The battlefield grew eerily silent as the glowing figure removed their hood. The harsh green light from the skeletal monster reflected off a face Sophie, Ricky, and Kieran never thought they would see again.
"Liam?" Sophie's voice trembled with disbelief.
The man before them, his expression stoic, stood tall and radiated an aura of energy that pulsated with light. His crystal was unlike theirs, glowing with an almost ethereal white hue. His once-familiar brown eyes now shimmered faintly with silver, as though touched by the energy he wielded.
"Impossible," Ricky muttered, his fists clenching. "We thought you… we thought you were gone."
Liam's gaze swept over the group, and for a moment, something resembling a faint smile crossed his lips. "It's been a long time," he said, his voice calm yet layered with a weight they couldn't quite place. "Too long."
Before anyone could respond, the skeletal figure behind Selene let out an ear-piercing roar, snapping their attention back to the imminent danger.
"Liam!" Sophie shouted, stepping forward. "Whatever is happening, we can talk after we survive this. If you're here to help, then"
But Liam raised his hand, cutting her off. "I didn't come here to help you, Sophie." His voice carried a sharpness that made her freeze in place.
"What?" Kieran asked, disbelief etched across his face.
Selene, who had been watching the reunion with growing intrigue, let out a low laugh. "Ah, this is delicious. It seems even your past is against you, little heroes."
Sophie's hands ignited with flames. "Liam, what are you saying? We fought together. You were one of us!"
Liam's silver-glowing eyes met hers, and for a brief moment, there was a flicker of conflict in his gaze. But it disappeared as quickly as it came. "That was before. Before I understood the truth about the crystals… and the cost of using them."
Ricky stepped forward, his crimson armor glowing with intensity. "If you're not with us, then you're against us. Make your choice, Liam."
Liam sighed, his white crystal pulsating with a calming energy. "You don't understand what you're dealing with. The crystals aren't just tools for saving the world. They're alive, and their power demands balance. The more you use them, the closer you come to breaking that balance."
Kieran narrowed his eyes. "And whose side are you on, then? Hers?" He gestured toward Selene, who was grinning wickedly from her perch.
"No," Liam said, his tone cold. "I'm on the side of the crystals. If you can't respect their power, then I'll stop you myself."
Selene clapped her hands, the sound echoing mockingly. "Oh, this is better than I could've hoped for. Heroes turning on each other. Go ahead, Liam. Show them the true strength of your conviction."
Without waiting for a response, Selene waved her hand, sending the skeletal monster lunging toward Sophie and her companions.
"Watch out!" Sophie yelled, summoning a wall of flame to block the creature's attack.
Ricky charged forward, smashing into the beast with all his strength, while Kieran used his spear to strike at its legs. The battle raged around them, but Sophie couldn't shake the weight of Liam's betrayal.
"Liam!" she shouted, her voice cracking. "Help us! You can't let her win!"
Liam remained motionless, his eyes fixed on the chaos. Finally, he raised his hand, and a beam of white energy shot out, striking the skeletal monster. The creature howled in pain, its movements faltering.
For a moment, hope surged through Sophie. But then Liam turned his attention to her, the energy in his crystal flaring. "This is your last warning, Sophie. Walk away before it's too late."
Her flames dimmed slightly as she looked at him, heartbroken. "I can't do that, Liam. The world needs us. It needs the crystals."
"Then you leave me no choice," Liam said, his voice like ice.
He raised his hand again, and a shockwave of white energy rippled out, separating Sophie, Ricky, and Kieran from each other. The force of it sent them sprawling to the ground.
Selene laughed maniacally, watching as her enemies were thrown into chaos. "This is perfect! Destroy them, Liam. Show them the futility of their mission."
But Liam didn't move to attack further. Instead, he turned his back to them, walking toward the skeletal monster. "I won't fight you unless I have to. But remember this: the crystals are not yours to control. If you continue on this path, you'll destroy everything you're trying to save."
With a final glance over his shoulder, Liam disappeared into the shadows, leaving the battlefield behind.
***
As the dust began to settle, Sophie struggled to her feet, her body aching from the shockwave. Ricky and Kieran regrouped with her, their expressions a mixture of confusion and anger.
"What just happened?" Kieran asked, gripping his spear tightly.
Sophie stared into the darkness where Liam had vanished, her fists clenched. "I don't know… but this changes everything."
Before they could process Liam's betrayal, the skeletal monster let out another roar, its body glowing brighter with green energy. Selene raised her arms, her voice echoing through the battlefield.
"You may have survived this round, but your time is running out. The green crystal will devour you all!"
The ground beneath them began to crack and split, a massive chasm opening in the center of the Hollow Lands. The trio barely managed to leap to safety as the earth crumbled around them.
From within the chasm, a new presence emerged a creature far more terrifying than the skeletal beast. Its body seemed to shift and change, its form unstable but radiating immense power.
Sophie's flames reignited as she prepared for another battle. "We have to end this. No matter what."
But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that Liam's warning was more than just a threat. It was a prophecy.
***
During the chaos of the encounter with Selene, Keeper had been momentarily separated from the group. The immense shockwave caused by Liam's attack had thrown him back into a crumbling section of the battlefield.
As Sophie, Ricky, and Kieran faced the skeletal monster and Selene, Keeper struggled to regain his footing. The elder man, though not as physically resilient as the others, gritted his teeth and used his staff to steady himself. His crystal pulsed faintly, its silvery light flickering in the darkness.
From a distance, Keeper watched Liam's actions closely. His experienced eyes narrowed, seeing the internal conflict within their old ally. He knew something the others didn't: Liam's crystal was different, its energy far more volatile than theirs.
"Liam…" Keeper muttered under his breath, his voice a mix of sorrow and concern. "What have you done?"
As the skeletal monster roared and Selene taunted the group, Keeper called out to the others:
"Sophie! Ricky! Kieran! Do not let your emotions cloud your judgment! Focus on the enemy at hand!"
However, his warning was lost in the cacophony of battle. Seeing no other choice, Keeper began channeling his crystal's energy. A silvery mist enveloped his staff as he prepared to intervene.
***
By the time Liam disappeared into the shadows, Keeper had managed to make his way back to the group. His presence was a grounding force amidst the chaos.
He helped Sophie to her feet and surveyed the chasm that had opened in the ground. When the new creature began emerging from the depths, Keeper's expression darkened.
"This… this is not just Selene's doing," he said gravely. "The balance is shifting. The crystals are reacting to something far greater than her schemes."
Sophie, her flames still flickering, turned to Keeper. "What do you mean? What's happening?"
Keeper's voice was heavy with foreboding. "The crystals are warning us. If we don't act wisely, the very power we seek to use could tear this world apart."
With the unstable creature looming before them and Selene still commanding the battlefield, Keeper tightened his grip on his staff. Despite his age and the toll the journey had taken on him, he stood tall, ready to fight alongside the others.
His final words before the next battle began echoed in Sophie's mind:
"Remember, the greatest enemy is not always the one before you. Sometimes, it's the one within."