Episode 48 – When Shadows Fall
The Pythros realm trembled. Jagged obsidian mountains cracked as molten rivers surged with corrupted magic. The air tasted like ash and burned iron. The team pressed forward, exhausted but determined.
Kael led the group, Velmorth'Rael pulsing faintly in his hand. His aura flickered erratically—part god, part mortal—his steps leaving behind sparks that scorched the earth. Lana stayed close to him, eyes never leaving his face. Rhea, still adjusting to her self-forged light weapon, gripped it with both hands. Felix and Tunde scouted ahead, silently signaling directions through the warped terrain.
They reached the edge of a jagged bridge that led to a spiraling fortress made of black bones and shadow. Waiting in front was the male wizard—one of the ancient Primorati.
He stood calmly, eyes glowing white. His long cloak moved unnaturally, as though alive.
"So you finally made it," the wizard said, voice echoing. "And yet... you're not ready."
Without warning, the wizard raised his hand and split the air with a wave of crushing force. The team scattered.
The Battle Erupts
Kael lunged forward first, lightning cracking around him. Velmorth'Rael sang in the air, meeting the wizard's corrupted staff in a thunderous clash. The ground beneath them shattered. The sky above twisted with dark clouds.
Rhea unleashed a beam of pure light. The wizard blocked it easily, but the sheer brightness disoriented him for a second—just long enough for Lana to launch a barrage of enchanted daggers. They pierced his cloak but not his flesh.
Tunde dashed in, spinning midair with two fire orbs in his hands. "Say hello to your overdue cremation, Gandalf's evil cousin!" he yelled and threw both.
The wizard absorbed the flames, chuckling. "Pathetic."
But as he sneered, Felix appeared from behind, slicing with an ethereal blade formed from a stolen relic. The wizard staggered—just briefly.
"You've grown..." he muttered. "But it won't be enough."
With a shriek, the wizard lifted both hands. A dome of shadow magic surged outward, slamming into the group and pinning them down.
Kael fought against it, his eyes flickering gold. His hands trembled. Power roared within him—but it was unstable. If he unleashed it fully, he could destroy his friends too.
"I can't..." he gasped. "I can't control it."
An Emotional Anchor
Lana crawled to him, blood on her lip, eyes fierce. "Kael, look at me!" she screamed over the howling wind. "You are not just a god or a weapon. You are you. The boy who carried my books. The guy who blushes when I kiss his cheek. The one who made me believe in love again."
He looked at her. Tears welled up.
"You can control it," she whispered. "Because I believe in you."
Kael's aura flickered, then roared to life—but stable. The lightning formed a dome around him, vaporizing the shadow magic in an instant. He rose into the air.
God Mode: Controlled
He flew straight at the wizard, clashing again. This time, Kael fought with focus—lightning and blade perfectly synchronized.
The wizard grunted, forced back. He slammed into the fortress wall.
Kael raised Velmorth'Rael.
But then... he stopped.
He looked the wizard in the eye. "Tell your people," Kael said, voice deep and calm. "The gods have returned. And we're not their puppets."
He slashed—not to kill—but to leave a deep mark on the wizard's chest. A warning.
The wizard disappeared in a flash of smoke, wounded and rattled.
Aftermath
The team regrouped, panting. Tunde helped Rhea stand. "You okay, sparkle girl?"
She smirked. "I just turned my emotions into a weapon. So yeah... pretty awesome."
Felix muttered, "I need snacks. Like, five sandwiches and a hug."
Kael dropped to his knees. Lana caught him. "I didn't kill him," he whispered. "I had the chance, but I didn't."
"That's what makes you stronger," she said.
Far above, the sky of Pythros swirled with unstable magic. Something worse was coming.
But for now, they had survived.