Sam and Welzon walked away from the village, the tension between them was palpable. The old man had requested privacy, and the villagers had respectfully granted it, though many cast confused glances in Sam's direction.
Only Lyra saw it differently. Lyra's eyes followed Sam, filled with concern. Whether it was because she felt Sam hadn't fully recovered or due to her wariness of Welzon, her worry was evident. Despite his reputation as a great and experienced wizard, Sam himself couldn't shake the uneasy feeling he had when he was around Welzon."Without you braving the storm to find me, I wouldn't have arrived in time to save some of the villagers," Welzon said, his tone appreciative yet measured."I'm just trying to help. Besides, my wife is also hurt," Sam replied, his voice edged with caution."Still, breaking through the storm vortex is no small feat. You are a very talented young wizard," Welzon praised."Thank you," Sam said hesitantly. “I almostThe storm had abated last night, leaving behind a surprisingly clear morning. By the standards of the blighted plain, it was almost a beautiful day. The rare sunlight broke through the usual overcast sky, casting an ethereal glow over the twisted landscape. Sam took a deep breath, finding the air unexpectedly fresh and invigorating, yet he remained cautious, his eyes never straying far from Welzon. “You seem to like quickbirds even though your wife was bitten by one,” Welzon said, breaking the silence. “My wife was bitten by a blighted one,” Sam corrected. “True.” “And I do like quickbirds. They might not be as fast as horses, but they're more agile and have a silly face,” Sam added. “Silly? Never thought of them that way. But, I do agree with that. They are like overgrown chickens.” Welzon chuckled. Sam chuckled too but kept his guard up. Sam noticed Welzon's smile quickly faded as he spurred his quickbird faster. They descended into the valley, f
The infernal daemon loomed before them, its fiery form pulsating with energy from the chaotic leyline vortex beneath it. Sam could feel the intense heat radiating from the creature, the very air around it seeming to shimmer with malevolence. Welzon remained behind him, calling out directions and occasionally casting spells that seemed to have little effect on the daemon."Watch out for its claws, Sam!" Welzon shouted. "And keep moving, don't let it lock onto you!"Sam darted to the side, using his wind step to evade a swipe from the daemon's massive, burning claw. However, the chaotic energies of the leyline vortex disrupted his usual fluid motion. Instead of the swift and agile movements he was used to, he found himself making more abrupt, burst-like steps. He frowned in concentration, adjusting his tactics to compensate for the disruption."This leyline vortex is messing with my energy flow," Sam muttered, dodging another attack. He countered with a burst of wind energy, striking the
Sam and Welzon rode towards the cage field, the landscape around them began to transform. The once familiar terrain of the blighted plain, with its twisted trees and sparse, blackened foliage, slowly gave way to an even more desolate and eerie environment.The sky, which had briefly cleared after the storm, grew overcast once more, with dark clouds swirling ominously above. A palpable sense of dread hung in the air, and the atmosphere grew thicker, charged with chaotic energy that made the hair on Sam's arms stand on end."It's remarkable how quickly the landscape changes," Sam remarked, trying to mask his unease with casual conversation. "Is this the ribcage area you've mentioned?""Not quite yet," Welzon replied, his tone lighter than the oppressive surroundings. "We're on the outskirts. The true ribcage field lies further ahead, where the land itself bears the scars of the arcane war."Sam nodded, casting a wary glance at the horizon. The air seemed to shimmer with an unnatural haze
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 anger flared, and he channeled it into his next attack. He summoned a vortex of wind and fire, combining his elemental powers in a display of raw strength. The swirling mass of energy hurtled towards Welzon, who raised his hand to counter it by absorbing and creating a barrier from the chaotic magic around him.For a moment, the two forces clashed, a dazzling display of light and power. But Welzon's experience and mastery of magic proved superior. His barrier dispersed Sam's attack, sending the elemental vortex scattering into harmless sparks.Sam stepped back, his eyes observing intently. He hadn’t expected Welzon to be able to wield the chaotic energy here so effectively. The field seemed to amplify their powers, but it was clear that Welzon was more adept at harnessing this amplification.The air around them crackled with tension as they circled each other. Sam dashed around while welzon floated in the same speed. They both gauge the other's strengths and weaknesses. The chao
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
The undead surged around Sam in a chaotic wave of dark energy and twisted limbs. Soldier-like figures wielding swords, axes, and spears swung their weapons with unnatural force. The air crackled with the chaotic energy infused in their strikes, each swing unleashing a burst of raw, unpredictable power. Sam ducked and weaved, using his shadow copies to divert the relentless attacks.A massive axe came down, smashing into the ground where Sam had been standing a moment before. The spear-throwers hurled their weapons with wild abandon, not caring if they struck other undead in their frenzy.Each weapon, twisted and merged with the chaotic material of the blighted plain, carried a dark resonance that vibrated through the air. The former forms of these undead were evident in their attire and the remnants of their battle gear. Soldiers from the Magic Empire wore distorted armor adorned with arcane symbols, now twisted into grotesque shapes. Knights of the Holy Church, their once pristine ar
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