Jin leapt from the tree, his body cutting through the air with effortless grace. He twisted midair, landing beside Kael in a smooth, fluid motion. Dust kicked up from the ground as he rose, pushing his hair back with a hand and wearing a smug grin. "Miss me?" he quipped, ready for action.
Kael stared at Jin, a mix of relief and frustration washing over him. "Please tell me your plan is complete," he urged, his voice tinged with desperation. He glanced at Beni and Vish, their expressions hardening as they regrouped, and felt the weight of the battle pressing down. "I could really use a miracle right now."
"Plan? What plan?" Jin cocked his head, casually stretching his arms as if the situation didn't faze him at all. "I just went to take a piss." He kicked a small stone, watching it roll before flashing a carefree grin.
Kael's eyes darkened, his fists clenching at his sides as he glared at Jin with barely contained rage. "You!!!" he growled through gritted teeth, the weight of frustration and urgency crashing over him.
"Whoa, whoa, I'm kidding! Kidding!" Jin raised his hands defensively, stepping back with a playful grin. "Gosh, you've gotten so serious all the time. Lighten up a bit, will you? It's not like I'd just leave you hanging!"
Beni and Vish stood off to the side, watching Kael and Jin argue with a mix of confusion and curiosity. Their expressions were unreadable as they exchanged glances.
Beni leaned toward Vish, whispering, "What do you think he did while he was gone?"
Vish crossed his arms, shaking his head. "No idea. But if I had to guess, probably nothing that'll help them."
Kael turned sharply to Jin, frustration etched on his face. "So, what did you do while you were gone?"
Jin's grin widened, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Just wait a sec; it'll be here."
"What do you mean, 'it'll be here'?" Kael shot back, annoyance bubbling over.
Jin shrugged nonchalantly. "Trust me! You'll see soon enough!"
Beni and Vish exchanged skeptical glances, still watching the scene unfold. Kael huffed, glancing at the sky, then back at Jin. "If this is another one of your stupid tricks, I swear—"
"Relax! Just give it a moment!" Jin interrupted, barely containing his excitement.
Suddenly, a loud buzzing filled the air, cutting through the tension between them. The sound echoed off the trees, vibrating in their chests.
"What the—?" Kael glanced around, his eyes wide in surprise. Beni and Vish exchanged startled looks, their skepticism replaced by alarm.
Jin's grin turned triumphant as he pointed skyward. "See? Told you it would be here!"
A swarm of small, glowing creatures poured out, their tiny, shimmering bodies lighting up the air as they buzzed around furiously. Kael groaned, recognizing them from the chaos they had caused before. "You led them here? Are you insane?"
Jin burst into laughter, wrapping his arm around Kael's neck in a playful embrace. "I think we should also run, don't you?" he said, his voice bubbling with excitement as the glowing creatures buzzed around them like frantic fireflies.
Kael couldn't help but laugh at Jin's infectious enthusiasm, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're insane!" he said, the irritation in his voice fading as he joined in the fun.
Jin shrugged, his grin widening. "Come on! It's all in good fun! We've outrun them before, right?" With that, he started to jog, pulling Kael along with him.
In unison, they leapt into the nearest tree, sprinting through the branches in the opposite direction, the swarm of glowing creatures still swirling in the air, leaving the two friends to their escape.
Meanwhile, Vish and Beni watched in shock, their eyes wide as the glowing creatures danced in the air. "What are those things?" Beni exclaimed, her voice laced with concern.
"I have no idea," Vish replied, alert and tense. "Get into position! We might need to defend ourselves!"
The swarm descended upon Beni and Vish, buzzing furiously as they launched a sudden attack, their tiny bodies swirling in a chaotic flurry of light and sound.
Kael paused mid-leap, glancing back at the chaotic scene. "Jin, do you notice something different about them this time?" he asked, furrowing his brow in concern. "They seem more aggressive."
"Remember the tree we encountered on our way here? The one these things come from?" Jin replied, a grin spreading across his face. "Turns out their nest was in it. They were just protecting it… Yeah, so I destroyed it."
Kael stared at him in disbelief, his eyes wide. "Wait, what? Why did you destroy their nest? Why are they chasing us if you destroyed it?"
Jin met Kael's gaze, a smirk creeping back onto his lips. "Well, you know, when I disappeared, I was hiding and watching your fight. I saw Vish throwing his spears at you and thought, 'What a great idea!' So, I waited there, complimenting myself for about five seconds, then I snuck in and casually picked up one of his spears. After that, I went after those bugs, figuring I'd stir things up and get them to chase me. When I got there, I spotted their nest inside the tree and thought to myself, if I disturb them, they might not chase me. So, I went ahead and wrecked the whole thing with Vish's spear. Seemed like a solid plan, right?"
Kael looked at Jin, disbelief etched across his face, his jaw slightly dropped in shock. Jin chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head, realizing just how reckless his plan sounded. "What? It worked, didn't it?"
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Why did you have to go and destroy their home, though?"
"Hey, don't look at me like that!" Jin shot back, throwing up his hands defensively. "I've read about these creatures in a book. They're not good; they snatch other creatures' nests and wreak havoc wherever they go!"
"Oh, really?" Kael replied, his skepticism evident. "What's their name?"
"Let's just call them 'Cuddle Monsters,'" Jin said, grinning. "They sneak in, take your home, and then give you a hug—if you're lucky!"
Kael chuckled despite himself. "Cuddle Monsters? That's the best you could come up with?"
As they continued to banter, their attention was drawn to the screen displaying Tarek and Lorik's fight. This time, however, something was different. In all their previous glimpses, Tarek had clearly been pushed back, but now she seemed to have the advantage, her movements sharp and confident as she countered Lorik's attacks.
The atmosphere shifted as the scene focused on Tarek and Lorik, the tension between them palpable. Tarek stood her ground, her stance firm as she prepared to counter Lorik's next move. The crowd surrounding them fell silent, their eyes glued to the unfolding duel.
Lorik lunged forward, attempting a swift strike, but Tarek anticipated his move, dodging to the side and countering with a powerful kick that connected with his side. Lorik staggered back, surprise etched across his face.
Lorik glared at Tarek, disbelief etched across his face as he struggled to rise. "What the hell is going on?" he growled, his voice laced with frustration and confusion. He shook his head, trying to comprehend how the tables had turned so dramatically.
The fight, which had been overwhelmingly one-sided in Lorik's favor, was now a tense standoff, with both combatants at equal terms. Tarek displayed newfound strength and agility, even overpowering Lorik at times, turning the tide of battle in her favor.
At a distance, Rudra, Kiran, and Daren stood watching the fierce battle unfold. Their expressions were a mix of concern and intrigue as they observed Tarek's surprising resilience against Lorik. The tension in the air was palpable as the two fighters clashed, each strike echoing in the silence around them.
Kiran and Rudra's eyes glowed faintly as they observed the fight closely, their focus intense. They exchanged glances filled with unspoken thoughts, both intrigued by Tarek's newfound strength and the shifting dynamics of the battle.
Kiran's gaze locked onto a rune shining faintly in Tarek's hand, its light pulsing with her every movement. He turned to Rudra, his expression a mix of surprise and intrigue. "Did you give her that ring?" he asked, his voice low and filled with curiosity.
"Did you give her that ring?" he asked, his voice low and filled with curiosity.
Kiran chuckled lightly, a hint of amusement in his voice. "It looks like she's tapping into its power unconsciously."
Rudra smirked slightly, his confidence shining through. "Looks like this will be our win this time."
Kiran laughed wholeheartedly, a bright grin on his face. "Ha! Don't you worry about that! I told them not to use their weapons since I didn't want them to have an unfair advantage. But now? I should tell them they're free to use whatever they want!"
Daren looked at both of them blankly, his expression unwavering as Kiran and Rudra continued their playful banter. It was as if he were watching a peculiar performance, neither impressed nor entertained, but merely observing the dynamic between the two.
Kiran pulled out his orb, its surface shimmering as he focused on the connection. "Activate!" he called out, directing his words to the orb. "Tell Beni and Lorik they can use their Shastra now!"
The orb pulsed with light, as if acknowledging his command. Kiran looked at Rudra and Daren, a gleeful smile spreading across his face. "Let's see what happens when they unleash their full power!"
As Lorik engaged in the fight, he pushed Tarek back with a powerful strike, creating some distance between them. Breathing heavily, he took a moment to assess his surroundings. Suddenly, his orb pulsed brightly, and a message from his teacher flashed in his mind.
"Beni and Lorik, you can use your Shastra now!"
A determined grin spread across his face. Lorik tightened his grip on his weapon, feeling a rush of energy surge through him. It was time to show Tarek the true extent of his abilities.
Lorik glanced at Tarek, a confident smile playing on his lips. "Be careful from now on; it's getting serious."
Meanwhile, on Vish and Beni's field, they were engulfed in a chaotic swarm of flying insects. The buzzing sound filled the air, creating an almost deafening cacophony as the creatures darted around them, their erratic movements making it difficult to target any one of them.
Beni swung his sword with precision, expertly deflecting the flying insects that buzzed around him. Each slice cut through the air, sending several of the pests spiraling away. He focused on maintaining his stance, using his agility to dodge and counter their relentless attacks.
Meanwhile, Vish faced a different challenge. Despite his skill with spears, this battle felt like an uphill fight. The sheer number of insects made it nearly impossible for him to throw his spears effectively. He aimed at one cluster, only to have another swarm dart past him, forcing him to retreat. With each attempt, he realized he couldn't target them all at once; the insects' swarming tactics overwhelmed him, leaving him scrambling for a solution to turn the tide of this disadvantageous fight.
Perched high atop a sturdy tree, Kael and Jin watched Beni and Vish struggling against the relentless swarm of insects. Jin grinned, saying, "See? My plan worked in the end! Now we just need to wait for them to get a little away from their flag, and then we jump and swoop it!"
Just as Jin was saying this, Kael spotted Beni grinning while looking at his orb, clearly strategizing in the midst of the chaos.
Beni laughed like a maniac and then suddenly swung his sword in a wide arc, as if writing something in the air, leaving a shimmering trail of energy that sliced through the swarm of flying insects around him.
Then, suddenly, fire erupted from the words he had written, engulfing the insects in a blaze. It wasn't overwhelmingly hot, but it was scorching enough to sear the creatures and send them plummeting to the ground.
Vish gasped, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Beni, the teacher specifically told us not to use our Shastra!"
Beni tossed his orb towards Vish, who caught it and quickly read the message from Kiran. A grin spread across his face as he realized they could now use their Shastra, his excitement bubbling over.
Beni swiftly crafted another intricate design in the air, and with a flourish, fire erupted once more. The flames roared to life, consuming almost the entire swarm of insects in a blaze of heat, leaving nothing but ashes in their wake.
Seeing this, Kael felt a rush of concern, glancing at Jin, who was also watching the scene unfold with a hint of awkwardness. Jin chuckled nervously, "Haha, well, that's not good. I didn't expect them to make a fire out of nowhere!"
Kael, unable to suppress his frustration, lightly punched Jin's arm. "You think? This was your plan!"
"Alright, we need a new plan," Jin said, his tone suddenly serious. "Kael, you attack them again, and I'll think of something." He tried to run off, but Kael quickly grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks.
"No more of your stupid plans!" Kael exclaimed, frustration edging into his voice.
Jin feigned shock, raising his hands in defense. "Hey, that was a genius plan!"
"Shut up! This time, we're doing it my way," Kael insisted.
"And what's your way, oh great Kael?" Jin asked, raising an eyebrow.
"We fight them head-on," Kael declared, determination in his voice.
Jin's eyes widened in surprise. "I forfeit!" he blurted out, a mix of disbelief and humor flashing across his face.
Kael slapped Jin lightly on the back of his head, grabbing his arm as he prepared to leap from the tree. "Come on! We're facing Vish and Beni head-on!" With determination fueling him, he jumped down, ready to confront their opponents.
Beni stood amidst the scorched remnants of the swarm, the last of the insects crumbling to ash at his feet. A triumphant grin spread across his face as he surveyed the battlefield, the flames still flickering from the designs he had conjured.
Suddenly, Beni's gaze shifted to the edge of the forest, where movement caught his eye. A figure emerged from the trees, its silhouette outlined against the fading light. Intrigued, Beni squinted, trying to make out who it was as the tension in the air thickened.
"Aha! So you finally decided to stop running and face us head-on, Kael!" Beni called out, a smug grin spreading across his face. "Where's your other friend? Did he run away again?" His laughter echoed, taunting Kael.
As Kael stepped out of the forest, he heard Beni's taunt and slapped himself on the forehead, murmuring with a sad, annoyed expression, "He had a plan…" His disappointment was palpable as he faced the challenge ahead.