Kroger opened his eyes after a great fall. His bones were crushed, and a massive wound on his stomach put him under unbearable pain.
Kroger:" Where am I? Did I survive that fall? Where are the others? Aahhh.. what is this pain?"
He looked at his wound and realized the source of his pain.he selled the wound with fire grunting a bit.
Back above the valley.
After the serpent left
Moana:" We should go save him."
Kasio:" We can't. We came here to save anira."
Moana:" But he might die."
Kasio:" Consider him dead. This is the gateway to death. This is the valley that claimed the life of countless mages who seek to make a name for them self's by conquering this forest. However, no one made it out alive."
Lien:"We should find her first. Our best bet would be with the teacher to help us."
Kasio:" You are right."
Moana:"But.. what about him?"
Kasio:"Moana, we put our lives in danger knowing they can't put her in this valley because you can only enter the valley if you have anything certain magical power. He is strong. Trust him, he will survive."
Moana looks uneasy. They started following their trail again. On their way , they encounter many low level beast which were taken care of with ease.
In the valley
Kroger stood up and started to look around.
" hahaha.... why are you here?" A voice coming from a far said.
" WHAT? Who are you? What do you want from me?"Kroger said.
KROGER'S POV
The voice:" Find me. I can let you out and see your friends. Who is heading for there death."
"What about anira and the kidnappers?"
"They are using high-level cloaks to hide their presence. These robes are rare, but probably nobles have these."
"How did you sence them?"
"Come find me then. I can tell you how,"
It's a trap. However, there is no way out. I started walking towards the voice. I had a weird feeling like someone is guiding me towards that thing.
Surprisingly, there is not a single beast in sight. The magical presence keeps getting stronger as i move towards the voice.
I got out of the forest, and there was a castle on the edge of the cliff. There was a dark dust cloud circling above the castle. I moved closer.
A dark medieval castle clings to a windswept cliff, its blackened stone towers piercing storm-heavy skies. Cracked walls and rusted gates whisper of ancient wars and forgotten kings. Gargoyles glare over, crashing waves below, while ivy strangles the crumbling battlements. At night, eerie lights flicker within, and the wind carries echoes of screams and long-dead whispers.
Kroger opened the door. A gust of wind hits him, followed by a dark aura. His spine shivering. He gathered the courage to enter.
A dark hallway with long killers and statues of kings who have ruled before. He walked towards the door at the end of the hallway.
The magical energy from the other side of the room makes him think twice. He opened the door, and there was something sitting on the throne.
The room was still as a tomb. In the gloom, a throne stood carved from old, forgotten rock. Upon it rested a dusty grey spirit, cloaked in the remains of once-regal armor. Its claws curled like twisted roots, and eyes like dying stars watched from beneath a fractured helm. The air trembled —disturbing something that should have never woken. It didn't rise. It didn't speak. But every part of it screamed danger.
Kroger looks in a mixer of shock and horror. He froze, breath caught in his throat. Every instinct screamed to flee, but his feet stayed rooted. The weight of the spirit's gaze pressed on him—ancient, cold, and vast as the void.
He finally asked, "Were you the one talking to me."
The door behind him shuts.
"You are strong for your age, but I would like to test your power."
"What?"
The spirit attacks with his claws. Kroger tries to block with the sword but is sent flying into the side of the door. He tried standing up
Then, the spirit launched a series of attacks. Only a few were blowed by Kroger. There were injuries all over his body.
" If i didn't have a strong magical power myself. I would have been dead. He is just getting started. Aagh.. he is stronger than kael as well." Kroger thought.
Kroger jumped up, preparing his attack, but he was struck down to the ground with a right claw. He tried to regain balance, but a left claw shattering the floor struck him.
He yelled, "WOLF FIRE." The number of wolves made of fire appears and attached the spirit but with just swing of his arms. It banished the wolves.
Kroger:"đřÿyúƙỳæĕŷ".
His sword started to glow. He let's out a huge fire slash. The spirit dodges it. It stands up. His eyes glowed.
He prepared an energy ball and launched toward Kroger.
BOOM....
It was a direct hit. Kroger doesn't get a chance to react, but he is not going to get defeated that easily.
He raised his sword and put most of his magic into a massive fire tornado. He swings the sword. On the other hand, the spirit prepared a wind tornado.
Both clashes. Kroger is sent flying as a dust cloud form. His initial wound from the fall around his stomach opens.
His back is against the wall. He doesn't know what to do. How he can get out of this situation.
Then, a claw came out of the dust cloud. He barely dodges it. With a roar the spirit clears the dust cloud. He sends some slashes towards Kroger which he dodges.
Kroger just got his footing and suddenly some portals appears around him. Magic arrows attacked through the portals.
Kroger just lost consciousness and fells to ground. The spirit looked neither happy nor sad just unsatisfied.
FWOOM...
The spirit looked at Kroger. He was in flames. Yet, he was not burning. The fire was mixer of blue, red, orange and yellow. It was something mystical. Kroger was just laying there. A bust came out from Kroger which forced the spirit to step back.
END OF THE CHAPTER