....
ALEXA: THE SPIKES ARE POISONOUS. NO SKILL IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO RESIST IT.
"Elf magic: Obsidian Shield!" A commanding voice rang out as a cerulean barrier enveloped them, deflecting the incoming ice shards. The duo turned to behold Rose, standing with outstretched arms and radiant blue eyes.
As the shield dissipated, the resounding laughter of Lord Arctic reverberated throughout the labyrinth. "How does it feel to be rescued by a lady?" he taunted, forming intricate hand gestures as he advanced towards the trio.
"She is not merely a lady. She is the Princess of..." Brakor's sentence was abruptly cut off as Lord Arctic unleashed a devastating blast upon them. Reacting swiftly, Rose intertwined her fingers, causing the blast to detonate midway, while Kael vanished and reappeared in the shadow of Lord Arctic. Despite his efforts to push Lord Arctic away, Kael found himself overpowered and flung from the crust of Aetheria.
"Lord Arctic excels not only in magic but also in physical combat," Brakor murmured to himself, charging at Lord Arctic to shield Kael from further harm. "Elf magic: Shadow Strike!" Brakor's blow landed squarely on Arctic's chest, halting his assault on Kael and sending him hurtling across the chamber. Lord Arctic collided with a pillar, shaking the very foundations of the palace.
"Cease your aggression... Take the Princess and flee," Brakor urged Kael, who had reverted to his human form. With a swift motion, Kael sprang to his feet, his gaze falling upon Rose, who knelt with her head bowed. The magical exertion was already taking its toll on her.
"I will hold him down," Brakor declared, prompting Kael's eyes to widen in alarm. "What does he mean by 'hold'?" Kael pondered, realizing that Brakor could not defeat Lord Arctic but could buy them precious time.
Rushing to Rose, Kael knelt before her and extended his hand. As she accepted his gesture, Rose lifted her gaze to meet his, captivated by his striking appearance. His crimson hairs, rosy lips, and obsidian eyes seemed oddly familiar, immersing her in a reverie.
"My Lady," Kael spoke gently, rousing her from her trance. "Are you alright?"
"How could I be alright? How are you so comely? Even the denizens of our Elven capital pale in comparison," she exclaimed inwardly, fixated on his countenance.
"We must depart, Princess," Yuri called out, decapitating a Reaper. Kael aided Rose to her feet, and together they approached Yuri.
"Kael..." Brakor's voice echoed. "Do not forsake the Labourers."
"Oi." Kael responded, hastening their retreat, hand in hand with Rose, who found herself unable to tear her gaze from his face. "His name is Kael, yet why does he bear resemblance to Eleven?" she mused.
"It is solely you and I now," Brakor addressed Lord Arctic, regaining his footing.
"An admirable ploy, Brakor, but now that it is solely you... I shall swiftly dispatch you," Lord Arctic boasted, the atmosphere growing tense. The wind howled vehemently, lifting Lord Arctic from the ground as he emanated his overwhelming magical aura.
Had Kael been present, his survival would have been dubious. Brakor struggled valiantly against the oppressive magical forces of Lord Arctic, ultimately succumbing to his knees. Conjuring ice to envelop himself, Brakor sought respite from the intense energy.
"That's so pathetic. Allow me to exhibit true magic," Lord Arctic declared, forming a hand gesture. "Elf magic: Abyssal Blast!" A surge of dark energy hurtled towards Brakor, striking with explosive impact. The icy shield shattered, hurling Brakor against the wall, his bones cracking under the force.
Roaring with determination, Brakor summoned his resolve. "Elf magic: Blizzard Barrage!" A tempest of ice and snow swirled around him, coalescing into a vortex that he unleashed upon Arctic.
"Elf sorcery: Inferno Wave!"Arctic declared loudly, clashing the icy vortex with a surge of scorching flames. The collision of the two magical forces caused a violent explosion, scattering shards of ice and bursts of fire in all directions. The Labyrinth descended into chaos, with debris flying as the two opponents were pushed to their limits.
Emerging from the smoke and debris, Arctic launched another attack, his eyes ablaze with anger. "Elf sorcery: Shadow Claws!"Dark, ghostly claws emerged from his fingertips, slashing at Brakor. The chief barely managed to defend himself with a hastily summoned ice barrier, but the impact of the attack sent him sliding backwards, leaving deep wounds on his arms.
Gritting his teeth, Brakor used his pain to fuel his determination. "Elf sorcery: Ice Chains!"He conjured chains made of ice that wrapped around Arctic, binding him tightly. With a roar, Brakor pulled, slamming Arctic into the ground with immense force.
Despite feeling the ice piercing his skin, Arctic was not yet defeated. "Elf sorcery: Dark Surge!"A surge of dark energy burst forth from him, breaking the ice chains and unleashing a shockwave that knocked Brakor off his feet.Arctic rose to his feet, his tattered and burning cloak discarded to reveal his muscular frame and tattooed chest. His eyes were filled with a dark fluid, and his ears resembled those of Brakor.
This revelation shocked Brakor even more. He needed no seer to tell him that Arctic was an Elf, but he wondered which kind of Elf would wage war against his own kind.
"You are an Elf?"Brakor couldn't resist asking as he struggled to stand, while Lord Arctic approached him slowly. There was no need for Arctic to respond, as Brakor already knew the answer. Arctic was indeed an Elf, but a malevolent one.
"Why do you slay your own people?"Brakor inquired, eying Arctic, who wore a smirk on his face."It could be for power... It could be for bloodlust, or even revenge,"Arctic answered, his laughter echoing through the air. Both of them now stood in the open field, within the confines of the Arctic Palace, situated in the Loctrum clan.
"Revenge,"Brakor muttered, trying to discern where the Elvarin Kingdom had wronged an Elf named Arctic.
"I see potential in you... I will spare you if you kneel before me and pledge your loyalty,"he proposed, spreading his arms wide."I am sorry... My loyalty belongs to another, King Jade,"Arctic declined.
"In that case, you must be prepared to meet your end. It is all over for you now; you have reached your limit,"Lord Arctic declared with a sly smile.
"No... I still have one last opportunity to vanquish you forever,"Brakor retorted, producing a small sprig of a flower. Luckily he didn't used up the purple flower gave to him by Kael. This will help boost his magic.
.
.
"Hey, where are you taking the Princess?"Yuri inquired as soon as he noticed Kael and Rose heading in the opposite direction. The duo halted and turned to face him. "This path leads out of this tumultuous clan."
"I am not leaving,"Kael announced, causing Yuri and Rose to widen their eyes in surprise. "Where are you headed then?"Yuri asked, still taken aback by Kael's response.
"I am going to rescue some Elves and... Oh, the Princess... I entrust her to you,"Kael said, gesturing for Rose to go to Yuri."You cannot rescue those Elves. They must be surrounded by dozens of Reapers. You will perish,"Yuri lamented.
"But I cannot abandon them, you fool. It is a request from a Chief,"Kael countered."I will accompany you,"Rose declared, her reason for doing so still unknown to her. She then made eye contact with Yuri, who nodded in agreement.
"I cannot return without the Princess. Let us go and face our fate."They sprinted toward the cave, with Kael firmly holding Rose's hand and Yuri trying to catch up from behind. They stopped a few feet away from the Elves, who were surrounded by dozens of Reapers, impatiently awaiting their rescuer.Just as Yuri had predicted, the Elves were encircled by the Reapers, waiting for their savior, and here he was.
"Waiting for someone?"Kael shouted, capturing the attention of all the Reapers, before turning to Yuri. "Keep her safe.""You do not need to remind me of my duty, Dwarf,"Yuri replied, tossing his sword to Kael, who caught it effortlessly.
"Dwarf..."he thought to himself. 'He believes I am from the Dwargon clan.'Kael gazed at the sword for a moment before turning to face the Reapers. 'I am uncertain of my ability to wield a sword. It feels weighty in my hand.' "Alexa, what is the likelihood that I can wield a sword?"
ALEXA - THE PROBABILITY OF WIELDING A SWORD IS 10/100.
Kael sighed upon hearing Alexa's report. This system had been delivering bad news lately. "Activate Shadow Movement,"he commanded, and promptly disappeared from his position, reappearing in the shadow of one of the Reaper
Rose and Yuri observed his every move with admiration, while the Elves watched from afar. It was evident that if Kael were to fall, they would all fall with him. However, Kael was not prepared to succumb, nor were the Reapers willing to give up.
They charged at him from all directions, and he realized his sword was gone, leaving him only with his fists. He felt weakened everytime he mimicked a Trolloc, so he go against the idea.
"Shadow Movement,"he recalled, vanishing before a blade could strike his head. Emerging from the shadow of a Reaper, he swiftly seized the Reaper's hand, delivering a powerful blow to his chest that passed through to the other side.
"He has no heart,"Kael exclaimed, withdrawing his hand as he realized the Reapers had formed a circle, making it impossible for him to escape.Surrounded and awaiting an attack, the Reapers stood still, their swords pointed skyward.
"Alexa, what are they doing?"
ALEXA - THE REAPERS ARE CONNECTING THEIR SWORDS TO NATURAL ENERGY, PREPARING FOR A FINAL ATTACK ON A TARGET.
"Am I the target?"Kael inquired but received no response. Within a minute, dark smoke enveloped their swords, causing Kael's eyes to widen. 'I'm the target.'
"Reapers Magic: Valtrex Norezo,"they chanted, slashing their blades through the air, releasing blasts from their swords
.ALEXA - MIMICKING THE GREAT TROLLOC. ACTIVATING THE ALL-CRUSHING SKILL.
Kael heard the systematic voice as the ground suddenly rose up and enveloped him. The blasts from their swords impacted the firm soil, causing it to explode.
A formidable creature emerged from the smoke, revealing itself to be a Trolloc. The very same Trolloc that unknowingly prevented Yuri from killing Lady Rose.
"He's the Trolloc,"Rose exclaimed beyond belief. Even Yuri couldn't conceal his astonishment. "He's the one who rescued us from Lord Arctic's clutches."
"Is that the all-crushing ability?"Kael inquired of Alexa
.ALEXA - NO. THAT'S ELEMENTAL ABSORPTION. SINCE SOIL IS AN ELEMENT, I BELIEVE YOU WERE ABLE TO MANIPULATE IT.
"You believe so,"he smirked, then a thought struck him. "Elemental Skill: Aetheria Vinitrum."He recited, joining his hands together as the soil rose up against the Reapers, engulfing them.
ALEXA - ALL CRUSHING SKILLS HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED. WOULD YOU LIKE TO USE IT?
"Yes, please,"he grinned as the sounds of explosions filled the air, crushing the soil into pieces with the Reapers within. "Yes, I did it,"he exclaimed as he leaped up and landed on the ground in his human form.
ALEXA - WE DID IT.
"We did what?" Kael gnashed his teeth at Alex's response. He paid no heed to the voice as he suddenly emerged from Rose's shadow, startling her."Do you always do that?"Rose inquired as she turned to him.
"You can't blame me. Your shadow is quite intriguing,"Kael winked, causing her cheek to blush, then he turned to Yuri. "Lead the Princess and the Elves out of here, I'll go locate Brakor,"he said, attempting to leave, but Rose grabbed his hand.
"Don't go."
"I have to."
"Don't die..."
"I won't."
ALEXA - YOU'LL DIE
To be continued..