The calm in Oak Academy was deceptive. Though the city was beginning to rebuild, the team couldn't ignore the growing tension in the air. The darkness that lingered wasn't just Sly's presence,it was something deeper, an under flow of unease that warned them of what was to come. Vardy, Ferah, Luthor, Tracy, and Jesse gathered in the academy's war room, still looking at the map, searching over one map and ancient texts in the room. The flickering candlelight danced across their faces, their expressions stood with determination.
Jesse leaned over the table, tracing his finger across a map of the region. "Sly's words weren't just bravado. He's not working alone. The Dark Warlocks have been rebuilding their forces in the shadows. If we're going to stop them, we need to find their stronghold."
Luthor crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. "We can't just charge in blind. Sly's been one step ahead of us every time. If we're not careful, we'll walk straight into a trap."
Tracy nodded, her fingers brushing the hilt of her blade. "Then we need more information. There has to be someone who knows where they're hiding."
Ferah glanced at Vardy, her gaze steady. "What do you think? You've faced them more than any of us, not just me alone we all both did, including you Ferah. Vardy's response not letting her get to him that much, he was already filled with a lot of thought waving over his head"
Vardy hesitated, the weight of his decisions pressing heavily on his shoulders. He still felt the absence of the light he had once wielded so effortlessly. But he couldn't let it show. They needed him to lead.
"We start with Sly," Vardy said finally. "If he's their connection to the Dark Warlocks, he's our best chance at finding them. But we have to be smart about it. He'll be expecting us."
Jesse straightened, his expression serious. "Then we must draw him out. If Sly is as arrogant as he seems, he won't be able to resist the chance to confront us again."
The plan was simple: create a situation that would force Sly to reveal himself. The team spread word through the city, planting rumors of a secret artifact hidden in the ruins of the old cathedral,a relic of immense power that could rival the Dark Warlocks' strength, try to bring the enemy out of hiding.
It wasn't long before Sly took the bait.
The team waited in the cathedral's crumbling remains, their weapons were ready for fight. The moonlight beamed through the shattered windows, casting long shadows across the stone floor.
The air grew cold, and a familiar sense of dread filled the atmosphere. Sly stepped into the cathedral, his darkness billowing behind him. He moved with the confidence of someone who believed he couldn't lose.
"You think you can fool me with this little trick?" Sly's voice echoed, filled with amusement. "I knew it was a trap the moment I heard about it. But I couldn't resist the chance to see you all again."
Vardy stepped forward, his staff glowing faintly. "Then you know why we're here. Tell us where the Dark Warlocks are hiding."
Sly chuckled, shaking his head. "You think I'd just hand over that kind of information to you and your chipmunks so easily? You've always been naive, Vardy."
Luthor grinned, his sword already drawn. "We don't need you to hand it over. We'll take it from you."
With a flick of his wrist, Sly summoned the shadows to his side. They swirled around him like a living storm, forming into dark creatures that snarled and lunged at the team.
The battle was fierce. Ferah and Luthor fought side by side, their blades flashing in the moonlight as they cut through the shadowy forms. Tracy moved with precision, her strikes lethal as she focused on protecting Vardy and Jesse.
Sly's power was overwhelming, his attacks relentless. But Vardy refused to back down. He focused on the faint glimmer of light within him, drawing on every ounce of strength he had left.
"You can't win, Sly," Vardy shouted, his voice steady despite the chaos around him. "The light will always find a way to break through the darknessssss!!"
Sly's amusement faltered for a moment, but his confidence remained. "Then show me, Vardy. Show me the power you think you still have."
Vardy raised his staff, the light within it flaring brighter than it had in weeks. He directed the energy toward Sly, the beam cutting through the shadows and forcing him to retreat.
For the very first time, Sly looked genuinely concerned. He glared at Vardy, his voice filled with venom. "This isn't over. You've only delayed the inevitable."
Before they could stop him, Sly dissolved into the shadows, disappearing into the night.
As the team regrouped, it was clear that their victory was bittersweet. They had driven Sly away, but they hadn't learned anything new about the Dark Warlocks' plans.
"He's scared," Jesse said, his voice thoughtful. "He wouldn't have run if he didn't think we were a threat."
Ferah sheathed her blade, her expression resolute. "Then we keep pushing. We'll find their stronghold, and we'll end this once and for all."
Vardy nodded, his determination renewed. "We've come too far to stop now. No matter what it takes, we'll finish this fight."
The shadows may have risen against us, but so they had theirself to fend for. Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead,and this time, they wouldn't stop until the darkness was gone for good.
The streets of Oak felt eerily quiet under the pale glow of the moon. The remnants of their battle weighed them, but there was no time to dwell. Sly's escape was both a failure and a revelation, he was afraid, which meant they were closer to unraveling the Dark Warlocks' plans than they thought.
Back in the academy's war room, the atmosphere was tense but purposeful. They laid out a series of maps and charts, connecting patterns that had eluded them before.
"If Sly's retreating, it means he's protecting something," Jesse reasoned, his tone sharp with focus. Staring at the map, "The Dark Warlocks must have a stronghold nearby, and they wouldn't risk exposure unless they were planning something big."
Ferah paced the room, her boots clicking against the stone floor. "We need to focus on his fear. If we can push him harder, we might force him to make a mistake."
Tracy leaned against the wall, her arms crossed. "We need a more direct lead. We've been running on speculation for too long."
We need something genuine to get to them first.