Jack assembled an expedition to seek the Elixir of Life, choosing Valga's finest warriors to accompany him. Sensing the immense peril of the quest, Jack left nothing to chance. They were fully equipped, donning armors, heavy bracelets, and shields, ready to defend themselves at any cost.
Despite Lucian's insistence on joining the mission, Jack firmly refused, understanding Lucian's commitment to tending to his laboring wife. With a heavy heart, Lucian bid farewell to the expedition.
Jack and his companions arrived at the outskirts of Doom Island's coast, eager to retrieve the Elixir of Life guided by Talia's map. Passing through the Valley of Wonders, they proceeded into the Valley of Dark Tears—a place born of the dark Phoenix's repentance for his past misdeeds, where his remorseful tears formed the mystical elixir.
Jack's focused gaze shifted from the map to the landscape ahead. "We've found it," he praised their effort, excitement ringing in his voice. "Let's get it and return home victorious." However, his words were interrupted by a sudden event—the Elixir began evaporating, seeping swiftly into the earth.
"What's happening?" Arad's alarmed voice cut through the tension. "Bring the jar and collect it before it's too late!" he urged urgently. But before they could retrieve it, the elixir vanished completely, leaving behind an unsettling sight—a portal materializing in the valley.
"What's that?" A warrior cried out, pointing at the strange phenomenon. Jack quickly assessed the situation and barked orders, "Prepare for battle! Get into position!" The group readied their weapons, bracing for the unexpected threat.
As the portal widened, goblins swarmed out in vast numbers, causing chaos and panic. Jack managed to secure a small amount of the elixir in his jar. They engaged the goblins in combat, but for every enemy they defeated, more seemed to emerge from the portal without end. Hours passed in intense struggle, yet Jack realized their chances of victory were slim.
"We can't win this fight! Arad, signal for retreat!" Jack commanded firmly, acknowledging their dire situation. Arad swiftly blew the retreat horn as the goblins multiplied, overwhelming them. Jack and his companions fought their way towards their fleet of ships, scrambling to reach the safety of the shores amid the relentless battle.
Amidst the chaos and loss, Jack led his surviving men, racing relentlessly towards the shore. His magical abilities allowed him to fling the goblins away, creating some space between them and his fleeing group.
Reaching the shore, the archers swiftly positioned themselves, and at Arad's command, they unleashed a volley of arrows into the sky. The arrows struck numerous goblins, thinning their numbers and buying valuable time for boarding the ships.
But the goblins, determined and relentless, transformed themselves using dark magic, diving into the water and pursuing Jack and his men. Witnessing this, Jack's expression turned to one of sheer terror. "No, no, no! This is not good. Ready for full speed ahead!" he commanded urgently, using his magic to propel the sails with the strongest gusts of wind possible.
As the ship surged forward, the crew realized the nature of their pursuers. "Those are monsters!" they murmured in fear. The ship raced forward at a frantic pace, desperately attempting to put distance between themselves and the island. However, they had not ventured far when the ocean around them suddenly became enveloped in a dense mist. The cold fog made sailing treacherous and visibility nearly impossible.
The entire crew remained vigilant as the ships cautiously navigated through the dense fog. An ominous shape loomed in the mist, a haunting presence that seemed to multiply and swiftly encroach upon their vessel.
"The monsters are fast approaching. What do we do now?" Ritz queried Jack, his voice tinged with concern. Panic swept through the crew, yet Jack's demeanor remained steadfast, devoid of fear. He paused for a moment, then turned to address his comrades with a resolute tone.
"I have never seen anything like this before. Despite our efforts, it seems this might be our moment of doom and gloom. We've achieved much together since our boyhood days, and if today marks our glorious end, then we must face it united. We are Valga, and we do not cower in the face of storms and setbacks."
His words, laden with determination and camaraderie, echoed across the ship, bolstering the spirits of the crew as they prepared to confront the approaching threat.
Diana's voice resounded over the tumultuous clash. "Stand your guard and bathe your weapons with the blood of those demons or die fighting a good fight for the glory of Valga!" Her impassioned speech echoed among the warriors, stirring a spirited resolve within them. A chorus of determined chants erupted as the soldiers readied themselves for the imminent onslaught.
The goblins relentlessly pounded the fleet, their assaults relentless and varied. Jack and his crew, resolute despite the chaos, observed the unfolding chaos through the thickening fog. Tension hung in the air as each bang reverberated through the mist.
Suddenly, the goblins sprang from the water onto the ships, their violent howls rending the air. Nostrils steaming with rage, they unleashed fiery blasts akin to dragons, igniting flames that swiftly consumed the sails and spread across the vessels.
Amidst the chaos, Jack bellowed commands to his men, "Stand firm! Defend the ship with all you've got!" His voice cut through the chaos as he directed his crew to counter the goblin onslaught.
Diana, wielding her sword with precision, rallied her comrades. "Hold the line! Keep them at bay!" Her words spurred the warriors into fierce action, engaging in heated combat with the fiery adversaries.
The heat of battle intensified as goblins swarmed the deck, their relentless assault driving the crew to the brink. "We can't hold them off much longer!" one of the sailors shouted, desperation edging his voice.
Jack, gritting his teeth, scanned the ship's surroundings, seeking any advantage. "We need to push back! Look for anything that can repel them!" he urged, his mind racing to devise a plan amidst the blazing chaos.
As the flames engulfed the ship and the goblins pressed their attack, Jack knew they needed to act swiftly to evade total disaster. "Find a way to douse those flames! We can't let them take us down!" he commanded, desperately seeking a solution amid the encroaching devastation.
The goblins, swift and merciless, overpowered Jack's crew, turning the deck into a chaotic battleground. Their savage assault echoed the fury of a tempest as they tore through the sailors like famished beasts, leaving behind a scene of horrifying carnage. Jack found himself isolated, surrounded by the baying goblins, their eyes glinting with a dark hunger.
His pendant, a seashell resting on his chest, shimmered with an eerie light. A surge of power coursed through him, igniting an inner fury. With a primal roar, Jack unleashed his magic, hurling the goblins into the churning depths below. The flames dwindled as the mist lifted, unveiling the harsh rays of the sun.
Exhausted and weakened by the unleashed magic, Jack sank to his knees, overwhelmed by despair. Tears streamed down his face as he struggled to comprehend the devastating loss. In his vulnerability, a goblin stealthily crept up, delivering a crushing blow to Jack's head with a massive stick, sending him into darkness.
Unconscious and at the mercy of his assailants, Jack was seized and carried away toward a sinister portal leading into the foreboding underworld.
Dominos was pleased. The souls of Jack's team were sent to the underworld, already enduring severe torment. Jack, battered and surrounded, was thrown before Dominos.
"Ah, Jack, finally face to face," Dominos sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "Your magic intrigues me, I crave it, and I shall have it. You will open the gates of hell, releasing my minions into your pitiful world. And I will take the dark Phoenix's powers, exacting revenge on the gods with my newfound might."
Defiant, Jack retorted through gritted teeth, "Go to hell. I'll never allow you near the boy or let you escape this place."
Dominos chuckled, a sinister glint in his eyes. "Stubborn to the end, aren't we? Your resistance is futile. I'll tear through the fabric of existence, unleash my minions, and reclaim what's mine. The dark Phoenix will fall, and the gods shall tremble at my wrath."
"Allow me to rephrase myself," Dominos responded, stepping out of the shadows on his throne. Jack caught sight of his face and felt an immediate rush of terror.
"I am hell, and you are already in hell. But perhaps we can negotiate. Look how your friends writhe in torment, all because you led them into my trap. You sought the Elixir of Life, and here it is, stored in this underworld. I could grant it to you freely and ease your friends' suffering," Dominos offered.
"What are you?" Jack asked, his voice filled with apprehension.
"An excellent question indeed. I am known by many names. I am Dominos, master of tricks and deception. I am the harbinger of the end, the bane of gods. I will vanquish the gods with my might. It is only a matter of time before my purpose is fulfilled. Whether you agree or not, I will drain the magic from you and achieve my destiny," Dominos scorned, turning to his minions and commanding, "Take this old brat out of my sight."
As Jack was forcibly removed, Dominos' ominous words lingered in the air, hinting at the dire future awaiting both Jack and the gods.
After the horrifying encounter with Dominos, Jack found himself imprisoned in a dimly lit dungeon, the days stretching on endlessly. He was forcibly given the Elixir of Life to sustain his existence despite the torment of his captivity.
Meanwhile, Ritz awoke to a strange and unfamiliar scene aboard the ship. Bodies lay strewn across the deck, and to his surprise, he discovered that his wounds were inexplicably healed. However, his memory was clouded, recalling only a vague sense of a brutal demise. He couldn't recollect the deal he made with Dominos or the events that transpired in the underworld. All he knew was a deep-rooted need to return home to Valga, with the fallen comrades on board for a respectful burial in accordance with Valga's customs.
With a heavy heart and an unsettled mind, Ritz began the solemn task of restoring one of the ships to set sail for Valga. The weight of loss and confusion lingered as he prepared for the journey back home.