Elemental Blitz

7

Rael and his team moved deeper into the Ghostwoods, the tension hanging heavy between them. The silence of the forest was eerie, broken only by the occasional snap of a twig or the rustle of leaves. Rael kept his senses sharp, his Prismatic Cognition scanning the environment for any changes in the elemental forces that surrounded them. The deeper they went, the more he felt the magic in the air grow thicker, like the forest itself was watching them.

Vynn glanced over his shoulder. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this. You guys sense that?”

Miris, walking ahead, didn’t look back. “Shut up, Vynn. We’re in a cursed forest. It’s supposed to feel bad.”

Rael smirked but didn’t comment. His eyes caught a flicker of movement in the distance—another group of recruits. He held up a hand, signaling for the others to stop.

“Looks like we’ve got company,” Rael said quietly. He could make out three figures moving through the trees, their shadows barely visible.

“Think they’re friendlies?” Vynn whispered, though he already knew the answer.

Miris scoffed. “At this point, everyone’s competition. Friendlies don’t exist.”

Rael’s jaw tightened. She wasn’t wrong. “Let’s move. Keep low.”

They started moving again, circling to avoid the other group. But just as they began to slip past, the lead recruit from the other group spotted them.

“Well, well. Look who it is,” the recruit called out, stepping into the open. He was a tall, broad-shouldered noble named Jarik who Rael vaguely remembered from the earlier trials. A self-entitled asshole who loved pushing others around. Flanked by two other recruits, Jarik grinned as if he’d just stumbled upon easy prey.

Rael stepped forward, making sure he stood between his team and Jarik’s group. “You’ve got your mission. We’ve got ours. Let’s not make this more complicated than it needs to be.”

Jarik’s grin widened. “Oh, but I like complicated. And here I thought this would be a boring trip. How about we make things interesting? Hand over your supplies, and we’ll let you walk out of here.”

Vynn let out a laugh, clearly trying to hide his nerves. “Yeah, no thanks.”

Jarik’s smile vanished. “I wasn’t asking.”

The tension snapped. One of Jarik’s lackeys—a mage—summoned a bolt of fire, hurling it toward Rael. His Prismatic Cognition flared, and he saw the fiery red pattern of the spell before it even fully formed. With a wave of his hand, he manipulated the air, redirecting the fireball into the trees behind them. Flames licked the bark, but Rael’s focus was already on the next move.

“You want to play?” Rael said, his voice low and dangerous. “Fine.”

The fight erupted in an instant. Vynn charged forward, his sword clashing with Jarik’s, the two exchanging powerful blows. Miris, without missing a beat, unleashed a torrent of flame at the second recruit, forcing him back.

Rael’s attention was on the mage. The recruit was already forming another spell, but Rael could see the patterns shifting. He didn’t give him the chance to finish. With a flick of his wrist, Rael bent the air around the mage, trapping him in a sudden gust of wind. The mage struggled, but before he could free himself, Rael was on him.

“Wrong fight, friend,” Rael muttered, slamming the pommel of his sword into the mage’s temple. The recruit crumpled to the ground, out cold.

Behind him, Vynn was still locked in a brutal exchange with Jarik, both of them swinging their swords with deadly intent. Jarik had the advantage of size, but Vynn was faster. He ducked under a wide swing and slashed across Jarik’s arm, drawing blood.

Jarik roared in anger, but before he could retaliate, Miris stepped in, sending a burst of flame at his legs. Jarik stumbled, and Vynn took the opening, knocking the sword from his hand with a powerful strike.

Jarik hit the ground hard, glaring up at Rael and his team with a mix of fury and fear. “This isn’t over,” he spat, clutching his wounded arm.

Rael’s eyes flashed. “It is if you want to keep breathing.”

The look on Rael’s face must have made Jarik realize just how serious he was. Without another word, Jarik and his remaining lackey dragged their unconscious mage away, retreating into the trees.

As soon as they were gone, Vynn let out a long breath. “s**t, that was close.”

Miris didn’t seem concerned. “Let them come. I’ve got enough fire for round two.”

Rael turned to her, his expression hard. “We’re not here for revenge. Focus on the mission.”

Miris rolled her eyes but didn’t argue.

They moved quickly, knowing that Jarik’s group would likely return once they’d regrouped. The forest grew darker, the magic around them thicker and more oppressive. Rael’s Prismatic Cognition was on overdrive, the elemental patterns shifting and swirling around them like a storm. He could feel the energy in the air, crackling and dangerous.

After another mile, they reached a clearing. In the center stood a massive stone obelisk, covered in ancient runes. The artifact they were looking for was embedded in the top, glowing faintly with a strange, pulsating light.

“There it is,” Vynn whispered, as if speaking too loudly would anger the forest.

“Finally,” Miris muttered, stepping forward.

But Rael didn’t move. Something was wrong. His Prismatic Cognition was screaming at him, the patterns around the obelisk shifting in ways that didn’t make sense. There was magic here—powerful, dangerous magic.

“Wait,” Rael said, holding up a hand.

Miris stopped, glancing back at him. “What now?”

Rael’s eyes narrowed. “It’s a trap.”

As if on cue, the ground beneath them began to tremble. Rael’s senses flared, and he barely had time to shout a warning before the earth erupted around them. A massive creature—an earth elemental, twice the size of the one they’d faced earlier—rose from the ground, its glowing eyes fixed on them.

“s**t!” Vynn yelled, drawing his sword.

Rael’s heart pounded. They were in deep now, and if they didn’t act fast, none of them were getting out alive.