The forest was eerily silent as Yome, Elara, and Neri made their way through the trees, the oppressive atmosphere of the swamp finally behind them. The path ahead was rocky and uneven, leading up to the towering mountains that loomed in the distance. The air was cooler here, the sun hidden behind a veil of gray clouds that seemed to promise rain. But even as they left the swamp, the sense of unease lingered, like a shadow that refused to lift.

Yome couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig made him jumpy. He glanced at Elara, who walked with her sword still drawn, her eyes scanning the surroundings with a sharp focus.

Neri, walking close to Yome, seemed equally on edge. Her ears twitched at every sound, and her tail was low, indicating her nervousness. She had been relatively quiet since they left the swamp, the encounter with the witch clearly weighing heavily on her mind.

"We're not out of this yet, are we?" Yome asked, his voice low, almost as if he were afraid of disturbing the quiet.

Elara shook her head slightly, her voice calm but firm. "No. The witch won't let this go easily. She's too powerful and too cunning. I expect she'll try to get her revenge."

Neri's voice trembled slightly as she spoke. "But we destroyed the relic. Doesn't that mean we've beaten her?"

Elara's gaze didn't waver from the path ahead. "We stopped her from absorbing the spirits, but that only made her angrier. Witches like her have a deep connection to the souls they bind. What we did was unforgivable in her eyes."

Yome's stomach twisted in knots at the thought. "So… she's going to come after us?"

Elara nodded, her expression grim. "Most likely. And she'll be even more dangerous now that she's desperate."

As if on cue, the wind around them picked up, swirling through the trees with a sudden, unnatural force. The temperature dropped sharply, and the shadows lengthened, as if the forest itself was retreating in fear.

Yome felt a cold chill run down his spine. "Elara… I think she's here."

Elara stopped in her tracks, her muscles tensing as she gripped her sword. "Stay close to me, both of you," she ordered, her voice barely above a whisper.

The mist that had thinned as they left the swamp began to gather again, swirling around their feet and rising up like a living thing. It thickened rapidly, obscuring their vision until they could barely see a few feet ahead. The once familiar forest seemed to close in around them, the trees twisted into grotesque shapes by the fog.

A low, mocking laugh echoed through the mist, sending a wave of dread through Yome's heart. "So… you thought you could destroy my relic and walk away unscathed?"

The witch's voice was filled with venom, and Yome felt his heart pound in his chest. He could sense her presence now, a dark, malevolent energy that pressed down on them like a suffocating weight.

Elara moved into a defensive stance, her sword at the ready. "Show yourself, witch!" she demanded, her voice strong and unwavering.

The mist parted slightly, revealing the witch standing just a few yards away. Her emerald eyes glowed with fury, and her previously playful demeanor had vanished, replaced by a cold, murderous rage. The once elegant, flowing robes she wore seemed to move of their own accord, twisting around her like serpents, their edges frayed and darkened by the powerful magic she wielded.

"You ruined everything!" the witch hissed, her voice low and dangerous. "Those spirits were the souls of my sisters, witches who were slaughtered by humans in the Great War. I was going to absorb their mana, make their power mine, but you…" Her eyes narrowed, glowing with a hatred that sent a shiver through Yome. "You destroyed them!"

Elara's grip tightened on her sword, her voice cold as ice. "You were enslaving their souls for your own gain. We set them free."

The witch's face twisted into a snarl, her voice rising in fury. "Free? You think you've done something noble? All you've done is seal your own fate!"

Without warning, the witch raised her hands, and the air around them crackled with energy. Dark tendrils of magic shot out from her fingers, snaking through the mist and toward the party with terrifying speed.

"Elara, watch out!" Yome shouted, but Elara was already moving.

With a burst of speed, Elara sidestepped the attack, her sword flashing as she deflected one of the tendrils. The force of the impact sent a shockwave through the air, but Elara held her ground, her eyes locked on the witch.

Yome quickly activated his "Predict" skill, his vision blurring as he glimpsed five seconds into the future. He saw the witch preparing to launch another attack, this time aiming directly at Neri.

"Neri, move!" Yome shouted, his voice urgent.

Neri, trusting Yome's warning, jumped to the side just as a bolt of dark energy streaked past her, slamming into the ground where she had been standing moments before. The earth shook from the impact, leaving a smoldering crater in its wake.

Elara wasted no time, charging at the witch with her sword raised high. The witch sneered, raising a barrier of dark energy in response. Elara's sword struck the barrier with a resounding clang, sending sparks flying, but the witch remained unfazed.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"You're strong, elf," the witch spat, her voice dripping with malice. "But not strong enough!"

Elara gritted her teeth, pushing against the barrier with all her might, but it held firm. The witch raised her hand, dark energy swirling around her as she prepared to unleash another powerful attack.

Yome could see the strain in Elara's face as she struggled against the witch's magic. He knew they were running out of time, that they needed to find a way to turn the tide of the battle.

"Neri, can you trap her with your Earth magic?" Yome asked, desperation creeping into his voice.

Neri nodded, though fear still flickered in her eyes. "I'll try!"

She knelt on the ground, her hands glowing with green energy as she channeled her magic into the earth. The ground beneath the witch began to tremble, cracks forming in the soil as thick roots and vines erupted from the earth, snaking their way toward her.

The witch's eyes flicked to the ground, and she let out a snarl of frustration. "You little pest!"

She waved her hand, and the roots that had begun to coil around her legs disintegrated into ash. But the brief distraction had given Elara the opening she needed.

With a fierce cry, Elara drew on all her remaining strength, her sword glowing with a brilliant blue light as she broke through the witch's barrier. The blade slashed across the witch's chest, leaving a deep, glowing wound.

The witch screamed in pain, staggering back as dark energy crackled around her, her expression one of pure rage. "You will pay for this!"

But before the witch could retaliate, something unexpected happened. The red gem in Elara's necklace, the one she had acquired in the dungeon, began to glow with an intense, fiery light. The glow grew brighter, enveloping Elara in a shimmering aura of red and gold.

Elara's eyes widened in surprise as she felt a surge of power flow through her, the energy from the gem filling her body. She could feel her mana reserves being drained rapidly, but in exchange, she was gifted with an immense, overwhelming strength.

The light from the gem coalesced around her, forming into a suit of armor that covered her entire body. The armor was shaped like a dragon, with scales that shimmered like molten lava and wings that flared out from her back, giving her a fearsome, almost godlike appearance. The suit pulsed with power, radiating an intense heat that made the air around her shimmer.

Yome and Neri stared in awe at the transformation, the sheer power emanating from Elara leaving them momentarily speechless.

Elara, now clad in the dragon-like armor, raised her sword, which had also transformed, the blade now glowing with an intense red light. She could feel the raw, primal energy coursing through her veins, pushing her skills and abilities to new heights.

The witch's eyes widened in shock and fear as she took in Elara's new form. "What… what is this?!"

Elara's voice was steady and cold as she replied, "This is your end."

Without giving the witch a chance to recover, Elara surged forward, moving with a speed and grace that defied belief. The ground cracked beneath her feet as she propelled herself toward the witch, her sword leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

The witch barely had time to raise her hands before Elara was upon her. She unleashed a barrage of dark magic, but Elara's new armor absorbed the attacks with ease, the energy dissipating harmlessly against the glowing scales.

Yome, realizing the opportunity they had, activated his "Predict" skill again, watching the witch's movements with laser focus. He called out her next attack, giving Elara the advantage she needed to dodge and counter with brutal efficiency.

Neri, gathering her courage, used her Earth magic to trap the witch's feet, preventing her from retreating. The

ground beneath the witch hardened, turning to solid stone as thick roots coiled around her legs, anchoring her in place.

The witch struggled against the bindings, her fury reaching a boiling point. "You think this will stop me? I am eternal!"

Elara ignored the witch's taunts, her focus unshakable. She knew the power from the gem wouldn't last long—the drain on her mana was immense, and she could already feel the strain. But she also knew this was their only chance.

With a fierce battle cry, Elara channeled all her remaining mana into one final, devastating strike. Her sword blazed with the intensity of a dragon's breath as she brought it down with all her might, aiming directly for the witch's heart.

The witch's eyes widened in terror as the blade descended. She raised her hands in a desperate attempt to defend herself, but it was too late. Elara's sword struck true, slicing through the witch's defenses and piercing her chest with a brilliant flash of light.

The witch let out a bloodcurdling scream as the dragon-forged blade disintegrated her dark form. The energy within the sword exploded outward, consuming the witch in a torrent of flames. Her body was reduced to ash in seconds, the dark energy that had fueled her dissipating into the air.

As the flames died down, the spirits of the old witches, now freed from their torment, emerged from the ashes. They hovered in the air for a moment, their forms no longer twisted by dark magic. They seemed to glow with a gentle, golden light, their faces serene as they gazed at Elara.

"Thank you…" a voice whispered, soft and full of gratitude. "Thank you for freeing us."

The spirits began to dissolve into particles of light, their essence returning to the earth from which they had been torn. The golden particles floated gently through the air, surrounding the party in a warm, comforting glow before vanishing completely.

Elara, her strength finally spent, collapsed to one knee, the dragon armor fading away as the last of her mana was drained. The red gem in her necklace dimmed, its power spent for now.

Yome and Neri rushed to her side, concern etched on their faces.

"Elara! Are you okay?" Yome asked, kneeling beside her.

Elara nodded weakly, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "I… I'm fine. Just… exhausted. That power… it was overwhelming."

Neri gently touched the gem on Elara's necklace, her eyes wide with amazement. "It's like you became a dragon… That was incredible."

Elara managed a small smile, though she was clearly exhausted. "The gem… it absorbed the mana from the relic when I destroyed it. It gave me that power, but it was only temporary. I won't be able to do that again… at least, not for a while."

Yome helped Elara to her feet, his expression one of deep respect and gratitude. "You saved us, Elara. That was amazing."

Elara shook her head, her voice soft. "We did it together. I couldn't have done it without you two."

The trio took a moment to catch their breath, the tension of the battle slowly ebbing away as they realized they had won. The witch was gone, her dark magic defeated, and the spirits of the old witches had been freed.

But the victory had come at a cost. Elara's mana was completely drained, and they were all weary from the fight. They knew they needed to rest, but they couldn't afford to linger in the swamp.

"We need to get out of here," Elara said, her voice regaining some of its strength. "The mountains are our next destination, but we should find a safe place to rest first."

Yome and Neri nodded in agreement, and the three of them set off once more, leaving the swamp behind them. The path ahead was still fraught with danger, but they had proven that they could overcome anything as long as they stood together.