IMMORTAL QUEST
Chapter 26: The Rising Tide
The moment Scott's blade met the dark energy of the leader, the world seemed to hold its breath. The power that surged from the crystal inside him was blinding, filling the air with a hum of energy that crackled like electricity. He felt its pulse, its heart, resonating in every cell of his being. It wasn't just power anymore. It was him.
The leader staggered back, his smirk faltering for the first time. Scott didn't hesitate, driving forward with renewed determination, his sword cutting through the air like a streak of light. The clash of their powers sent a shockwave that rippled through the ground beneath them, cracking the earth and shaking the very trees in the distance.
"You think you can control that power?" the leader spat, his voice a low growl. "You cannot tame what has been buried for millennia. It will consume you."
Scott's heart pounded in his chest as the words sank in. For a moment, doubt gnawed at him. The crystal's power had always felt both like a gift and a curse, a promise of strength and a threat of destruction. Could he really control it? Could he keep it from consuming him, from turning him into something he wasn't?
But then he remembered why he had come this far. Why he had fought tooth and nail to survive. He wasn't doing this for the power. He wasn't doing this for the crystal. He was doing this for his friends, for his world, for everything that mattered.
"I don't need to control it," Scott muttered, his voice steady despite the chaos. "I just need to use it."
With a powerful roar, he charged, the energy of the crystal pushing him forward with a speed and strength he had never felt before. The leader's eyes widened as Scott closed the distance between them, too quickly for him to react. He raised his hands, summoning a burst of dark energy, but Scott was faster.
With a flick of his wrist, the blade of light collided with the dark wave, splitting it down the middle like paper. The leader was knocked off his feet, crashing into the ground with a thud. For a moment, there was silence, the echoes of battle fading as the group's enemies seemed to hesitate.
But Scott didn't stop. He didn't let up. He couldn't afford to. The dark energy that the leader had summoned still lingered in the air, thick and suffocating, like a storm waiting to unleash. The enemies that had surrounded them were waiting, watching, waiting for their leader's next move.
"Scott, look out!" Mia's voice broke through the tension, and Scott turned just in time to see the leader rising from the ground, his eyes now glowing a furious red.
The leader's voice was filled with venom as he lifted his hands once again, the dark energy swirling around him in a maelstrom of destructive force. "You are a fool, child. You cannot defeat me. I am the beginning and the end. I am the storm that will tear this world apart."
Scott's mind raced. He had to end this, now. He had to finish what they started, or everything they had fought for would be lost.
With a surge of energy, Scott focused everything he had into the crystal. He let its power fill him, overwhelming every other sensation. The world around him blurred as the crystal's light intensified, glowing brighter than ever before. He raised his sword, and as he did, the crystal flared with energy, sending a pulse of light so powerful it lit up the night sky.
The leader's attack collided with Scott's, and for a moment, the two forces locked, an unyielding tug-of-war between light and dark. The leader sneered, pushing with all his might, but Scott held firm. The crystal's power was too much—he could feel it pushing him forward, growing stronger with every passing second.
"End this!" Derek's voice shouted from behind him. Scott could hear his friend fighting off the remaining attackers, but it felt like everything was happening in slow motion. This was his moment.
With one final, explosive push, Scott thrust the sword forward, the light from the crystal engulfing the leader entirely. The ground shook, the air seemed to vibrate with energy, and then, with a deafening crack, the dark figure crumbled to the earth in a burst of dark smoke and shattered energy.
The leader was gone. For now, at least.
Scott staggered back, breathing heavily, the crystal still pulsing gently in his chest. He could feel its power still radiating, but now it felt different. Less like a curse, and more like something he had learned to embrace.
Mia rushed to his side, her eyes wide with concern. "Scott, are you okay?" she asked, reaching out to steady him.
He nodded, though he could feel the exhaustion beginning to catch up with him. "Yeah. I think so. But I don't know for how long."
Derek and Theo joined them, both of them breathing heavily but with expressions of relief. "We've got them on the run," Derek said. "But we can't let our guard down yet."
The air was still thick with the remnants of dark energy, but the attackers seemed to be retreating, their confidence shattered by the fall of their leader. The immediate danger had passed, but Scott knew this wasn't over. This was only the beginning.
"We need to move," Theo said, his voice low but firm. "They'll come back. And next time, they'll bring more."
Scott nodded. "We'll be ready."
---
The Aftermath
The team quickly regrouped, moving through the woods toward the hidden tunnels that Malia had led them to earlier. Every step felt heavy, the weight of the battle still fresh in their minds. They didn't speak much as they walked, each of them lost in their own thoughts, processing what had just transpired.
But as they reached the tunnels, Scott couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. They had won this battle—but at what cost? What was coming next? And what had they truly unlocked with the crystal's power?
Mia stayed close to him, her hand brushing against his as they descended into the darkness of the tunnels. It was a silent gesture, one that didn't need words. She was there, with him, through everything.
"We'll figure it out," she whispered, as though reading his thoughts. "Together."
Scott glanced at her, and for the first time since the battle began, he allowed himself to smile, albeit faintly. "Yeah. Together."
---
End of Chapter 26