The tension in the chamber thickened as Angeleva faced off against Commander Lack.
Her glowing wings illuminated the darkened surroundings, while Lack's monstrous form radiated crimson energy.
Commander Lack sneered, his jagged teeth bared.
Commander Lack:
"Foolish fairy. Your light will be consumed by the abyss."
Angeleva's eyes gleamed with unwavering resolve.
Angeleva:
"I've faced darkness before. You're nothing but a shadow in its wake."
The cultists surrounding the altar hissed and chanted louder, trying to complete the dark ritual. Olive's strained breathing grew fainter, the energy leeching away her strength.
Without hesitation, Angeleva launched herself forward, her wings propelling her like a comet. Lack roared, swinging his colossal staff in a wide arc. Dark tendrils lashed out, but Angeleva weaved through them with flawless agility.
She summoned radiant orbs of light, hurling them with pinpoint accuracy. Each blast struck the tendrils, disintegrating them into ashes. It was a Radiance Rain attack. Lack staggered, but his twisted grin only widened.
Commander Lack:
"You cannot stop what has already begun!"
The corrupted staff crackled with malicious energy as Lack slammed it into the ground. The chamber trembled. Jagged spikes of dark energy erupted, forcing Angeleva to ascend swiftly to avoid the surge.
Ian, still crouched behind a shattered pillar, kept his camera rolling. Despite his trembling hands, his fascination outweighed his fear.
Ian (whispering into the camera):
"And there you have it, viewers! The legendary Fairy faces the monstrous Commander in a battle of light and dark! This is footage of the millennium!"
A sudden shadow loomed over Ian. Two cultists, snarling with glowing red eyes, advanced toward him. Ian's smile faltered.
Ian (gulping):
"Uhh... Viewers, I may need to switch to the 'survival vlog' soon!"
Just as the cultists lunged, a bright flash blinded them. Angeleva's stray energy blast knocked them aside, saving Ian by mere luck.
Ian (nervously panting):
"I-I'm okay! Still filming! Thanks, Legendary Fairy!"
Angeleva, focused on Lack, didn't respond. She summoned a massive sphere of energy, radiating divinity and channeled it on her wand. It was her finisher Fairy Justice Beam except she used everything in this attack this time.
Angeleva:
"This ends now!"
With a powerful cry, she launched the sphere directly at Lack. The blast engulfed him, detonating with a brilliant explosion. Dust and debris erupted, shaking the entire chamber.
_ _ _
The thick haze of dust lingered as Angeleva scanned the chamber, her glowing wings casting a faint light over the ruins.
The scorched remnants of Commander Lack lay scattered, his form vanquished by the power of the Fairy Justice Beam.
Angeleva (cautiously):
"Is it over?"
Before any answer could come, a sinister murmur echoed from the shadows. The cultists, though weakened, were far from finished. Hooded figures gathered in a tight circle around the altar, their crimson eyes gleaming.
Lead Cultist:
"The vessel remains! The ritual must continue for the sake of Zozo!"
On the cracked altar, Olive lay motionless, her breathing shallow. She tried to move, but her limbs trembled. The dark energy had drained her strength.
Olive (weakly):
"No... I won't... let you..."
But her words faded as the cultists intensified their chanting. The cursed sigils on the floor pulsed once more, spreading a malevolent force.
From behind a crumbling pillar, Ian peeked out, still clutching his camera. Despite the chaos, his instincts as a cameraman refused to waver. But as he watched Olive's helpless form and the cultists' growing power, something shifted within him.
Ian (gritting his teeth):
"I can't just stand here."
He thought of the countless stories he'd documented — heroes bravely facing impossible odds. And now, there was a girl in distress, a classic tale of peril. His lips curled into a determined, if slightly foolish, grin.
Ian:
"A damsel in distress? Well, every great story needs a hero. Looks like it's my turn!"
Before Angeleva could stop him, Ian bolted from his hiding spot.
Angeleva (shouting):
"Ian, no!"
But Ian, undeterred, charged toward the altar. He dodged falling debris and leapt over the cracked stones, camera still in hand.
Ian:
"Fear not, fair maiden! Your hero is on his way!"
The cultists barely flinched. Instead, a dark circle of energy materialized around Ian, encasing him in a malicious prison. The swirling shadows trapped him, cutting him off from Angeleva.
Ian (panicking):
"Okay! This is not how it was supposed to go!"
Angeleva dashed forward, unleashing a wave of brilliant light. Her Fairy Radiance attack slammed against the dark circle — but it merely flickered, remaining intact.
Angeleva (gritting her teeth):
"What is this?!"
The lead cultist laughed, his voice dripping with malice.
Lead Cultist:
"Anti-fairy wards, forged from the abyss. Your light is powerless here."
Angeleva's wings dimmed momentarily as doubt crept in. Every attack she launched fizzled upon contact. Even her presence, radiant and divine, failed to break the sinister seal.
Angeleva (frustrated):
"No... this can't be."
The cultists advanced toward Olive, chanting louder. Ian struggled within the circle, his futile attempts only tightening the shadows.
Ian (desperately):
"Uh...? Just a little help here!"
But even she was trapped in a losing battle. Her seduction abilities, once so effective, held no power over beings who thrived in the void. The cultists' twisted devotion rendered them immune.
Angeleva (thinking):
"They're different. I can't win like this."
She stumbled, clutching her chest as exhaustion weighed her down. The light within her flickered dangerously. The cultists seized the moment, launching dark bolts of energy at her. Angeleva blocked them, but the force pushed her back, her wings trembling.
As Angeleva staggered, she thought of someone.
Angeleva (whispering):
"Safari..."
She could almost see him — the reckless, stubborn warrior who charged headfirst into danger. Where she fought with grace and strategy, Safari fought with pure strength and determination.
Angeleva (thinking):
"If it were him, he'd tear through these cultists without hesitation."
But she wasn't a devil like Safari. She was a fairy, bound by her limitations. The frustration gnawed at her, but the sight of Olive's fading light forced her to stand once more.
Angeleva (gritting her teeth):
"I won't let them win."
Meanwhile, at the Castle Gates
While the throne room descended into chaos, a very different scene played out at the castle's massive gates.
The fortress shook violently as Safari(transformed) made his entrance — or rather, tore through it. The sound of crumbling stone and splintering wood echoed as he crashed through, leaving a trail of destruction.
Safari (grinning):
"Knock, knock!"
Behind him, Zack and Jen sprinted to keep up, both wide-eyed at the carnage.
Jen:
"Big bro! We could've just opened the door!"
Safari (shrugging):
"Where's the fun in that?"
The demon guards who had remained to defend the fortress stood no chance.
With every swing of his mighty fists and hammer, Safari sent them flying. Zack, though nervous, managed to heal Safari's minor wounds with his powers, while Jen provided some of her own made cookies.
Zack:
"We're actually winning!"
Jen:
"Of course we are. He's Safari big bro."
The trio pressed onward, determined to reach the throne room.