The dense magic saturating the air, combined with the mountain's unforgiving terrain and the menacing cockatrice circling above, was becoming too much for the group. Harold's mind raced as he assessed their options. Fighting the creature seemed futile; all S-class monsters were infamous for their impenetrable hides and near-instant regeneration. Fleeing was the only real choice, but the crushing weight of the mountain's mana and the oppressive darkness of the cockatrice's aura left them sluggish and vulnerable.
The cockatrice screeched, its sharp cry slicing through the thick atmosphere. It swooped low, talons extended, aiming straight for the group. Harold braced himself, but Merle was already acting. Chanting under her breath, her hands shimmered with frost as she prepared a powerful ice spell. She knew taking the beast down would be impossible, but immobilizing it might buy them the time they needed to escape.
Before she could unleash the spell, the cockatrice exhaled a miasmic breath of toxic green vapor. The noxious cloud spread fast, suffocating and paralyzing them. Harold felt the sting in his throat and lungs as his limbs grew heavier. Maggie, sensing the imminent danger, tried to counter it. However, her druidic abilities reliant on natural water-rain, rivers, or even the life-giving moisture within plants, faltered. The mountain's barren, rocky environment offered no streams, plants, or natural life for her to draw from.
Desperation flickered in Maggie's eyes before she made a painful decision. Focusing inward, she tapped into the water within her own body, a risky and dangerous move. The strain was evident as her face paled, but the spell worked, creating a protective barrier that neutralized the toxic miasma long enough for Merle to finish her casting.
A frigid blast erupted from Merle's outstretched hands, ice surging upward to encase the cockatrice mid-flight. Its wings froze, and with a shrill cry, the creature lost its balance and plummeted toward the jagged rocks below.
Relief washed over the group as they watched the beast fall. But their respite was short-lived. From above came another deafening screech, far more powerful than the first. A second cockatrice emerged, this one three times the size of the first. Its massive wings cast shadows over the mountain, and its piercing gaze locked onto its frozen offspring.
"So that's why it didn't use its petrifying abilities," Harold muttered, realization dawning grimly. "It hadn't developed them yet." He turned to the group, urgency lacing his voice. "Everyone, move! Now! Before the mother cockatrice attacks!"
The group scrambled to retreat, struggling against the unyielding terrain and the overwhelming pressure of the mana-rich region. Maggie lagged behind, her steps unsteady after draining herself for the spell. Merle, too, staggered, her energy depleted from casting such a powerful ice spell.
Harold glanced back and saw their struggle. Without hesitation, he barked orders. "Edward, carry Merle! I'll take Maggie!"
Edward nodded, scooping Merle into his arms, while Harold hoisted Maggie over his shoulder. Together, they pushed forward, Harold leading them toward the mouth of a cave he had spotted further up the mountain. It offered their only chance of cover.
The plan almost worked. They were mere steps from safety when the mother cockatrice emerged with a thunderous jolt. Its baby, freed from the falling ice, hovered beside it, and both creatures fixed their glowing eyes on the group.
The mother screeched-a deathly, bone-rattling sound that froze the group in place. The sheer power of it stunned them, rooting their feet to the ground. Maggie, still on Harold's shoulder, was completely immobilized.
Harold turned, his heart pounding as the massive beast began charging up its attack. The cockatrice's eyes glowed a searing red, ominous energy swirling around its head. He saw it clearly: Maggie was in the direct line of fire, and she couldn't move.
There was no time to think. Harold acted on instinct. With a roar, he shoved Maggie into the safety of the cave, his own legs propelling him just enough to block the blast meant for her.
The cockatrice's attack struck Harold squarely. His body froze mid-motion, the petrifying energy sweeping over him in an instant. Stone crept up his limbs, locking him in place. His expression, one of fierce determination, remained frozen as his form became a lifeless statue.
Inside the cave, Maggie collapsed to her knees, gasping as she realized what had happened. The others turned to look, horror dawning as they saw Harold's petrified figure standing at the cave's entrance, a silent sentinel guarding them from the cockatrice's wrath.
Maggie's breath came in ragged gasps as she spiraled into despair, her emotions raw and unfiltered. Her trembling hands reached toward the cave entrance, her gaze fixed on Harold's petrified form outside. She took a step, her voice cracking. "I have to save him. I can't just leave him there!"
Edward caught her arm, his grip firm but gentle. "Maggie, stop!" he urged, his tone a mixture of urgency and concern. "Get ahold of yourself! You can't help him like this."
Her anguish boiled over. "Then what are we supposed to do? Just sit here while he-while he-" She choked on her words, tears streaming down her face.
Merle stepped closer, her voice soft but steady. "Maggie, listen to me. We'll figure something out, but running out there without a plan will only get you killed."
The screeches of the cockatrices echoed ominously outside, a chilling reminder of the threat looming just beyond the thin safety of the cave. Time was slipping away, and the weight of inaction was suffocating.
After a tense moment, Maggie steadied her breathing, though her fists remained clenched. She wiped her tears, her voice sharp as she addressed Merle. "Fine. If we're not going out there blindly, then let's do something useful. You need to unlock your limiting spell."
Merle blinked, taken aback. "What are you talking about?"
"You know exactly what I mean," Maggie shot back. "That spell you've been using to suppress your full power-for research, or to climb higher levels of mage-hood, or whatever reason you told yourself-it doesn't matter right now. Harold needs you."
Merle instinctively clutched the amethyst pendant hanging around her neck. Her expression wavered, guilt and fear flickering in her eyes. "I-I don't know if I can-"
"Then I'll do it myself!" Maggie snapped, her voice breaking. Fueled by desperation, she staggered toward the entrance, her body barely holding together after her earlier druidic spell.
She raised her staff, her fingers trembling as she began chanting. Magic surged chaotically around her, unstable and raw. Blood dripped from the corner of her mouth, a stark reminder of her drained reserves. Before her spell could fully materialize, her legs buckled, and she collapsed to her knees, gasping for air.
Seeing Maggie on the verge of collapse jolted Merle into action. Her hesitation melted away as she realized how dire the situation had become. Gritting her teeth, she gripped her amethyst pendant and closed her eyes, focusing on the spell that bound her magic.
"I'm sorry," Merle whispered under her breath. A surge of energy rippled through her as the spell unraveled. Her suppressed power rushed to the surface like a dam breaking, the air around her crackling with frost. Raising her hand, she unleashed a massive blast of ice magic, the freezing energy cascading outward in an unstoppable wave. Both the mother and juvenile cockatrice were struck mid-flight, encased in glistening layers of frost that sent them plummeting into the rocky terrain below.
Edward seized the opportunity. He hauled Maggie to her feet and dragged her into the cave before rushing back to retrieve Harold's petrified form. With another burst of strength, Merle summoned earth magic to seal the cave entrance, barricading them inside before resealing her circuits.
The cave fell into an uneasy silence, the only sound their labored breathing. A faint orange glow pierced the darkness, drawing their attention.
Merle's eyes widened. "A phoenix feather..." she whispered, awe and relief in her voice.
Maggie's gaze locked onto it, determination rekindling in her weary frame. "We can use it to save Harold!" she exclaimed, her voice urgent.
Merle hesitated. "But...what about Ray?"
Maggie turned to her, incredulous. "Ray? You're thinking about him now? Harold is petrified, Merle! If we don't save him, he's gone forever."
Merle's face twisted with conflict. "This feather is why we came all this way. It's our only hope of helping Ray. If we use it on Harold now, we'll lose that chance."
Maggie's voice rose. "And if we don't use it on Harold, there won't be a chance for him. We can find another way for Ray!"
Merle shook her head, her resolve hardening. "I vote we save the feather for Ray."
Maggie's eyes narrowed. "Then I vote we save Harold." She turned to Edward. "It's your call. Father or son?"
Edward froze, the weight of their stares pressing on him. His heart wavered, torn between the man who had saved him countless times and the mission they had undertaken to save Harold's son. After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice steady. "We save Ray. That's what Harold would want."
Maggie's face contorted with frustration and grief. "No...I won't let this happen." Before anyone could react, she lunged for the feather, her hands trembling as she pressed it to Harold's petrified form.
A brilliant light engulfed the cave, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. As the glow faded, Harold's stone body began to crack, pieces of petrification flaking away to reveal flesh and blood beneath.
Maggie slumped to the ground, tears streaming freely as she whispered, "I'm sorry...but I couldn't let him go."
Edward and Merle stood in stunned silence, the gravity of her decision sinking in as the faint echoes of cockatrice screeches sounded once more in the distance.