The air buzzed with tension. Jace and Evelyn stood their ground, bruised but unbroken, blades drawn, eyes fixed on their enemy. Behind them, Nick knelt, casting reinforcement spells to bolster their stamina and healing their wounds with soft pulses of magic. The battlefield was scorched and littered with unconscious foes, but the fight was far from over.
Rhodes, the bandit captain, grinned through bloodied teeth. "Haha, impressive. You're tougher than you look. But this is where your story ends."
Jace stepped forward, voice sharp. "Cut the nonsense. We're done listening."
Without hesitation, Jace and Evelyn launched forward, their weapons flashing. But Rhodes raised his blade toward the sky and bellowed
"Lightning Fury!"
A violent surge of lightning cracked down from the heavens, striking the ground with a roar. Sparks danced across the battlefield as the bolt slammed into both Jace and Evelyn. Their bodies convulsed, muscles seizing from the shock. They collapsed, momentarily paralyzed.
Rhodes strode forward slowly, his blade humming with residual energy. "Let's start with the icy princess."
In a flash, he appeared before Evelyn and brought his sword down.
Evelyn's eyes widened. "Nngh!"
But the blow never landed.
Jace had moved, his body still sparking with pain, but his sword held firm against Rhodes' blade. The steel hissed as it clashed, resisting the lightning energy.
Rhodes raised an eyebrow. "You've got spirit, kid."
Jace winced, pushing the blade back. "You talk too much."
They both retreated a few steps, catching their breath. But Rhodes was relentless. He surged forward again, his sword now crackling with raw lightning. Each strike came faster, heavier, sharper. Jace parried as best he could, barely keeping up. Sparks exploded around them with every clash.
"You've got a nice weapon there," Rhodes growled, eyes flickering to Nightlily. "It's absorbing my lightning. That's rare steel."
Just then, from the edge of the battlefield, Auxen whispered a chant and slammed his staff into the dirt. Web-like magical threads snapped up from the earth and coiled around Rhodes' leg.
"Jace, now!" Auxen yelled.
With a roar, Jace lunged, blade overhead.
"Ahhhh!"
Rhodes sneered. He slashed through the webs with a surge of lightning and in a blur appeared before Jace. He caught Jace's wrist mid-swing, twisted, and drove a fist into his stomach.
The force of the punch launched Jace backwards. He hit the ground hard beside Evelyn.
She scrambled to his side, shaking him. "Hey, hey! Wake up! Come on!"
Rhodes took slow steps forward, panting but grinning. "You were good entertainment. But now it's over."
He raised his hand toward the sky, lightning beginning to form once more.
"Lightning...."
Suddenly, a calm, powerful voice rang out from behind.
"What are you doing to kids, Rhodes?"
Everyone turned.
From the carriage, a man stepped forward, tall, with tired eyes and red ember-like markings across his arms. A faint heat rippled around him with every step.
Rhodes scowled. "Well, well... look who finally shows his face. Ashton Rellhart. The former Fire Hero himself."
To be continued...