Page 18

CHAPTER 18

VIOLET

“ W hy isn't she waking up?” Argies barked. “Is she alright?” He held Aislinn close to his chest as his face crumpled with anguish.

Fiona and I scrambled to his side and stumbled when the old stone cavern shuddered violently. Debris rained down from the ceiling as the corrupted magic made everything twist and buckle. Gadross's copper artifacts spun frantically. His brow furrowed with worry as he tracked the spreading energy surges. My heart hammered against my ribcage as we checked on our best friend.

Fiona moved quickly, pressing a finger to Aislinn's wrist and checking her over with the practiced motions of a seasoned nurse. "She's alive," Fiona reported. Her brow furrowed with worry. "She's sustained a lot of injuries, but none that seem immediately life-threatening. We need to get her to Zreegy as soon as possible."

I used my own magical senses to assess Aislinn's condition. I felt the faint flicker of her essence. There was no trace of the corrupted Dark energy that Marcus had tried to use against her. However, she was dangerously drained. That was not good.

"The barriers are failing," Gadross called out. His voice barely cut through the groan of tortured stone. "Do what you can for Aislinn for now. We can’t afford to wait. Marcus is forcing open a new rift, drawing the First Ones through. We have to find him and stop the ritual before he completes the connection!”

Thanos moved to Gadross's side. His demigod power crackled around us like summer lightning. "Can you trace the source of the disturbance? If we can pinpoint his location, we may be able to disrupt the ritual before it's too late."

Gadross tilted his head from side to side as his artifacts hummed with increasing urgency. "The ley line nexus complicates matters. The power flows are being redirected and the corruption is making it difficult to get a clear reading. We need to shore up the damaged areas first, or the entire town of Hambledon could come crashing down on top of us."

I cursed under my breath and opened my magical senses. I could feel the First Ones' alien presence pressing against the boundaries of our reality. Their inhuman consciousness made my magical core shudder with primal fear. "Fiona, we need to focus on stabilizing the tunnels. Thanos, Gadross. You two work on tracking down Marcus. We have to find the source of the corruption and cut it off at the root."

Argies' gaze flickered between Aislinn and the chaotic scene unfolding around us, his dragon fire flickering between his clenched teeth. "What about our girl? I should be the one to put an end to that bastard Marcus after what he's done to her."

I placed a steadying hand on Argies' arm and met his gaze with resolve. "I know, but we need you to focus on keeping Aislinn safe. Fiona and I will handle the tunnels. You and Bas focus on guarding her until we can sort this out."

Argies nodded reluctantly. His expression was torn as he tightened his grip on Aislinn protectively. "Fine. But the moment you lot find that wanker, we’re making sure he pays for what he's done."

As Thanos and Gadross pressed forward, Fiona and I turned our attention to the chamber where Marcus had performed his twisted ritual. The air was thick with the stench of corrupted magic. The stones were completely infected and crumbling as a result.

Fiona's magic flared to life. Our power blended together, and we wove an intricate pattern of cleansing energy. We focused our intent on purging the chamber of the lingering taint. The corrupted essence writhed and hissed as it was burned away by our combined magic. It took significant effort to restore the natural balance of the room.

With the corruption driven back, we turned our attention to reinforcing the chamber's structure. Fiona's magic flowed like water. I added mine to the mix, and together, we sealed cracks and reinforced the ancient stonework.

The groaning of the chamber subsided as our efforts stabilized the area. The threat of immediate collapse in that room was averted. Exchanging a resolute nod with Fiona, we hurried to rejoin the others. We needed to heal the rest of the tunnel system and find Marcus to put an end to his machinations once and for all.

"The nexus point is just ahead," Gadross shouted. His artifact whirred and spun as he tracked the shifting energy flows. "But the ley lines are in chaos. Marcus is twisting them to fuel his ritual. The strain is tearing the tunnels apart!"

As if in response, the floor suddenly buckled beneath our feet. It sent us staggering. Massive cracks spiderwebbed across the ancient stone. Purple energy pulsed from the widening fissures. "Can you guys shore up the damaged areas before we get smashed?" Thanos asked. Fiona and I nodded.

"Gadross, can you guide us to the weakest points? It’d be better to start there first," Fiona clarified.

Gadross nodded as his copper artifact flared with a steady, pulsing light. "Follow me, and I'll point out the most critical sections for you. Eventually, you need to reinforce the ley lines. It will be the fastest way to stabilize the architectural foundations before the entire complex comes crashing down."

Fiona and I cast a shield around us to fight against the encroaching darkness. The tunnels groaned and shuddered around us. Stone and magic alike seemed to twist and distort under the strain. The First Ones' presence grew stronger with each passing moment, and their inhuman consciousness clawed at the fading barriers.

"There!" Gadross pointed ahead. His artifact guided us toward a crumbling junction where multiple ley lines converged. Purple energy surged and pulsed from the unstable nexus. Shadows writhed around it like hungry tendrils. "This is the weakest point. If we can shore it up, it should buy us some time to find Marcus and stop his ritual."

Our spell expanded, creating a wider protective bubble around us. "Then let's get to work. Violet, be ready to reinforce the ley lines as soon as we cleanse the area," Fiona replied as her magic flared to life.

Fiona and I turned our focus to the corrupted tunnel system. We were surrounded by the cloying stench of dark magic. Closing my eyes, I could feel the twisted ley lines pulsing with Marcus's evil energy. The natural flow of power was warped and corrupted.

"We need to purge this area completely," Fiona instructed. "The corruption runs deep. We can't leave any trace of it behind."

I nodded in agreement as my magic filled me. "Then let's give these ley lines a proper scrubbing. Marcus's filth won't be able to taint them once we're done."

Together, we wove our magic in a synchronized dance. Our energies intertwined as we targeted the corrupted nexus points. Our enchantment flowed like a cleansing river. It swept away the lingering traces of shadow essence. Wherever our magic touched the darkness recoiled and burned away. The air grew lighter. The oppressive weight of the corruption melted away.

"Add your fire,” Fiona prodded.

My eyes widened, and I swallowed hard. Adding phoenix fire to such powerful conduits could end in disaster. “I need you to keep it from blowing us all up.”

Fiona chuckled and nodded. “I can do that.” With her power surrounding me, I poured my fire into the ley lines themselves. The golden flames burned away the twisted knots of power that Marcus had created.

The pathways resisted at first. The corrupted energy lashed out like a wounded animal. But slowly, steadily, our magic restored the ley lines to their natural state. The ancient flow of power reasserted itself. As the last vestiges of corruption were scoured from the chamber. Fiona and I turned our attention to the crumbling architectural foundations. Using our combined magic, we reinforced the ancient stonework. Like before, we sealed cracks and imbued the structure with renewed vitality.

The tunnels groaned and shuddered around us as the damage began to slowly repair itself. Sweat poured down my back as we fought to keep the old town of Hambledon from being buried. Time seemed to blur as we moved from one critical juncture to the next. We poured our magic into the ley lines and stabilized the weakened structures.

The corruption continued to press against us. Thankfully, our magic held firm. We’d created enough pockets of stability to allow the ancient power to reassert itself. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we stepped back. Our spells dimmed as the ley lines pulsed with a healthy, natural rhythm.

Gadross's artifact dimmed. "You’ve cleared the critical sections. The ley lines are stabilizing, and the architectural integrity has been restored. You've bought us some time. We need to find Marcus and stop his ritual before the First Ones breach the barriers completely."

Thanos nodded in agreement as he twined his fingers with mine. "Then let's not keep him waiting. Can that gadget guide us to the source of the corruption, or not?" He directed the question to Gadross.

Gadross nodded and flicked something on the gadget in his hand. It began swirling and glowing again. Its energy spread as it sought the telltale signature of Marcus's twisted power. After a moment, one of the hands stopped. It was pointing down a tunnel to the east.

"This way," he said. "The bastard's close, and he's running out of time."

We hurried through the now-stable tunnels. It was a relief to see the ancient stone and magic pulsing with renewed vitality. The corruption had been driven back. Its tendrils were severed from the ley line network. I wish that meant Marcus was weakened, but I knew better. He was still out there, desperate to complete his ritual and open the way for the First Ones.

Fiona held up her hand, stopping us. "We need to take care of our girl before we go charging into another fight."

Argies tightened his grip on Aislinn, his expression torn between worry and determination. "It’s about damn time. The corruption's done a number on her and I need her to wake up."

I nodded, understanding the urgency in their words. Aislinn was a vital member of our group, and the strain of her recent ordeal was evident in the pallor of her skin. "Fiona's right. We are going to need her in the coming battle."

Fiona moved to Aislinn's side with a familiar potion flask in hand. "This should help stabilize her," she said, uncorking the stopper and carefully tipping the restorative liquid between Aislinn's parted lips.

Argies watched with bated breath as Aislinn swallowed the potion. “Let’s speed this process along,” I suggested.

Fiona nodded in agreement, and we joined our magic. We wove a focused spell to accelerate the potion's effects. Aislinn's features relaxed. Some of the tension left her body as the healing elixir took hold. "There we are," Fiona murmured.

Aislinn blinked and opened her eyes. She looked between Argies and us. "What happened?" she asked. Her voice was hoarse but growing stronger. "Did we...?"

I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, offering a small smile. "We're looking for Marcus now, but we’ve begun cleansing his corruption."

Aislinn nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "What are we waiting for? Let’s get the bastard.”

We laughed and shook our heads. “We will,” Fiona promised. “You take it easy and get your strength back. Let us do the work until we find him.”

Aislinn pushed against Argies until he set her on her feet. She swayed but steadied herself. "I'm good with that. Just don’t think you’re keeping me out of the final fight. I have a bone to pick with that arsehole."

Together, we pressed onward. The Backside of Forty was united again and ready to preserve the sanctity of the realm we held dear. As we rounded the next corner, I was struck by a sudden realization. "Wait," I said, holding up a hand to pause the others. "What about the Shadowmere Pack? We can't just leave them as twisted abominations."

Gadross's brow furrowed. His copper artifact continued whirring softly. "You're right. The pack was corrupted by the Blackwood family’s centuries of work. We can't just abandon them to their fate. They're still living beings.”

“And they’re trapped in a nightmare of Marcus’s creation," Fiona snarled.

Thanos's expression hardened. "Then we'll have to find a way to undo the corruption and restore them to their true selves. We can't leave them to suffer. Nor can we allow them to continue as a threat to our world."

"Agreed. Gadross, can your artifact track their location and give us a sense of their condition?” I asked. “The sooner we can find them and begin the cleansing process, the better."

Gadross's brow furrowed in concentration as he consulted his device. "They're scattered throughout the tunnels. But I'm detecting a powerful relic. It could be responsible for Marcus’s hold over them. He would need something to keep control over such powerful people. If we can disrupt the artifact, it may weaken the hold Marcus has over them."

"Then that's what we’ll do next," Thanos declared. "As much as I don’t want to divert again, we have to free the Shadowmere Pack. After that, we are turning our full attention to stopping Marcus's ritual."

We went behind Gadross as he followed his copper artifice. I sighed as my senses remained alert. "I’m so tired of fighting. I hope the remaining corrupted shifters steer clear of us," I grumbled.

Fiona snorted and shoved my shoulder playfully. “Now you’ve jinxed us. We’re going to be overrun by those arseholes any second now.”

“Don’t say that,” I replied.

We moved cautiously through the damaged passageways, Gadross's artifacts guiding us toward the source of the corrupted energy. As we approached a juncture, a cacophony of twisted roars and snarls echoed through the tunnels. Gadross's eyes widened, his devices pulsing with distress.

"They've detected our presence," he warned, his voice tense. "Be ready."

Fiona and I cast a shimmering shield before us as we pressed forward. We were all braced for the onslaught of twisted shifters. Their forms rippled and contorted as they snarled and lunged at us. The corruption had torn apart the core of their being and warped them into nightmarish versions of their former selves.

Beside us, Aislinn stood steadfast. Her elemental magic flickered weakly but determinedly. Despite her lingering injuries, she summoned bursts of elemental power. She even managed to push back the corrupted shifters with blasts of earth and wind. Though drained, she was still a badass and remained unbroken.

"We have to find the relic Marcus used to control them," Gadross called out. "It's the key to breaking his hold over the pack." We nodded in acknowledgment as we fought our way through the shifters.

His artifice whirred and spun. The copper device guided us deeper into the tunnels. "I'm detecting a concentrated source of the corruption across from us. That must be where he's channeling his control from."

My gaze skipped around the area. It was a challenge to see through the bodies. "Let's not waste any time."

Aislinn’s arm flew into the air. “It’s over there.”

I followed her finger and saw the black urn in an alcove to our right. Turning to Fiona, I nodded. "Together?"

Fiona nodded, and her magic swirled to life. The golden energy blended seamlessly with mine. "Let’s get rid of this shit," she replied.

As one, Fiona and I surged forward. Our combined magic lanced out towards the corrupted relic. The tainted object writhed and hissed as our purifying energies enveloped it. We poured energy into the thing for several seconds. Keeping our focus on the task was difficult with the fight going on around us. After several seconds, the dark magic that had clung to its surface withered and crumbled away.

The corrupted shifters stopped fighting. Their howls turned to ones of agony. Their forms wavered and distorted as the corruption's hold began to slip. Aislinn added her elemental magic and helped reinforce the restoration of their true natures.

"Keep going!" Thanos shouted. "It's fighting back. Don't let the corruption regain its grip!"

I gritted my teeth, pouring every ounce of my power into the task at hand. The phoenix within me spread its wings. Before I knew what was happening, the cleansing fire shot out of me and surrounded the relic. It burned brightly with each passing moment. Slowly but surely, the evil energy began to recede. And the shifters' natural forms reasserted themselves.

The three of us worked in perfect synchronization to sever the corrupted connection. The relic crumbled under the onslaught of our combined magic. The broken shards released the pack from Marcus's twisted control. The shifters shook their heads and blinked in confusion as they regained their senses. Gadross stepped forward, his copper artifice pulsed with soothing energy.

"Easy, now," he said in a calm and reassuring voice. "You're safe. The corruption's hold has been broken. It’s time to restructure your pack."

One by one, the shifters gathered themselves. They wore expressions of relief and gratitude. A surge of pride filled me. Knowing that we had saved them from the nightmare Marcus had inflicted upon them was highly satisfying.

Thanos placed a hand on my shoulder. "Well done, Vi. Now, let's see about Marcus."

I nodded, the phoenix within me settling back into a watchful state. "Lead the way, Gadross. We've still got work to do."