In the ominous depths of the forest, the remaining enemy elite team—twelve highly trained soldiers—paused briefly to regain their strength. Among them, their leader, Commander Zarek, appeared weary and frustrated. Five of the soldiers, though fatigued, remained resolute in their mission.
Zarek spoke, his voice tense, "We've been searching for hours and still haven't found any trace of Izzan and his family. We need to make a decision."
Soldier A responded gravely, "We've hit a dead end, Commander. If we keep going, we'll run out of time and resources."
Zarek pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the dark, dense forest surrounding them. Suddenly, an idea sparked in his mind.
"We have an artifact that can burn this entire area to the ground. We could use the 'Flame of Oblivion' to force them out of hiding. Nothing will be able to escape," Zarek proposed.
The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, but Zarek pressed on, "If we don't do this, the forest monsters will keep coming after us. They're growing in number, and we're growing weaker. We have no choice."
After a brief but heated debate, the team agreed. Zarek pulled out a glowing red crystal from his pouch. As he activated the artifact, an oppressive heat began to emanate, tension gripping the air around them. Shadows danced menacingly as the forest bathed in the red glow of the artifact's fire.
Meanwhile, inside a hidden cave, the atmosphere was considerably lighter. Aldric, Izzan's father, had finally recovered from the poison that had plagued his body. He now sat with Mira and Izzan, sharing a simple breakfast of bear meat.
Aldric, with a mock complaint in his tone, grumbled, "This meat... why is it so tough? It's like chewing on a piece of leather."
Izzan and Mira exchanged amused glances and laughed.
Mira chuckled, "Dad, taste isn't everything. What matters now is the nutrition and energy we need."
Even Athena, inside Izzan's mind, agreed, boosting their spirits. However, as they shared a lighthearted moment, a sudden wave of intense heat washed over the cave.
Izzan jumped to his feet, alarmed. "What was that?!"
Mira and Aldric exchanged worried looks, sensing an impending threat. Without wasting time, Mira began gathering mana to form a magical shield, while Aldric brandished his sword, conjuring a protective aura around them.
Mira's voice was urgent, "We need to prepare! Something big is coming!"
Izzan felt a strange vibration through his body, a warning from Athena herself.
"Izzan, get your golem ready! Something dangerous is closing in!" Athena's voice rang in his mind.
Just as they braced themselves, Commander Zarek unleashed the full power of the artifact. Flames erupted, engulfing the forest in a fiery inferno. The hidden cave, too, began to crumble under the onslaught of heat and destruction. Dust and debris filled the air as the forest was razed by the flames. Yet, Mira's magic shield, bolstered by Aldric's strength, kept their family safe from the worst of the blaze.
Izzan's golem, standing sentinel beside them, wasn't as fortunate. The extreme power proved too much, and with a resounding explosion, the golem shattered. Athena's screen flashed the golem's status:
Golem Status:
Condition: DestroyedGolem Core: Intact (Reusable)
As the protective veil lifted, the enemy finally had their sights on Izzan and his family. Zarek and his soldiers laughed, triumphant.
Zarek sneered, "Finally, we've found them. There's nowhere left for you to hide now!"
A sudden realization struck Aldric as he saw one of the enemy soldiers smirking at him. His eyes widened in shock.
"You... you were one of my men! Why are you doing this?" Aldric demanded, incredulous.
The soldier grinned wickedly, his voice dripping with malice. "Because, Aldric, I work for them now. We want the artifact and the results of your uncle, Professor Randel's, research!"
The mention of his uncle jolted Aldric's memory. Professor Randel, a brilliant mind, had crafted powerful and dangerous magical tools. Among them was a special pendant Aldric now wore, the key to unlocking secret research that could revolutionize the use of magic.
Aldric's voice trembled with conviction. "The artifact... you want to take it? That could ignite a war!"
The soldier's smirk deepened. "That's exactly what the project's new leader wants. Zarek's here to take everything, by any means necessary."
Aldric's mind raced, recalling his last conversation with Professor Randel, where he had sworn to protect the research from falling into the wrong hands. He knew all too well the potential power of these artifacts—one of which could rival the legendary "Armor of Arcane," powered by monster cores and magic.
"I swore to protect his work. It's too dangerous," Aldric stated firmly.
"But now, we'll take it all and destroy anyone who stands in our way," the soldier retorted, his voice cold.
Zarek, exuding confidence, stepped forward. "That artifact isn't just a tool—it's a weapon that will give us the power to control magic itself. You won't stand in our way any longer."
The pressure in Aldric's chest mounted as he realized the peril his family was in. His resolve to protect Izzan and Mira hardened.
"You won't have it. We won't let you destroy everything we've fought for," Aldric declared, his voice steady, though his heart raced.
As the tension rose, the enemy soldiers readied themselves to strike. Zarek looked on with disdain as Aldric, still weakened from the poison's effects, prepared to fight.
"You're still feeling the effects of the poison, Aldric. There's no hope for you. This will be an easy fight," Zarek mocked, knowing every move Aldric might make from their days together as comrades.
Zarek signaled his elite troops, who quickly formed up, ready to flank and attack Izzan and Mira from the sides.
Mira glanced at the broken golem and realized her magic was limited. Without a core, she couldn't create a new golem to defend them. Izzan, noticing her hesitation, recalled the intact core left behind in the debris.
"I can help, Mother! The golem's core is still usable!" Izzan said, determination lighting up his eyes.
Mira nodded, and Izzan immediately focused his mana to reactivate the core. In seconds, a new golem materialized, standing tall, ready for battle.
With renewed strength, Mira commanded the golem to intercept the advancing elite soldiers.
The battle erupted fiercely. Aldric, despite his fatigue, fought valiantly, but Zarek's swift strikes and his soldiers' relentless attacks kept him on the defensive. On the other side, Izzan's golem supported Mira, delivering powerful blows to the elite soldiers, driving them back.
Zarek and Aldric's duel intensified. Though Aldric fought with all his might, a sudden, devastating blow left him gravely injured, forcing him to retreat toward Mira and Izzan.
"Stay strong… we must hold out!" Aldric gasped, blood dripping from his wounds.
Mira, though exhausted, fought with all her heart. With the golem's aid, she managed to defeat one of the elite soldiers, but her mana reserves were nearly depleted. She exchanged a glance with Izzan; time was running out.
As the last elite soldier fell, only Zarek remained. Desperate and cornered, he reached for another glowing artifact in his pocket—a crystal pulsing with deadly energy.
"This won't end here," Zarek snarled. "I'll activate this artifact and destroy you all. It doesn't just destroy; it shields me too!"
Aldric and Mira looked on in horror as Zarek prepared to unleash the artifact's power.
"Zarek, don't! You'll destroy everything!" Aldric shouted.
But Zarek's eyes gleamed with madness. "No one can stop me! Prepare to face the end!"
As the artifact began to glow, its red light filled the air, casting an eerie, oppressive atmosphere over the battlefield.