EPISODE 17: THE HEART OF THE FOREST

The roots twisted like serpents around Luiz Fernando and Lythar, blocking their path to the Sacred Tree. The forest seemed alive, but not in harmony—something was corrupting its energy, and it kept Lilia, the Guardian of Nature, trapped in a deep sleep.

"The darkness has already reached here..." murmured Lythar, frowning as he felt the energy around them. "We need to purify the forest before we can awaken Lilia."

Luiz watched as the shadowy beings emerged from the ground. They were made of twisted wood, with eyes glowing like green fire. They moved erratically, as if they were puppets controlled by an invisible force.

"This won't be easy..." Luiz said, clenching his fists.

"Nothing is easy when it comes to the balance of the universe, Blue Guardian," Lythar replied, taking a battle stance.

Before the monsters could attack, Luiz closed his eyes and focused. He felt the energy of the forest around him, even though it was tainted. The connection he had made with the water still pulsed within him, but now he needed to go beyond that.

He raised his hand and summoned the water, causing the humidity in the forest to condense in the air. A cold wind blew between the trees, and then, with a single movement, he launched a torrent of crystal-clear water at the monsters. The impact was immediate. The purifying water struck the creatures, causing their bodies to dissolve into black smoke.

"Good start!" Lythar shouted, creating spheres of water around him and launching them at the corrupted roots.

But the forest didn't give in so easily. The ground trembled, and new roots emerged, trying to grab them. Luiz rolled to the side, dodging at the last second, but felt something catch his ankle. A thick black root began to wrap around him, squeezing tightly.

"You need to connect with the forest, Luiz!" shouted Lythar, slicing through the roots around him with blades of water.

Luiz struggled to break free, but then he realized what Lythar meant. His power came from the Core of the Universe, and each element of the Guardians was part of it. Nature was one of those elements. He needed to feel it, understand it…

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Suddenly, the medallion on his chest glowed brightly. The energy of the forest resonated within him, and the roots that held him began to loosen on their own. He opened his eyes and saw a green glow emerging from his hands. He wasn't just purifying—it was connecting.

"The forest is alive… and it wants to be saved," Luiz whispered.

With a fluid motion, he touched the ground, and a wave of green energy spread like a pulse of life. The dark roots retreated, and the corrupted beings vanished like dust in the wind. The forest seemed to breathe again, as if waking from a nightmare.

Lythar smiled.

"You're beginning to understand, Blue Guardian."

Silence fell over the clearing, and then, the Sacred Tree glowed. In the center of the trunk, a crack opened, revealing a bright emerald light. Slowly, a figure emerged…

A woman with golden skin, long hair as green as leaves, and eyes shining like emeralds. She wore garments made of vines and flowers, and her presence emanated pure, peaceful energy.

Lilia, the Guardian of Nature, had awakened.

She looked at Luiz and smiled softly.

"The Blue Guardian has finally returned… and balance begins to be restored."

Luiz felt his medallion vibrate with a new power, and within him, the connection to Nature grew stronger. His power was increasing… and he knew this was only the beginning.

But the darkness was still lurking. And the true battle was just beginning.

TO BE CONTINUED IN EPISODE 18...