After escaping the Arbiter's trap, Leo, Sofia, and the rest of the Reclaimers regrouped at the temporary hideout in the forest. They had suffered losses, and the mood was somber. Leo's power was growing, but he knew that the Arbiter wouldn't rest until he had them all destroyed. It was time to rethink their strategy and figure out how to counter the Arbiter's dark magic.
Leo sat with Sofia, Owen, and Evelyn around a small fire, the crackling flames illuminating their tired faces. Owen had managed to salvage some data from the wreckage, and he was busy analyzing it on his laptop.
"We need to know where the Arbiter will strike next," Sofia said, her tone decisive. "He won't stop until he controls the entire network of portals."
Owen glanced up from his laptop. "I've found some leads. It seems like the Arbiter's followers are gathering at several key locations. They're likely planning another ritual, but I haven't figured out where."
Evelyn leaned in, her brow furrowed. "We need to find out soon. If the Arbiter opens another portal, we might not be able to close it in time."
Leo nodded, his expression determined. "Let's focus on the locations we know. We need to gather as much information as possible and be ready to move when we find the Arbiter's base."
As they discussed their plans, Marcus, one of the senior Reclaimers, approached them with a grim expression. "We've lost contact with one of our scout teams. They were investigating an old fortress in the mountains, but they haven't reported back in two days."
Leo's heart sank. The Arbiter's reach was growing, and they couldn't afford to lose any more allies. "We should go check it out. If the Arbiter's forces are there, we need to know."
Sofia agreed. "I'll assemble a team. We need to be cautious—this could be a trap."
The group prepared to leave, their weapons and gear ready for whatever lay ahead. As they made their way through the forest, Leo couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The shadows seemed darker, and the air felt heavier, as if the Arbiter's dark magic was seeping into the very fabric of their world.
They reached the old fortress at dawn, its crumbling walls casting eerie shadows in the early morning light. The place was eerily quiet, and there was no sign of the missing scout team.
Sofia raised her hand, signaling for everyone to stop. "We need to be careful. This place could be crawling with the Arbiter's minions."
Leo nodded, his senses on high alert. He knew that they couldn't afford to make any mistakes. If the Arbiter was here, they had to be ready to face him.
As they cautiously entered the fortress, Leo couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The air was thick with tension, and every step echoed through the empty halls. He felt a chill run down his spine as they moved deeper into the fortress, knowing that they were walking into the unknown.