After what seemed like an endless fall through darkness, the group abruptly hit the ground with a jarring impact. They found themselves sprawled across the coarse, gritty surface of a vast desert. As they gathered themselves and stood, taking in their surroundings, the stark landscape around them came into focus.
Stretching endlessly in every direction, the desert was a panorama of rolling dunes and expansive flatlands, under a sky that was a relentless, searing blue. The sun blazed overhead, merciless in its heat, casting sharp, elongated shadows from the occasional jagged rock formations that jutted out of the sand like the bones of the earth.
"What the? Where are we?" Maling exclaimed, pulling himself up from the sand. He dusted off his clothes, squinting against the harsh sunlight as he scanned the endless expanse of desert surrounding them.
From the distance, they caught sight of what appeared to be the silhouette of cities. However, as their eyes focused and adjusted to the glaring sunlight, the grim reality set in: the cities were burned, reduced to charred outlines against the stark desert backdrop. The dark, smoldering remnants sent up thin wisps of smoke into the clear sky.
Beyond the ruined cities, closer to what remained of a once-grand castle, they could see figures—numerous people fiercely slashing their way through the chaos that surrounded the castle walls. It was a warzone, with clashing swords and the distant echo of shouts carrying across the sand.
"Welp, didn't expect Ghaib realm to be like this..." Ular remarked, her tone a mix of surprise and resignation as she observed the distant chaos. She brushed off the sand clinging to her clothing, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scale of destruction that sprawled before them.
"This is not Ghaib realm," Tuli corrected, as he scratched his long hair, working to free it from the sand that had gathered during their abrupt landing.
"Then where are we?" Panah asked, looking around at the vast, arid landscape and the distant scenes of conflict with growing concern.
As the quartet watched, the desert sand before them erupted dramatically, casting plumes of gritty particles into the arid air. Two figures emerged from beneath the shifting sands, locked in intense combat. One was a Djinn, its form shimmering with an ethereal quality. The creature was tall and lithe, its skin a kaleidoscope of swirling colors that seemed to shift with its movements. Its eyes glowed a deep, menacing red, and it moved with a grace that belied its powerful, malicious intent. Long, curling horns twisted back from its forehead, and its hands ended in sharp, talon-like claws that caught the sunlight with a menacing gleam.
Beside it fought a mage dressed in a flowing blue robe, the fabric rippling like water as he moved with desperate speed. His face was set in a mask of concentration as he unleashed a barrage of elemental attacks. Flames roared from his hands, followed by jets of water, each spell meticulously cast but seemingly ineffective. The Djinn laughed, a sound that was both haunting and mocking, easily deflecting the mage's powerful spells with an almost casual disdain.
"Hi! Welcome to Matahari! Care to lend a help over here?" the mage called out, his voice strained under the effort of dodging another of the Djinn's vicious swipes. He glanced quickly at the quartet, his expression a mixture of hope and desperation.
While glancing at the quartet, the mage's attention was momentarily divided, a critical error. The Djinn seized the opportunity, its claw connecting with a powerful strike. The impact was swift and brutal, hurling the mage through the air. He landed with a harsh thud, the force of the blow throwing up a cloud of sand that quickly swallowed his form, burying him beneath the desert's unforgiving surface.
Tuli raised his hands, the air around him crackling with cold as he summoned a barrage of ice spikes. With a swift motion, he directed them at the Djinn, the sharp projectiles cutting through the hot desert air towards their target. Yet, despite their deadly precision and chilling intent, the spikes shattered harmlessly against the Djinn's form. It seemed immune, unaffected by the magical assault.
The Djinn's laughter grew louder, echoing eerily across the battlefield as it watched the ice disintegrate before even grazing its skin. Its amusement at Tuli's efforts was evident in its mocking sneer and the unyielding gleam in its eyes. Now fully aware of the new adversaries, the Djinn shifted its attention towards the quartet, clearly assessing them as either a new source of amusement or a potential threat.
"The Djinn are immune to any magical attack!" the mage shouted, his voice hoarse as he struggled to free himself from the sand's grip. Tuli and Panah hurried over to where the sand was disturbed, quickly digging through to reach the mage's outstretched hands. Together, they pulled, helping him to resurface and regain his footing.
Meanwhile, Maling and Ular prepared for a more direct confrontation. Maling tested the balance of his knives, eyeing the Djinn with a calculating look, planning his attack with precision. Ular flexed her hands, her muscles tensing in preparation. They both knew that if magic was futile, their success depended on their ability to physically outmaneuver and overpower the Djinn.
In a burst of action, Maling and Ular both launched their attacks simultaneously but without coordination. Maling surged forward, knives poised to strike at the Djinn, his movements swift and determined. At the same moment, Ular underwent a dramatic transformation, her form elongating and expanding as she morphed into a colossal green serpent. Her scales shimmered under the harsh desert sun, and her fangs glistened menacingly.
Caught in the momentum of his charge, Maling was unable to halt his advance as Ular's massive serpentine body materialized in his path. With no time to adjust, his blade unintentionally slashed across Ular's thick, scaly hide. The cut was superficial but startling, causing Ular to lash out with a pained grunt.
As she turned her massive head towards Maling, her serpent eyes flashed a sharp look, filled with irritation and pain. Djinn's laughter sounded louder seeing what happening in front of him.
"Sorry! I didn't know you can do that!" Maling said, flashing a cheeky grin at Ular, trying to lighten the mood with his apology. But Ular, still on her serpent form ignore him, her attention fixed on the Djinn.
As Ular lunged forward, her colossal serpent form swiftly slicing through the desert air, she aimed a vicious bite at the Djinn. Her long, deadly fangs closed on what she hoped would be the Djinn's form, but as her teeth connected, the Djinn's figure shimmered and suddenly split into three separate entities.
Each of the three Djinns mirrored the original, complete with taunting, glowing red eyes and a mischievous grin. Their laughter filled the air, a cacophony of mockery that echoed around the bewildered group. The trio of Djinns danced around Ular, their movements synchronized and elusive, turning the battle into a dizzying spectacle of deceit.
With uncanny precision, Panah took a moment to steady his aim amidst the chaos. Drawing deeply on his focus, he unleashed three arrows in rapid succession. Each arrow whistled through the air, striking each of the three Djinn figures squarely. The quartet watched, hoping for a resolution, but the situation only escalated.
Instead of diminishing, the figures of the Djinn multiplied once more—this time, transforming into four distinct copies, each a perfect mirror of one of the quartet members. There stood a Djinn version of Tuli, Maling, Ular, and Panah, each mimicking their appearance and stance with eerie accuracy.
Maling glanced at Ular, who had reverted to her human form.
"Okay, what in the world? Is that me? Like, literally me? Or not me?"
"I don't know, this is trickery," Ular answered, her eyes narrowing at the mirror images of themselves.
"This is the Djinn. He's a master of deception, make no mistake! What you are seeing is your enemy!" the mage informed the group, his voice urgent as he recovered from the sand.
The quartet quickly absorbed this information, understanding the gravity of their situation. Each member tightened their grip on their weapons, readying themselves for the battle ahead. The Djinn's laughter echoed eerily around them, the doppelgängers mirroring their every move with a mocking precision.
All four doppelgangers suddenly lunged toward Tuli and the mage with blazing speed, aiming to exploit what they perceived as the most vulnerable targets. The quartet braced for impact, but before the doppelgängers could reach Tuli and the mage, Ular transformed back into her colossal serpent form. With a swift, powerful motion, she swung her massive tail, striking the doppelgängers from the side and sending them sprawling across the sand.
Tuli then conjured a barrage of ice shards towards the Djinn's doppelgängers, aiming not to harm but to distract. The ice mingled with the hot desert sun, creating a swirling mist of steam.
Seemingly able to read his plan, Maling slipped into the shadows cast by the mist, using the cover to move stealthily. His eyes scanned the bewildered doppelgängers, searching for any sign that might reveal the real Djinn.
Ular, still in her serpent form, circled her massive body around Panah, the mage, and Tuli, providing a protective barrier. Suddenly, the ground rose beneath Panah's feet, lifting him to a vantage point where he could see the battlefield more clearly. His bow was ready, eyes scanning for any sign of weakness.
"It's hard to keep this kind of illusion, even for a master of deception!" The mage shouted,
"The real Djinn is the one who might flicker or show a disruptive motion. Watch them closely!"
With a keen eye, Panah noticed one of the doppelgängers flinching slightly. Without hesitation, he released an arrow, striking the flinching doppelgänger squarely. The moment the arrow hit its mark, all the illusions vanished, leaving only the real Djinn kneeling on the ground.
Maling seized the opportunity and lunged forward, his knives aimed for the killing move. But just as his blades touched the Djinn, the creature vanished into thin air, leaving Maling striking an empty space. The Djinn was nowhere to be seen, its mocking laughter echoing faintly in the distance.
"Hahaha, nice playing with you," the Djinn's voice echoed.
"We'll meet again, someday," the voice continued. The quartet waited for something to happen, but it seemed the Djinn had gone.
"God damn it!" the mage cursed, his frustration and anger evident in his voice.
"That was my best chance to defeat him! Now he's gone!" the mage shouted, his voice filled with frustration and despair.
"I'm sorry, our fault. We should do better," Panah said in a calming voice, trying to diffuse the tension.
"It's on me, honestly. I couldn't do anything about it," Tuli said, his voice sounding defeated.
"Nah, if there's anyone to blame, it's me. I should have gone faster," Maling said, putting his knives away.
"What happened, happened. Okay? No need to blame ourselves. Remember our mission," Ular said, trying to lift the mood. However, the others still looked down, their expressions heavy with frustration and regret.
"Yeah, thank you for trying to help. Who are you guys, anyway?" the mage asked, his curiosity piqued despite the lingering frustration.
"We're not from here," Panah started.
"Yeah, I know that. I didn't get any permission whatsoever about your coming," the mage interrupted.
"You see, we are supposed to go to Ghaib Realm, but somehow... no, something, threw us here," Panah continued. The mage looked at the quartet with a serious expression.
"Ghaib Realm? What's your business going over there?" the mage asked, his curiosity mixed with concern.
"Don't you hear? Setan is back! We were sent there to kill him," Ular interjected.
"I don't know, I just became this realm's guardian a few days ago," the mage explained, his voice weary.
"I spent all this time hunting that stupid Djinn. I haven't slept for days."
"But if you were going to kill Setan, and if you succeed, then maybe it will kill this stupid Djinn too," the mage said, his face brightening slightly with hope.
"I don't know, man. Setan is supposed to be strong, right? He's the God of Devils, after all," Maling replied.
"Yet, we couldn't even kill this Djinn in the first place," he continued, causing the quartet to look down once more, their confidence shaken.
"No worries," the mage said, summoning a rift portal.
"Ever since you guys set foot here, I can feel a Divine presence within you."
"Stronger than I have ever known, you guys will be alright," the mage continued, pointing towards the portal.
"Now go, finish your mission."
"You are our last beacon of hope," he added, his voice filled with encouragement and belief in their abilities. The rift portal then envelopes the quartet, and they are sent into the realm bridge again, the very same bridge they were there moments ago.
The quartet stood in silence as a shimmering portal appeared at the end of the bridge. No one said anything, but they exchanged worried looks, each understanding the gravity of what lay ahead without needing words.
"Afraid?" Panah asked, directing the question to everyone, including himself.
"Why, of course. I'm just a tiefling—one stab in my chest and I'll die," Maling answered, but Ular let out a small laugh.
"What? Do you think it's funny? Lucky you, you can turn into a giant snake," Maling said, a hint of annoyance in his voice. But Ular's laughter just grew louder, echoing slightly on the bridge.
"A snake or not, we are the same, Maling. One stab in my chest, and I'll die too," Ular said, mimicking a stabbing motion into her chest.
"Then what's so funny about it?" Maling asked, his annoyance giving way to curiosity.
"I'm laughing at the fact that you are afraid to die," Ular answered.
"Fighting Setan or not, we are going to die anyway," she continued, her laughter subsiding into a calm, resolute expression.
"But this time, if we die, we die as heroes. The last beacon of hope for humanity," Ular continued.
"Fair point," Tuli interjected, walking closer to the rift portal.
"So, are we going?" he asked the rest of the group. After giving each other one last look, the quartet stepped into the portal.
To be continued...