Part 3 – The Cursed City

Darkness began to fall as Kaelan and Lyra stepped out of the mysterious forest, and in the distance, a terrifying sight began to unfold before them. The Cursed City, with its crumbling towers and decaying walls, looked like a remnant of a forgotten civilization. The first impression it left was one of oppressive silence, as though the city had been abandoned by all life.

"Is this... The Cursed City?" Kaelan asked, his voice tinged with doubt.

Lyra nodded. "Yes. As I said, it's not a welcoming place, but it's full of history. And there is someone we can meet here—a legendary swordsman who might help us."

"A legendary swordsman? Why does he live in a place that looks like a graveyard?" Kaelan asked with a half-laugh, though his face was full of unease.

"This city used to be prosperous," Lyra replied, her eyes focused on the ruins stretching out before them. "But when Varion rose, many places were destroyed. Some chose to stay here, and one of them is the swordsman we're looking for."

Kaelan gazed toward the large city gate, which appeared to be still intact despite the damage. "So, are we going in?"

Lyra looked at him seriously. "Be careful, Kaelan. This city is filled with all kinds of threats, even from the people still living here. We must not fall into their traps."

They cautiously entered the city, walking through streets littered with dust and ruins. There were no signs of life—only the wind howling between the almost collapsed buildings.

However, even though there appeared to be no people around, Kaelan felt as though they were being watched. At times, he sensed an ebb and flow of energy he couldn't explain, a force that felt incredibly powerful, even stronger than the blue fire aura now flowing through his body.

"Wait," Kaelan said quietly, stopping in his tracks. "I feel something... something strange."

Lyra turned, watching him carefully. "What do you feel?"

"It's like there's a power flowing around us," Kaelan answered. "This... it's not just from the crystal. There's something stronger."

Lyra slowly raised her bow, alert. "It could be the influence of this city. The Cursed City has a very strong—and dark—aura. Many things are hidden here."

As they continued deeper into the city, a loud noise echoed from behind the ruins. Without warning, a large shadow shot toward them, accompanied by a rumbling sound that shook the air.

"Attack!" Lyra shouted, pulling Kaelan to the side.

A huge creature, resembling a half-snake human monster, emerged from behind a wall. Its face was covered in sharp scales, and its red eyes glowed with hatred. It swung a large, glittering sword, ready to strike.

Kaelan was shocked, and his reflexes caused his hand to raise to summon a blue fireball. However, even though the power began to flow, he felt he wasn't skilled enough to control it perfectly. The fireball that formed this time was smaller than before and not as strong as he had hoped.

The creature swung its sword, blocking the incoming fireball and slamming its weapon into the ground with a loud crash, shattering the stone beneath it.

"Dammit!" Kaelan growled, frustrated.

Lyra leapt forward, shooting arrows toward the creature with incredible speed. But the creature dodged nimbly, making Lyra groan in frustration. "This creature is well-trained. We need to be more careful."

Kaelan stared at the large sword in the creature's hand. "That sword... it's like Varion's, right? The sword of darkness?"

Lyra nodded. "Yes, a sword like that is usually only wielded by Varion's followers or powerful demons. It looks like we've encountered one of them."

Kaelan focused on the glimmering sword in the enemy's hand, feeling the dark power emanating from it. A sense of panic began to creep up on him. "What should we do? I can't fight with this kind of power."

Lyra spun her bow again, firing several arrows in quick succession with incredible speed. Yet each arrow barely shook the creature. "We need to find its weak spot," Lyra said. "Don't hesitate to use whatever you have."

Kaelan felt the energy from the crystal surge through him, triggering an impulse he couldn't explain. This time, he felt the blue fire power more clearly than before. Without thinking, he sprang forward, using a light step that made him move faster than he could imagine.

"Crazy! What is this?" Kaelan shouted, shocked by his own speed. Like lightning, he ran toward the enemy and jumped high, directing both of his hands, glowing with blue fire.

With a loud explosion, the massive fireball hit the creature dead on, flowing fire into its body, breaking its scales and blasting apart its chest.

The creature staggered back, losing its balance and crashing to the ground with a loud thud. Kaelan landed firmly, panting, feeling the power flowing through his body was overwhelming, though he still couldn't control it fully.

Lyra quickly approached, checking the fallen creature. "You did it... but be careful. Power like that can drain a lot of energy. You need to be more cautious."

Kaelan nodded weakly, feeling slightly fatigued. "I'm not sure I can control it any better."

Lyra patted his shoulder, signaling for them to continue. "We need to move fast. The swordsman we're looking for is probably not far from here, and we need his help."

Kaelan sighed, though he felt more ready to face whatever came. "Okay, let's keep going. But if I pass out after this, I'll blame you."

Lyra smiled faintly. "I'll be waiting for that."

They walked deeper into the dark city, ready to face whatever was hidden within.

---

### **Part 3 – The Cursed City (Part 2)**

Kaelan and Lyra continued their journey through the darkening Cursed City, which felt even more eerie with each passing moment. The atmosphere around them grew more oppressive, with the wind carrying a damp, foul smell, as though the place had long been forgotten by time.

"This is getting more unsettling," Kaelan said, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of life.

Lyra nodded, her face serious. "This city has been forgotten for a long time, but some consider it a sacred place. Some believe this place is the center of an ancient power that connects our world with another. However, that power is also what brought destruction."

As they walked, Kaelan pondered Lyra's words. What did she mean by ancient power? Was there a connection between this city and the crystal's power?

"Lyra, do you think my crystal's power has anything to do with all of this?" Kaelan asked, hesitantly.

Lyra stopped for a moment and looked at Kaelan. "Maybe. But we need to meet that swordmaster first. He might know more."

Amid their conversation, a heavy rumble suddenly echoed behind them. Kaelan turned, his eyes widening as a large shadow emerged from behind the ruins.

"Another attack?" Kaelan asked, readying a blue fireball in his hand.

But this time, the creature that appeared was not just any demon. A massive dragon, with gleaming black scales and fiery red eyes, emerged from behind a collapsed building. Its roar thundered like lightning, and its huge wings swept the ground, sending dust flying.

"This... a dragon?" Kaelan asked in astonishment, not expecting to encounter such a legendary creature.

Lyra looked at the dragon with visible tension. "Not just any dragon. This is one of the guardians of this city. They usually only appear when there's a great threat."

Kaelan could feel the dragon's aura—a force so pure and strong, but also filled with fury. The creature glared at them intensely, its mouth slightly open, emitting a rumbling sound.

"Why is it attacking us?" Kaelan asked, confused.

"This dragon will only attack if it senses the city is threatened. We've probably been here long enough to trigger its reaction," Lyra answered.

"So, we have to fight it?" Kaelan asked, his voice tinged with tension.

Lyra nodded. "We have no choice. This dragon won't let anyone pass through its territory without a fight."

Kaelan sighed and focused on the dragon. "I've never fought a dragon before, but I have to try."

With a mix of emotions, Kaelan poured more of the blue fire's power into his body. But this time, he felt something different. There was a kind of surge within him, as though the crystal's power was adapting to the situation.

The dragon flapped its wings and lunged at them with incredible speed. Kaelan quickly leaped to the side, utilizing the incredible speed he had just gained thanks to the crystal's power. A larger blue fireball shot from his hand, striking the dragon's left wing.

However, the fireball only caused minor damage to the dragon's scales, which seemed resistant to such attacks. The dragon roared in anger, swiping at the ground with its massive claws, causing the earth to tremble violently.

"It's so strong!" Kaelan yelled, narrowly avoiding a claw swipe that nearly hit him.

"Don't just rely on that blue fire!" Lyra shouted, already preparing a flaming arrow. "We need to strike its weak spots. Focus your attacks on its underbelly and throat. Those are the most vulnerable parts!"

Kaelan studied the dragon and began thinking quickly. With a powerful push from the crystal, he recalled his previous training—that the blue fire's power could adapt and flow at incredible speeds. If he could concentrate that energy on one point, perhaps he could injure the dragon.

The dragon attacked again, but this time, Kaelan moved like lightning. With full power, he launched a larger blue fireball than before, this time aimed directly at the dragon's throat.

The fireball hit its mark with a massive explosion, releasing flames that scorched the dragon's scales violently. The dragon howled in pain, stumbling back and crashing to the ground.

Kaelan gasped for breath, his body starting to feel fatigued after using so much power in such a short time. "Did I... did I succeed?"

Lyra quickly approached, eyeing the dragon now lying on the ground in pain. "You did, Kaelan. But don't get too cocky."

Suddenly, the dragon raised its massive head, looking at them with eyes full of wisdom. A deep, heavy voice suddenly echoed in Kaelan's mind, not a human voice, but one full of weight and authority.

"You... are different. Your power does not belong to you... But I feel it. You are not an enemy, but one who could bring change."

Kaelan was startled. "What... what are you saying?"

The dragon lifted its head higher, releasing a burst of fire that didn't burn, only emanating a deep light. *"I am the guardian of this city. The crystal's power... has chosen you. Be cautious, young one. Your journey is only beginning."*

Lyra furrowed her brow. "What does that mean?"

Kaelan could only stare at the dragon, confused. "I... don't know. But I feel like this is a warning—this journey is more dangerous than we think."

The dragon flew into the air, leaving them with an answer still unfinished. However, inside Kaelan, something had changed—a feeling that the crystal's power was more than just a fighting tool. It might have a greater purpose, something he didn't fully understand yet.

"After this, we need to meet that swordmaster," Lyra said, her voice serious. "He might know more about what just happened."

Kaelan nodded slowly, though his heart was filled with more questions than answers. With a sense of mystery surrounding them, they continued their journey, heading deeper into the Cursed City.