Chapter 17
Rising Tempests
The sun hung low, casting a burning red glow over the barren western landscape. The group—Caelan, Elden, Richard, and Zaimond—had been traveling through the sweltering heat for days, with Rul soaring above as their distant guide. His massive wings stretched out like dark sails in the wind, yet, despite his presence, the oppressive air made every step heavier. Sweat drenched their brows, and the tension among them was growing.
Suddenly, a low rumble reverberated through the ground, the earth quaking beneath their feet. Caelan froze mid-step, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his sword. "You guys feel that?"
"Yeah…," Elden muttered, gripping his weapon tighter. His eyes scanned the horizon, unease rising in his chest. "Something's not right."
Zaimond stepped forward, his posture stiffening. "Stay on guard. This doesn't feel like a natural quake." He glanced toward Richard, who was unusually quiet, his eyes focused on a set of strange markings etched into the nearby rocks.
Before anyone could react further, the ground beneath them split open. Massive, jagged cracks snaked across the desert floor, and from the fissures erupted waves of scorching heat. A sudden force knocked them all off their feet, and the air around them warped, distorting their vision.
Out of the cracks, strange creatures began to emerge—creatures of molten stone and searing flames. Their eyes glowed with a malevolent heat, their bodies pulsating with a dark energy that was unlike anything they had faced before.
"These… aren't normal," Richard said, his voice low, analyzing the situation. "I've never seen anything like them."
Caelan gritted his teeth, pulling himself up. "Alright, no more messing around. Time to see what you guys are made of."
---
The Battle Begins
Without warning, one of the creatures lunged at Caelan, moving with terrifying speed for something so large. Caelan barely had time to react as he slashed upward, but the creature's molten body reformed instantly, its lava-like skin closing over the wound as if nothing had happened.
"Damn it!" Caelan cursed, jumping back to avoid a blast of fire.
Elden, standing beside him, summoned his power, his sword gleaming with the light of Solaria. He swung it down with all his might, but the creature absorbed the blow, the blade sinking into its fiery form with no effect.
"These things... they're invulnerable to physical attacks!" Elden shouted.
Richard, meanwhile, focused on the swirling energy around them. "No," he said, his eyes narrowing. "They're absorbing any power that comes into contact with them. Physical or magical, it doesn't matter."
Zaimond clenched his fists, summoning the dark magic he had honed over years of study. Shadows rippled from his hands, twisting and bending around the creatures, but the same result happened—his magic was consumed by their glowing forms.
"They're hax as hell!" Caelan shouted, frustration growing. "What do we do?!"
---
The First Breakthrough
As the battle raged, Caelan's eyes caught a glimmer of hope. For a brief second, when Richard had unleashed a powerful card, the air around one of the creatures flickered, revealing a faint, crackling distortion.
"Wait... Did you see that?" Caelan yelled, pointing toward the disturbance. "They're pulling energy from something... but it's not just them."
He realized it wasn't the creatures themselves that were powerful; it was the ground beneath them. Whatever lay beneath the surface of this scorched earth was amplifying their abilities, turning them into these unbreakable monsters.
"I've got an idea!" Caelan shouted, running toward the nearest fissure in the ground. Ignoring the heat, he reached out with his power—his control over light, his one true gift—and concentrated. The light from his hand shot into the cracks, illuminating what lay beneath.
In an instant, the entire area lit up. The creatures stopped moving, momentarily stunned. Below them, deep within the earth, Caelan could see the source of their strength—a massive core of molten energy that pulsed with life, buried under the ground.
"There! That's it!" he yelled.
---
Destroying the Core
Caelan looked at the others. "We need to hit that core. If we can take it out, these things will fall apart."
But the core was deep—far below the surface, and surrounded by layers of impenetrable rock and molten energy. They couldn't reach it with conventional means. That's when Zaimond stepped forward, his face dark with determination.
"I'll do it."
"What? No!" Caelan protested. "You can't—"
"Let me handle this," Zaimond interrupted, his voice calm. "It's the only way."
Without waiting for a response, Zaimond extended his hands, summoning his most powerful magic. Dark tendrils of energy erupted from his fingers, spiraling downward into the fissure, latching onto the core.
As the others watched, the ground around them began to tremble violently. Zaimond's body tensed as the dark energy surged through him, his veins glowing with the same molten light as the core. Sweat poured down his face, but he didn't let go.
"Zaimond, stop! You'll kill yourself!" Elden shouted, but Zaimond ignored him.
With a final, shattering burst of power, the core exploded, sending a wave of energy rippling across the battlefield. The creatures dissolved into nothingness, their forms disintegrating as the core's energy faded.
Zaimond collapsed to his knees, panting heavily. "It's... done."
---
The Calm After the Battle
The air was still. The heat had diminished, leaving only the smell of burning stone and ash. Caelan stood beside Zaimond, helping him to his feet.
"You didn't have to do that," Caelan said quietly, concern in his voice.
Zaimond smirked. "It's what friends are for, right?"
Caelan rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well, next time, try not to almost kill yourself."
The two exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them. This wasn't just another battle—it was a turning point. They were stronger together, more than they had ever been before.
---
The Road Ahead
As they continued their journey westward, the group's bond grew tighter. Caelan, Elden, Zaimond, and Richard—each of them had their strengths, and each of them had their weaknesses. But together, they were unstoppable.
The horizon loomed ahead, dark and foreboding, but Caelan couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. The challenges ahead would be even greater, but they had something the enemy didn't—trust in each other.
As the group pressed forward, the red sun blazed behind them, a reminder of the battles still to come.
But for now, they were ready.
---
The Merchant's Gambit
The dry wind of the west blew across the group as they trekked through the barren landscape. Caelan, Elden, Zaimond, and Richard moved in silence, still recovering from the previous battle. Velldora Rul, now in the form of a glowing pendant around Caelan's neck, remained dormant. The plan was simple: continue westward and take down the 8th and 9th demon kings.
But then, something shifted.
Caelan took a step forward, and everything around him seemed to freeze. Elden and Zaimond stopped in their tracks as well. Their bodies felt unnaturally stiff, as if every muscle had locked in place. The desert winds stilled, the rustling of the sand ceased, and even the distant hum of magic that had been surrounding them fell into a suffocating silence.
"What the... I can't move!" Caelan's voice broke through the silence, his tone filled with confusion. His hand hovered near his sword hilt, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't force his body to react.
Elden grunted, his muscles straining as he tried to free himself. "This... isn't normal. It's like time itself just stopped."
Zaimond's eyes scanned their surroundings, flickering with unease. "This is bad. Really bad."
But amid their panic, Richard... was moving.
He looked around, puzzled as to why his companions were frozen. "Guys? What's going on?" Richard asked, his voice trembling slightly. He stepped toward Caelan, waving a hand in front of his face. "Caelan? Hello? This is freaky."
Caelan, despite his immobility, managed to speak through clenched teeth. "Richard... I don't know what's happening, but something or someone is doing this."
Before they could contemplate further, the temperature around them dropped dramatically, the already hot desert sands cooling as a familiar figure materialized out of the heatwaves ahead. The air itself shimmered with dark energy, and from that shifting void stepped Vinseno.
He hadn't died.
---
The Return of Vinseno
Vinseno's presence was as terrifying as it was mesmerizing. His eyes glowed with an eerie malice, his smile twisted into something even more sinister than before. His aura was different—stronger, darker, more overwhelming. It was clear his defeat hadn't been the end, only a rebirth. The shadow of death hadn't claimed him; instead, it had sharpened his abilities.
"Well, well... isn't this an interesting turn of events?" Vinseno said, his voice dripping with charisma, his every word laced with mockery. "Seems like time has forgotten your friends."
Richard's heart pounded in his chest. He wasn't a fighter—not like Caelan or Elden or even Zaimond—but here he was, alone, facing someone far beyond his capabilities.
Vinseno's eyes glimmered with amusement as he slowly approached the frozen trio. "I must say, Caelan, I expected more of a fight. How disappointing. But don't worry, your merchant friend here seems lively enough."
"Richard, don't listen to him!" Caelan called out, frustration evident in his voice.
But Richard already knew the situation was grim. He wasn't equipped for this—mentally or physically. Vinseno's power was on another level, and his companions, the ones he usually relied on for protection, were all frozen in place.
Vinseno's eyes flickered to Richard, as if sizing him up. "So, little merchant, you're the only one left standing. How fortunate for you."
Richard swallowed hard, trying to hide his fear. His mind raced, desperately seeking a way out. He wasn't a hero. He wasn't even a fighter. But he had his wits—and maybe, just maybe, that would be enough.
---
The Merchant's Gambit
Richard slowly reached into his bag, fingers brushing against the familiar stack of magical cards Kassian had lent him long ago. They were his lifeline in situations like this—tricks up his sleeve that could turn the tide, but using them against someone like Vinseno was risky.
He had to play this smart.
"You really think I'm scared of you?" Richard said, injecting false bravado into his voice. "I'm a merchant. I've dealt with worse customers."
Vinseno chuckled softly. "Oh, this will be amusing."
Richard pulled out a card—one marked with the ancient symbol of reversal. Kassian's favorite trick. "I bet you're not expecting this!" Richard yelled, throwing the card into the air.
The card glowed with a brilliant light, and for a brief moment, the oppressive aura around them weakened. The sands swirled, the magic in the air twisted, and the rules of reality seemed to bend. Vinseno raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but unshaken.
The card, infused with Richard's intent, twisted the space around them, attempting to undo the time freeze, to reverse the control Vinseno held over their movement.
But instead of breaking the spell, Vinseno laughed. "Do you think such a petty trick will work on me? I am beyond such trivialities now."
Vinseno flicked his wrist, and the card shattered into pieces, its magic dissolving into the wind.
Richard's heart sank. The plan had failed. He was out of options.
---
The Final Stand
Vinseno moved swiftly, closing the distance between them in an instant. His hand shot out, grabbing Richard by the throat and lifting him off the ground with terrifying ease. "You should have stayed quiet, little merchant."
Richard gasped, struggling for air, his mind racing for any solution. But his vision was blurring, and the world around him seemed to darken as Vinseno's grip tightened.
Suddenly, a faint glow began to emit from Caelan's pendant—Velldora Rul. Though still trapped, the pendant pulsed with light, reacting to the danger Richard was in. Vinseno's eyes darted to the glow, his expression hardening. "What is that?"
In that brief moment of distraction, Richard seized his chance. He reached into his pouch with trembling fingers and pulled out one last card—a simple card of misfortune. With all his remaining strength, he flung it at Vinseno's face.
The card struck Vinseno's cheek, not dealing any damage, but it flared with magic, triggering a minor but chaotic effect. Vinseno stumbled backward, momentarily disoriented as the spell of misfortune enveloped him.
Richard dropped to the ground, coughing violently, but he didn't stop to catch his breath. He had bought a few precious seconds.
"Caelan! Velldora! Do something!" Richard shouted desperately.
---
The Tide Turns
The pendant around Caelan's neck flared brighter, responding to Richard's cry. A surge of energy erupted from the pendant, and with a blinding flash, Velldora Rul emerged in his full, draconic glory. His massive form towered over them all, eyes burning with ancient power.
Vinseno, recovering from the misfortune card's effect, looked up at the massive dragon and scowled. "So, you've brought the dragon out to play…"
Caelan, Elden, and Zaimond suddenly felt the hold on them break. The freezing sensation around them dissolved as Rul's power washed over the battlefield.
Caelan staggered forward, finally free to move. "Richard, you alright?!"
Richard nodded weakly, still catching his breath. "I... I bought us some time."
Caelan grinned, gripping his sword tightly. "Good job, Richard. Now, let's take this guy down."
Vinseno, undeterred by the appearance of Velldora, smiled wickedly. "You think a dragon can stop me? You fools have no idea what you're dealing with."
The battle was far from over, and Vinseno's true power had yet to be unleashed. But for now, with their team reunited and Velldora by their side, they stood a fighting chance.
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End of Chapter 17