The training ground was bathed in the faint light of a sun that barely pierced the ever-present frost of the forest prison. Nicholas wiped sweat from his brow, his breath fogging in the cold air as he readied himself for another bout. Across from him, Varak stood motionless, his massive frame a tower of quiet strength. “You’re getting better,” Varak said, his voice firm but carrying a note of approval. “But you still hesitate. You think too much, and that will get you killed.” Nicholas tightened his grip on his sword, its hilt rough against his calloused palms. “I’m trying,” he muttered. “Trying isn’t enough,” Varak snapped, his eyes narrowing. “You need to act. When the moment comes, hesitation will cost you everything.” With a sudden burst of speed, Varak lunged, his blade cutting through the air in a deadly arc. Nicholas barely managed to dodge, the tip of the weapon grazing his sleeve. He spun on his heel, swinging his own sword in a wide slash. Varak parried effortless

Nicholas floated in the ethereal white void once again, surrounded by the soft hum of energy that seemed to vibrate through the very air. Lou-ra stood before him, this time her luminous silver eyes filled with urgency. Her voice trembled, though she tried to maintain composure. “You don’t understand, my lord,” Lou-ra said, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. “The battle has already begun. Skr’ll and I cannot hold them off forever.” Nicholas’s heart clenched at her words. He could see the flickering shadows of armies clashing in her gaze. He stepped closer, his tone firm. “I promise you, Lou-ra. I’ll return to you. I don’t know how yet, but I will find a way. I can feel it in my bones that all I need is to put my mind to it and I will be able to break through this forest” Nicholas said, his voice showing his determination."If only I could convince the gods to let you out but they're too stubborn. They really don't want you returning back to the world" Lou-ra said." Don'

The air vibrated with the energy of war. Skr’ll, in her massive dragon form, soared through the skies, her golden eyes scanning the battlefield below. Her wings beat with tremendous force, sending gusts of wind that knocked back the advancing armies. Every roar that left her throat shook the very earth beneath her. On the ground, Lou-ra stood at the heart of the clearing, her hands raised as she chanted in an ancient tongue. Her body glowed with ethereal light, radiating energy that pulsed through the ground like a living thing. The connection between her and Skr’ll was palpable, as though their very souls were intertwined. Hero Hinnel’s forces, with their shining armor and battle cries, surged forward, a well-trained and relentless army. Xeno’s demonic soldiers, evil and terrifying, followed closely behind, their dark magic crackling through the air. Skr’ll let out a battle cry and dove toward the ground, her claws outstretched. She collided with the enemy’s front lines, her

"Varak," Nicholas said, his voice hoarse with the weight of his words. "Please, don’t do this. There’s no need for this violence. We need to work together—"But Varak cut him off, his eyes blazing with fury. "You brought this upon yourself, Nicholas. You and your dark ally. You think you can just destroy everything we've built here, without consequences?"Abron’s voice rang out in Nicholas’ mind, sharp and filled with contempt. "You know we cannot stop now, Nicholas. This is the only way to free us from this cursed forest and go to help Lou-ra" He said. Nicholas sighed, a deep sadness in his chest. He could feel Abron’s anger—his burning desire to destroy the power core and end the forest’s twisted grip on the world. But Varak was not wrong. There were consequences, dangerous and far-reaching. Still, Nicholas knew there was no turning back now. They had come too far.Varak gripped his staff tightly, his face a mask of resolve. "You won't get away with this, Abron," he growled. "Y

Nicholas turned to Lou-ra, his radiant form dimming slightly as a warm smile graced his lips. “i see you're stronger now,” he said, his voice calm yet filled with strength. Skr’ll, still on the ground nursing her wounded tail, managed a smirk. “Took you long enough, my lord,” she said, her tone laced with mock irritation. “We’ve been holding this place together without you.” Nicholas knelt beside her, his gaze soft. “And you’ve done well, Skr’ll. I couldn’t have asked for better allies.” He placed a hand over her tail, a faint glow emanating from his palm. Slowly, the pain subsided, and Skr’ll’s tail began to mend. Lou-ra joined them, her lavender eyes glistening with unshed tears. “We thought we’d lost you,” she admitted. “The forest… the power core… everything was collapsing.” Nicholas nodded solemnly. “It nearly did, but I’ve returned for a reason. We still have much to do.” Before they could continue, the sound of distant roars and shrieks filled the air. The batt