AT NEPAL: mount everest region
The explosion occurred without warning, catching John off guard. He had never expected such a sudden turn of events. But, thanks to Dorothy's quick thinking and magical prowess, they both survived the blast. Her energy barrier had shielded them from the impact, protecting them from certain destruction.
As they regained their footing, Dorothy's eyes scanned the chaos around them. "What's happening to them? Are they okay? Did they explode?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry. John's mind raced as he tried to comprehend the mayhem. He recalled snippets of conversations his father and grandfather had about the Rage Point, a mysterious phenomenon that unleashed incredible power. But what triggered it? And what was its purpose?
The ground began to tremble beneath their feet, like a restless beast awakening from a deep slumber. The earthquake-like tremors intensified, and John felt the ground cracking open beneath him. Frost burst forth, tearing the earth apart with incredible force, like a frozen waterfall cascading down. Dorothy and John had to run for their lives, dodging enormous frost spikes and hills that erupted from the ground like jagged teeth.
Belle, in her Rage Point, controlled the frost with precision, trapping The-void in a prison of ice. Sofia, meanwhile, was enveloped in a massive purple humanoid avatar, over 15 feet tall. From inside, she controlled the avatar, which moved with incredible speed and agility, like a giant puppet on strings. With a swift motion, the avatar smashed its hand down on The-void, unleashing a concentrated blast of cosmic energy.
As the air cleared, a powerful wave crashed forth from the impact. To everyone's surprise, The-void emerged unscathed, holding the hand of the humanoid avatar. The avatar vanished as Belle and Sofia charged towards him. Belle moved with ease, her frost-encased form gliding across the ground, while Sofia flew straight at him, her body surrounded by a purple light mass and cosmic energy.
"As they closed in, The-void unleashed an unknown force, dispelling the frost around Belle and sending her flying hundreds of miles away. Sofia pressed on, her fist clenched and ready to strike. She threw a punch, but The-void dodged it by a hair's breadth. The ground beneath them sank hundreds of feet, devouring a vast area. The-void was taken aback, realizing the immense power Sofia possessed.
"Before Sofia could recover, The-void swiftly pushed her into the frost above, then pulled her down with a sudden force, slamming her into the ground. He held her immobile, kneeling before him. "At last, I have you now,' The-void said, grasping Sofia's head. 'You have shown great strength. I will help you harness your powers to bring balance to this torn world. The death of the uncertain is the only path to salvation"
"We have to help them, he's going to kill her!" Dorothy exclaimed, concern etched on her face as she watched the scene unfold.
"It's no use, if we go, we die. We're no match for him," John replied, but Dorothy had already departed, floating towards The-void with great speed, supported by her green reality powers.
"Ah, another unfortunate being seeking death," The-void said, stretching his hand towards Dorothy as she approached. "What's this? I can't sense any cosmic energy around her. Has she managed to suppress it? But that's impossible, isn't it? There's nothing there. This girl is something else."
Dorothy quickly unleashed a long, twin green light whip-like mass towards The-void, which vanished into the air until it was about to strike him. The-void teleported away with Sofia just in time, avoiding the attack. The whip slammed into the cold snow with a sharp explosion.
Dorothy stopped in dismay, unable to believe what had happened. She knelt on the cold snow, overcome with emotion. "What is this feeling? I feel sad, emotional, and grief. It's like I've lost my way. All those lives were taken from them. We have to protect ourselves to survive in this world. I thought this world was peaceful, but can a world ever stay without violence and conflict? I guess that's what makes this world."
John approached her, his tone laced with pain and grief. "Come on, Dorothy, let's look for Belle. She may still be alive down there. We've seen a lot today, a lot."
Washington D.C.
Dave's mind snapped back to reality as he stared at the message on his phone. "Where are you, Dave? You're twenty minutes late." He looked around, disoriented, and realized he had no idea where he was. The familiar streets he had been walking on seemed to have vanished, replaced by an unfamiliar landscape.
"Where am I?" he muttered to himself, confusion etched on his face. "I could've sworn I was going the right way... how did I end up here?"
As he turned to head back, he noticed a group of seven people in black hoodies and face masks watching him from a distance. A shiver ran down his spine. "Hey, there he is," one of them said, and they began closing in on him.
Dave took off, weaving through alleys in a desperate bid to escape. His pursuers were hot on his heels, their footsteps echoing off the walls. Just as he thought he'd found a safe haven, a hand clamped over his mouth, and he was dragged into a dark room. The person holding him gestured for silence, his index finger pressed against his lips.
As the pursuers ran past the room, Dave let out a sigh of relief. He was safe, for now. But where was he, and who was this mysterious person who had saved him? The darkness seemed to swallow him whole, leaving him with more questions than answers.
"Who are you?" Dave asked the mysterious man who had saved him. "Everything should be where it's supposed to be. Time is of the essence," the man replied, gesturing towards the back door.
When Dave opened the door, he was shocked to find himself opposite his school, on the other side of the road. He spun around, but the small house he had emerged from had vanished, replaced by a car park. People walked by, oblivious to his sudden appearance. Confusion swirled in his mind.
Without hesitation, Dave rushed to his class, already late. As he entered, he noticed Derek and his friends were absent, which was unusual. He took his seat next to Hina, who whispered, "Where were you? Did you get lost or something?"
Just then, Derek and his six friends walked in, looking exhausted, as if they had just run a marathon. Dave's mind raced with thoughts, wondering if they could have been the ones chasing him earlier. The coincidence was unsettling, and he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.
As he pondered, Dave noticed Hina watching him with concern. "Hey, are you okay? You look lost," she said. Dave hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "I...I just got lost on the way to school," he said, trying to downplay the strange events. But Hina's piercing gaze made him feel like she saw right through him.
Meanwhile, Derek and his friends took their seats, their eyes fixed on Dave with an unnerving intensity. Dave's instincts screamed warning, and he wondered if he had just stumbled into something sinister.