Dune scanned his surroundings. The forest stretched endlessly around him, cold and blanketed in a shimmering layer of snow. The air was sharp and biting. Tightening his grip on the hilt of his sword, he looked around cautiously.
Suddenly, a burst of fiery red light illuminated the trees, and a figure fell through the flames, landing heavily in the snow.
"Atlas!" Dune called, rushing forward without hesitation. He crouched, grabbing Atlas by the arm and helping him to his feet.
"So? How did it go?" Dune asked, his voice edged with urgency.
Atlas brushed off the snow clinging to his cloak and exhaled a visible breath into the cold air. "I was chosen by Orochid," he said, his tone both grim and resolute. "He's the god of Malice."
Dune's eyes narrowed as he processed the words. "I see," he muttered before rising to his feet. He sheathed his sword with a determined motion. "Come on. We've got to find Ned. He was stabbed in Fein, he's gotta be there by now."
Atlas nodded, adjusting the strap of his weapon. "Alright, let's go." Without another word, the two of them sprinted through the forest, their footprints vanishing in the falling snow as they moved toward the unknown.
[ Fein ]
Ned groaned as his eyes flickered open. He lay sprawled on the ground, surrounded by destruction. What was left of the city around him was unrecognizable, buildings were reduced to smoldering ruins, and some appeared to have simply vanished, leaving empty craters in their wake. The stench of smoke and fire hung thick in the air, mixing with the metallic smell of blood.
He sat up, disoriented, and felt the prickling sensation of being watched. His gaze darted across the rubble until it caught a faint blue glow in the distance.
Ned's heartbeat quickened as he climbed to his feet. He jogged toward the glow, navigating the shattered remains of buildings. The closer he got, the worse the destruction became. Whatever had happened here, it was violent and recent.
Finally, he saw the source of the light. A man lay sprawled amidst the icy debris, faintly glowing blue, the frost and snow from the ruined surroundings slowly creeping toward him as though drawn by an invisible force.
"Cadogan?" Ned called out, his voice tinged with fear.
The figure shifted slightly, his eyes flickering open. He was in terrible shape, blood oozed from deep wounds, and his breathing was ragged and shallow.
Ned rushed to his side, panic settling in his chest. "What happened to you?"
Cadogan's lips barely moved as he forced out a strained whisper. "You… need… to run."
Ned froze, his breath catching as eerie sounds echoed around them, low, guttural growls that sent shivers down his spine. He spun around, his hands glowing faintly green as he prepared to defend himself.
Shadows danced in the ruins, and then a twisted creature leapt into view, a wolf-like beast, its body grotesquely deformed, glowing green eyes fixed on them with a predator's intent.
Before Ned could act, Cadogan weakly raised a finger. A sharp spear of ice erupted from the ground, impaling the creature through its chest. The beast collapsed with a final snarl, its lifeless body crumpling to the ground.
The effort sent Cadogan into a violent coughing fit, blood spilling from his lips.
"Stop fighting, Lord Cadogan!" Ned pleaded, his voice breaking. "You're going to die if you keep this up!"
The growls grew louder as more creatures emerged from the shadows, their movements circling like a predator's dance. Ned's mind raced, his instincts screaming to fight or flee. Instead, he dropped to his knees beside Cadogan and began channeling his green Neba into him, the healing energy flowing sluggishly.
"Come on," Ned muttered, gritting his teeth. Healing was slow, too slow. He wasn't skilled enough to make a difference. Desperate, he switched to his red Zeten, the energy sparking like embers in his hands. He pressed it into Cadogan. "Take this! Save yourself, Cadogan. If you die, I will die too!"
Cadogan groaned, his hand feebly gripping Ned's arm. "Where… is your brother?"
Ned managed a shaky laugh. "We all survived. Dune and Atlas are probably on their way here now. The trials were hard, but we made it. We're stronger now… it's also thanks to you."
"That's enough, Ned. Don't waste your Zeten on me."
"But—"
"No. Listen carefully," Cadogan interrupted. "What I need you to do… is to gather the sword shaped teeth scattered across the battlefield. They're infused with my blue Neba. If you bring them to me, I can use their Neba to heal myself. My body is ice… my attacks, my essence… they're all part of me."
Ned hesitated, glancing at the advancing creatures. Cadogan gave him a weak, reassuring smile. "Go, Ned. I'll hold them off."
Ned stood, fists clenched. "Got it. I'll find them. Don't worry, I'll save you." He placed a hand on Cadogan's hand, his resolve firm despite the fear tightening his chest.
"Go!" Cadogan urged, a faint chuckle escaping his lips even as he coughed again.
Ned nodded and dashed into the ruins, leaving Cadogan behind.
Ned trudged through the ruined city, his breaths coming in short, frosty puffs. Around him, the devastation stretched endlessly, broken structures, scorched earth, and snow scattered like ashes. His eyes darted from one icy, sword-shaped tooth to the next, each one radiating a faint blue glow. He stopped before one of them, his jaw tightening. It was massive, easily the size of a small house.
"These are part of Cadogan's abilities?" Ned muttered, running his hand along the jagged edge of the tooth. "Just how strong is he?" His fingers tingled with the cold, and the tooth pulsed faintly with blue Neba. It was alive in its own way, a fragment of Cadogan's immense power.
He clenched his fists, his mind racing. "And more importantly… who the hell managed to beat him like this? This is insane." His thoughts spiraled for a moment, but he shook his head, refocusing. "No. Focus, Ned. Your goal is to save him. He saved me many times, i have to pay him back."
Determined, Ned activated both his red Zeten and green Neba, channeling their combined energy into his limbs. He wrapped his arms around the icy structure and pulled. The tooth barely shifted, its weight dragging against the ground like a boulder, but he didn't stop.
The cold seeped into his skin, his muscles screaming in protest. "Come on!" A faint grin tugged at his lips as he felt the blue Neba trickle into him. "Crazy! Even a tiny amount of this blue Neba could fully replenish my own Neba reserves." he muttered.
He took another deep breath and pulled harder, dragging the colossal tooth inch by inch through the rubble. Then, a low growl cut through the stillness.
Ned froze, his eyes snapping to the shadows. From the ruins, glowing green eyes appeared, three wolf-like creatures, their twisted bodies prowling toward him with predatory intent.
"Damn it," Ned hissed, lowering the tooth and stepping back. He readied himself, energy crackling around him, when a blur of motion darted in from the side. A blade flashed, slicing cleanly through the first wolf. Its body crumpled to the ground in two halves before it could even pounce.
"Ned!"
Ned's head snapped toward the voice, and his heart leapt. "Dune!" he shouted, relief flooding his chest.
Dune sheathed his sword and ran to his brother, pulling him into a tight embrace. "You're alive,"
While they embraced, Atlas moved swiftly behind them, dispatching the other two wolves with a calculated precision. As the last creature fell, Atlas turned, brushing snow from his gloves.
"What are you doing here, Ned? We need to run!" Dune said, pulling back and gripping his brother by the shoulders.
But Ned shook his head, his expression firm. "Dune, Cadogan is here. He's in bad shape. We can't abandon him. He's saved us, helped us so many times."
Dune's brow furrowed, his lips parting as if to argue, but instead, he nodded. "Alright. What should we do?"
Ned blinked, startled by the response. "What?" he muttered under his breath. Was this really his brother? Dune never gave in so easily, especially when it came to risky plans.
"What's the plan, Ned?" Dune repeated, his tone calm but serious.
Ned let out a short laugh, still in disbelief. His brother wasn't arguing, wasn't pushing back. Something's different, he thought. He gave Dune a small nod, his voice steady.
"I'm taking this tooth to Cadogan. You and Atlas need to grab some of the others and bring them too. They'll help him heal."
Dune exchanged a confused glance with Atlas. "Tooth?"
"Just trust me," Ned said, gripping the massive shard again.
Atlas shrugged. "If you say so."
Dune gave a faint smile. "Alright. Let's do it."
As Ned resumed dragging the massive tooth, he glanced over his shoulder at his brother. Something about Dune had shifted, he wasn't the same brash, headstrong sibling who often dismissed others' needs. A memory surfaced in Ned's mind, where Dune risked his life to save Nely, nearly sacrificing himself in the process.
Ned's lips curved into a smile despite the pain in his arms. Did Dune finally understand the importance of friendship? Of loyalty?
The thought filled him with hope, even as the weight of the tooth pressed down on him. He grit his teeth, determination flaring in his chest.
Together, they would save Cadogan, and they'd all make it out of this alive.