The celebration was cut short as a massive hand shot out of the shadows, grabbing Josh around the waist and lifting him off the ground. He barely had time to scream before the ninja's iron grip squeezed the air out of his lungs. Panic spread across the room, and Josh's vision blurred as he struggled to break free.
"Josh!" Theen shouted, his voice raw with panic. He surged forward, but before he could reach Josh, a new wave of ninjas appeared, blocking his path. Acacia raised her wand, ready to blast them, but the ninjas moved faster, surrounding the group and cutting off any route to Josh.
Mr. Thrah's voice echoed through the simulation room, calm but stern. "You all think getting in was the hard part? Think again. Exiting will be much more difficult."
As if to prove his point, more ninjas emerged, their blades glinting in the dim light. The team fell back, forming a defensive circle. Theen's eyes were wild, flicking desperately between the ninjas and Josh, who was still squirming in the giant ninja's grasp.
Out of nowhere, a burst of icy wind swept through the room, and two new figures appeared, striding confidently toward the chaos. Frosty and Glazzer, both radiating a frosty chill, made their entrance with smirks plastered on their faces. Glazzer's presence seemed to command attention, his icy blue eyes sparkling with a mix of confidence and mischief. He flicked his wrist, and a flurry of snowflakes spiraled around him, solidifying into a sharp, gleaming spear of ice.
"Oh, good. The party's just getting started," he said, his voice smooth and playful.
Frosty stood beside him, her expression sharp and focused. She clapped her hands together, and icy blades sprouted from her palms, forming sleek, razor-sharp weapons. "Let's see how many of these guys we can shatter, Glazzer."
"Ladies first," Glazzer replied with a wink, and Frosty shot forward, her ice blades slicing through the air. She moved like a dancer, every spin and strike fluid, and each ninja that approached her found themselves frozen solid before they could react. The ice spread rapidly, creeping up their limbs and locking them in place, where they shattered into pieces with the lightest touch.
Glazzer wasn't far behind. He swept his hand across the floor, and a sheet of ice surged forward, causing several ninjas to lose their footing and crash to the ground. With a flick of his fingers, the ice morphed into jagged spikes, trapping the fallen ninjas beneath a web of sharp, icy tendrils.
The way Glazzer moved was mesmerizing; he was like a storm, cold and relentless, but there was a strange elegance to his power. Even Acacia, who usually had something snarky to say, watched with a look of mild admiration.
"Wow…" Paylah whispered, her ghostly form flickering with excitement. "He's really good."
Josh, still dangling in the grip of the giant ninja, felt a mix of fear and awe as he watched Glazzer tear through the enemies. But it was Theen who couldn't tear his eyes away, his expression tense and conflicted. Every time Glazzer dispatched a ninja with a flourish, Theen's jaw tightened, a low growl rumbling in his throat.
Meanwhile, Dorfere had joined the fray, flitting around the room with her tiny wings, leaving trails of sparkling, explosive dust. Each time she flicked her hands, the dust ignited, sending ninjas flying. She laughed, the sound bright and mocking. "Come on, boys, keep up!" she taunted, though it was hard to tell if she meant the ninjas or her own teammates.
Glazzer caught sight of Josh, still struggling in the giant ninja's grasp. "Hold on, new guy!" he called, his tone teasing but reassuring. He dashed forward, his hands moving in a blur as he conjured an ice spear. "I've got this."
With a graceful leap, he hurled the spear, and it sliced through the air, embedding itself in the giant ninja's arm. The creature howled, its grip loosening just enough for Josh to wriggle free. Glazzer was there in an instant, catching Josh before he could hit the ground.
"Got you," he said, flashing a charming grin. "You okay?"
Josh nodded, his heart racing. "Yeah, thanks… but what do I do? I can't—"
"Stop overthinking it," Glazzer interrupted. "You've got powers, right? Use them. Just focus, aim, and let it rip." He winked, his smile easy and confident, and Josh felt a surge of determination.
Theen, who had been watching the exchange, bristled. His eyes narrowed, jealousy flaring as he saw how easily Glazzer interacted with Josh. He clenched his fists, wanting to do something, to prove he could protect Josh just as well, but the ninjas kept him at bay, forcing him to fight rather than rush to Josh's side.
Josh took a deep breath, his mind buzzing with Glazzer's advice. Focus, aim, let it rip. He glanced at the ninjas closing in, and without thinking, he stretched out his arm, feeling a strange sensation build up. Then, with a sudden burst of energy, his arm shot forward like a bullet, slamming into a ninja and sending it sprawling.
"Whoa!" Queequah exclaimed, her eyes wide. "That was awesome!"
Josh stared at his arm, which had retracted back into place, a mix of shock and excitement on his face. He'd done it. He'd actually done something.
"Not bad for a newbie," Glazzer said, giving him a playful nudge. "You've got potential, kid."
The compliment made Josh's cheeks flush, but Theen's growl grew louder, his eyes darkening as he watched Glazzer and Josh exchange smiles. He lunged forward, slashing through the ninjas with more force than before, his movements almost aggressive. He wanted to be the one saving Josh, the one giving him advice, but now all he could do was watch as Glazzer charmed his way through the fight.
Acacia, noticing Theen's mood, smirked. "Looks like someone's a little jealous," she muttered, sending another burst of cosmic energy toward a group of ninjas. "But who can blame him? Glazzer does have that whole 'cool guy' thing going on."
As the battle raged on, Glazzer continued to impress, freezing ninjas in mid-air, creating shields of ice to block attacks, and guiding the others with a mix of confidence and flirtation. He was in his element, and everyone could see it. Even Dorfere, who usually stayed aloof, watched him with grudging respect.
Eventually, the last of the ninjas fell, and the room fell silent except for the crunch of ice underfoot. The team had made it through, though not without a few bumps and bruises.
Josh looked around at his friends—Elñairé and Queequah, who had fought bravely despite their fear; his siblings, who had once again come to his rescue; and Glazzer, who stood beside him, still grinning. For the first time, Josh felt like he belonged, not just as a zombie trying to fit in, but as someone who could stand alongside them and fight.