Gra'kar stood at the altar, extracting the power of the ancient relic. At first, everything seemed to be going smoothly. He felt the overwhelming energy surging through his body, filling him with an unparalleled sense of strength. He was convinced that he would lead the troll tribe beyond this island and reclaim Celesta as their rightful dominion.
Gra'kar (eyes gleaming):
"Now… it is time to restore our glory."
He extended a portion of that power to his subordinates, who also felt the intoxicating surge coursing through their veins. It seemed like everything was going according to plan—until the hidden nature of the relic's power revealed itself.
Gra'kar's eyes turned a deep crimson, his fur bristled, and his muscles swelled unnaturally. But the power he had absorbed was not just mere strength—it was an insatiable hunger, a violent thirst for blood. The dark influence of the ancient god coiled around his mind, and he could no longer resist its whispers.
Gra'kar (writhing in agony):
"W-what is this…? I… I crave blood…!"
His subordinates suffered the same fate. Their eyes burned red, their bodies grotesquely swelled, and all reason was consumed by the relic's corruption. They lost their minds, transformed into raging beasts that attacked everything in sight.
The moderate faction of the trolls watched in horror as their kin succumbed to madness, their bodies wracked with uncontrollable bloodlust. They tried to contain the rampaging horde, but the berserk trolls' raw power made any resistance futile.
Malgrim (shouting in despair):
"This is the disaster I feared! Get the civilians to safety, now!"
The moderate trolls scrambled to evacuate the non-combatants, but the rampaging warriors were relentless, tearing through anything in their path. Their sheer size and ferocity made it impossible to halt their advance, and the evacuation grew increasingly desperate.
🔻 Flashback: The Great Troll War
As Malgrim watched the devastation unfold, memories of the past resurfaced. He recalled the age when the trolls reigned supreme over Celesta—an era when they stood unrivaled, with humans, elves, and the ancients trembling beneath their might.
But as the ancient race faced extinction, they made a final decision: to pass down their knowledge and magic to the humans, granting them the strength to oppose the trolls. The elves joined the human alliance, and together they waged war against the troll dominion.
Malgrim (as a young warrior in the past):
"We stood at the peak of Celesta, but at what cost…?"
In the early stages of the war, the trolls dominated. Yet as the ancients' last relics began to manifest, everything changed. These artifacts, which were meant to be weapons of war, instead turned against their wielders. Trolls who sought to harness them were consumed by their power, driven to madness and ultimately bringing ruin upon their own kind.
Malgrim (in his memory, lamenting):
"We sought to control a power beyond our means… and we paid the price."
🔻 Present: A History Repeating Itself
As Malgrim snapped back to the present, he saw the same disaster unfolding once more. Gra'kar's recklessness had reawakened the same dark force that had once doomed their ancestors.
Malgrim (resolute):
"If we don't stop this now, we are doomed to repeat our past mistakes."
Meanwhile, Gra'kar, completely overtaken by bloodlust, began his campaign of destruction. Clutching the relic tightly, he bellowed his intent to take Celesta by force, convinced that his newfound power made him invincible.
Gra'kar (in a frenzy):
"This island is mine! Celesta is mine! Everything will kneel before me!"
His berserk followers ravaged anything in their path, leaving nothing but ruin behind them. Their next target? The Black Pirate Fleet and Merslin's group.
Episode: Chains of Binding
At the harbor, the Black Pirates' ships were caught in the chaos. The rampaging trolls stormed the docks, tearing through the wooden decks with monstrous strength. Crew members screamed as they were thrown overboard, and the flagship was already beginning to sink.
Balok (shouting in panic):
"What in the abyss is happening?! All hands, prepare for battle!"
Despite Balok's orders, his crew stood no chance against the berserk trolls. Their weapons barely scratched the beasts, and they were quickly overwhelmed.
Merslin and his companions, witnessing the carnage, immediately sprang into action.
Merslin (grimly):
"Stay sharp! These trolls can't tell friend from foe anymore. We're all in danger now!"
Elena and Aria quickly began casting protective spells, creating barriers to slow the onslaught. But even their magic could barely hold against the sheer force of the rampaging trolls.
Elena (tense):
"Their strength is… beyond anything I've ever seen! But we have to hold our ground!"
Aria (determined):
"If we fall here, the entire island is doomed. We fight to the end!"
Lisa, seeing no other option, drew her weapons and leaped into battle. Her movements were swift and precise, targeting weak spots with deadly efficiency.
Lisa (resolute):
"They've lost their minds. That means we need to be ruthless, too. We hold this ground, no matter what!"
Serena joined her, weaving through the chaos with razor-sharp agility, analyzing the enemy's patterns and striking with precision.
Serena (coolly):
"We either stop this here, or no one walks away alive. Let's end this."
Merslin, seeing the tides of battle turning against them, suddenly heard a whisper in his mind.
Merslin (muttering in confusion):
"Use the Chains of Binding… visualize the chains in your mind… What is this voice…?"
Without fully understanding, he instinctively obeyed the command, raising his hands and invoking the spell.
Merslin (firmly):
"Chains of Binding!"
From his palms, ethereal silver chains materialized, wrapping tightly around several of the berserk trolls, binding them in place. The momentary restraint allowed Elena to unleash a blizzard spell, while the hidden pirates retrieved their cannons and fired upon the creatures.
The trolls' shamans retaliated, summoning spirit wolves and erecting magical barriers to counter the assault, further complicating the battlefield.
Despite their efforts, the berserk trolls still held an overwhelming advantage. The ratio remained three to one, making victory seem impossible.
Malgrim, realizing there was no other way, made his final stand.
Malgrim (declaring):
"We must stop Gra'kar! His madness will lead us all to ruin!"
Lisa, Serena, Merslin, and Elena steeled themselves for the decisive battle. The fate of the island—and possibly the world—now rested in their hands.