Part 8 – Journey to Drakar

The sun had just risen, illuminating the dense forest they were traversing. Kaelan and his group moved cautiously, passing the remnants of the battlefield they had just left. The silence enveloping the forest felt eerie, as though the world itself was waiting for something monumental to happen.

"Drakar, huh?" Edrin asked, walking beside Kaelan with his bow at the ready. "Are you sure we need to go there? Many say that place is full of mysteries, even more dangerous than what we've faced."

Kaelan kept his gaze forward, his eyes focused. "Yes, I'm sure. There's something we need to find there. This crystal, this power… it's all connected to Drakar. I believe we can only get answers there."

Gravin, who was walking ahead, stopped momentarily and turned around. "We don't have much time. We need to move quickly," he said. "Varion and his forces will undoubtedly come after us. The longer we delay, the harder it'll be to face them."

Lyra, walking at the rear, nodded in agreement. "I can feel a strange energy. Something is watching us. I don't like it."

Kaelan glanced at Lyra, feeling the same tension. Since the battle with the Orcs, something dark and powerful had been following them. It was an unsettling sensation, as if the world itself was demanding that they move faster.

"Keep moving," Kaelan said, breaking the silence. "We can't stop now. Drakar is ahead of us. And there, we'll find the key to defeating Varion."

Edrin smirked faintly, though the tension on his face was still evident. "Of course. I can't wait to see the place. But you know, Kaelan, with all that blue fire power of yours, I bet we could melt a few mountains if we wanted to."

Kaelan chuckled softly, though the sound was a bit forced. "I just hope we can get there without too many obstacles."

However, not long after they continued their journey, that strange feeling crept back into Kaelan. The crystal embedded in his body seemed to pulse with increasing intensity. "Something's not right," he said, quickening his pace. "We need to stay alert."

Suddenly, the heavy sound of footsteps echoed from behind them. Kaelan turned sharply, his eyes fixed on the source of the noise. Emerging from the trees were large, menacing figures. Orcs—more than before. And this time, they weren't alone.

From between the trees came a creature far more terrifying than anything they had seen. It wasn't just an ordinary Orc. The monster was enormous, its skin like stone, and its strength capable of destroying anything in its path.

"Who are they?" Lyra asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Kaelan gritted his teeth, feeling the heat burning within him. "Varion's forces. This isn't a coincidence."

Gravin stepped forward, his sword drawn. "We fight them here. We can't retreat."

Kaelan nodded, feeling the blue fire energy coursing through his body, ready to be unleashed. But he knew that this time they were facing a greater threat. This wasn't just a physical enemy—there was something darker driving them, something far more powerful than he'd imagined.

Before they could fully prepare, the massive creature charged, swiping its enormous claw toward Kaelan. Without hesitation, Kaelan dodged, directing his flaming blue sword to block the attack.

"Get ready!" Kaelan shouted, and in an instant, the entire group was engaged in a fierce battle.

The attacks came relentlessly. Kaelan could feel an immense power flowing through him, but he knew it wasn't enough. This army wasn't just physically strong—there was a darker force controlling them, something far stronger than he had anticipated.

"Edrin! Hold the left flank!" Gravin shouted, slashing at an Orc trying to close in.

Lyra stepped forward, raising her hands and unleashing a burst of magic that scorched the ground around them. "We need to take out their leader, or they won't stop!"

Kaelan nodded, channeling the blue fire energy into his sword, concentrating it into a massive strike aimed at the giant creature. But the monster only laughed mockingly, deflecting the attack with even greater force.

"This won't be easy," Kaelan thought, his eyes glowing with intensifying blue fire. "I'll have to find another way."

---

The battle in the forest raged on fiercely. Kaelan and his group were surrounded by Orcs and the terrifying giant monster. Despite their smaller numbers, the spirit and strength of each member pushed them to keep fighting.

Gravin leaped forward, spinning his sword to parry the relentless Orc attacks. "Kaelan! Focus on the big one! We'll handle the rest!" he shouted while destroying one of the Orcs trying to attack from the side.

Kaelan nodded, his gaze fixed on the giant monster, which seemed unaffected by the previous attacks. The blue fire within him blazed brighter, pulsing as if granting him additional strength.

"Alright, let's try something different," Kaelan muttered. He ran toward the creature, leaping into the air with incredible speed. His sword ignited, filled with flowing blue fire energy.

However, before Kaelan could strike, the creature swung its massive arm, trying to crush him in mid-air. With quick reflexes, Kaelan spun his body, evading the attack and landing atop the creature's head.

"Kaelan, be careful!" Lyra shouted while holding off several Orcs with barrier magic.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing!" Kaelan replied, though his tone was more playful than reassuring.

The creature went into a frenzy, attempting to shake its body to throw Kaelan off. But Kaelan held on, driving his sword into the creature's skull. The blue fire surged through his blade, creating a small explosion that made the creature roar in pain.

Meanwhile, Edrin and Lyra worked together to hold off the attacking Orcs. Lyra raised her hands, creating illusions that confused the Orcs' vision, while Edrin shot poison-tipped arrows with precision.

"We need to take them down quickly!" Lyra said, sweat beginning to trickle down her forehead.

"Give me one more minute!" Edrin replied, pulling his bow with full force before firing three arrows at once, destroying a group of Orcs trying to approach.

On the other side, Gravin faced off with two large Orcs. With agile movements, he dodged their attacks and countered with lethal sword strikes. "Kaelan! Finish it quickly, or we'll all run out of energy here!"

Kaelan heard the shout but was too focused on the massive creature beneath him. With one swift movement, he leapt off its head, forming a large blue fireball in his hand.

"This is for you!" Kaelan yelled, throwing the fireball directly at the creature's back. A massive explosion echoed through the forest, shaking the ground beneath them.

The creature let out its final roar before crashing to the ground, its body hitting the earth with a thud. Kaelan landed on the ground, gasping for breath, watching as the creature's body slowly burned in the blue flames.

"It's done," Kaelan said with a faint smile.

But before they could catch their breath, Lyra shouted. "Be careful! There's more coming!"

From behind the trees, a new group of even larger and more dangerous Orcs appeared. They were led by one of the demon generals—a tall man with dark skin, glowing red eyes, and a massive sword that emanated a dark aura.

"Impressive," the general said, stepping forward. His voice was deep and resonant. "But I won't let you leave so easily. I, Zarok, will make sure your journey ends here."

Kaelan stared at the general, feeling the immense pressure from his aura. He knew this would be a much harder battle than before.

"Get ready," Kaelan said, raising his sword. "This is just the beginning."