Vex's body spins uncontrollably within the pillar of magic, his screams piercing through the air as the intense energy around him surges wildly. Simbad kneels beside Rune, tugging at his arm. "Rune, we need to get out of here! You're losing too much blood!"
Rune shakes his head weakly, his voice barely above a whisper. "No... I have to see the end of this."
But the blood from Rune's wounds continues to flow, sapping his strength. His body grows heavier until he collapses onto Simbad. Simbad curses under his breath, lifting Rune in his arms. As he retreats, the magic pillar grows even larger, its energy threatening to consume everything around it.
Nearby, Gavin and Crow's battle rages on. Gavin slams Crow into the ground with his magic-infused weapon, sending him tumbling across the land. Crow groans, struggling to his feet. His body is covered in deep wounds, but he summons his dark magic to heal them.
Looking at Gavin, Crow mutters, "Even with all this magic power... I'm no match for him. Something went wrong with the ritual. Gavin's kid is still growing in magic as if his magic is infinite!"
Ignoring Crow, Gavin focuses on the massive pillar of magic. With a powerful leap, he soars into the swirling chaos, diving straight into the intense energy. His figure disappears momentarily before emerging near Vex.
Grabbing Vex by the throat, Gavin sneers as his own magic flares to life. "Your magic keeps getting stronger, my son," he says, his voice cold and calculating. "I don't know how you became so special, but there's so much we can accomplish with this power. It's as if the gods themselves gifted you to me—as if they want me to fulfill my plans!"
The magic pillar flickers violently, its once-stable glow now unstable as Gavin begins absorbing Vex's magic, drawing it into himself with a sinister grin.
Meanwhile, Simbad's tears streak down his face as he desperately tries to stop Rune's bleeding. His hands shake as he presses against the wounds, but the blood continues to seep through. "Come on, Rune... don't give up on me!" he mutters.
Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Simbad sees Crag sprint past them, determination etched into his face. Without hesitation, Crag leaps directly into the raging magic pillar.
"Crag!" Simbad shouts, his voice breaking.
Before he can react further, Bell arrives, sliding to her knees beside Rune. She places her hands on Rune's chest, her palms glowing with a gentle yet powerful light.
"Please, save him!" Simbad pleads, his voice trembling with emotion.
Bell nods, her expression calm but focused. "I'll try my best."
Her magic engulfs Rune, slowly knitting his wounds back together. As Simbad watches, hope flickers in his heart.
Inside the magic pillar, Crag barrels through the chaotic energy, shoving Gavin away from Vex. The intense clash of their magic auras clashes but Vex's magic engulfs both of them, sending waves of power rippling outward.
Gavin growls in frustration, his grip tightening on his weapon. "I can't fight and maintain my defenses at the same time in this storm!"
Crag calls out to Vex, his voice straining against the roaring energy. "Vex! Snap out of it!" But Vex doesn't respond. His screams of pain echo as his magic swirls violently, completely out of control.
A sudden surge of energy explodes from Vex, throwing both Crag and Gavin out of the pillar. They crash to the ground in front of Rune, who groans as he regains consciousness. His wounds are fully healed, thanks to Bell's magic.
Bell rushes to Crag, lifting him up carefully. Meanwhile, Gavin slowly rises to his feet, a crazed look in his eyes.
"Why can't you all see?" Gavin shouts, his voice ringing with conviction. "God is on my side! Stop fighting against His will!"
He summons his weapon, its edge crackling with magic energy.
Rune staggers to his feet, summoning his own weapon in response. His eyes meet Gavin's with unwavering resolve. "I'm going to need everyone's help to win this one."
Simbad, Crag, and Bell step forward, standing beside Rune. Each of them radiates their magic aura, their determination shining brightly in the face of the chaos.
Simbad glances at Rune, a small grin on his face. "I don't have much magic left, but I'll give it everything I've got."
Bell places a hand on Simbad's shoulder. "Then take mine."
Her magic transfers into Simbad, restoring his magic. Simbad takes a deep breath, his aura reigniting with newfound energy.
Rune coughs, blood staining his lips as he leans on his weapon for support. Crag, his voice filled with concern, says, "Master Rune, you're in no shape to fight."
Rune straightens up, determination flickering in his weary eyes. "We don't have a choice, Crag. If we don't fight now, we lose Vex."
Without waiting for a reply, Rune charges forward, his sword clashing against Gavin's with a deafening metallic screech. Gavin smirks as his blade releases shockwaves that ripple through the air, barreling toward Rune.
"Not today!" Simbad shouts, summoning his magic to create a barrier, deflecting the shockwaves just in time.
Crag and Bell unleash beams of energy, striking Gavin with precise force. Small explosions erupt around him, but Gavin emerges unscathed, his barrier absorbing the brunt of the attack.
Rune calls out, "Simbad, grab him!"
Simbad shakes his head, frustration evident in his voice. "I can't! That barrier of his... it's impenetrable!"
Gavin's eyes gleam with malice as he swings his sword in a wide arc, releasing a massive wave of energy that tears through the battlefield. The sheer force of it sends a chill down Rune's spine.
"Brace yourselves!" Rune shouts, his voice barely audible over the roar of Gavin's attack.
Everyone channels their magic, combining their strength to block the incoming wave. The resulting explosion is cataclysmic, the ground trembling beneath their feet.
When the smoke clears, the battlefield is silent except for the faint crackle of lingering magic. Rune, Simbad, Crag, and Bell lie on the ground, bleeding and battered. Crag weakly moves his arm, only for his corpse limb to crumble into dust.
Gavin approaches them, his silhouette framed by the raging magic pillar behind him. He sneers, "This is just a fraction of my son's power. And soon, it will all be mine. Now, just lie there and die."
Turning his back on them, Gavin leaps into the magic pillar, disappearing into its chaotic energy.
Rune coughs, blood staining the ground beneath him. Simbad lies nearby, pale from blood loss, while Bell's body begins to crumble, cracks spreading across her form.
"We don't have much time," Crag says, his voice weak but resolute. "Bell... we need to combine our strength with Master Rune. Only he can save Vex."
Bell nods, tears shimmering in her fading eyes as she looks at Simbad. "Together... all of us... we can reach Vex's heart."
Bell closes her eyes, her body dissolving into shimmering magic dust. The swirling magic surrounds Rune, seeping into his wounds, healing them slowly.
Rune groans, forcing himself to his feet. He turns to Crag, whose body is also beginning to fade into magic dust.
Crag gives him a small, bittersweet smile. "Master Rune, do you remember that day? Vex was out of control, just like now. But even in death, Bell and I were able to reach his heart. Please, stay alive... because without you, Vex won't have a reason to live."
Crag's body dissolves into magic dust, joining Bell's to envelop Rune. The energy surges through him, his aura flaring into a massive, radiant force. Rune stares at his hands as his wounds close completely.
"With this magic," he murmurs, awe and gratitude in his voice, "I can heal... even just a little."
He staggers over to Simbad, placing a glowing hand on his chest. Slowly, Simbad's breathing steadies, color returning to his face.
"Stay with me," Rune whispers, determination reigniting in his heart. "We're not done yet."
Within the magic pillar, Gavin tightens his grip on Vex's neck, draining his son's magic with a sinister fervor. "Your power is mine, Vex," he mutters, his voice cold and resolute.
Suddenly, Crow bursts into the pillar, his own magic shielding him from its chaos. He grabs Vex by the arm, siphoning the magic for himself.
Gavin's expression twists with rage. "Get your hands off my son!"
Crow smirks defiantly. "Don't be selfish, Gavin. I need this power to kill you!"
The tension erupts as Gavin and Crow clash within the heart of the magic pillar, their auras surging wildly. The intense collision destabilizes the pillar, causing it to ripple and crackle with chaotic energy.
With a deafening roar, the pillar shatters into fragments of pure magic. Vex,unconscious, falls to the ground below as Gavin and Crow continue their battle in the sky, hurling waves of destructive energy at each other.
On the ground, Vex stirs, his eyes fluttering open. His gaze is distant at first, but then his voice trembles as he mutters, "Mother... Crag... Bell... I don't feel them anymore. They're gone."
His words hang in the air like a final, devastating truth. Emotion wells up in his eyes, and his grief transforms into a surge of uncontrollable power. Magic bursts from his chest, his eyes, and his mouth, engulfing him in a blinding, overwhelming aura.
From this eruption, massive pillars of magic shoot out in all directions, piercing the clouds. One of the pillars surges upward between Gavin and Crow, forcing them to halt their battle.
The once-clear sky turns pitch black, as if the very land of Terra is mourning. The ground trembles under the weight of Vex's uncontrollable magic, and the rising pillars distort the air with their sheer intensity.
Gavin hovers near one of the massive pillars, his expression shifting from anger to frustration. He tries to enter the colossal vortex of magic, but the sheer force repels him, throwing him back.
Crow, equally determined, attempts to break through with his dark magic. He growls in frustration as his efforts prove futile. "How can one kid like this him have this much power!" he roars.
From the distance, Rune watches the chaos unfold, his heart sinking at the sight of Vex consumed by his own magic.
"I have to reach him," Rune mutters, clutching his weapon tightly. Despite his exhaustion from healing Simbad, he channels every ounce of strength he has left.
With a battle cry, Rune leaps into the massive vortex of magic, his weapon leading the way. The pressure is immense, threatening to tear him apart, but he pushes forward, diving deeper into the heart of the chaos.
"VEX!" Rune screams, his voice cutting through the roaring maelstrom. His determination burns brighter than ever as he fights to reach the core.
Rune grips his weapon tightly as he pushes deeper into the raging magic storm. The overwhelming force tears at him, slicing through his skin, but his determination doesn't falter.
"VEX!" he yells again, his voice raw and desperate. This time, his shout is joined by the echoes of Crag and Bell, their voices intertwining with his, resonating within the storm like a chorus of hope.
The storm intensifies, its chaotic energy lashing out like a living thing. Rune's body begins to give way under the immense pressure, pieces of him disintegrating into the magic storm. He screams in agony but continues forward, every ounce of his being focused on reaching Vex.
As his fingertips brush against Vex's face, Rune's body is consumed entirely, tearing into many pieces in the magic storm.
Outside the storm, Simbad regains consciousness, his vision blurry. He stares in horror at the colossal storm expanding across the land, its destructive power cracking the ground and uprooting the earth. He scrambles to his feet, the sheer magnitude of the storm forcing him to retreat to safety.
Within the storm's core lies Vex drifting as three spirits begins to form and enter into his chest. They reach far deeper into Vex's realm that is a dark, desolate void. Where Vex can be seen on his knees, tears streaming down his face, his sobs echoing in the emptiness.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." he whispers to himself, guilt and despair weighing heavily on his soul.
Suddenly, three glowing spirits emerge from above, piercing the darkness, the spirits materialize, forming into the figures of Crag, Bell, and Rune.
Vex wipes his tears and looks up, his eyes widening in shock. "Crag... Bell... Master Rune... you guys are all here..."
The three spirits step forward, their expressions warm and reassuring.
Crag speaks first, his voice steady and comforting. "Don't worry, Vex. We're still here for you. We've always been here for you."
Bell kneels beside him, her gentle presence soothing his trembling form. "There's still time to save yourself, Vex. Just like you did before. You have the strength to make it right."
Rune steps forward, a soft smile on his face despite the gravity of the moment. "Vex, there's so much more to life than good food and swordplay. There's love, laughter, and moments worth cherishing. Please... have the will to live so you can experience it all."
Vex's tear-filled eyes meet theirs, and their words pierce through the darkness within him. His body begins to glow with a radiant blue magic, the light spreading across the void.
"I... I'll try. For all of you... I'll live," Vex whispers, his voice filled with newfound resolve.
The realm blazes with blue light, dispelling the shadows entirely.
Back in reality, the magic storm vanishes in an instant, leaving behind a serene silence. Vex lands softly on the ground, his body glowing faintly with blue magic.
As he stands, the glowing magic pours out of his chest, materializing into the three spirits. He gazes at them one last time, his heart filled with gratitude.
Using his magic, Vex combines the spirits, their energies swirling together into a cohesive form. The magic begins to reshape and reassemble Rune's scattered body, piece by piece.
As the magic completes its work, Rune's body lies whole once more. His chest rises with a sharp inhale, and his eyes slowly open.
"Vex..." Rune whispers, his voice weak but filled with relief.
The tension in the air is electric as Rune and Vex stand side by side, their determination unshaken. The swirling magical auras of Crow and Gavin pulse violently from a distance in front of them, crackling with energy.
Crow clenches his fists, his voice filled with rage. "I'm going to avenge everyone who has fallen because of you two!"
Gavin sneers, his eyes fixed on Vex. "You are my son, Vex! My creation! Do what you're told and give me all of your powers. That is your purpose and God's will!"
Rune steps forward, his weapon gleaming as his voice cuts through the tension. "I'm sorry for the loss of your people, Crow, but your madness has turned you into someone who sacrifices his own for power. You don't deserve to avenge anyone!"
Vex's magic flares brighter as he glares at his father. "No, Father. I am no longer your weapon. I want to live my life the way I want!
The four exchange a long, piercing stare, the battlefield eerily silent except for the hum of their magic.
Suddenly, the sound of rapid footsteps echoes behind Rune and Vex. Simbad rushes into view, his face pale and panicked. He skids to a stop in front of them, pointing frantically at the horizon.
"Rune, look!" Simbad shouts, his voice trembling.
Rune and Vex follow his gaze and see it—an endless sea of zombies stretching out in all directions, encircling them. The grotesque horde moves as one, their numbers seemingly endless, drawn by the immense magic and chaos that has unfolded.
Rune's eyes narrow as he tightens his grip on his weapon. "Over 100,000 of them..." he mutters under his breath, the weight of the situation sinking in.
Vex's magic burns fiercely, his resolve unwavering. Rune glances at him, a smirk forming on his lips. "With you by my side, Vex, we can take them all out!"