The giant knelt before Leo. Its huge form radiated a quiet respect. The ground shuddered faintly under its massive weight. The air seemed to hum, as if the ancient forest itself watched the moment. The colossal being's glowing eyes locked onto Leo. They were filled with a deep wisdom that went beyond words.
As Leo stood, taking in the strange, heavy moment, shimmering signs appeared in the air. Their golden glow cut through the thick green leaves, pulling his attention.
Achievement Unlocked: Strongest Eldara!
The words lingered for a moment, then dissolved into sparkling specks of light. Another sign appeared right after:
You have received the Zone-Limited Title: Elf King!
The title's meaning settled in his mind. The forest seemed to pulse with the achievement, as if giving its silent approval.
Leo's gaze shifted back to the giant. Its towering frame bowed further, showing it understood. He opened his mouth to speak but paused, the words lost in the hum of the moment.
His instincts urged him to look upward.
The wave of bright light that surged from the highest tower of Elderglade continued. It poured down like a heavenly tide. Filled every crack, dancing across the ancient forest. It brushed the mossy roots and rippled through the thick leaves. The forest answered back. Its life force bloomed in bright colors. As the wave reached Leo, he paused, feeling its warmth seep deep inside him.
The light brought a wondrous sight. Shimmering bits of gold and silver fell like the first snowflakes, settling gently on the forest floor. His now pointed ears twitched as the leaves whispered, their colors growing deeper with life. Even the forest creatures came out from their homes. They moved with a quiet respect for the magical event.
Leo tilted his head back, letting the light wash over his face. A rare, open smile touched his lips. His voice broke the silence, filled with quiet relief. "I'm glad... I'm glad she's okay." He breathed out. His breath mixed with the glowing bits of light that swirled around him.
It felt like a weight he didn't even know he carried has finally lifted.
But the quiet moment shattered. His sharp senses warned him of danger. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Shadow Elder clutching her head. She swayed, unsteady on her feet. Her dark aura flickered, growing unstable as if fighting the growing light.
Before Leo could ask her, a heavy pressure pressed down on them. The air grew thick with a force he could not see. A faint, dark pulse beat through the earth, sending shakes up through his boots.
"Ai!" Leo barked, turning toward the open clearing. His gaze locked onto her but his focus wavered for a second. A figure stood beside her, but Leo pushed the distraction aside. There was no time to think about it.
"Ai, dismiss the cats. And yourself, just in case. I'll handle this," Leo said. His voice was calm but urgent. Ai nodded. Her figure dissolved into motes of light along with the magical cats.
Leo's body tensed like a coiled spring. His instincts were sharp as he prepared to lunge toward the heart of Elderglade. He crouched, his legs gathering raw power. Then his gaze met the Shadow Elder's for a quick second. The moment stretched. Her eyes, hidden in shadow, seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words.
Before either could act, the Shadow Elder muttered a single word: "Recall."
A magic circle flared to life beneath her. Complex runes glowed with a ghostly light. She was covered in a blinding flash before her form vanished into the air. Leo didn't hesitate. The moment the light faded, he launched himself forward. His legs pushed him with so much force that the ground beneath him cracked.
He sped through the forest. Each step was a blur. The air around him pulsed with life. The ancient forest reacted to his rush. Leaves trembled behind him. Their edges glimmered faintly, as if lit by the leftover energy from the wave of light.
As he wove between towering trunks, a faint sound tugged at his attention. It was a soft, deep groan. His sharp eyes caught a streak of thick, rolling mist ahead. It curled through the trees like a living river, bending them aside as if clearing a path. His instincts sharpened, pushing him toward the strange sight.
Breaking through the leaves, he saw the source. It was the familiar giant of the forest. Its massive hand waved lazily as its glowing eyes followed him. The mist came from its huge tobacco, bending the forest itself to guide him.
A quick smile crossed Leo's face.
"Thanks," he muttered.
The path led to a huge, open hole in the forest floor. Waves of burning heat and freezing wind spilled out in wild bursts. The warring energies made the air shimmer. The edges of the hole pulsed with a faint, strange glow. The battlefield beyond came into view. It was a loud mess of ice and fire. Each element fought to win. Their clash filled the air with a strange mix of crackles and roars.
But all of that paled when he saw her.
Amanda stood at the edge of the chaos. Her figure was framed by the dancing flames and glittering frost. For a moment, time seemed to freeze. His heart pounded hard, the rhythm thunderous in his chest, as if it had been ages since he'd last seen her. The relief that flooded him lasted only a moment and was replaced by unease as he saw her serious face.
His gaze followed hers, drawn toward the direction of her focus. His breath caught as he saw it.
A giant frozen figure loomed ahead. Its body was a jagged tower of ice, standing nearly as tall as the forest giant. The creature gave off raw power. Its limbs shimmered with bent light, making it look like a living glacier. Its colossal arm swung down threatening to destroy anything in its path. The earth trembled beneath its weight, sending cracks spinning outward.
Without thinking, Leo moved.
Limbs burst from his back and latched themselves into the opening of the arena.
Their black, jelly-like forms gleamed like polished black stone. In one explosive motion, the limbs pulled back, hurling Leo forward like a slingshot. He flew like a missile and shot toward the heart of the battlefield, aimed right under the titan's falling arm.
The instant he passed the high point of the swing, new limbs shot out from his body. They sank like hooks into the frozen ground. They pulled tight, holding him fast with brutal force.
His forward speed changed into a violent spin that tore massive chunks of stone from the walls from the opening they were latched on.
The boulders slammed into the frozen titan's falling arm. Each hit was a deafening crack, sending shards of ice exploding outward.
The frozen giant staggered, its balance shifting as fractures began to spiderweb across its crystalline surface.