The group advanced slowly, aimlessly, through the thick forest. The fog seemed to envelop the trees, creating eerie shadows that danced around them. As they walked, the feeling that something was watching them became more and more palpable, but none of them dared to mention what they felt. The tree branches rustled in the wind, as if the trees themselves were whispering dark secrets.
Meanwhile, from the shadows, spectral figures moved stealthily through the trees. They were barely visible, but their eyes glowed with an unnatural intensity. They glided from corner to corner, watching the group with a steady gaze, but avoiding making a sound. Mishu, who was always alert, couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that something wasn't right. A shiver ran through her body and she instinctively turned her head quickly, but when she looked around everything seemed normal: just trees, moss-covered trunks and the rustle of the wind through the leaves.
-What is it, Mishu? -asked Forny, noticing that his friend had remained behind, motionless, with his eyes fixed on nothing.
-Nothing, I just... I just felt something weird. Maybe it was a bad feeling.
Forny frowned, but did not insist. Mishu was one of those who always had that strange intuition, but it was usually a passing one. However, his low tone did not go unnoticed.
-All right, let's go quickly before we get lost.
-Hey, Forny! Move it! You're falling behind.
-I'm coming, I'm coming.
Although Mishu struggled to shake off the uneasy feeling he felt, he couldn't stop looking around him. It was as if the whole forest was watching, waiting for the right moment. Despite his doubts, the group continued to move forward, ignoring the shadows that stalked them, disappearing as quickly as they had appeared.
At a considerable distance, Virus' subordinates watched from the trees, in absolute silence. No one could see them, but they were there, lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect opportunity. They used glowing stones to teleport to their leader's fortress, a place full of dark corridors and eerie echoes.
Virus' fortress was as imposing as his presence. The walls, made of cold black stone, seemed to absorb the light, creating an oppressive and sinister atmosphere. The minions advanced quickly, opening large iron doors with a clatter that echoed throughout the hallway. Virus was there, seated on his throne, an imposing figure in the darkness, with a fierce and defiant gaze.
-Lord Virus! -exclaimed the subordinates, bowing deeply, showing the utmost respect.
Virus did not say a word, but his fixed, stern gaze indicated that he was waiting for information. One of the subordinates, trembling slightly, stepped forward and began to speak.
-Great and mighty Lord Virus! We have information about the chosen one.
Virus rose from his throne with a swift and violent movement, his eyes blazing with restrained fury.
-Look up and tell me what you saw," he commanded, his voice deep and authoritative.
-Yes, Lord Virus," they replied, looking up in awe. One of them continued, "The chosen one is not alone. He has already formed a group of allies. Among them, an individual with a red scarf, a girl with short hair, a man with a light blue jacket and... a yellow feline. a yellow feline. We could not fully identify the chosen one because we sensed Ali Raza's presence near the forest.
Hearing Ali Raza's name, Virus reacted immediately. A flash of fury crossed his face, and with a single movement, he grabbed one of the subordinates by the neck, lifting him off the ground with ease.
-You say you sensed Ali Raza's presence in that forest? -His voice was a low, angry growl.
The terrified subordinate could do no more than nod in fear.
-Yes, Lord Virus," he replied haltingly.
Virus dropped him to the ground with a sharp shove, his eyes burning with palpable anger. The other subordinates trembled, knowing that any mistake could cost them their lives.
-Don't let Ali Raza near the chosen one," he commanded in a cold, cutting voice. -Only he can train him well enough to defeat me, and besides, he knows my weakness. Do not return to the fortress without fresh news.
The subordinates, trembling with fear, bowed deeply.
-Yes, Lord Virus," they replied with a single, unanimous shout, before disappearing into the shadows, following the same teleportation process back into the forest.
Virus dropped back into his throne, but worry was written all over his face. He had underestimated the chosen one, and now he feared that his greatest rival, Ali Raza, might interfere with his plans. I will destroy the real world as soon as I escape this prison," Virus muttered with a glint of madness in his eyes, "And when I slay the chosen one, the Creators will finally see my strength. I will no longer be the weakling they mock.
He paused and, in a more somber voice, continued:
-I will make the new world a place of peace... but at the price of sacrificing countless lives. I will punish humans for their sins, regardless of whether I must eliminate the innocent or the guilty. When I leave here, their fate will be sealed.
A malevolent laugh escaped from deep within him, spreading like a sinister echo through the darkest corners of his fortress.
Meanwhile, his subordinates returned to the forest, gliding like shadows. Soon they spotted two disoriented figures: Mayilla and Saiko. They moved stealthily, surrounding them without giving them a chance to react. Saiko looked around, confused, while Mayilla, paralyzed with fear, could not utter a word.
-What do they want? Why are they surrounding us? -demanded Saiko, in an angry voice.
One of the subordinates smiled coldly and whispered:
-Shh...
He took out a dark stone from his pocket and, without warning, placed it on Saiko's forehead.
-What are you doing? Let me go! -he shouted, struggling to free himself.
The subordinate released him and added with a cruel smile:
-Now you will be very useful to us.
Immediately, all the subordinates vanished into the shadows. Mayilla watched in horror as Saiko changed. The dark stone was rapidly corrupting him, and his eyes became empty and dark. Without warning, he lunged at her, screaming like a crazed beast.
Mayilla's cry echoed through the forest, heartbreaking and desperate.
-Did you hear that? -asked Mishu, stopping short.
The others looked at each other, confused, and shook their heads.
But then, another scream broke the silence, louder, closer.
-Now you heard him! -said Mishu, urgently, "Follow me! The sound is coming from those trees... someone is in danger.
Everyone rushed to see what was happening. Forny, determined, ran to help while Denek tried to stop him:
-Forny, wait! We don't know what's in there.
Without listening, Forny was shocked to see who they were. Saiko fixed her gaze on him, filled with palpable hatred. Forny tried to hit him to free Mayilla, but Saiko nimbly released her, dodged the attack and knocked him down with a strong blow that knocked him unconscious.
Denek, Laura and Mishu arrived just in time to see in terror how Saiko had left Forny lying on the ground. Mayilla, in desperation, begged for help. Denek, enraged, shouted:
-What did you do to my friend?
-The same thing I will do to you," Saiko replied with a smirk.
Denek threw a punch, but Saiko dodged it easily, effortlessly.
-Is that all you've got? -he mocked, laughing.
Eyes alight with fury, Denek exclaimed:
-That's enough! I will not forgive you for what you did to my friend.
He tried to hit him again, but Saiko responded with a brutal attack that left him on the ground as well.
-You talk big and do little," Saiko said with contempt. Now you go on.
He slowly approached the girls. Laura and Mayilla looked horrified at the bodies of Forny and Denek. Mishu, determined to protect them, stepped into an attack position and jumped towards Saiko, but was easily knocked down.
Just as Saiko was about to touch the girls, a hooded figure appeared in front of them. He wore a cream-colored robe and a dark red hood that hid his face. He stopped Saiko's hand firmly. The latter, furious, launched several attacks, but the stranger dodged them all gracefully. With a kick, he sent him flying into the shadows of the trees.
Virus's subordinates took Saiko teleporting away with him, disappearing. The stranger turned his head towards the girls and asked in a calm voice:
-Are you ladies all right?
Laura and Mayilla, relieved, said yes and thanked the mysterious savior.
Denek, in pain, struggled to his feet:
-Ouch... Are we dead?
The stranger looked at him and said:
-Hey, you in the red scarf, bring the boy in the blue jacket and the feline. Follow me.
Confused, Denek obeyed:
-All right...
Forny, still unconscious, was plunged into a disturbing dream. This time he was in a dark void, shrouded in a dense fog. A hooded being, barely visible, watched him as he walked around him.
-It looks like you're already inside the Virtual World. Escape will be difficult," he said in a raspy voice.
Forny, confused, asked:
-Who are you? How do you know who I am?
The river being gently flowing:
-I'll tell you when we meet face to face. But be careful. A mistake here could cost you and your friends their lives. Aren't you afraid of losing everything? Don't worry, I'll make sure you do. See you, Forny Reiznek.
Forny woke up startled, rubbing his face. He looked around and found himself in a dark cave. He remembered being knocked unconscious while trying to defend Mayilla. He saw his friends sitting by a campfire.
-You're finally awake, my friend. Come, come closer. Do you want to eat? -said Denek.
Laura looked at him in relief:
-You had me worried sick, Forny.
Mishu looked at him with a smirk:
-How useless. You were knocked down with one blow.
Mayilla saw it:
-Thank you. For trying to save me.
Forny smiled and looked at the stranger, then asked:
-And who are you?
The stranger stood up, put his foot down, and answered:
-I am Ali Raza.