Chapter 16 : The Last Stand: Back to the Future

As the three of us stood before Merlin, he smiled and said, "You have done well, my friends. With the Eye of the Storm in my possession, we will be able to strengthen our defenses against Hitler and Genghis Khan." We nodded, feeling a sense of relief that we had accomplished our mission.

Merlin continued, "Now, I have something else to share with you. I have the power to send you back to your own time, to the year 2023." We looked at each other in surprise. "But be warned," Merlin added, "the world you are returning to is not the same as the one you left behind. Hitler and Genghis Khan have taken over, and the world is in a state of chaos."

Arthur spoke up, "But what of the people? The innocent civilians caught in the middle of this war?" Merlin nodded gravely. "They are the ones who suffer the most. That is why it is imperative that you succeed in stopping Hitler and Genghis Khan."

We all took a deep breath and prepared ourselves for the journey ahead. Merlin raised his staff and chanted a few words in an ancient language. Suddenly, a blinding light enveloped us, and we felt ourselves being pulled through time and space.

When the light faded, we found ourselves in a deserted alleyway in what appeared to be a city. It was a stark contrast to the medieval world we had just left behind. Buildings towered above us, cars raced by on the streets, and people hurried along the sidewalks.

I looked down at myself and realized that my superhuman powers had returned. I could feel the energy coursing through my body, and a sense of strength and invincibility filled me.

Arthur looked around in amazement. "This is truly incredible. I never thought it was possible to travel through time like this."

Okita, who was still recovering from his injuries, looked pale and weak. "We need to find a safe place to rest," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

We made our way through the unfamiliar city, dodging cars and pedestrians along the way. As we walked, we noticed that the city was in a state of disrepair. Buildings were crumbling, trash littered the streets, and the air was thick with smog.

Finally, we came across a rundown motel on the outskirts of the city. It was the best option we had, so we decided to stay there for the night.

As we settled into our room, Arthur asked, "So, what's the plan? How do we stop Hitler and Genghis Khan?"

I thought for a moment before answering, "We need to gather as much information as we can about their plans and movements. Then we can find a way to strike back and defeat them."

Okita nodded in agreement. "But where do we start? This world is so different from what we know."

Just then, there was a knock at the door. We hesitantly opened it to find a young woman standing on the other side. She looked to be in her early twenties, with bright blue hair and a determined expression.

"My name is Lily," she said. "I overheard you talking and I think I can help you. I know a group of rebels who are fighting against Hitler and Genghis Khan. They may be able to provide the information you need."

We looked at each other and silently agreed that we had nothing to lose. Lily led us to a hidden underground bunker, where we met with the rebel leaders. They were a ragtag group of fighters, but their determination and bravery were evident.

They told us about the world we had returned to, how Hitler and Genghis Khan had taken over, and how they had divided the world into two.