Sometime back-
I asked Regulus, "Where is the Crown of Eldoria?" I wanted to know how far Nyx and Regulus had gone with their goal.
Regulus chuckled, a sinister glint in his eyes. "Why do you care, Magnus? The Crown of Eldoria holds power beyond your comprehension. Your feeble attempts to thwart our plans are futile."
With a determined resolve, I summoned the power of the astral realm. My hands crackled with energy as I conjured illusions to distract Regulus and Nyx. It was a battle of illusions.
Nyx, with arrogance, taunted, "You are but a puppet, dancing on the strings of destiny. The Crown is our destiny, and none can stand in our way."
Regulus lunged forward, his movements swift and calculated. I deflected his strikes with my magic, but the intensity of their combined assault was overwhelming. Nyx manipulated shadows to entangle me, restricting my movements.
I was exhausted from conjuring a lot of mana. I furiously said, "Two against one. Not a fair battle, I reckon."
Despite my best efforts, their power proved too much. Regulus landed a strong blow that sent me sprawling to the ground. Nyx's laughter echoed in the astral realm as they reveled in their victory.
Gasping for breath, I tried to stand, but Regulus pressed his boot against my chest, pinning me down. "You thought you could defy fate, Magnus? The Crown will be ours, and your resistance ends here."
As Nyx's dark tendrils closed in, the astral realm seemed to quiver with their triumph. The shadows enveloped me, and the world around me faded into darkness.
Suddenly, I felt the dark tendrils that surrounded me broken. It was Seraphina. Along with her, I saw Count Mapisto and Alina.
The trio, Seraphina, Count Mapisto, and Alina, stood against the darkness. Seraphina's eyes glowed as she wielded her astral mana, Count Mapisto brandished a blade, and Alina conjured protective barriers.
Nyx sneered, "You dare interfere? You cannot escape the inevitable, Seraphina."
Seraphina retorted, "Your twisted fate ends here, Nyx and Regulus - that's your name, right? "
Regulus was angry at this remark. It was a funny sight.
Count Mapisto, who was back to his original self, declared, "Regulus, I won't be a pawn in your schemes any longer."
Alina, with determination, added, "You won't harm my father or Magnus. The Crown of Eldoria will remain beyond your grasp."
My three protectors were here. I smiled as I rejuvenated my mana source, "Thank you for the timely help."
I knew we could not defeat Nyx in her realm as she was strongest here. I told my saviors seriously, "Can you handle them? I need time to cast my best skill." They nodded in agreement.
The atmosphere crackled with tension as the trio faced off against Regulus. Shadows seemed to dance around him, amplifying the eerie ambiance of the Astral realm.
Regulus smiled menacingly and summoned black tendrils to slither across the astral links. Seraphina stepped forward, her staff aglow with astral energy, ready to counter Regulus's dark magic. Count Mapisto brandished his sword, and Alina, armed with her newly crafted sword, assumed a defensive stance.
The battle began with Regulus launching a barrage of shadowy projectiles. Seraphina skillfully deflected them with her staff, creating a barrier of light. Count Mapisto made precise movements, his sword cutting through the shadows, while Alina swiftly maneuvered, dodging and parrying the dark attacks.
Regulus, however, proved to be a formidable opponent. He manipulated the shadows to conceal his movements, making it challenging for the trio to anticipate his attacks. Dark illusions danced around them, testing their resolve.
As the battle intensified, I observed from the sidelines, my focus on the creation of Nyx's captive spatial realm. The trio, despite their skill, found themselves momentarily on the defensive. Regulus seized the opportunity, launching a concentrated burst of dark energy that sent them sprawling.
Seraphina, Count Mapisto, and Alina regrouped. Seraphina channeled astral energy, creating a luminous shield that absorbed Regulus's dark assaults. Count Mapisto unleashed powerful strikes with his sword, aiming to pierce through the shadows.
Alina, with newfound determination, infused her sword with a radiant glow, disrupting the darkness around Regulus. The clash of astral forces illuminated the battleground, creating a spectacle of light and shadow.
Regulus, realizing the tide might turn against him, unleashed his most potent spell—a vortex of shadows that threatened to engulf the trio. Seraphina, quick to react, erected a barrier, but the sheer force of the shadows strained their defenses.
Count Mapisto, exhibiting unwavering resolve, struck his sword into the ground, channeling mana through it. The ground beneath Regulus trembled as chains emerged, binding him momentarily. Alina seized the opportunity, delivering a decisive blow that dispelled the shadows around him.
Regulus, temporarily subdued, sneered, "This is not the end, Brother. The shadows will prevail."
He broke through the chains efficiently and escaped from the astral realm. Count Mapisto put his hand on his head, "We lost him!"
While this was happening, I was dealing with Nyx alone. I focused my energy on casting the most potent spell. Drawing upon the threads of the astral realm, I began weaving a colossal spatial realm, a web of magic that would ensnare Nyx and sever her connection to the shadows.
Nyx was taken aback by the unexpected burst of power when the spatial world materialized and found herself imprisoned inside my domain. The realm shimmered with astral energy, trapping her in a dimension beyond her control.
I smirked as I contained the spatial realm into my pendant, "Nyx, it is your time to be in prison."
Nyx retorted, "YOU BASTARD!" She was trying hard to break her prison.
I winked as I looked at my pendant, "I practiced this spell for eight years, since our encounter. It was specially made for you."
As Nyx continued her futile attempts to escape, I turned to my allies—Seraphina, Count Mapisto, and Alina. "We've neutralized Nyx for now, but Regulus remains a threat. We must stay vigilant."
Suddenly, Alina asked, "We forgot about Ariana. Where do you think she is?"
According to the novel, the male lead would come and save her from the dragon. They will return safe and sound. But they were supposed to meet Count Mapisto, who was the villain.
Looks like that won't happen anymore. I don't care about her. She will survive as long as she is the female lead.
I reassured her, "Ariana is part of the novel's destined plot. She has her role to play, and the prince charming will undoubtedly come to her rescue."
However, our contemplations were abruptly interrupted by the sudden appearance of a new figure. A man with a regal presence emerged from the astral shadows, his orange eyes ablaze with determination. He wielded a gleaming sword, and his princely attire bespoke a noble lineage. This was Elijah, the male protagonist of the first book and the prince of the nearby empire.
Did I jinx myself?
With an air of authority, Elijah pointed his sword toward me and demanded, "Where is Ariana? What have you done with her?"
I raised an eyebrow at the unexpected intrusion. "Easy there, Prince Charming. We haven't done anything to Ariana. She's probably off somewhere in the Astral realm, waiting for your heroic rescue."
Elijah gripped the sword tighter, his worry for Ariana driving him. "And how can I trust you? I need one of you to come with me."
I raised my hands and sarcastically said, "Hey, Prince Charming, we are exhausted from the previous battle to save your girl. Don't drag us into your problems."
Elijah's eyes narrowed at my sarcasm, his grip on the sword visibly tenser. "I don't have time for games. If you're not hiding anything, one of you will come with me to find Ariana. Now."
Seraphina, sensing the escalating tension, stepped forward. "Elijah, we're not your enemies. We just dealt with Nyx and Regulus. Ariana is likely in another part of the Astral realm, safe for now. We can't afford to be divided."
Alina chimed in, "Yeah, we're all tired. Let's find a plan together instead of pointing swords at each other."
I wasn't ready to endanger my allies to save the female lead of the novel. I rolled my eyes and said, "Okay. I will help you."
Everyone looked at me seriously; Seraphina said with concern, "But you are exhausted."
I didn't care for myself. I smiled, "Prince Charming here wants to save his girl. I will accompany him. I want you guys to return to the mortal realm and search for Regulus. Don't worry, I will be back in no time."
Alina replied, "Fine. But come back safely. And if that guy tries something funny. I will deal with him."
She was eyeing Elijah. Her gaze could kill him.
Elijah looked at me suspiciously, his guard still up. "Fine, but no tricks. We find Ariana and get out of here."
I nodded, "No tricks, Prince Charming. Let's go."
As we ventured into the astral realm, leaving my allies behind, I couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter might lead to unforeseen consequences.