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
"Come on, Sam," Rafael's voice urged in his mind. "Let's show him what we're made of."With a determined expression, Sam braced himself for the battle to come. The storm raged around them, the chaotic energy crackling in the air. The clash of archmages was about to begin, and this would shake the Blighted Plain.Sam and Welzon faced each other in the turbulent sky, their eyes locked in a fierce gaze. With a roar, they launched themselves into battle. Spells and magic flew through the air as they clashed. Sam conjured dark fireballs, hurling them at Welzon, who deftly dodged and retaliated with chaotic energy blasts. They flew around each other, dodging and weaving as they tried to find an opening.Thorns, sharp and twisted from the curved rocks, coiled through the air, trying to ensnare Sam. He slashed through them with his red glowing sword, the blade cutting through the thorns with ease. Vortexes of wind and flame swirled around them, colliding and exploding in bursts of energy. Rock
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
Welzon shook his head slowly. "I only found more questions. The chaotic energy and the multitude of dead spirits here are driving me crazier by the day.""Other than during the fight, you seem quite sane for someone who’s supposed to be mad," Sam noted, studying Welzon's expression for any signs of deceit.Welzon sighed, a weary sound that seemed to carry the weight of centuries. "I use the local villagers," he admitted. "By helping them occasionally, I can keep my sanity."Sam couldn’t detect any lies or attempts at deception in Welzon’s words. He sensed a deep, almost painful truth in them. "Maybe your initial intention was just for your own benefit, to keep your sanity. But it’s clear that after being here for so long and helping the villagers frequently, you’ve grown close to them and genuinely care about them."Welzon's face twisted into a grimace. "I’m haunted by the spirits of their families who constantly ask for my help. I have no choice," he said."Of course, you’re forced,"