The sky rumbled with low, menacing thunder.
Kaelion stood between Raik and Sylena, heart pounding.
From the shadows of the forest, more Soul Knights emerged — more than before, and stronger. Their armor was darker, their weapons sharper, their movements filled with terrifying purpose.
"The Soul King is getting serious," Sylena said, her voice cold.
Raik tightened his grip on the nearly drained Teleport Stone.
"We won't outrun this many, kid," he said, smirking grimly.
"We fight. We win. Or we die."
Kaelion swallowed the fear in his throat. He clenched his fists, feeling the Earth Stone pulse inside him, answering his will.
Sylena stepped forward, her white hair catching the stormy wind. Her Tempeststone shimmered at her throat.
"Stay close to me."
"Let's tear them apart."
The first Soul Knight charged — blade flashing.
Before Kaelion could react, Sylena raised one hand.
The wind screamed.
BOOOM.
A cyclone erupted around her, slamming into the knight and tossing him backward like a ragdoll.
Kaelion grinned, feeling energy rush through him.
Another Knight leapt forward.
Kaelion stomped the ground and willed it —
the soil split open, creating a jagged wall that blocked the attack.
Behind him, Raik teleported in quick flashes, grabbing two weaker Soul Knights and throwing them high into the air — too high for them to recover before crashing into the trees.
"That's two!" Raik shouted, grinning.
But more came.
Five more.
Ten.
It felt endless.
Sylena hovered a few inches above the ground now, surrounded by spinning wind that slashed any enemy who dared approach. Her magic was incredible — arcs of lightning crackled around her as she moved her fingers like a conductor of storms.
Kaelion pushed forward, adrenaline taking over.
One Knight came at him with a massive axe.
Kaelion ducked low, pressed his palm to the ground, and summoned a pillar of stone — it smashed into the Knight's gut, lifting him into the air, then Kaelion jumped and slammed his fist down, sending the Knight crashing into the earth.
"I'm not the same kid you chased before!" Kaelion roared.
The fight became a blur of motion.
Raik teleporting enemies into trees and rivers.
Sylena summoning miniature tornadoes to scatter the knights.
Kaelion shaping the earth itself into weapons — stone fists, jagged spikes, heavy shields.
But they were still getting pushed back.
Raik fell to one knee, gasping for breath. His teleport stone flickered weakly.
Sylena's magic dimmed for a moment, her face tightening in pain.
Kaelion stood in front of them both.
He couldn't let them fall.
The Earth Stone inside him roared — and he unleashed it.
The ground around him shook, and huge stone walls erupted in a circle around their small group, trapping the Soul Knights outside.
"I'll hold them off!" Kaelion shouted.
Sylena's eyes widened slightly in respect.
"You've grown strong... faster than I thought."
Raik chuckled, weak but proud.
"Not bad for a rookie..."
The Soul Knights banged on the walls, but Kaelion stood tall, hands glowing, keeping the earth in his command.
For now... they were safe.
But Kaelion knew — this was only the beginning.
The Soul King would not let him go so easily.
Not after stealing one of the most powerful stones in existence.