Chapter 2: The Forbidden Shores
The thick, magical mist of the Elven Kingdom clung to the ship like a wet blanket, obscuring everything beyond the wooden railings. Volt stepped onto the shoreline, his boots sinking into the silver sand. He could feel the pulse of the land—a vibration of pure Mana that felt artificial and suffocating. This was a land claimed by the "Fake Gods," a place where nature itself was forced to follow their twisted laws.
"Sai, stay sharp," Volt commanded, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. Sai drew his sword, though he was still grumbling about the singed part of his hair from the previous accident. Behind them, Aki was cautiously scanning the towering, ancient trees, clutching his daggers while mourning his lost fish dinner.
Suddenly, a whistling sound broke the stillness. A glowing arrow, infused with emerald light, streaked toward Volt's chest. Without even looking, Volt raised two fingers and caught the arrow mid-air. The magical energy within the shaft vibrated violently, trying to explode, but Volt's dark aura suppressed it instantly.
"Filthy demons! How dare you set foot on this sacred soil?" A melodic but cold voice echoed from the shadows. A female Elf with long, silver hair and piercing green eyes emerged from the foliage. She was Luna, the Commander of the Shoreline Sentinels. Around her, dozens of archers appeared, their bows drawn and aimed at the intruders.
Volt let out a low, mocking laugh. "Sacred? You still believe the Mana you borrow from your 'masters' is holy? It's nothing more than a colorful leash.". Volt's right hand began to glow with a terrifying intensity. A massive fireball formed in his palm, the heat so extreme that the sand beneath his feet began to turn into glass.