As the group stood there, catching their breath and surveying the aftermath of the storm, they noticed something strange. The river, which had been churning and foaming just moments before, was now calm and still. The water was crystal clear, and they could see all the way to the bottom.
"Look," Avovome said, pointing to the riverbed. "I think I see something."
The group peered into the water, and as they did, they saw a glint of metal lying on the riverbed. It was partially buried in the sediment.
"Could that be a clue?" Gidado asked, his eyes shining with excitement.
"It's worth a look," Mike said, already wading into the water.
The group followed him, their eyes fixed on the glint of metal. As they reached the spot, Mike bent down and began to dig into the sediment. After a few moments, he pulled out a small, intricately carved box.
The box was made of a dark, polished metal that seemed to absorb the light around it. It was adorned with strange symbols and markings that seemed to pulse with a faint, otherworldly energy.
"What is this?" Bisola asked, her voice full of wonder.
"I don't know," Mike said, turning the box over in his hands. "But I think it might be important."
As he spoke, the box suddenly opened, revealing a small, glowing crystal nestled in a bed of black velvet. The crystal pulsed with an intense, blue light that seemed to be calling to them.
"What does it do?" TJ asked, his eyes fixed on the crystal.
"I don't know," Mike said, "but I think we're about to find out."
Mike's eyes scanned the horizon, his mind already racing with their next move. "We'll keep moving," he said, his voice firm.
As they ventured further, the sound of approaching horses echoed through the air, growing louder with each passing moment. The group's heads swiveled in unison, their eyes widening in awe as the procession of riders emerged from the distance. The riders were shrouded in black attire, their faces, hands, and legs eerily absent. They sat atop ash-colored horses with eyes that were half human and half animal, their legs ending in human-like palms and feet. The horses' bodies rippled with muscle as they moved, their coats glistening with a subtle sheen.
As the riders drew near, they formed a circle around Mike, TJ, Amina, Gidado, Bisola, and Avovome, their movements eerily synchronized. The group's faces were set with a mix of fear and determination, their eyes fixed on the riders with a mixture of fascination and dread.
The horses, rather than the riders, began to speak, their voices low and gravelly. They gestured with their palm-like hooves, emphasizing their words. "You are not meant to be here," they declared in unison, their voices sending shivers down the group's spines. "This is a forbidden area."
The faceless riders nodded in agreement, their blank faces seeming to absorb the light around them. The horses continued, their voices dripping with an otherworldly menace. "Very well then, now that you are here, welcome."
The group's faces were a picture of confusion and fear, their eyes darting back and forth between the horses and their riders. Avovome's eyes narrowed, its body tense with anticipation. Mike's jaw was set, his eyes fixed on the horses with a determination to survive.
Without warning, the faceless riders rose off their horses, their bodies floating in mid-air as they maintained their seated position. The horses, now freed from their riders' control, began to attack the group. Avovome unleashed a stream of fire, but the horses' bodies seemed impervious to the flames, their iron-like hides glistening in the light.
The group's reactions were a blur of panic and desperation. Mike, TJ, Amina, Gidado, and Bisola fought with all their might, but their blows seemed to have little effect on the horses. The animals' bodies were like living statues, unyielding and unrelenting. Avovome's face was set with a fierce determination, its eyes blazing with a fierce inner light.
Meanwhile, the faceless riders joined the fray, their invisible bodies striking the group with precision and force. The group's cries of pain and effort filled the air, mingling with the sound of clashing steel and the thunder of the horses' hooves.
The atmosphere was electric with tension, the air thick with the scent of smoke and sweat. The group's movements were a chaotic dance, their bodies weaving in and out of the horses' deadly attacks. The faceless riders seemed to be everywhere, their presence felt but not seen.
As the battle raged on, Avovome's eyes flashed with inspiration. It remembered the crystal they had found earlier, and the strange energy it had emitted. Avovome focused its own energy, trying to tap into the crystal's power. Suddenly, a blast of energy shot out from Avovome's body, striking the horses and sending them stumbling backward.
The group's eyes widened in surprise as they saw their chance. Mike, TJ, Amina, Gidado, and Bisola launched a fierce counterattack, their blades slicing through the air with renewed hope. The faceless riders retaliated, their invisible bodies striking the group with increased ferocity. But Avovome's energy had given the group a boost, and they fought back with renewed determination.
As the fight continued, the group began to notice something strange. The horses' iron-like bodies were starting to show cracks, tiny fissures that spread across their surfaces like spiderwebs. Avovome's energy had weakened them, and the group's blows were starting to take effect.
With a final, desperate cry, the group launched a final attack. Their blades bit deep into the horses' bodies, and the animals let out a deafening screech as they shattered into a thousand pieces. The faceless riders, their control over the horses broken, floated motionless in the air, their blank faces seeming to stare at the group with a mixture of surprise and anger.