THE UNBREAKBLE RULE
Owen was nowhere to be seen. He had disappeared.
Mason's heart pounded as he called out, "Owen! Owen, where are you?"
The others, noticing his panic, looked around frantically. Their voices overlapped in unison—
"Where is Owen? What happened to him, Mason?"
Mason's face turned pale, his voice heavy with guilt. "Owen... he heard his mother's voice. He told me he could hear her, but before I could warn him that it was a trap… he had already turned around and vanished. It's all my fault."
Luna placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "No, Mason, this isn't your fault. The hunters must have taken him. We should ask the bird for their location and rescue Owen before they steal his soul."
Lian nodded. "Luna's right. We can't waste any time."
Mason turned towards Sophie. Their eyes met, and Sophie understood his unspoken plea. She approached the small bird perched on a nearby tree and spoke softly, "Little bird, our friend has been taken by the hunters. Please, tell us where they are so we can save him."
The bird tilted its head, its tiny eyes gleaming with wisdom. Then, it chuckled darkly. "You are so naïve, child. You think the hunters are mere kidnappers, but you have no idea what you're up against. They wear black robes that cover every inch of their bodies, and their blood-red eyes are enough to make the bravest of warriors faint. There are ten of them, and you are only four, with mere fragments of power. You cannot defeat them. Forget your friend and move on before you all perish."
Mason clenched his fists. "Did it tell you the way?" he asked Sophie impatiently.
Sophie hesitated before relaying the bird's warning. "The hunters are incredibly dangerous. There are ten of them, and only you have the power to fight. How will you face them alone?"
Mason's expression hardened. "I don't care how strong they are. We are not leaving Owen behind. If it were you instead of him, my decision would be the same. We go."
Sophie took a deep breath and turned back to the bird. "Tell us the way."
With a sigh, the bird flapped its wings and took off. The group followed it through the dense, eerie forest, their steps growing heavier with dread.
The Hunters' Lair
They soon arrived at a chilling sight—a decayed mansion surrounded by twisted trees, their roots writhing like living creatures. The air was thick with an unsettling energy, enough to make any ordinary fifteen-year-old faint. But they pressed forward.
Stepping inside, they found Owen—suspended in the air, bound by thick, gnarled tree roots like a captured beast.
Mason's eyes widened in horror. "Owen! Owen, are you okay, my friend?"
Before Owen could respond, four hunters emerged from the shadows, their red eyes gleaming like molten lava. Without warning, they attacked.
Lian and Sophie, lacking combat abilities, were struck down instantly. Their cries of pain echoed through the dark halls as they collapsed, wounded and helpless.
Sophie, struggling to keep her eyes open, finally understood—the hunters were not just terrifying; they were beyond anything they could handle.
But Mason and Luna refused to back down. Mason's fists ignited with flames, drawn from the ceremonial torches of the hunters' lair. His fury burned hotter than the fire itself. "You will pay for what you've done!"
He launched a searing inferno at one hunter, engulfing him in flames until he crumbled into ash. Beside him, Luna used her abilities to controling the insects, killed the another hunter with a army of insects.
One by one, they fought and defeated the hunters, their determination outweighing their exhaustion. But just as they thought they had won, two of the strongest hunters emerged—unscathed, untouched.
The tables turned in an instant. Mason and Luna, drained from the battle, could barely stand. The hunters struck with merciless precision, knocking them down effortlessly. Blood dripped onto the cold stone floor.
Defeat was inevitable.
Awakening Power
Then, a sudden surge of energy filled the room.
Owen's eyes snapped open.
With newfound power coursing through his veins, he shattered the roots binding him, transforming them into a solid wooden table. His fingers glowed as he reached for nearby stones and wood, reshaping them into weapons with a mere thought.
The hunters turned in shock, but it was too late.
Owen, wielding weapons of his own creation, launched a fierce counterattack. He moved with an instinct he had never known before, striking down the last two hunters with sheer force.
The battle was over.
Breathing heavily, Owen looked at his hands, then at Mason. "I can... shape stone and wood into anything? This is incredible!"
Mason, still in disbelief, managed a smile. "Your power is amazing, Owen. You saved us."
Owen, exhausted but proud, grinned. "I knew the gods would give me something special."
But Mason's expression suddenly darkened.
He looked at his watch. Only one hour remained.
His heart sank as realization hit him. "Every level… one of us must die. That's why we only get six hours to find the seven Manis. It's a rule."
Silence fell over the group. Fear crept into their eyes.
"Who will die?" Luna whispered, her voice trembling. "Do you have any idea?"
Mason clenched his jaw. "I don't know. But we have no choice. We must move forward and complete the level, or none of us will survive."
Swallowing their fear, they pressed on, collecting the four Manis despite the relentless obstacles.
As they finally grasped the that 4 manis , the sky above them shifted.
A massive glowing text appeared—
"LEVEL 2."
Mason's breath caught in his throat.
Something was wrong because level 1 was isnt completed yet 2 manis are left.
He turned to his friends—one of them was missing.
Someone had died.
But who?
To be continued…