Chapter 13: The Cursed Storm...3
Chapter 13: The Cursed Storm...3
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The forest of cursed seals loomed before them, dark and dense, filled with an ancient energy that seemed to pulse in time with the heartbeat of the world. Takako and Jin trudged forward, aware that every second counted.
Behind them, the distorted figure of Pikachu, enveloped in a storm of chaotic energy, was rapidly approaching. Its power was such that the trees in its path were reduced to ash, and the ground cracked as if it were brittle glass.
"Keep going, Jin!" Takako shouted, her voice barely audible over the roar of the storm Pikachu had unleashed.
"We have to get to the containment line!" Jin nodded, using his technique to project a barrier that deflected Pikachu's cursed energy attacks. However, the pressure was overwhelming; Each blow resonated in his mind and body, wearing him down quickly. But they couldn't stop.
From the sky, Angel continued to keep his technique at its peak, redirecting the dark lightning and Pikachu's explosive energy into the air. But he felt the weight of exhaustion building up in his muscles and mind. The dual nature of Pikachu's power, a fusion of light and darkness, was affecting his technique, creating unpredictable resonances that threatened to make it collapse.
"Angel!" Takako shouted.
"You must keep him busy for a few more moments! We're almost there!" Angel nodded, his face tense and pale. He raised his trumpet to the sky and let a new chant echo through the air. It was a deep, vibrant melody, a hidden technique only used in desperate situations.
"Summoning of the Celestial Sphere!" A sphere of pure light, bright and blinding, appeared above her.
From within, multiple ethereal wings spread out, and a figure of pure energy emerged. It was a spectral image of a celestial being, which unfurled its gigantic wings and lunged towards Pikachu, seeking to contain its overflowing energy. Pikachu let out a deafening roar.
The creature had been pushed beyond its limits, its form barely recognizable now, an amalgam of black electricity and distorted light. The Celestial Sphere collided with it, and the impact released a shockwave so powerful that the mages on the battlefield were thrown back.
The crash created a void of momentary silence. It seemed as if the world had stopped. But Takako knew that was only the prelude to true chaos.
"Jin, quick!" she shouted, pointing at a formation of stones that rose in the center of the forest.
"We must activate the seals!" Jin nodded and lunged forward, dodging the cursed energy still hovering in the air. Each stone in the seal circle was marked with ancient symbols, inscriptions that had been reinforced over the centuries by the sorcerers who protected the region.
"Kekkai's shields!" Jin muttered, placing his hands on the stones. A golden glow began to emanate from them, forming a pattern on the ground, an intricate geometric design that stretched into the sky like an invisible dome.
"Angel, swallow him into the barrier!" Takako ordered. Angel, her energy at its limit, directed the Celestial Sphere at Pikachu, pushing him into the seal circle.
The monster struggled, firing beams of energy that disintegrated upon contact with the barrier, but its force was so overwhelming that the stones began to tremble.
"They won't… hold!" Jin gasped, feeling the mounting pressure in the air.
"We need more energy for the seals." Takako looked around desperately. They needed an additional energy source to reinforce the barrier, something powerful enough to counter Pikachu's strength. But time was running out, and they couldn't risk losing control now.
Tengen's arrival was like a glimmer of hope amidst the despair. With his slender, graceful figure, he moved through the chaos with an unearthly serenity. His hands moved quickly, forming complex seals in the air that glowed with an ethereal light. Energy condensed around him, and the atmosphere seemed to quiet down as his presence settled on the battlefield.
"Tengen!" Takako exclaimed, her voice filled with relief. "Just in time!"
Tengen nodded, focused, as his eyes followed Pikachu's every erratic movement. The creature, now caught in the fight against Angel's Heavenly Sphere and Jin's seals, looked like a whirlpool of destructive energy, its form barely recognizable as that of a Pikachu. Black electricity crackled around it, and the roars it emitted made the air vibrate at a dangerous frequency.
"Angel, hold the Heavenly Sphere in place," Tengen ordered, his voice calm but firm. "Jin, we need to stabilize the barrier before he collapses the seals."
J n, panting and drenched in sweat, nodded slightly. The stones that formed the seal circle trembled, some even beginning to crack under the immense pressure of Pikachu's overflowing energy. He knew they couldn't hold him back much longer.
Tengen, moving with calculated precision, extended both hands and traced a new symbol in the air. A series of translucent barriers began to form around the seal circle, each one superimposed on the last in a complex structure of interconnected layers. Energy flowed through them, glowing brightly with each gesture of his hands.
"Multiple Negation Barrier Formation!" Tengen shouted, his voice reverberating with an arcane echo. The barriers stabilized, reinforced by pure, serene energy, forming an ethereal prison that surrounded Pikachu.
Pikachu, caught between the Celestial Sphere and Tengen's barriers, let out a deafening shriek. Its form distorted even further, becoming almost amorphous. It was evident that the cursed energy and light were tearing at its essence, fighting for control. The waves of energy emanating from it crashed against the barriers, creating explosions of light and shadow that illuminated the forest in blinding flashes.
"It's too powerful!" Angel gasped, feeling the Celestial Sphere begin to lose cohesion. "I can't hold it back for long!"
Tengen frowned. He knew they had to act fast. He looked at Takako, and a silent understanding passed between them. They both knew there was a risk, but it was their only option.
"Takako, I need you to channel all of your energy into the core seal," Tengen said. "If we can stabilize Pikachu's essence, I'll be able to seal the curse completely."
Takako nodded determinedly. He stood in front of the central seal, a stone larger than the others, covered in runes that glowed with a faint glow. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, feeling his energy flow through his veins, concentrating in his hands. He stretched his arms forward, and a torrent of golden light erupted from his palms, enveloping the central seal.
The light spread through the circle, reinforcing the seals and stabilizing the barriers. Pikachu, caught in the tangle of energy, let out a piercing scream as the forces restraining him began to tighten around him. Angel's Celestial Sphere, revitalized by Takako's energy, shone with renewed intensity and closed in on the creature, imprisoning it.
Tengen moved quickly, forming a final, definitive hand sign. His figure shone with blinding light as he channeled all his energy into the barrier formation. With a shout of power, the barriers closed in on Pikachu, forming a perfect seal around its writhing form.
"Celestial Renegade Final Lockdown!" Tengen exclaimed, and the barriers solidified into a prism of pure light, enveloping Pikachu completely.
For a moment, all was silent. The creature struggled, its form distorted against the prism, but the energy contained was too powerful. With one last roar, Pikachu was swallowed by the light, its cursed energy being absorbed and neutralized by the prism. The air stilled, and the forest, devastated and razed, seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
Angel, panting and exhausted, slowly descended, his technique finally dissipating. Jin fell to his knees, breathing heavily as he felt his body finally give in to exhaustion. Takako, pale and shaking, staggered back, but Tengen gently held her up.
"We… did it," she murmured, her voice barely a whisper.
Tengen nodded, watching as the prism of light slowly dissolved, leaving a small, weakened figure within. Pikachu, now in his original form, lay on the ground, unconscious but alive. The curse that had plagued him had faded, purified by the combined power of the sorcerers.
"Yes, we did it," Tengen said, a tired but satisfied smile on his lips. "But this is only the beginning. There are many more curses to face."
Takako nodded weakly, looking at her companions. She knew the battle wasn't over, but at least, for now, they had gained some respite. She turned to Pikachu, who stirred weakly, opening his eyes with a glint of recognition.
"You're safe now," Tengen whispered, and in those dark, glowing eyes, he saw the spark of the creature he once was. "We will protect you."
The forest, despite its devastation, seemed to breathe again. And as the first light of dawn filtered through the trees, the sorcerers knew that, although the darkness had not been completely defeated, its light still had the strength to fight.