the third floor(4)

MThe forest was eerily silent as Dakota and his group trudged forward. Every step seemed heavier, weighed down by both exhaustion and anticipation. The journey had been long and treacherous, filled with battles and narrow escapes, but now, the promise of the cave ahead kept them moving.

The cave wasn't just any ordinary cave. It was rumored to hold relics capable of granting unimaginable power—abilities and skills that could turn even the weakest adventurer into a legend.

Dakota:

"Not much farther now. We're almost there."

His voice carried through the group, steady and reassuring. The others followed closely, though their weariness was beginning to show.

Luna groaned, brushing a stray branch out of her way.

Luna:

"I swear, if we have to fight one more pack of monsters, I might lose my mind."

Mia, walking beside her Luna, gave a small laugh.

Mia:

"At least these monsters haven't been as bad as the hellhounds. Those things were on another level."

Amelia, her hand glowing faintly with light magic, chimed in.

Amelia:

"Let's just hope this cave is worth it. I'd rather not have gone through all this trouble for nothing."

The group pressed on, the sound of their footsteps blending with the rustle of leaves in the wind. The tension in the air was palpable, but no one voiced their worries.

As if on cue, a low growl echoed through the forest. The group froze, weapons drawn in an instant. From the shadows, a pack of massive wolves emerged, their glowing red eyes cutting through the darkness.

Ava ignited flames in her palms, her expression one of exasperation.

Ava:

"Oh, come on! Haven't we had enough of these things?"

Lucas gripped his blade, frost coating its edge as he narrowed his eyes at the approaching wolves.

Lucas:

"Let's make this quick. The cave is right there."

The wolves didn't wait for an invitation. They lunged forward as one, snarling and snapping, but the group was ready.

Mia and Luna combined their water magic to create a wall of rushing water, forcing the wolves back. Henry charged forward, his blade ablaze as he cut down two of the beasts with a single swing. Liam and Jack, working in tandem, unleashed twin lightning bolts that struck down another pair.

Amelia, standing at the rear, raised her hand high. A beam of concentrated light shot forth, vaporizing the final wolf in an instant.

Amelia:

"That's the last of them."

Duke stepped forward, his sword resting on his shoulder.

Duke:

"We're wasting too much time here. Let's keep moving."

The forest began to thin, revealing a rocky hillside with a massive opening at its base. The cave was enormous, its mouth wide and foreboding. A faint, otherworldly glow seeped out, casting long shadows over the group.

Franklin stepped closer to the entrance, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

Franklin:

"This is it. I can feel the energy from here."

Luna shivered, wrapping her arms around herself.

Luna:

"It's… intense. Like the air itself is alive."

Amelia nodded, her face grim.

Amelia:

"This place holds incredible power. We need to be careful."

Dakota stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he examined the cave's entrance. But then, he froze. His entire demeanor shifted, his body tensing as if he'd sensed something no one else could.

Dakota:

"Wait."

The others turned to him, confused.

Ava:

"What's wrong?"

Dakota's eyes scanned the forest behind them, his voice low and serious.

Dakota:

"Something's not right. You all go on without me. I'll catch up."

Lucas frowned, stepping closer.

Lucas:

"What do you mean, go without you? We just got here."

Dakota shook his head, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Dakota:

"I'll explain later. Just trust me. Go inside."

Without waiting for a response, Dakota turned and disappeared into the forest, leaving the group stunned.

The forest grew darker as Dakota moved further away from the group. The oppressive energy he had felt earlier was stronger now, almost suffocating. He stopped in a clearing, the silence around him deafening.

Dakota:

"I know you're here. Come out. There's no point in hiding."

For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, from the shadows, three hooded figures emerged. Their cloaks were as black as night, blending seamlessly into the dark forest.

The leader stepped forward, a woman with long black hair spilling out from under her hood. Her piercing violet eyes locked onto Dakota, and she smirked.

???:

"Well, well. Dakota. Or should I say… Michael, my old friend."

Dakota's expression darkened, flames sparking to life in his hands.

Dakota:

"Old friend? Don't make me laugh. You're not my friend. You ruined everything—my life, my friendships—in my past life."

The woman tilted her head, feigning innocence.

???:

"Oh, come now. Surely you're not still upset over that. It was nothing personal, just… necessary."

Dakota's flames roared to life, illuminating the clearing.

Dakota:

"Spare me your excuses. You're dying here today."

The woman's smile widened as she pulled back her hood completely, revealing her face. She was beautiful, yet her expression carried a sinister edge.

???:

"Is that so? Well, if you think you can kill me, Michael, then by all means, try."

The two figures behind her removed their hoods as well, their faces twisted into malicious grins.

Dakota:

"I don't care what you're planning. This ends now."

His flames surged, the heat radiating off him in waves as he prepared for battle.

Dakota: 'i can't believe that they actually are on this planet.... They were supposed to be on earth so how are they here, and this energy... I felt it before, back in the auction when we were in Rome. I felt this kind of energy, was it them arriving at the planet? Or was it something else? I don't know... But I don't fucking care. All I want to do is rip those three people apart, the daughter the mother and the father, those bastard's of a family. I won't forgive them for what they did to Ethan, and I hope if Lucas is Ethan and he gets his memories back... I hope he doesn't meet her.'