Chapter 14: The Attack

Chapter 14: The Attack

The elevator brought them to the surface, and as the doors opened, Daniel and Noah stepped out, their resolve unwavering as they embarked on their search for Maya.

Now, they found themselves back in the dimly lit cave. Of course, the sun had barely touched the sky, however, the cave remained dark for it was exactly at the opposite side of the sunlight. Furthermore, the dead trees were positioned in such a manner that they were determined not to let even a ray of light reach the cave.

But it was somewhat visible, better than at night.

Noah, now positioned behind Daniel, offered a suggestion, his voice carrying a tone of determination, "Take my hand. We'll teleport directly to the forest."

Without hesitation, Daniel reached out and clasped Noah's hand. In an instant, the incantation for the Stynom spell was spoken, and like a fleeting wisp, both of them vanished from the cave.

In the blink of an eye, Daniel and Noah materialized at the location, confronted by the bodies of the defeated Enforcers strewn across the ground. Daniel released Noah's hand as they arrived, and then immediately scanned the peculiar surroundings, searching for any sign of Maya.

With a determined tone, he called out, "Maya!"

Noah, however, halted Daniel's second shout, a hushed warning escaping his lips, "Shh, lad, don't be too loud. You might attract monsters."

Daniel furrowed his brows in confusion, his gaze shifting between the Enforcer corpses nearby. He inquired, "But wasn't there a battle here, Sir?"

"Yet no mons—" Daniel began, about to share his observation that mere human voices might not draw monsters, especially given the recent clash between Enforcers and Hendloff might have scared them away, whatever threats lurked in the vicinity.

Before he could finish his sentence, a sudden howl pierced the air from the left, causing Daniel to startle and take a few steps backward.

"Aooooo!"

Noah instinctively raised his wand, pointing it towards the direction of the howl, his stance poised and ready for whatever challenge might emerge from the shadows.

A fascinating aspect of the Dark Forest was its perpetual night, where sunlight never managed to penetrate the mysterious barrier that surrounded it. It was only the moonlight perhaps, capable of the wonder.

The only available source of illumination was the faint glow emanating from the tips of their wands. This eerie ambiance, shrouded in darkness, made it challenging for Noah and Daniel to discern any movements around them.

However, amidst the shadowy obscurity, their senses became attuned to the presence of a creature – a Dark Wolf, its eyes gleaming a haunting golden-yellow as it stealthily closed in.

The creature's steps were a paradoxical combination of agility and weight, a rhythmic progression that crushed twigs and snapped branches underfoot. The wolf's deliberate approach was undeniable.

Realizing the imminent danger, Daniel instinctively positioned his wand, prepared to unleash a spell at a moment's notice. But with Noah at his side, even such a precaution seemed almost unnecessary.

Noah took charge, smoothly extending his wand before him and enunciating the incantation, "Ciriofo Parfiso[ Spell to paralyze]!"

In response to his spell, a colossal pentagram materialized directly before the wand's tip. This time, a brilliant yellow radiance emanated from the magical formation, illuminating the surroundings and casting an eerie glow upon the impending confrontation. The radiant symbol appeared to serve as a potent barrier, a defense poised to repel the encroaching threat.

The pentagram's true power was revealed in that crucial moment.

As the Dark Wolf lunged forward, its deadly claws extended with malicious intent, the radiant pentagram positioned before Daniel and Noah acted as an unyielding shield. The creature's pounce was abruptly halted, met with an invisible barrier that thwarted its aggression.

In an instant, a crackling surge of energy burst forth from the pentagram, accompanied by a sharp zap of sound. A lightning bolt erupted from the symbol, striking the wolf with an overwhelming force. The unfortunate creature was flung backward, colliding with a tree way back.

Noah had intoned a potent spell, but it fell short of being fatal. Instead, it left the creature in a state of unconsciousness. As Daniel and Noah cautiously advanced, the beast came into view, its form surrounded by flickers of lightning, eyes shut.

"A wolf…" Daniel's voice was barely audible, tinged with astonishment.

"A shadow wolf," Noah confirmed, his countenance revealing a lack of satisfaction. His gaze shifted to Daniel. "We should leave this place."

Perplexed, Daniel fixed his gaze on Noah, silently inquiring for an explanation.

"Shadow wolves roam in packs. It's unlikely this one was alone."

"There could be more nearby. We need to head back immediately," Noah clarified.

Daniel nodded in agreement, his thoughts racing. "And Maya…?"

At the mere mention of her name, a chilling realization dawned upon him. A shadow wolf had been spotted in this area, and Maya was alone. What if she had encountered the creature?

He exchanged a glance with Noah, their shared apprehension hanging in the air.

Without hesitation, Noah clutched the wand close to his chest, its tip aimed skyward. His eyes shut, and he invoked a searching spell with a resolute incantation - "Sercra.[ A searching spell]" The enchantment surged to life, a ripple of energy radiating outward in all directions. His mastery in wizardry endowed him with the strength to scour the entire expanse of the forest, yet, despite his efforts, Maya remained elusive.

"She's not here," Noah's words cut through the air, punctuated by a tinge of disappointment.

Upon hearing this, Daniel felt a mix of frustration and anxiety bubble up inside him, his eyes twitching with apprehension.

"Then where…?", he merely glanced to his left and right in frustration.

"We can't linger here any longer, Daniel. We're running out of time," Noah's voice carried urgency.

"As we thought, a wolf pack is converging on our location."

"But—" Daniel began, his protest stifled as Noah forged ahead, casting the Stynom spell upon both of them. In an instant, they vanished from the scene, reappearing at the mouth of the cave.

Emerging into the daylight, a sudden onslaught of sunlight embraced their skin, momentarily stinging their eyes before they adjusted to the abrupt change.

"If she wasn't there, then—" Daniel's voice trailed off, his intention to inquire about Maya interrupted by a jarring turn of events.

In an instant, the relatively calm situation morphed into a nightmarish tableau as an earsplitting explosion rent the air, accompanied by an overwhelming tremor. The ground beneath their feet convulsed, reminiscent of the most powerful earthquake they had ever encountered.

"The hideout!" Daniel exclaimed, sprinting directly towards the cave. However, as he drew nearer, his steps came to an abrupt halt. A pool of blood lay right at the entrance to the cave.

"Blood..." Daniel's gaze shifted from the crimson stain to Noah, who mirrored his astonishment.

Scanning the area, he found no signs of anyone nearby. Puzzlement etched their faces, and they exchanged a bewildered glance. Daniel then surged to his feet and hurriedly made his way to the elevator.

Chanting the Operacio spell, he and Noah entered the elevator and descended. This time, no guards met their gaze. Instead, they stumbled upon a scene of utter chaos below.

Fire raged, engulfing half of the hideout. Agonized cries pierced the air.

"Help! My mother!" A desperate plea echoed, followed by the anguished cry of, "My child!"

"My sister!"

"Someone, please! My leg!"

"AAAAH!"

A cacophony of distress reverberated in Daniel's ears. Gazing at the inferno, he wasted no time, brandishing his wand.

"Aqualimus Barrage!" he bellowed, invoking an incantation that was all too familiar.

Nearly fifty water spheres materialized, each carrying a formidable spin. However, Daniel focused his concentration, lessening the spin and thereby reducing the spheres' destructive force. His sole aim was to quench the flames that raged around them.

The huts couldn't be left to burn, not with people trapped inside! Amidst the chaotic scene, Daniel witnessed numerous wizards assisting in the evacuation efforts. However, unless the fire was quelled, the danger persisted.

With determination, he unleashed his attacks directly at the fires he spotted. Water spheres plummeted and splashed across the turmoil, but their impact seemed insufficient.

"It's not making much of a dent, lad," Noah remarked, his voice tinged with concern as he traced a pentagram in the air, this time infused with a vibrant blue glow.

The spell he was casting appeared to be incomplete, as Noah continued to murmur incantations, channeling additional energy into it. Yet, Daniel's immediate focus lay elsewhere.

He understood that Noah's involvement meant a potent spell was in the works, one that could potentially extinguish the inferno. Nonetheless, Daniel knew time was of the essence.

'I'm merely wasting Energy…'

'A single Aqualimus isn't enough...' Just as this realization settled in, a memory of Lucifer employing the Gigancio spell flashed through Daniel's mind.

"That might work!"

Summoning the Aqualimus Barrage once more, he conjured all fifty water spheres and deliberately diminished their spinning velocity. With unwavering precision, he directed the Gigancio spell at one of the spheres, its effects rippling through the others in rapid succession.

In a mere matter of minutes, he found himself commanding fifteen colossal aqua spheres. With urgency propelling his actions, he propelled the spheres directly toward the raging fires, his strength barely containing their immense power.

One after another, the spheres soared in diverse trajectories, cascading upon the flames. Just as this effort reached its culmination, Noah's incantation also reached its zenith.

He shaped a pentagram that expanded rapidly, its proportions growing until it enveloped half of the hideout. The pentagram seemed to adhere to the ceiling, resembling clouds before a refreshing rainfall. This imagery mirrored the upcoming cascade—a downpour of magical rain to quench the destructive fires.

As Daniel observed the awe-inspiring spellwork with a mixture of admiration and smugness, his thoughts drifted back to Vineca. His sense of urgency surged anew, and his expression turned grave. He started running! Along his path, lifeless bodies lay strewn, not claimed by the inferno or falling debris, but by their own bleeding.

Strange and unsettling, the sight of blood trickling from their noses, ears, eyes, and mouths, even seeping through their skin, perplexed Daniel. He raced forward, navigating through the grim tableau until he reached the doctor's hut.

Yet, his passage was blocked by an enigmatic figure—an unfamiliar presence cloaked in a shroud and wearing a mask. The black smoke in the surrounding almost made him collide with the man, Jorren.

Yet, as his gaze bore into the figure, bewilderment twisted into an incandescent rage. In lieu of questioning the stranger's identity, Daniel's hand clenched tightly around his wand, fury manifesting in his words.

"PUT HER DOWN!" His teeth ground together menacingly, his voice carrying a dangerous edge. His attention fixated on Vineca, who was being held by the intruder's left arm, an accompanying diary tightly gripped.

"Oh?"

Daniel caught his attention, both previously with the impact and even now with his voice.

"And who might you-", Jorren wanted to ask for Daniel's name, but his words were cut short.

"I said put her down!"

"Dare to cut my words…"

"Peasant, know your place," a resonant, deep voice retorted.

"Bredio Bulvago[ Jorren's spell receieved from Diablos]!" The man intoned, his wand emitting a subdued luminescence as it remained directed at Daniel.

The ensuing consequence was all too familiar—a seeping of blood from Daniel's ears and nostrils. He staggered, nearly toppling to the ground, droplets of blood splattering the earth below.

"What—"

Dizziness enveloped him, his gaze wavering as he fought to maintain focus. He raised his head, his eyes fixed on the retreating figure clutching Vineca.

"Y-you... bastard! Where are you tak—" His vehement cry was cut short as a relentless surge of blood forced its way from his mouth, a crimson torrent.

Collapsed on the ground, he refused surrender to the encroaching darkness.

"Dammit!" Determination flared within him. Struggling, he pulled himself upright, his head thudding against the soil. Mud adhered to his forehead, mingling with the forming droplets of blood.

Struggling to regain his footing, his balance teetering on the brink, he inadvertently fell into the hut's walls, a testament to his weakened state. Despite his faltering condition, his resolve remained unwavering—he could not allow the man to escape.

"Aqualus." The incantation resonated through the air as a water sphere surged toward the elusive figure. Yet, he couldn't control it, the sphere falling short and shattering upon the ground.

"No…", he tried again, but the result was the same.

Agony mingled with tears and blood, cascading down his cheeks to meld with the muck-stained earth below.

"Come back!" His voice echoed, the plea infused with raw desperation. He extended a trembling arm, fingers pointing accusingly at the rapidly retreating figure. His legs buckled beneath him, his strength waning.

"Someone! Stop him!", he looked here and there, finding no wizard or witch nearby ready to help.

Only cries of other people invaded his ears, and his cry being one among them, fell into deaf's ears.

He kept calling for help as mud invaded his mouth, a vile intrusion, yet he persisted, unyielding.

'I must do something!'

Lifting his wand once more toward the now-distant speck that was the man, he summoned forth the most formidable water spell, channeling every ounce of his remaining energy:

"Sulameth kalaqua marinde,

Undinei velara naiade,

Aqua exaltare,

fluere potentia,

Mysticus undarum, manifesta!"

As the incantation unfurled, the air crackled with arcane energy, the atmosphere thick with the weight of his determination.

The mightiest of water spells, a legend confined to the pages of books, whispered about in hushed tones. Even a Grand Wizard would grapple with the audacity to wield it. Yet, here stood Daniel, a young man, barely a Junior Wizard who with much efforts succeeded in invoking the unimaginable.

At the wand's tip, an intense azure radiance ignited, birthing water itself. And from that aqueous form emerged a colossal woman. With arms outstretched, a trident materialized in her right hand, while chains of water coalesced in her left.

These watery restraints shot forth, surging toward the relentless figure of Jorren. Abruptly, his stride stilled as the chains entwined his limbs, an electrifying rush surging through his veins. He pivoted, perplexity etching his features, eyes locked on the constricting bonds that mirrored unyielding iron.

"What—" Jorren began, his voice laden with bewilderment. His gaze flickered between the ensnaring chains and the watery woman poised to hurl her trident with relentless force.

The trident, as a spear, was going to be thrown with a force that even Jorren had to do his best to defend against.

Yet, before the climax of this enchantment, Daniel's wand erupted with a boom, snapping with a finality that reverberated through the air. The spell disintegrated, the chains dissolving, and Jorren's captive form cast free.

"What was—" Jorren's words hung in the air, his thoughts mired in contemplation. Resuming his stride, he continued to tread away from the scene.

Daniel, propelled by the broken spell's backlash, soared through the air, coming to an abrupt landing near Noah. His body met the earth with a jolt, consciousness hanging by a thread.

Noah's frantic rush, noticing, led him to Daniel's side, a torrent of concern evident in his voice as he urgently inquired about Daniel's well-being.

"Daniel! My boy!"

But Daniel's ears scarcely registered the words. His voice, weak and feeble, managed a fragile plea, "Don't take her..."

"Stop…"

And those were the last words before he lost his consciousness.