Inside the throne room, the air grew heavier. The cultists' dark energy thickened like a suffocating fog, and the black circle around Ian glowed ominously.
Ian (shaking his fists at the cultists):
"Alright, I may be a bit trapped, but I still have my wits! You won't stop me from documenting this epic failure!"
He fiddled with his camera, trying to adjust the lens.
Ian:
"Note to self: Risking your life for a heroic moment is highly overrated."
Angeleva stood at the edge of the circle, struggling against the oppressive energy. Her radiant attacks had failed, and the cultists' twisted power only grew. Olive, still shackled on the altar, weakly lifted her head. Her blue hair stuck to her face, her eyes dull.
Olive (hoarsely):
"Don't... waste your strength..."
But Angeleva refused to give up. She clutched her chest, feeling the diminished warmth of her fairy core.
Angeleva (thinking):
"No... There has to be a way."
The cultists chanted louder, their sinister voices reverberating through the chamber. The seal around Ian pulsated, drawing in more energy. The ritual was nearing its completion.
Lead Cultist (grinning wickedly):
"Witness the rebirth of our lord. The sacrifice shall be complete."
Angeleva's fists clenched. She couldn't let this happen. But just as she prepared to summon the last of her strength -
BOOM!
The entire throne room shook violently, dust and debris raining from above. The massive double doors exploded inward, sending cultists flying.
Safari had arrived.
Safari (grinning, fists clenched):
"Sorry I'm late. Looks like I missed the party."
Behind him, Zack and Jen stumbled in, both panting from the chaos of their entrance.
Zack (wheezing):
"Did... did you have to destroy the entire hallway?"
Jen (deadpan):
"That's just how he says hello."
The cultists spun toward Safari, momentarily abandoning the ritual. Their confidence faltered as the sheer force of his presence radiated through the room. Unlike Angeleva's divine light, Safari's aura was raw and unrelenting - the embodiment of devil.
Safari (cracking his knuckles):
"I don't care what dark ritual you're doing. It's over."
The lead cultist snarled, refusing to be intimidated.
Lead Cultist:
"Foolish warrior. You cannot stand against us!"
But Safari only grinned wider.
Safari:
"We'll see about that."
As the cultists rushed forward, Safari charged headlong into the fray. His massive fists collided with the dark robed figures, sending them crashing into the walls. Unlike Angeleva, Safari wasn't bound by the limits of fairy magic. His strength was primal, devilish.
Safari (laughing):
"C'mon! You call this a challenge?"
One cultist tried to ensnare him with a shadowy chain, but Safari simply tore through it with brute force. Another unleashed a blast of dark energy, but Safari deflected it with a single swing of his arm.
Jen:
"Keep going, big bro! You're actually making progress!"
Safari's rampage brought him closer to the dark circle surrounding Ian. The photographer, now thoroughly impressed, called out.
Ian:
"I have to say, that entrance? Solid 10 out of 10!"
Safari ignored him, studying the dark seal. He could feel the twisted energy, but unlike Angeleva, it didn't weaken him.
Safari (grinning):
"This thing's just a glorified wall. And I break walls."
With a mighty roar, Safari slammed his fists into the circle. The floor beneath him cracked from the impact. The dark energy sputtered, the cultists' chanting faltering.
Lead Cultist (panicking):
"No! Impossible!"
But Safari didn't stop. Blow after blow, the dark seal shattered until the final burst of energy exploded outward, freeing Ian.
Ian (stumbling free):
"Freedom! And I still have my camera!"
He gleefully filmed Safari's victory pose, his enthusiasm unbroken.
Ian:
"What a shot! The hero breaks the chains of darkness!"
With the seal destroyed, the cultists were in complete disarray. Angeleva, regaining her strength, rushed to Olive's side. The weakened officer's breathing was faint.
Angeleva (softly):
"Stay with me. You're safe now."
She touched Olive's forehead, a faint glow emanating from her hands. Though it wasn't much, the energy transfer provided some relief.
Olive (weakly):
"Thank... you..."
Safari approached, the last of the cultists lying defeated behind him and unleashed a devil blast which easily vapourised them as if they didn't exist.
Safari (gruffly):
"You're coming with us. We'll get you somewhere safe."
Olive nodded faintly, unable to respond.
Jen:
"We need to get her out of here. The castle's unstable."
As they prepared to leave, Ian gave one final victorious wave to his camera.
Ian:
"And that, folks, concludes today's heroic tale! Safari, the mighty warrior! Angeleva, the dazzling savior! And Ian, the daring documenter!"
Safari:
"Ian, shut up."
With Olive safely in their care, the group made their way out of the ruined castle.
_ _ _
The group, with Olive barely conscious, made their way down the rocky path toward their awaiting spaceship. Safari carried Olive effortlessly, while Ian eagerly bounced beside them, camera in hand.
Ian:
"And so, the heroes emerge victorious! Safari, the mighty warrior! Angeleva, the dazzling savior! And Ian, the daring documenter!"
Safari (gruffly):
"Ian, could you stop repeating the same dialog. It feels like a deja vu."
Ian pouted but didn't stop filming. Angeleva glanced at Olive, whose breathing was still shallow.
Angeleva (gently):
"Can you tell us your name?"
Olive stirred slightly, her voice barely a whisper.
Olive:
"...Nameplate."
Safari blinked.
Safari:
"Nameplate?"
Ian immediately perked up.
Ian:
"Hold on, I got this!"
With exaggerated flair, he zoomed in with his camera, dramatically focusing on the badge pinned to Olive's tattered uniform. The name "Olive" was engraved elegantly beneath the emblem of the Celestic Justice.
Ian (astonished):
"Olive! She's one of the Celestic Police!"
Everyone's eyes widened. Even Safari, usually indifferent to titles, seemed mildly impressed.
Safari:
"Didn't expect that."
Jen (thoughtfully):
"That explains why the cult wanted her for their ritual. A Celestic police's energy would be powerful for their dark magic compared to a normal person."
Ian was already back in his own world, dramatically framing the shot of Olive's exhausted face.
Ian:
"A Celestic officer... Imagine the headlines! If I had saved her myself, I could've been the hero of the galaxy. 'Ian, Savior of the Celestic Police'- that has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
Angeleva rolled her eyes.
Angeleva:
"You were captured in less than five seconds."
Ian (huffing):
"Details, details."
Olive leaned against a wall in exhaustion.
But then, Ian's attention shifted. Now that Olive was more visible, her delicate features caught the light. Despite her weakened state, she had a certain elegance - soft blue hair falling over her face, deep sapphire eyes, and a calm resilience. Ian's camera clicked as he captured what he considered to be the most exclusive shot of his career.
And then it happened.
His heart skipped a beat.
Ian (eyes sparkling):
"Whoa... She's gorgeous."
He practically dropped his camera as his expression shifted into one of absolute admiration.
Ian (grinning, dramatically flipping his hair):
"The name's Ian! Handsome, brave, and a photographer of the stars!"
Olive, her face still blank from exhaustion, blinked at him.
Olive:
"Why... are you...?"
Ian took that as his cue. He straightened his back, adopting what he believed to be his most charming pose.
Ian:
"A wandering soul, capturing the universe's beauty one photo at a time! But now, fate has brought me here-to you!"
Olive, entirely unimpressed, sighed deeply.
Olive:
"...I'm too tired for this."
Safari snorted, trying to hold back laughter. Angeleva shook her head, though there was a faint smile on her face.
Safari:
"Looks like you're striking out, hero."
Ian pouted.
Ian:
"She's just overwhelmed by my charm. Happens all the time."
After a moment, Olive finally managed to sit up slightly in Safari's arms, wincing from the lingering pain. Despite Ian's antics, a look of gratitude flashed across her face as she glanced at the others.
Olive:
"Thank you... for saving me."
Angeleva nodded, her pink hair shimmering under the dim sky.
Angeleva:
"We're just glad we got to you in time."
One by one, the others introduced themselves.
Safari:
"Safari. The Ruler of Sappy and Devil King."
Jen:
"Jen. Cook of the family."
Zack:
"Zack. Healer. You'll feel better in no time."
Finally, Ian stepped forward, attempting one last effort at making an impression.
Ian:
"And me! Ian, the daring photographer, galactic explorer, and future legend!"
Olive's eyes lazily shifted toward him. She said nothing.
Olive:
"..."
Then she turned away, ignoring him entirely. Ian's confident grin faltered.
Ian:
"Ah, the silent admiration. I get that a lot."
The group continued their journey to the spaceship, Ian dramatically narrating their "triumphant return." Despite his romantic delusions, Olive remained entirely disinterested.
But Ian?
He was smitten.
And then it happened.
His heart skipped a beat.
Ian (eyes sparkling):
"Whoa... She's gorgeous."
He practically dropped his camera as his expression shifted into one of absolute admiration.
Ian (grinning, dramatically flipping his hair):
"The name's Ian! Handsome, brave, and a photographer of the stars!"
Olive, her face still blank from exhaustion, blinked at him.
Olive:
"Why... are you...?"
Ian took that as his cue. He straightened his back, adopting what he believed to be his most charming pose.
Ian:
"A wandering soul, capturing the universe's beauty one photo at a time! But now, fate has brought me here-to you!"
Olive, entirely unimpressed, sighed deeply.
Olive:
"...I'm too tired for this."
Safari snorted, trying to hold back laughter. Angeleva shook her head, though there was a faint smile on her face.
Safari:
"Looks like you're striking out, hero."
Ian pouted.
Ian:
"She's just overwhelmed by my charm. Happens all the time."
After a moment, Olive finally managed to sit up slightly in Safari's arms, wincing from the lingering pain. Despite Ian's antics, a look of gratitude flashed across her face as she glanced at the others.
Olive:
"Thank you... for saving me."
Angeleva nodded, her pink hair shimmering under the dim sky.
Angeleva:
"We're just glad we got to you in time."
One by one, the others introduced themselves.
Safari:
"Safari. The Ruler of Sappy and Devil King."
Jen:
"Jen. Cook of the family."
Zack:
"Zack. Healer. You'll feel better in no time."
Finally, Ian stepped forward, attempting one last effort at making an impression.
Ian:
"And me! Ian, the daring photographer, galactic explorer, and future legend!"
Olive's eyes lazily shifted toward him. She said nothing.
Olive:
"..."
Then she turned away, ignoring him entirely. Ian's confident grin faltered.
Ian:
"Ah, the silent admiration. I get that a lot."
The group continued their journey to the spaceship, Ian dramatically narrating their "triumphant return." Despite his romantic delusions, Olive remained entirely disinterested.
But Ian?
He was smitten.