Sam felt a shiver run down his spine as he took in the sight before him. The land was a twisted nightmare, with jagged spires of rock and crumbling ruins jutting out of the ground like the carcass of a fallen giant. The air was thick with the scent of decay and the faint hum of residual magic."We should proceed with caution," Welzon warned. "The energies here are unpredictable, and as I’ve said, the creatures that inhabit this place have much greater power, unlike most of what we've faced before."Sam nodded, his senses on high alert. He could feel the presence of something powerful and malevolent lurking just beyond the edge of his perception. Whatever lay ahead, he knew it would be dangerous and might test him in ways he had never imagined.The quickbirds could no longer be forced to walk into that area. They refused and started to become agitated. Welzon activates a magic necklace around their necks until they calm down, then he lets them go back."Don't worry. I can call them back

Sam's heart pounded in his chest as he faced the newly reformed jesters. His initial victory felt hollow and fleeting. The smaller jesters wasted no time, launching their attacks with terrifying speed and precision. Their elemental orbs glowed brightly, unleashing fire, water, wind, and earth in coordinated but still unpredictable assaults. Sam’s shadow copies faltered under the onslaught, but he kept creating more, using them as both a shield and a distraction while he tried to assess the situation.The coordinated assault was overwhelming. Less from the coordination itself and more because the interval between each elemental attack was nonexistent. Previously, the single jester with four elements had alternated its attacks, but now, split into four smaller jesters, they could unleash their specialty elements simultaneously and even combine them into deadly combos.Sam gritted his teeth, his determination burning fiercely despite the exhaustion creeping over him. He had spent a consi

Sam felt his consciousness merge with Rafael's, their combined will heightening his reflexes and instincts. The chaotic vortex ley lines that had been a hindrance now became a source of power. He could feel the chaotic energy seeping into him, enhancing his abilities and giving him newfound strength.With a roar, Sam launched himself into the fray, his body moving with a fluidity and speed that left the undead reeling. Each movement was precise and deadly, his enhanced instincts allowing him to predict and counter the attacks of the undead soldiers and mages. Their twisted, branch-like limbs and chaotic forms were no match for his newfound power. Swords clashed against his shadowy defenses, axes smashed the ground where he had stood mere moments before, and spears were hurled. But Sam was untouchable, a whirlwind of destruction amidst the chaos.Welzon watched from above, his laughter ringing out across the battlefield. "So, you've decided to play seriously, have you?" he taunted, his

The chaos began to subside, the storm's fury giving way to a steady downpour. The once roaring tempest now dissolved into the gentle patter of rain, washing away the debris and cooling the scorched earth. The battlefield, marred by their intense clash, was eerily serene under the dark, rain-laden sky. Sam stood over Welzon, his red glowing sword aimed at his fallen adversary's throat. The rain drenched them both, plastering their hair on their faces and soaking their clothes. Welzon lay pinned by the binds of the earth-controlling ring, his once formidable aura now subdued. Sam's breath was heavy, his chest rising and falling with each exhale, steam mixing with the falling rain. "Your last words," Sam said, his voice cutting through the sound of the rain. Welzon's eyes, once filled with madness, were now calm, almost resigned. He blinked through the raindrops, a frown forming on his lips. "Make it quick," he said, his voice carrying no hint of his previous ferocity. Sam's brow furr

As they trudged through the muddy terrain, Welzon muttered again, “Let me down!”Sam only tightened his grip. “Nope. You’re stuck with me.”The sky was unusually clear for the Blighted Plain, and the sun shone brightly, casting an almost ethereal light on the desolate landscape. Sam carried the grumbling Welzon, their bickering echoing through the vast emptiness as they made their way back to Ashen Hearth Village.After a while, Welzon calmed down, and Sam walked without a word either. But suddenly Welzon's voice broke the relative silence. “Sam, do you want to know about the mastermind behind Friedo's death?”Sam adjusted his grip on the old man. “Tell me.”Welzon sighed, his breath shallow. “I can't say the name directly because of a binding curse that forbids us to expose each other. But I can say for sure that the person behind all this… he is connected to the church and also close to a powerful warlock.”Sam chuckled. "People from the church who are close to the warlock they hate?