement caught his eye. From the shadows, Chan emerged, his form twisted in a grotesque fusion of falcon and human. His talons gleamed under the pale moonlight as he swooped down, striking Lorenzo square in the back.

Lorenzo’s clothes tore under the force of the attack, revealing a black tattoo sprawled across his scarred back—a snarling, three-headed beast: the mark of Cerberus.

"Chan! What the hell?" Lorenzo yelled, spinning around and slashing at his attacker. His blade struck Chan’s side, but the latter barely flinched.

From below, Wanda’s voice rang out, sharp with desperation. "Stop it, you two! What’s wrong with you?!”

She hadn’t yet noticed the eerie yellow glow in Chan’s eyes, the telltale sign of Mnemona’s control.

Chan lunged again, his talons clashing against Lorenzo’s blades as the two fought with a ferocity that seemed destined to destroy them both. Wanda struggled to her feet, clutching her wand tightly, her breath visible in the freezing air.

"Chan!" she cried out, hoping to reach him, to break through whatever force had turned him against them. But as her voice echoed through the hollow, her heart sank. The Chan she knew was no longer there.

Lorenzo’s breaths came in ragged gasps, his blades trembling in his hands as he fought off Chan’s relentless attacks. Each strike from the falcon-like talons sent jolts of pain through his arms, his muscles straining to parry the onslaught. It was only now, locked in combat with the controlled Chan, that Lorenzo truly understood why the academy had given both Chan and Wanda a second chance. Their raw strength and skill were undeniable—fighters who could rival the best if only they had the motivation.

A shout broke through his thoughts. "Lorenzo, look out!" Wanda's voice, high and strained, cut across the battlefield.

Lorenzo turned his head briefly to see Wanda struggling against the advancing Yggdrasil. The towering tree titan moved with terrifying force, its massive trunk-like arms thrashing wildly. Each swing was a death sentence, capable of pulverizing anything in its path. Wanda’s icy power crackled in the air, her ring glowing with intense blue light as frost crept up Yggdrasil’s legs, trying to pin it in place.

But it wasn’t enough.

Above them, Chan’s yellowed eyes glimmered brighter, as if Mnemona’s control had intensified. He paused mid-flight, his body stiffening, before diving upward into the sky. His next target was clear.

"Kill the girl.”

The telepathic command from Mnemona echoed in his mind as he dove toward Wanda. His battered form was like a predator zeroing in on its prey, completely devoid of emotion, his body moving like a puppet.

Lorenzo’s eyes widened in horror. "No you don’t!" he growled, summoning his ring’s power. Dark tendrils shot out from the shadows surrounding him, wrapping around Chan’s limbs mid-air and pulling him back. But the brief distraction left Lorenzo vulnerable.

Wanda faltered, losing her concentration. The frost around Yggdrasil’s legs began to crack and melt as the titan lashed out with renewed fury. One of its massive arms swung down toward her and Lorenzo, the sheer force of the blow sending tremors rippling through the forest.

"Move!" Lorenzo yelled, releasing his grip on Chan to dodge the trunk. But the moment his tendrils loosened, Chan shot forward, his sharp talons slashing across Wanda’s side.

Blood sprayed across the frozen ground. Wanda stumbled, her ring glowing weakly as she reflexively summoned an ice shard and hurled it at Chan. The shard struck true, embedding itself in his chest, but it didn’t stop him. Controlled by Mnemona, Chan moved like a zombie, completely impervious to pain. His bloodied body staggered forward, his yellow-glowing eyes locked onto Wanda.

Tears streamed down Wanda’s face as she clutched her wound. "Chan... please... stop!”

Lorenzo’s voice snapped her out of her despair. "Stay focused, Wanda! We can’t give up!”

Yggdrasil stomped forward, its massive foot crashing into the frozen ground and sending shockwaves through the battlefield. Lorenzo’s grip on his blades tightened as his ring pulsed with dark energy. There was a surge of power within him, something unfamiliar yet undeniable.

The edges of his shadowed blades flickered with blue flames—hellfire. Lorenzo’s eyes widened in shock, but he didn’t have time to question it. The flames burned brighter as he charged forward, his movements fueled by sheer will.

As he neared Yggdrasil, Chan darted toward him, claws outstretched. Lorenzo swung his blade in a wide arc, the blue flames licking at the edges. The moment his sword made contact, the hellfire didn’t just burn Chan’s body—it surged through him like a beacon, severing the invisible threads of Mnemona’s control.

A shriek erupted from the shadows behind Yggdrasil as Mnemona’s glowing yellow eyes flickered in pain. The cloud titan recoiled, its grip over Chan shattered. Chan’s body crumpled to the ground, lifeless and bloodied, but free from the telepathic chains.

Lorenzo glanced at Chan briefly, his expression pained. "Sorry, Chan," he murmured, before turning his focus back to Yggdrasil.

The titan roared, swinging its trunk-like arm toward Lorenzo with devastating speed. He tried to dodge, but the blow struck him hard, sending him flying into a nearby petrified tree. He coughed violently, blood dripping from his lips as his vision blurred.

The ground trembled again. Another massive strike was coming, and Lorenzo, weakened and disoriented, had no strength left to evade it.

Before the fatal blow could land, Wanda leapt forward, her icy aura blazing as she shoved Lorenzo out of harm’s way. The titan’s massive trunk struck her instead, sending her fragile body hurtling across the battlefield. She landed hard, her form crumpling into the frozen ground.

"Wanda!" Lorenzo cried out, crawling toward her. He barely managed to lift his head to see where she had fallen before his body gave out.

As he collapsed, the blue flames surrounding him reignited, stronger than before, casting an eerie glow over the battlefield. Yggdrasil hesitated, its massive form groaning as it stared at the flames.

Lorenzo’s last thought as darkness claimed him was of Chan’s motionless body and Wanda’s distant, broken form. The blue flames burned brighter, a beacon of defiance against the looming shadows.