Without hesitation, I summoned my magic, the familiar chill of ice flowing through my veins. My fingers twitched as frost formed at my feet, spreading outward across the rocky terrain.
I wasn't about to waste any time.
Focusing all my energy, I raised one hand, palm open toward the towering entrance of the fortress.
A low rumble echoed through the ridge as the temperature plummeted, and the frost thickened into solid ice, creeping over the gates of the stronghold.
The entrance was vast, reinforced with heavy metal bars and thick stone slabs.
But none of that mattered now.
I grinned, feeling the rush of energy as I channeled my ice magic.
With a sharp thrust of my hand, I sent a massive wave of frost crashing into the gates, freezing the entire surface in an instant.
The ice glistened under the faint light, spreading in intricate patterns, wrapping the entrance in a solid sheet of cold.
"That's not enough."
Drawing in a deep breath, I clenched my fists, the air around me thick with freezing energy.
Then, with a roar, I thrust both hands forward, summoning a large magic circle above my head.
An enormous spear of ice materialized above me, forming with a crackling sound as it grew longer and sharper, its tip gleaming like crystal.
With a final burst of magic, I hurled the ice spear toward the frozen entrance.
The spear shot forward with blinding speed, piercing through the frozen gate with an explosive force.
The sound of shattering ice echoed through the night as the spear impaled the entrance, the force of the impact blasting the frozen metal apart.
Chunks of ice and debris scattered across the ground, the once-imposing gate is now reduced to rubble.
I sighed deeply, a cold air comes out of my mouth. My body and feet is slowly getting covered in ice.
As I took my first step into the broken entrance, a sudden shift in the air made me freeze.
From the shadows, several hooded figures materialized, their cloaks blending seamlessly with the dark stone walls.
They moved quickly, surrounding me in an instant. Their faces were hidden beneath hoods, but I could feel their gazes piercing through me, their presence are heavy and oppressive.
I narrowed my eyes, sensing the dark magic emanating from them. It was thick in the air, almost suffocating.
"Figures."
I muttered under my breath, cracking my knuckles as frost swirled around my hands.
The hooded figures stood still, watching, waiting, as if daring me to make the first move.
There were too many of them to count at a glance, but it didn't matter. I could handle them.
I straightened my back, the icy magic crackling at my fingertips.
"If you think you're stopping me from getting inside, you've got another thing coming."
Without waiting for a reply, I launched forward, raising my hand and slamming it against the ground. Ice shot outward in all directions, freezing the stone floor beneath us and forcing the hooded figures to scatter.
But they weren't slow. As soon as I moved, so did they, their robes flowing behind them as they weaved through the ice with unnatural speed.
One lunged toward me, a blade of shadow emerging from beneath his cloak.
I sidestepped just in time, bringing up a wall of ice between us. The shadow blade sliced through it, but not before I lashed out with an ice spike, sending the figure stumbling back.
Another figure appeared to my left, but I was ready this time. I spun around, sending a blast of ice in his direction, freezing him mid-stride.
He collapsed, his body encased in ice, but more were coming.
More hooded figures closed in, their movements fluid and synchronized.
They were like shadows, slipping in and out of my vision, but I wouldn't let them overwhelm me.
I took a deep breath, feeling the familiar cold magic coursing through me, sharper, stronger than before.
I summoned another wave of ice, spreading it wide, aiming to immobilize as many as I could.
But they adapted quickly, dodging and evading with an eerie precision.
One of them slipped behind me, his dark magic swirling around his hand like a living thing.
He reached out to grab me, but before he could, I slammed my foot down, sending a spike of ice upward, impaling him through the chest.
He froze in place, his hand inches from my back, and then he collapsed on the ground.
I exhaled deeply, my breath visible in the cold air.
"I'm not in the mood for fun, I almost feel sorry for all of you."
I surveyed the remaining hooded figures, their numbers dwindling but their resolve unbroken.
The air crackled with tension, a palpable silence settling around us as they regrouped, adjusting their strategy.
With a quick flick of my wrist, I summoned a swirling storm of ice around me, the winds howling as flakes danced in the air.
I felt powerful, more in tune with my magic than ever before.
The closest figure lunged at me again, shadow blade gleaming. I sidestepped gracefully, the ice storm deflecting his attack, sending shards flying back at him.
He staggered backward, but another figure rushed in to take his place, launching a series of quick strikes.
I parried with a thick wall of ice, absorbing the impact, then countered with a barrage of ice spikes erupting from the ground.
One spike found its mark, striking the figure's side. He let out a muffled gasp before collapsing, his body frozen in place.
"Four down, how many more?"
I taunted, scanning the remaining figures as they circled me like wolves.
The one who had been lurking at the back, stepped forward, his hood falling back slightly to reveal a twisted grin.
"You think you can defeat us so easily? There are more of us than you realize."
The figures lunged as one, their movements synchronized like a deadly dance.
I summoned a thick wall of ice, blocking the first wave. As they crashed against it, I raised my hands, summoning the frost energy to launch a series of icicles at them.
Each projectile found its target, taking down two more figures.
But they weren't finished yet.
From the shadows, more hooded figures emerged, their numbers swelling to an almost overwhelming amount.
The air grew heavy with dark magic, a suffocating presence that pressed in on me from all sides.
The towering figure, draped in darkness, stepped forward, its glowing eyes fixed on me with a chilling intensity.
I felt the weight of its dark energy pressing against my magic, as if daring me to try and push back.
But just as I prepared to unleash my magic, a brilliant flash of green light erupted from behind me, slicing through the oppressive darkness.
The vibrant energy soared forward, striking one of the shadow figures in the chest.
He stumbled back with a startled gasp, the green light washing over him like a cleansing wave, dispelling the darkness that surrounded him.
"Surprise!"
Came a familiar voice, full of confidence and despair.
Esmeralda emerged from the shadows of the trees behind me, her light-green hair flowing around her like a living thing.
She stood tall, a staff in hand that shimmered with magical energy.
"I figured you'd start without me, but I see you've managed to have your fun."
"Esmeralda?"
"You didn't bother to wait for us. But it's okay, I know you want to play the hero."
I shot back a small smile, but all I could manage was a simple, "I'm sorry."
With a flick of her wrist, Esmeralda summoned a vibrant green shield of magic around me, deflecting a barrage of dark magic from the hooded figures.
"Why are you so quiet?" She asked, shooting me a sideways glance. "You usually have a snappy comeback."
I shrugged, feeling the chill of the air, my focus still on the threat ahead.
"Just trying to concentrate, that's all. Can you please take care of this hooded figures? I need to get inside the fortress."
Esmeralda gave me a knowing nod, her expression is resolute.
"Don't worry, this is my playground."
She stepped forward, and the air around us shimmered as she prepare unleash her magic.
A radiant aura erupted from her staff, illuminating the darkness and sending waves of light cascading through the shadows.
The energy vibrated with life, banishing the oppressive weight of the dark magic surrounding us.
With a graceful movement, she pointed her staff toward the hooded figures, and tendrils of green light shot forth, wrapping around them like vines.
The figures writhed as her magic constricted, their dark energy fizzling under the radiant assault.
"Time to summon my spirit friends."
As Esmeralda's magic surged, the ground beneath us trembled, and a chorus of high-pitched laughter erupted from the earth.
A group of small, ghost-like spirits materialized, swirling up from the rocky terrain.
They were translucent, their forms shifting and flickering like wisps of smoke, and they danced around us with mischievous glee.
"Join the fun!"
One spirit chimed, its voice high and airy, as it twirled around Esmeralda, playfully tugging at her sundress.
"Look at us! We're here to help!"
Another ghostly figure chimed in, its laughter echoing in the dark, sending shivers down my spine.
"Alright, guys! It's time to play!"
Esmeralda called out to the spirits, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
The ghostly figures responded with joyful shrieks, their ethereal forms bouncing in delight as they swirled around us.
"Let's show them what we can do!"
One spirit twirled in the air, leaving trails of shimmering light behind it.
With a wave of her staff, Esmeralda directed the spirits toward the hooded figures, and they darted forward, giggling as they went.
The spirits zipped around the shadowy foes, their laughter echoing like bells.
As they touched the hooded figures, a bursts of light erupted, illuminating the darkness and causing the figures to recoil in surprise.
The hooded figures staggered back, their dark magic flickering as Esmeralda's spirits playfully danced around them, disrupting their synchronization.
Every time one of the spirits made contact, the shadowy enemies seemed to weaken, their cloaks unraveling, and their movements are growing sluggish.
One of the hooded figures lunged toward Esmeralda, its shadow blade aimed directly at her heart, but before it could strike, a spirit shot forward, wrapping itself around the attacker.
"Naughty naughty man, don't attack Miss Emi."
The spirit giggled, tightening its ethereal form around the hooded figure, causing him to stumble backward.
Esmeralda smirked, glancing at me as the spirits continued their whimsical assault.
"See? There's no need to fear the spirits."
She twirled her staff, the green light intensifying as more spirits leaped into action.
Another spirit darted past me, brushing lightly against my arm as it let out a burst of gleeful laughter.
"Careful, ice boy! You might slip if you're not paying attention!"
A smaller spirit zipped around the head of one of the figures, pulling at his hood and making his cloak billow wildly.
"Wheee! Round and round we go!"
It chimed, completely disrupting the figure's focus.
As another hooded figure lunged toward me, I sidestepped effortlessly, summoning an ice spike to meet his attack.
The figure crumbled to the ground, encased in a solid block of frost.
"I'm going inside, take care of this guys!"
I run forward, dodging hooded figures on the way. Two spirits followed me, their laughter are echoing across the field.
As I crossed the threshold of the fortress, the air inside was cold and damp, the silence almost unbearable.
The walls were rough, carved from the surrounding mountains, and dimly lit torches flickered weakly along the stone corridors.
Shadows danced along the walls, and the temperature seemed to drop even further with every step I took.
The eerie quiet was unnerving, as if the fortress itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
The occasional flicker of a torch cast distorted shadows across the walls, and my footsteps echoed faintly in the long corridor.
Just as I was about to reach the next chamber, the air shifted again.
A sharp, cold gust swept through the corridor, and before I could react, a powerful force slammed into my side.
I was thrown off my feet, my body crashing through the stone wall like it was nothing.
The impact sent me flying into the next room, debris raining down around me as I skidded across the cold floor. Pain shot through my ribs, but I managed to roll onto my knees, gasping for breath.
I looked up just in time to see a massive figure step through the hole in the wall.
Cloaked in shadows, the figure towered over me.
And for the second time, I feel the same magic that I feel when fighting the man with the burn scar.