Axel and Kara trudged through the thick, humid underbrush of the Green Zone, their boots sinking into the moss-covered ground with each step. The landscape around them was eerily quiet, the only sounds being the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of strange creatures. But as they rounded a corner, they froze. There, half-buried beneath a pile of twisted vines and rocks, was a glowing object, its blue light pulsing faintly in the darkness.
"Is that…?" Kara whispered, her eyes wide.
"It's a treasure from the ancient world," Axel said, his voice tinged with awe. He stepped forward, brushing away the debris with his hands, revealing a crystal-encrusted dagger. The blade shimmered with a soft, ethereal glow, and the hilt was adorned with intricate carvings of unknown symbols. The air around it seemed to hum with latent energy.
Kara's breath caught in her throat. "This is it. This is exactly what we need."
Axel's grin widened. "This could be the key to everything we've been fighting for." But his expression quickly shifted to something darker as he stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "And I think it belongs to me."
Kara stepped forward, eager to claim her share of the prize. "Wait, Axel. We agreed. We split the profit from selling it. Fifty-fifty."
Axel's smile was cold now, his eyes calculating. "I don't think you understand, Kara." His voice dropped to a menacing whisper. "The treasure is mine, and I'm not sharing it."
Before Kara could react, Axel raised his hand, and the air around him crackled with energy. Axel's ability, Magnetism, allowed him to manipulate magnetic fields. With a sharp gesture, he yanked the dagger from Kara's grasp, pulling it into his hand.
Kara's eyes flashed with anger. "Axel, you—"
Without warning, Axel surged forward, his magnetic power pulling Kara's weaponry from her hands and sending them flying away. He grinned, ready to finish what he started. "You're not walking away with this, Kara."
Kara, though shocked, quickly assessed the situation. She knew she had to react fast. Axel's magnetic ability was powerful, and the last thing she wanted was to be caught off guard. Instead of attacking, Kara focused on her own unique ability—Phase Shift—and vanished into the ground, shifting through the earth beneath her feet, her body becoming intangible.
Axel cursed, his magnetic field useless against her. But Kara knew this tactic couldn't last long. She was using up precious energy with every shift. As she phased back into the air, she could see Axel's magnetic force swirling around, searching for her, but she wasn't going to give him the chance to recover the treasure so easily.
However, her escape was short-lived. Axel raised his hand again, sending a powerful magnetic wave that slammed into her, throwing her off balance and making her stagger.
"You can't escape me that easily," Axel sneered. "Not when I have the advantage."
At that moment, another figure emerged from the shadows. Jorik, tall and imposing, with amber eyes glowing with an unnerving intensity, stepped forward. He was a Shadow Walker, someone who could manipulate shadows and slip through them like a wraith.
Jorik's shadowy tendrils whipped around Kara, trying to bind her. "Axel, we need to finish this. Don't let her escape."
Axel shot Jorik a glance, nodding in agreement. Together, the two of them pressed the attack. Axel sent another magnetic surge toward Kara, while Jorik manipulated shadows to ensnare her.
Kara's heart raced. She was exhausted, both from her constant shifting and the relentless pressure of Axel and Jorik's combined attacks. She couldn't keep this up much longer. The shadows wrapped tighter around her, and Axel's magnetic force drew nearer.
With a desperate burst of will, Kara phased once again, this time into the shadows themselves, using her Phase Shift ability to slip into the dark voids between Jorik's tendrils.
She reappeared several meters away, heart pounding in her chest, and to her surprise, the treasure—the crystal-encrusted dagger—was still in her hand.
But she was running out of time. She could feel her energy waning, and the two of them were closing in fast. Kara needed to escape, and fast.
As Axel and Jorik shouted in fury and charged toward her, Kara spotted a narrow gap in the rocks ahead—just big enough for her to slip through. She dashed toward it, her energy nearly gone, her legs heavy and uncooperative. She phased through the rocks as she neared, just as Axel's magnetic force slammed into the stone behind her. She could hear him cursing her name as she passed into the narrow crevice.
Kara barely made it through, but she did. She paused, gasping for breath, the treasure still clutched tightly in her hand.
Behind her, Axel and Jorik regrouped, their eyes blazing with rage. "Get back here, Kara!" Axel shouted. "You won't get away with this!"
Kara didn't respond. She was already running—her only goal now was survival. The treasure could save her future, but she needed to live long enough to sell it.
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Axel's Ability: Magnetism (B-rank)
Axel can control magnetic fields, allowing him to manipulate metal objects, create magnetic waves to disarm or push opponents, and use metal as a weapon. His ability gives him a strategic edge in battles, especially when metal is abundant.
Kara's Ability: Phase Shift (A-rank)
Kara can phase through solid objects, making her intangible for a short period. This ability allows her to avoid attacks and pass through obstacles, but it is energy-draining, requiring her to carefully manage how and when she uses it.
Jorik's Ability: Shadow Walker (A-rank)
Jorik can manipulate and travel through shadows, creating tendrils that can bind or strike enemies. He can also step into shadows to traverse distances swiftly, making him highly difficult to track or counter.