IMMORTAL QUEST
Chapter 25: The Breaking Point
The cold night air was thick with tension as the group fought desperately to hold their ground. The figures in the shadows continued to advance, and the powerful leader—whose dark energy pulsed like a beating heart—stood at the front, watching with an eerie calm as his subordinates clashed with Scott and his friends.
The leader's eyes locked onto Scott, the intensity of his gaze enough to send a shiver down Scott's spine. There was no mistaking it now. This wasn't just a random skirmish. This was the beginning of something far more sinister. The crystal, the power it granted them, had drawn the attention of enemies far more dangerous than they had ever anticipated.
"Scott!" Derek's voice cut through the chaos, and Scott turned to see his friend fighting off another attacker. "We need to end this now! They're too strong!"
Scott's heart pounded in his chest. The darkness around them was thickening, and with each passing moment, it seemed like the air itself was becoming heavier. He could feel the pull of the crystal within him, the power surging and flickering as if it had a mind of its own.
"Get back!" Scott shouted to his friends, his voice rough with urgency. "We need to regroup!"
Mia, her movements fluid and precise, took down another opponent, her face set in determination. "We can't afford to retreat, Scott!" she called back. "We need to fight through this!"
But even as she spoke, the group's enemies seemed to be multiplying. It was as if the shadows themselves were giving birth to more attackers with every second that passed.
Then, the leader spoke, his voice low and cold. "You think you can escape your fate, child? The power you wield is not yours to control. It was always meant for someone far more worthy."
Scott felt his blood run cold. There was something ancient in the leader's words, something that spoke of a destiny far darker than he had ever imagined. The crystal had chosen him—had chosen all of them—but now, Scott wasn't sure whether that had been a blessing or a curse.
The leader raised his hand, and the dark energy around him crackled, like electricity building to a strike. He waved his hand toward the group, and the air seemed to ripple, distorting their surroundings.
"Get down!" Theo shouted, barely dodging a blast of dark energy that tore through the space they had occupied just a moment before.
Scott raised his hand instinctively, channeling the power of the crystal to protect them. He pushed the energy outward, sending a shockwave of light to repel the dark force. The force of the blast was enough to knock the attackers back, but the leader remained unshaken, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Foolish," the leader hissed, his voice like venom. "You still don't understand, do you? You've only scratched the surface of the power you hold. It is not meant for children. It is a weapon, and weapons must be wielded by those who can control them."
Scott gritted his teeth. He didn't care about the leader's words. What mattered now was survival. His friends were counting on him, and he couldn't let them down. They were stronger together, and that was their greatest advantage. If they could push back the shadows, even for a moment, they could escape. They just needed time.
"Malia!" Scott shouted, catching his breath. "Use the tunnels. Get the others out of here! Now!"
Malia's eyes met his, and for a heartbeat, there was no fear in her gaze—only the same fire that burned in all of them. She nodded sharply, understanding the weight of his words.
"We'll buy you time," Allison said, stepping forward with her blades ready. "Just make sure you get out. We're with you, Scott."
Without another word, Malia led the others toward the secret passageway, moving with the swiftness of a shadow herself. Derek and Theo stayed behind, providing cover as Scott prepared to face the leader head-on.
The leader seemed to savor the moment, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "You cannot escape your destiny, Scott. The power you possess—your immortality—was never meant to be kept from those who deserve it."
Scott's blood ran cold. Immortality? Was that what the leader had meant? The crystal had been their key to power, but what did it truly mean? What had they unlocked, and what would it cost them?
With a roar, the leader charged, a wave of dark energy flowing from his hands like a tidal wave. Scott raised his sword, channeling the crystal's power to form a barrier of light just in time to block the oncoming attack. The force of the collision was enough to send a shockwave through the air, knocking Scott off his feet and sending him crashing into the ground.
For a moment, everything went dark. The world around him spun, and he could hear the distant sounds of his friends fighting, but his body refused to obey. The power of the crystal, the weight of its energy, was too much for him to handle. His vision blurred, and for the first time, he wondered if they had underestimated the cost of what they had taken on.
"Scott!"
Mia's voice pierced through the fog in his mind, pulling him back to reality. He opened his eyes just as the leader loomed over him, his expression one of triumph.
"You're weak," the leader hissed, raising his hand to deliver the final blow.
But before he could strike, a sudden burst of light exploded from Scott's chest, as if the crystal had finally decided it would no longer be ignored. The power surged outward, blinding the leader and pushing him back. The ground trembled, and the dark figures around them seemed to falter.
Scott gasped for air, struggling to rise to his feet. He could feel the energy of the crystal coursing through him, burning like fire, but this time, it was different. It wasn't just a weapon—it was a part of him now. The crystal had chosen him, and in that moment, he understood. He wasn't just a protector anymore. He was the force that would decide the fate of everything.
With newfound strength, Scott stood, his sword raised, his eyes fixed on the leader. "You're right about one thing," he said, his voice low and filled with resolve. "I'm not a child anymore. I've chosen my fate. And you won't take it from me."
With a roar, he lunged forward, the crystal's power amplifying his every move. The leader raised his hand to strike, but Scott was faster. The battle between light and dark raged on, but Scott knew one thing for certain: this was his fight to win. He wouldn't back down.