Whump! The sound of Sam's boots hitting the earth resonates as he lands from a leap over a low stone wall. His breath comes in quick, shallow bursts, the early morning chill biting at his skin. The sky above Kola is a swirling mass of dark clouds, heavy and foreboding, casting the village in an unnatural twilight. The air hums with tension, every shadow seemingly alive with hidden menace.
Sam glances back, his eyes sharp as they scan the village. A handsome and confident young man with with short, silver hair, piercing blue eyes Standing tall at 5' 9" Jack. He is wearing a fitting dark leather jacket with reinforced patches on the shoulders and elbows, durable pants made for movement, and sturdy boots that are perfect for both running and fighting. Besides him is Bella, she is dressed for action, wearing a fitting black top that allows her to move easily , dark pants perfect for a fighter, with a belt that holds small pouches for her magical items and tough boots that protect her feet. Their outfit is both practical and strong, just like the duo.
They are several paces behind, their faces etched with worry. The sudden shift in the weather has everyone on edge, but Sam knows better. This is no ordinary storm.
A twig breaks underfoot as Bella catches up to him, her eyes narrowing at the ominous sky. "This isn't normal," she mutters, her voice low but steady. "Something is coming, Sam."
He nods, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly.
For a moment Sam is lost in his thoughts, his mind racing with the vague warning from the Guardian System about an approaching threat. He could not help but say this in his mind. "The Guardian System has been unusually silent since…" For a moment he doubts the ability of the system. He stared intently at the empty space ahead, completely absorbed in his internal dialogue.
Bella noticed Sam's intense focus but saw nothing unusual in the direction he was looking. Curious and a bit concerned, she quietly approached and whispered directly into his ear, asking, "What are you looking at? Why aren't you paying attention to me?"
Sam was jolted back to reality by her words, breaking the spell of his deep contemplation.
"Stay close," Sam said, his voice tense. "We need to be ready for anything." He could feel in his bones, that this storm is a prediction of something far more dangerous.
Jack stepped up beside them, his usually jovial expression replaced with one of grim determination. "What do you think it is? Another creature?"
"Possibly," Sam replied, though his mind was racing with other, more sinister possibilities. The Heartstone in his pocket pulses faintly, a reminder of the immense power it contains. If something or someone is drawn to that power, they could all be in grave danger.
Whoosh! A sudden gust of wind sweeps through the village, rattling the windows and sending leaves spiraling through the air. The three of them brace against the wind, their cloaks whipping around them. Sam's heart pounds in his chest. Every sense on high alert.
They reach the village square, where a few villagers have gathered, their faces pale with fear. Granny Maya is among them, her expression calm but her eyes betraying a deep concern. She catches sight of Sam and the others, beckoning them over.
"What's happening, Gran?" Sam asks as they approach, his voice just loud enough to be heard over the rising wind.
Maya's eyes flicker to the sky, then back to Sam. "I don't know, but it's not natural. The air feels... wrong."
Sam exchanges a glance with Bella and Jack, then looks back at Maya. "We will handle it. You should stay inside."
Maya opens her mouth to argue, but Sam cuts her off with a firm look. "Please, Gran. It's safer that way."
Maya
hesitates, then nods, though her expression is reluctant. "Be careful, Sam."
He nods, and she squeezes his hand before turning back to the other villagers, guiding them towards the safety of their homes. Sam watches her go, a tight knot of worry forming in his chest. He can't shake the feeling that something terrible is about to happen.
Boom! A deep, resonant thud echoes through the air, causing the ground to tremble beneath their feet. Sam's hand instinctively goes to the Heartstone, feeling its warmth seep into his skin. He draws his sword, the metal singing as it leaves its sheath.
Bella and Jack follow suit, with their own weapons ready. The village square is now deserted, save for the three of them, and the tension is clear.
"What now?" Bella asks, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sam doesn't answer immediately. He closes his eyes, reaching out with his senses, trying to tap into the energy of the artifacts he carries. The Heartstone and Orb, nestled safely in his satchel, hums softly, its power a steady presence at the edge of his awareness. But it's the Heartstone that commands his attention, its pulse quickening as if in response to some unseen force.
Crack!
The sky above them splits with a blinding flash of lightning, followed by a deafening roar of thunder. The ground trembles again, more violently this time, and Sam stumbles, barely keeping his footing.
"Sam!" Jack's shout pierces the chaos, and Sam turns just in time to see something massive and dark hurtling towards them from the edge of the village.
The creature lands with a heavy impact, shaking the earth beneath them. It's unlike anything Sam has seen before, tall and shadowy, its form constantly shifting as if made of the very storm Its glowing red eyes pierce through the darkness, locking onto Sam with a predatory gleam.
Sam's heart skips a beat. This is no ordinary foe; it's something ancient, something powerful. And it's here for the artifacts.
"Stay back!" Sam shouts, stepping forward to confront the creature. The Heartstone flares in response, sending a wave of energy through him, sharpening his senses and strengthening his resolve.
Bella and Jack don't hesitate. They move to flank the creature, their weapons ready, but Sam knows this fight is his. The Guardian System pulses in his mind, a brief flicker of recognition at the sight of the creature.
The sound of electricity surging through the air fills Sam's ears as the creature raises a clawed hand, gathering energy in its palm. Without thinking, Sam raises his sword, the blade glowing with the power of the Heartstone.
Zzzzzap! The creature unleashes a bolt of red lightning straight at Sam, but he's ready. He swings his sword, the blue lighting blade cutting through the air with a sharp hiss. The lightning meets the sword, and the Heartstone absorbs the energy, redirecting it back at the creature in a brilliant flash moving at an incredible speed of light.
Boom! The explosion of energy sends the creature stumbling back, a growl of rage reverberating through the square. Sam doesn't let up. He charges forward, his sword slicing through the air, aiming for the creature's core.
But the creature is quick. It shifts, its form dispersing into a swirling mass of shadows that darts around Sam, evading his strikes. Bella and Jack move in, trying to pin it down, but their weapons pass through the shadows harmlessly.
"Sam, what is this thing?" Jack shouts, frustration lacing his voice.
"It's after the artifacts!" Sam replies, his mind racing as he tries to think of a way to strike the creature. The Guardian System remains silent, offering no guidance, and Sam grits his teeth in frustration.
Whoosh! The creature reforms behind Sam, its claws slashing through the air. Sam barely has time to react, spinning around and raising his sword to block the attack. The force of the blow sends him skidding across the ground, his boots leaving deep furrows in the dirt.
Bella and Jack rush to his side, but Sam holds up a hand to stop them. "Stay back! It's too dangerous!"
"But, " Bella starts, but Sam cuts her off with a sharp shake of his head.
"Trust me. I can handle this."
Reluctantly, they step back, giving Sam the space he needs. He takes a deep breath, centering himself, and reaches out to the Guardian System, mentally demanding guidance.
Ding!
The familiar sound of the System responding echoes in his mind, and a single prompt appears before his eyes:
[Focus on the Heartstone. Use its power to bind the creature's form.]
Sam tightens his grip on the Heartstone, feeling its warmth intensify. He closes his eyes, focusing all his energy on the artifact, willing it to activate. The stone pulses, its light growing brighter, and Sam can feel the power coursing through him, connecting him to the very fabric of the world around him.
The sound of the Heartstone's energy vibrating through the air is almost overwhelming, and Sam opens his eyes just as the creature lunges at him again. But this time, he's ready.
He thrusts his sword forward, and the Heartstone flares with blinding light. The creature recoils, its form flickering as the light begins to bind it, forcing it to solidify. Sam presses forward, pouring more of the Heartstone's energy into the attack, until the creature is trapped, its movements sluggish and weak.
The final bond falls into place with an audible crack, and the creature lets out a guttural roar of frustration, its red eyes dimming as it struggles against its bonds.
Sam doesn't give it a chance to recover. He raises his sword high, channeling the last of the Heartstone's energy into the blade, and brings it down in a powerful, decisive strike.
Whoosh! The blade cuts through the air with deadly precision, striking the creature's core. There's a brief moment of resistance, and then the creature lets out a final, echoing cry as it dissipates into nothingness, the shadows scattering like smoke in the wind.
Sam stands there, panting, his sword still glowing with the remnants of the Heartstone's power. The square is eerily silent, the storm clouds above beginning to disperse, letting the first rays of sunlight pierce through.
Bella and Jack rush over to him, their faces a mix of awe and concern. "Sam, are you okay?" Bella asks, her voice breathless.
Sam nods, though he feels the exhaustion creeping in now that the adrenaline is wearing off. "I'm fine. It's over."
Jack looks around at the now-empty square, his expression one of disbelief. "What was that thing? And how did you…?"
"Later," Sam says, cutting him off. "Right now, we how to be more careful and ensure that both our mystical power and our compact skills are well improved to the level of dealing with this increasing dark…
Immediately Sam is cut off by the familiar prompt from the Guardian system. He cannot help but wonder what the system is about to tell him or is there any other danger coming.
Ding!
[Congratulations to the host for dealing with that dark creature. The host will be informed of the best levels of combat skills applicable in the Arcane. Then he will be informed on which level he has opened.]
[Also the Host should understand that the guardian system cannot interrupt him during the very critical time of his attack. If there's need of any guidance the Host is free to consult the system but not in such a critical moment. Also when given warning the Host must practice to improve his combat skills so that he can deal with dark creatures].
Of course, Sam could not stop thinking about how the system cannot give a prompt in such a critical moment, immediately he heard another prompt as if the system was directly listening to his mind.
Ding!
[If the host is really in a critical moment and the system sees that he cannot handle the issue then the host will be given an appropriate prompt]
A faint smile appeared on Sam's face; at that moment, it was clear he was happier than he had ever been in his entire life.