General Ilidan was a proud man, his love for his kingdom unwavering. The harsh and unforgiving desert that stretched for miles around him had shaped him into the formidable leader he was today. The scorching sun, relentless sandstorms, and scarce resources had hardened him, preparing him for the challenges he faced as the general of his people.
When news reached him that the neighboring kingdom of Ashrone was vulnerable and exposed, a fierce desire for conquest burned within him. It seemed like the perfect time to strike, to expand his territory and assert his power even further. But the king's decision to hold back, to show mercy when the opportunity for dominance presented itself, ignited a fiery rage within General Ilidan.
He couldn't help but compare the current king to his predecessor, a ruthless ruler who had wielded power with an iron fist. The new king lacked the aggression and strategic foresight that Ilidan believed was necessary to lead the kingdom of Kedeilin to greatness. As he sat in his office, his fists clenched in frustration, the memory of that missed opportunity gnawed at him.
"Why not me?" he often wondered aloud, his voice filled with ambition and resentment. He believed himself to be the rightful leader, the one destined to elevate his kingdom to new heights of power and prosperity.
It was during one of these moments of contemplation that a mysterious voice interrupted his thoughts. Startled, General Ilidan looked around, searching for the source of the unexpected words. But there was no one to be seen, only the familiar surroundings of his office.
"You should lead," the voice whispered, its tone soft yet commanding. The general's heart raced as he strained to identify the speaker.
"You're stronger and more intelligent than him," the voice continued, its words echoing in the silence of the room. With a growing sense of unease, Ilidan called upon his earth magic, ready to defend himself against this unseen intruder.
"Reveal yourself or face the consequences!" he bellowed, his voice laced with authority and a hint of fear.
But the voice persisted, undeterred by his threats. "I can make you king," it promised, its words tantalizing and full of possibility.
Frustrated and intrigued in equal measure, General Ilidan demanded answers. "Who are you? What do you want from me?" he demanded, his voice echoing through the empty chamber.
At that moment, the air around him shimmered and twisted, and the office began to dissolve into darkness. Panicked, Ilidan found himself standing on a black expanse, the only light coming from the enigmatic figure that emerged from the shadows.
Clad in black and wearing a mask adorned with a single Kanji symbol, the figure exuded an aura of power and mystery. It stepped closer to the general, its presence both intimidating and alluring.
"I can make you king," it repeated, its voice low and compelling. "I can help you surpass your father's achievements and outshine the current king."
General Ilidan hesitated, torn between his ambition and his principles. But one question burned in his mind, demanding an answer. "What do you gain from this? Why help me?"
The figure in black smirked beneath its mask, a glint of amusement in its eyes. "Let's just say we have a common enemy," .
.....
Jean stared in shock at the figure that emerged from Areal's shadow. It was a tall, black-haired man with a goatee, exuding an aura of danger and power. The man's lazy demeanor only added to the tension in the room as he coolly glanced around at the group.
"I hope this doesn't last long," he drawled, his voice dripping with disdain.
Meg's voice cut through the tense silence as she demanded to know the man's identity. But his nonchalant response sent a chill down their spines.
"It doesn't matter since I will be killing you," the man, who introduced himself as Oberon, declared casually. Areal's paralyzing shadow clutching at him, he seemed unfazed by the situation unfolding before him.
In a split-second decision, Jean sprang into action, drawing two combat knives as she lunged towards Oberon. The glint of steel flashed as she aimed a strike at his throat, only for him to effortlessly dodge the attack with a smirk playing on his lips.
The battle intensified as Jean continued her offensive, but Oberon's skill and agility proved formidable. In a sudden twist, he breached her defenses, seizing her by the neck and lifting her off the ground, leaving her gasping for air as her knives clattered to the floor.
Rushing to her friend's aid, Meg summoned her magical prowess, undergoing a transformative shift that turned her into a massive ape. With a fierce roar, she charged at Oberon, ready to protect her companions at any cost.
As Oberon attempted to evade the ape's wrath by diverting his attention towards the now vulnerable Areal, he was met with a shocking display of lightning magic that sent a powerful surge radiating through the room. Quick reflexes saved him as he retreated into the shadow of a nearby treasure chest, narrowly avoiding the deadly attack.
Undeterred, Oberon maneuvered through the room's shadows, intent on outmaneuvering his adversaries. However, Jean, utilizing her keen sensor abilities, anticipated his movements and hurled a knife towards the looming darkness.
The massive ape, sensing the imminent threat, reacted swiftly, smashing the floor in a powerful blow that shattered the surface and disrupted Oberon's maneuver. The cunning adversary narrowly escaped, regrouping as he plotted his next move.
Unseen by the others, Areal, clad in his formidable lightning armor, materialized behind Oberon, catching the sorcerer off guard. A swift kick sent Oberon hurtling into the room's opposite wall, causing it to crumble as he plummeted into the chamber below.
Dusting himself off with a defiant grin, Oberon revealed his trump card—a devastating technique known as "Shadow Magic: Domain Expansion." Darkness enveloped the room, enhancing his agility and providing him with the advantage of swift movement through the shadowy terrain.
Jean's heart raced as she realized the gravity of the situation they were now facing.
Areal, determined to turn the tide of battle, charged at Oberon with blinding speed. However, the elusive sorcerer eluded his lightning-clad assault by slipping into the ground's shadow, manipulating the terrain to his advantage. A fleeting touch dragged Areal into the depths of the shadowy abyss, leaving Jean and the towering ape anxiously awaiting his return.
After a tense moment, Areal emerged from the shadows, visibly drained and diminished in magical energy.
Jean uses her sensor magic and senses that there is water below and shouts at the ape.
"There's water below," Jean says.
The massive ape let out a deafening roar as it channeled its magical powers, causing its hands to glow with an ominous light. With a powerful swing, it smashed the ground, triggering a chain reaction that sent shockwaves rippling through the room, causing it to collapse around them. Debris flew everywhere, creating chaos and confusion.
As the dust settled, Oberon found himself in a room filled with water, his eyes widening in surprise. Suddenly, the ape transformed into a sleek shark, its form seamlessly shifting to adapt to its new environment. The water around Oberon churned as the shark swam towards him with alarming speed, its predatory instincts on full display.
Reacting quickly, Oberon used his magic to hover on top of the water's surface, his focus unwavering despite the sudden turn of events. The shark closed in, its sharp teeth gleaming menacingly in the dim light. With a swift movement, Oberon dodged the first strike, his reflexes honed from years of training. As the shark lunged for another attack, Oberon skillfully evaded once more, narrowly escaping its jaws.
"Damn, I underestimated them," Oberon muttered to himself, his mind racing as he formulated a plan. Drawing upon his magic, he channeled energy into his legs, propelling himself into the air with a burst of speed. Suspended mid-air, he concentrated his power, shaping it into a potent attack.
"Shadow: Orb Expansion!" Oberon commanded, releasing two dark orbs from his hands. The orbs shot forward, weaving through the water with deadly precision, homing in on the shark. With a sudden burst of energy, the orbs expanded, ensnaring the shark in a web of dark magic.
A sense of triumph washed over Oberon as he believed he had gained the upper hand. However, his victory was short-lived as a bolt of lightning cracked through the water, striking with unerring accuracy. The electricity surged through Oberon's body, leaving him paralyzed and helpless as he plummeted into the depths below.
Areal took a deep breath as he stood there, feeling the adrenaline slowly ebbing away after unleashing his powerful attack on Oberon. The aftermath of his magic colliding with the ground left a visible impact on the battlefield, but despite the exhaustion, he couldn't help but wear a satisfied smile on his face. They had finally defeated Oberon, a formidable opponent they had been struggling against for what seemed like an eternity.
Jean turned around, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief as she sensed a surge of immense magic rising from the depths of the water where Oberon had fallen. Suddenly, the water erupted, revealing a very angry Oberon rising from the turmoil. Without wasting a moment, Oberon's shadow connected itself to Jean's shadow, sending a paralyzing jolt through her body. Before she could react, Oberon, fueled by rage, dashed towards her with incredible speed, intent on delivering a final blow.
Just as Oberon was about to reach Jean, a massive bear appeared out of nowhere, grabbing him from behind in a powerful hold. Oberon struggled against the bear's grip, trying to break free, but his efforts were in vain as the bear held him firmly in place, keeping him from harming Jean any further.
With Jean now able to move, she focused her magic and placed her hands on Areal's chest, transferring her energy into him in a moment of desperate cooperation. Areal felt a surge of power coursing through him as he stood up, channeling his lightning magic with newfound strength. In a low whisper, he invoked his spell, "Lightning Magic: Lightning Blade."
Areal's hand transformed into a crackling blade of lightning, its energy swirling around him as he charged towards Oberon, who was still entangled in the bear's grasp, struggling to break free. With precise aim and unwavering determination, Areal lunged at Oberon, piercing his heart with the electrified blade. Oberon's movements ceased abruptly, his body going limp as the lethal strike took its toll, bringing an end to his reign of terror.
As the tension of battle slowly eased, the bear that had intervened suddenly transformed back into Meg, revealing her true form. She approached Oberon's lifeless body and noticed an emblem emblazoned with the symbol of the kingdom of Yggdrasil, a puzzling discovery that raised questions about Oberon's unexpected presence in that remote location.
"What is he doing around this part?" Areal pondered aloud as he examined the emblem, his curiosity piqued by the implications of Oberon's affiliation with the distant kingdom.
Just then, the dungeon began to tremble violently, its walls shaking and crumbling around them as if in response to the defeat of Oberon. The squad knew they had to act quickly, their instincts urging them to flee before the collapsing dungeon trapped them inside. Without hesitation, they sprinted towards the exit, their hearts pounding with a mix of relief and urgency as they narrowly escaped the crumbling ruins, emerging into the open air with a newfound sense of victory and camaraderie.