Earlier...

The group stood in awe, their eyes fixed on the ominous fortress across the raging River. The waters beneath them roared like a beast, mirroring the foreboding atmosphere around them.

Sina, her features concealed behind a mask, voiced the scepticism that lingered in the air. "So, sir, you say that the Castle is alive?" Her doubt resonated in the tone of her inquiry.

Fray nodded solemnly. "Yes, the fortress possesses four distinct attack styles. The windows harbour eyes capable of shooting energy beams. Above the walls, the cannons activate only when someone reaches their altitude, forming an almost impenetrable barrier. Beyond the door, resembling a mouth, tens of tall dark tongues emerge when enemies draw near. Yet, because the castle is alive, it can be tired. That's when it unleashes its secret fourth attack. Our goal is to make the castle use it." The weight of their mission hung heavy as they prepared to face the living fortress.

. . .

In the heart of the storm, the colossal fortress stirred to life, its walls adorned with countless malevolent eyes behind the rain-streaked windows. Atop the ramparts, heavy cannons loomed like ominous sentinels, ready to unleash their destructive power.

The eyes on the fortress wall enleached torrents of energy beams trowards five figures clad in dark armour, each bearing unique weapons, who were charging towards the it with blurred steps.

Fray with the axe in his hand, skillfully defended against the torrent of white energy beams. Casper, his face alight with a fierce grin, weaved through the raindrops, effortlessly dodging the beams with a sword in hand.

Side by side, Rin and Sina moved in tandem, their dark armours glinting in the surreal light. With swift coordination, they shielded each other from the lethal onslaught, creating a seamless dance of defence amidst the chaos.

Elisa, undeterred by the relentless rain, stepped into a pool of rainwater, her sword drawn. As she dashed forward, cutting through the downpour, the energy beams scorched the ground around her, leaving craters in their wake. Her every movement was a calculated dance, dodging the beams with grace and precision.

However, a moment of miscalculation left Elisa vulnerable. A blinding beam crashed into the ground, creating a massive crater in her path. In a daring move, Elisa leapt high into the sky.

At that very moment, The cannons atop the fortress unleashed a synchronized assault, their massive barrels glowing with otherworldly energy. In unison, the cannons discharged powerful beams of light, merging mid-air to form a net of deadly energy. The beams twisted and intertwined, creating an intricate lattice of destructive force that spanned the entire sky.

Elisa, suspended in mid-air after her daring leap, was faced with the daunting prospect of this converging net of deadly energy. However, Fray quickly intervened, a dark robe emerged from his inky armour billowing, snatched her from the path of destruction. The net of deadly beams clashed with the fortress's surroundings, casting a surreal illumination upon the rain-soaked landscape below.

The group continued their sprint towards the fortress, dodging the relentless onslaught of energy beams. As they neared the tall wooden door, it swung open with a menacing creak, revealing a cavernous maw lined with sets of teeth. A deep, echoing roar reverberated through the entrance.

"Roooar!!"

Then suddenly a menace revealed itself. Tens of dark tendrils, each armed with ominous mouths with blade like teeths, lashed out, attacking the group with alarming speed.

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Sina and Rin exchanging a knowing glance, recalled Fray's previous words that now seemed to hold a great significance.

In that crucial moment, Sina felt an electrifying surge of power surging through her. A radiant aura enveloped her, emanating an otherworldly energy.

Glancing back, she witnessed torrents of energy escaping Elisa's aura, connecting with the rest of the group. Fray's mysterious words echoed in their minds, and the true nature of the power he spoke of became apparent.

However, before Sina could react, one of the tentacles lunged at her. In a reflexive motion, Sina evaded the attack, her movements now heightened by the surge of energy.

As the group continued their arduous battle against the relentless dark tentacles and the lethal energy beams, hours passed in a symphony of clashes and evasive maneuvers. The castle loomed ahead, a daunting adversary seemingly impervious to their efforts.

Thus after hours, suddenly other groups of warriors emerged, from the forest, between them was Lila and her squad.

Their eyes widened in awe as the warriors witnessed the spectacle before them. The five warriors in black moved with a phantom-like grace, skillfully navigating the chaotic onslaught of tentacles and energy beams.

A murmur rippled through the newly arrived warriors as they observed the extraordinary display of skill. Some speculated that these warriors didn't lose their power while else said that they might have already restored their power in the first challenge.

Amidst the whispers, a sudden commotion diverted their attention "What do you mean we can't pass?"

A group of seven warriors, their faces concealed like everyone else, stood at the edge of the river near the bridge. Their frustration echoed through the air as they confronted a mage with a long, dark robe and a cloak covering his face, and a large white beard.

The mage's cold, deep voice cut through the murmurs, "I mean if you tried to pass, you will die."

The leader of the group of seven warriors, his anger emanating in a palpable aura, began to draw his weapon. His voice, consumed by rage, barely managed to utter, "Do you think you..." But before he could finish, an eerie silence fell upon the scene.

Lila, observing the unfolding confrontation, raised an eyebrow at the sudden pause. However, her expression shifted to one of terror as an unforeseen tragedy transpired.

Without warning, all seven warriors simultaneously dropped lifeless to the ground, small holes punctuating each of their chests. Their demise was swift, leaving a chilling silence in its wake.

The surrounding warriors, including Lila and her squad, watched in horror as the atmosphere darkened, and whispers of disbelief rippled through the onlookers.

"Did you see what happened?"

"No, they had their backs turned, and everything happened so fast I couldn't catch anything."

"I didn't see the mage move. What happened!?"

As murmurs and whispers surged, one member of Lila's squad turned to her, asking in a hushed tone, "Lila, do you know what happened?"

Lila, her eyes widened, stared at the lifeless bodies. She replied, uncertain, "Although I'm not sure what happened, I'm sure of one thing – they all died at the same time."

"What!? At the same time!?" exclaimed a member of her group in shock.

Even as Lila processed the grim scene, a thought echoed in her mind, (Even with my full power, can I do this, unleash seven deadly attacks at the same time?) Shock etched across her face as she realized that this group of warriors was far more dangerous than she had initially anticipated.

Adam surveyed the lifeless bodies at his feet with disinterested eyes, his attention shifting to the other side of the river where the rest of the group battled the fortress. A dispassionate thought crossed his mind, (How much longer do I have to stay here?)

Adam was Left in this position due to his incapacity for direct combat as a mage, with the role to prevent other warriors from interrupting the plan.

As he contemplated his situation, something on the river's edge caught his attention.

Six individuals appeared, drawing a paper scroll which is an invention by the Ayrum family capable of trapping multiple magical spells for a single use.

These scrolls were instrumental in the warriors' entry, but due to their scarcity and high cost, they hesitated to use them freely. Adam's surprise grew as they tore the scroll, unleashing a bubble of energy that enveloped them, floating above the roaring river.

Lila and the other warriors watched in tense anticipation as the energy orb floated calmly above the river making its way to the other side.

But suddenly in a blink of an eye, a colossal monstrous mouth emerged from the water, devouring the energy ball and its occupants. Shock gripped everyone witnessing the unexpected turn of events.

Expressions on Lila's face shifted from curiosity to disbelief, and a hushed gasp escaped her lips. The other warriors mirrored her astonishment, their eyes widening as they witnessed the unexpected turn of events.

Adam, observing the scene with calm detachment, thought, (They didn't attack us when we were on the bridge but attacked when they tried to fly above them, just as the kid said.)Turning his gaze toward the fortress, he continued, (Even if they tried to fly high, the cannons would get them. Our path was very easy to the point I forgot how dangerous this place really is. It seems I made the right decision by following this kid.)

Rin, breathing heavily, deftly dodged the relentless assault of the dark tentacles, his body pushed to its limits. Thoughts raced through his mind, (Damnit, I'm close to reaching my limit.")As he fought on, he turned his gaze towards Fray, who maintained a calm expression amidst the chaos. Determination set in as Rin thought, (This is my first mission; I have to prove my worth. Surrender isn't an option.)

But to his surprise, the windows on the fortress wall abruptly shut, concealing the disgusting eyes and retracting the intrusive tongues. The tall door closed above them, sealing off the relentless barrage of dark tentacles. As a momentary relief washed over the group, Rin's attention shifted to the fortress wall, sensing a shift in the air.

The fortress itself seemed to come alive, the wall at the centre opening up like a living entity. A hush fell over the battlefield as a colossal red eye emerged from the darkness of the opening, its gaze penetrating the very essence of their being.