Episode 14: The Warp to Gard Ari

Mira trudged forward through the eerie silence of the Lost Land, the faint glow of the first gate now a distant memory behind her. The path to the second gate stretched ahead, its destination obscured by a thick, unnatural fog. Her breath misted in the chill air, her determination unwavering despite the whispers of doubt clawing at her mind. She could feel the curse’s presence growing stronger with each step, as though the land itself sought to stop her.

But as she approached the fog, the ground beneath her feet trembled. A low, guttural sound rumbled through the air, and before she could react, the world around her twisted. A swirling vortex of light and shadow erupted from the ground, pulling her in like a black hole. Mira cried out, clawing at the ground, but it was no use. The vortex engulfed her, and her vision blurred as she was yanked into the unknown.

...----------------...

When she awoke, Mira found herself in a strange, desolate expanse. The air crackled with an oppressive energy, the sky above an unnatural crimson, streaked with black clouds. The ground beneath her feet was scorched and barren, the charred remnants of battles long past scattered around her. She recognized this place from the book it was Gard Ari, the battleground of gate guardians, where the curse had sent countless challengers to meet their end.

A deep, resonant voice boomed from the shadows, shattering the silence.

"So, you are the one who seeks to break the curse."

Mira spun around, her hand instinctively gripping the book. From the swirling shadows emerged a figure unlike any she had encountered a towering guardian, clad in jagged black armor that pulsed with dark energy. His face was obscured by a helmet shaped like a beast, with glowing red eyes that pierced the air. This was Kael Dravok, the strongest of the gate guardians, a being said to embody the curse’s relentless will.

"You will go no further," Kael growled, drawing a massive blade etched with runes that seemed to writhe and shift as he moved. "None have passed me, and neither shall you."

Mira’s heart pounded, but she refused to back down. “I won’t stop,” she said, her voice steady despite the fear gripping her. “This curse has taken too much. I’ll end it, no matter what.”

Kael chuckled darkly. “You think you are strong? The curse does not let go of its prey so easily.” He raised his blade, and with a roar, charged at her.

...----------------...

The battle was brutal and relentless. Kael’s strikes were like thunder, each swing of his blade shaking the ground beneath them. Mira dodged and countered as best she could, using the book to summon bursts of light to fend him off. The light seemed to disrupt his movements, but only briefly Kael adapted quickly, his attacks growing fiercer with each exchange.

As the fight raged on, Mira realized that Kael wasn’t just attacking her he was testing her, probing her weaknesses, trying to break her spirit. She could feel the curse’s influence in his movements, a dark, unyielding force that sought to snuff out her resolve.

“You cannot win,” Kael taunted, his voice echoing in the desolate air. “Even if you defeat me, the curse will consume you. It always does.”

Mira gritted her teeth, her determination unwavering. “Maybe it will,” she said, dodging another devastating swing. “But not today.”

Drawing on every ounce of strength, Mira channeled the book’s energy into a desperate attack. A blinding burst of light erupted from her hands, slamming into Kael and driving him back. For a moment, he staggered, the dark energy around him flickering like a dying flame.

But Kael roared, his form solidifying once more. “Impressive,” he said, his voice tinged with something almost like respect. “But you are not strong enough to defeat me.”

Before Mira could react, Kael struck her with a powerful blow, sending her crashing to the ground. Pain radiated through her body, and for a moment, she thought it was over. But as Kael approached, raising his blade for the final strike, something stirred within her a surge of resolve, a refusal to give up.

Summoning the last remnants of her strength, Mira raised the book. The pages glowed with a radiant light, and a protective barrier formed around her just as Kael’s blade came down. The impact shattered the barrier, but it saved her life. The force of the clash sent both of them staggering back, giving Mira a chance to catch her breath.

Kael paused, his glowing eyes narrowing as he studied her. “You are different,” he said, his tone thoughtful. “You refuse to fall, even when the odds are against you. Perhaps…”

He stepped back, lowering his blade slightly. “Perhaps you may yet prove worthy. But do not think this is mercy. The curse will not let you go so easily.”

The ground beneath Mira shifted, the air shimmering as the vortex that had brought her to Gard Ari began to reappear. Kael raised his blade in a salute, his form fading into the shadows. “If you wish to escape, you must grow stronger. The second gate awaits.”

Before Mira could respond, the vortex engulfed her once more, pulling her back into the endless expanse of the Lost Land.

...----------------...

When she opened her eyes, she was standing at the base of a jagged mountain path, the second gate visible in the distance. The battle with Kael had left her battered and bruised, but she was alive and more determined than ever.

As she began the climb toward the second gate, Mira tightened her grip on the book. The curse was relentless, but so was she. And no matter how many guardians or challenges stood in her way, she would not stop until she was free.

To be continued…

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***