Odyssey Of Survival

Alice's display of power had changed everything. The moment her hands clapped together, shattering a thousand Gorvaks like fragile glass, the battlefield shifted in an instant. Fear that had clung to the hearts of the survivors was wiped away, replaced by something else—something stronger. Confidence. Hope.

Even though their numbers were small, they no longer felt weak. It no longer mattered that they were outnumbered. As long as Alice stood with them, as long as she could erase an entire army in seconds, they believed they could stand against anything.

Madison, still gripping her crystal bow tightly, watched Alice descend, the cold mist around her fading. Her breath was steady, but her eyes held something else—a quiet, unreadable weight. Madison could tell Alice wasn't celebrating. There was no pride in what she had done, no satisfaction in knowing she had wiped out a thousand lives in a heartbeat. Madison understood that feeling too well. Power like theirs didn't come without consequences. But now wasn't the time to dwell on it.

She tightened her grip on her bow, dragging it slightly against the ground. The crystalline surface shimmered, pulsing as if alive. Then, as she lifted it, an energy arrow materialized in place, glowing with a deep blue light. But this time, she didn't release it right away.

Instead, she closed her eyes.

The battlefield noise faded. The distant roars of Gorvaks, the shifting of bodies, the murmurs of the survivors—all of it vanished from her mind. She focused, channeling everything into the arrow. Normally, she would fire instantly, letting her instincts guide her, but not this time. This time, she wanted more. She wanted to push her power further.

The arrow vibrated, pulsing brighter as she fed it more energy. The bow itself trembled in her grip, reacting to the overwhelming power. Her fingers tightened around it, the energy coursing through her body, growing, expanding, waiting for release.

Then, she felt it peak.

Her eyes snapped open, glowing faintly with blue light as she let go.

The arrow shot forward, cutting through the battlefield with an ear-splitting sound. The sheer force of its release kicked up dust, sending a shockwave rippling through the ground. Even Madison, braced and ready, was pushed back slightly by the energy. The survivors behind her gasped in awe, shielding their faces from the sudden gust.

Alice, still hovering in the air, felt it first.

A strange sensation rushed through her, something powerful, something alive. Her breath caught as she looked down, eyes widening. She could see it, feel it—Madison's arrow wasn't just powerful. It was growing. The energy surrounding it swelled, expanding as it raced toward the remaining Gorvaks.

The creatures barely had time to react.

The moment the arrow struck, the world erupted.

A deafening explosion shook the battlefield as a wave of blue energy surged outward, swallowing everything in its path. Gorvaks, still trying to regain their footing, were caught in the blast, their monstrous bodies detonating into pieces. Blood and flesh scattered like dust in the wind, staining the ground in a gruesome display. The sheer force of the explosion flattened everything within its reach, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake.

And then—silence.

For a full minute, the battlefield stood still.

No roars. No movements. Nothing.

Every single Gorvak in the first wave—every last one of them—was gone.

The small group of survivors behind Madison and Alice could only stare, their eyes wide with disbelief. Then, like a flood breaking through a dam, their shock gave way to celebration. A deafening cheer erupted as they raised their weapons, their voices echoing through the battlefield.

If this was how things were going to be, then victory was already in their hands.

Ryder, standing at the far edge of the battlefield, had just finished clearing his side of the enemy. His fists were still coated in blood, his armor dented from the battle, but he barely looked tired. With a final shake of his hands, he turned and started making his way back to Alice and Madison.

But as he approached, something felt… off.

They weren't celebrating.

Unlike the others, Alice and Madison stood perfectly still, their faces furrowed with concern. Their eyes weren't focused on the destruction they had caused—they were looking past it. Past the broken battlefield. Past the bodies of the fallen Gorvaks.

Ryder frowned. "What's wrong?"

Alice's voice was quiet, but firm. "Look closer."

Ryder turned his gaze toward the horizon, toward the incoming enemy. At first, it seemed like more of the same—another wave of Gorvaks, charging in like before. But then, he saw it.

Something different.

These Gorvaks weren't like the first. Their bodies were larger, their movements more calculated. And most importantly—every single one of them had two tails.

His stomach sank. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut.

The first wave… had just been a test. A sacrifice.

These Gorvaks—this was the real enemy.

Ryder clenched his fists. He turned back to the group of survivors, his voice sharp, cutting through the remnants of their celebration. "Listen up!" he called out, his voice carrying across the battlefield. The cheering died instantly as all eyes turned to him. "The next wave is coming, and it's going to be tougher than anything you've ever faced. If you don't stay sharp, if you don't work together—then every single one of you will die."

The survivors swallowed hard, their excitement fading into cold reality. Their gazes shifted toward the advancing Gorvaks, and the weight of the battle ahead settled upon them.

No one needed to say it. They all knew.

This fight wasn't going to be easy.

Madison took a deep breath, stepping up beside Alice. Their shoulders nearly touched as they watched the two-tailed Gorvaks draw closer. She could feel the tension in the air, the quiet understanding between them.

She turned her head slightly, glancing at Alice with a determined look. "We do this as a team."

Alice didn't hesitate. She nodded once. "As a team."

And as the second wave of Gorvaks surged forward, the real battle was about to begin.

---

Jack and his team remained hidden, their breaths shallow as they watched the battlefield unfold. The clash of battle echoed in the distance, but their eyes were locked on the portal still swirling in the middle of the clearing. From their vantage point, they had seen everything—the way Madison and Alice had obliterated the first wave of Gorvaks with terrifying power, the way the survivors had celebrated, thinking the battle was over.

But Jack knew better.

His fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword as his eyes flickered toward the portal. The second wave of Gorvaks had already begun pouring out—but these were different. Their bodies were larger, their muscles more defined, and their movements were eerily coordinated. Unlike the first wave, which had charged in recklessly, these creatures advanced with measured steps, their twin tails swaying behind them like lethal whips.

Then, the atmosphere shifted.

From within the swirling energy of the portal, another figure emerged.

Jack's breath caught in his throat as he watched a single Gorvak step forward, its presence alone making his stomach churn. Unlike the two-tailed creatures that had rushed out before it, this one moved with slow, deliberate steps, as if it had no reason to hurry. Its posture was relaxed—almost arrogant. But what sent a cold chill down Jack's spine was the third tail swaying behind it, thick and covered in jagged spikes.

A three-tailed Gorvak.

Jack had never seen one before, but even without knowing its capabilities, he could feel the difference. This wasn't just another mindless beast. It was intelligent, observant. Dangerous.

His heart pounded as he forced himself to stay focused. He could only hope Alice and Madison would be able to hold their ground until the rest of the group joined them. But then, something else caught his eye.

The portal—it was closing.

Jack's eyes snapped toward the swirling mass of energy. The once-stable gateway was beginning to shrink, its edges flickering violently as if being pulled inward. His pulse quickened. If that portal closed before they got through, they would lose their chance.

They waited until the three tailed Govark was gone then in an instant, the illusion around them dropped.

The air shimmered, and suddenly, they were no longer hidden. Sam had deactivated his ability, revealing their position. Without hesitation, the group surged forward, dashing toward the portal as fast as their legs could carry them.

"Go! Now!" Jack shouted.

Sam, already prepared, reached into his pack and pulled out a slender metallic staff—one of Ray's inventions. Without a second thought, he rammed it into the ground near the portal.

The reaction was instant.

The staff pulsed with energy, sending waves of light rippling outward. The closing portal shuddered, then stopped shrinking. A field of golden energy formed around its edges, stabilizing it just in time. Jack let out a breath of relief. Ray had built this thing based on Jack's calculations, and right now, it was working exactly as they had hoped.

But the staff wasn't just stopping the portal from closing—it was doing something more.

Jack's eyes narrowed as the energy began to shift. The portal, once a one-way gate, was starting to reverse. It was opening on both sides. That had been Ray's true goal—not just to hold the portal open, but to trace it back to its source. If their enemies were using this to come through, then Jack and his team were going to use it to go back.

Jack clenched his fist. "It's working."

He took a step forward, then hesitated. The swirling mass of energy was unstable, unpredictable. He had no idea what was on the other side. But that didn't matter. If they wanted answers—if they wanted to end this—they had to take the risk.

Taking a deep breath, he reached out, pressing his hand into the portal's surface. The moment his fingers passed through, he felt a pull—a strange sensation, as if his body was being stretched and compressed at the same time. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to step forward.

And then he was gone.

The rest of the team followed. One by one, they disappeared into the swirling energy, vanishing into the unknown.

The moment Jack stepped out the other side, his body tensed. The air was thick with dust, the scent of minerals and damp stone filling his lungs. He blinked, adjusting to the dim light. The environment was instantly familiar—too familiar.

His stomach dropped as he realized where they were.

Scattered across the cavern floor were shattered mining tools, rusted chains, and the faint, glowing remnants of Niyx crystals embedded in the walls. This was one of the mines. One of the locations where the Keepers had once forced them to work, where they had been treated like nothing more than laborers.

But that wasn't the worst part.

Jack's entire body tensed as he saw movement ahead. A large shadow loomed in the dim light, its presence unmistakable. As his eyes adjusted, the figure came into focus.

A Gorvak stood before them.

But not just any Gorvak.

Its massive form was partially illuminated by the faint crystal glow, its black scales gleaming with an eerie light. But what sent a cold wave of dread through Jack's body was the unmistakable sight behind it—three tails, slowly swaying from side to side like a predator preparing to strike.

The creature didn't lunge. Didn't roar. It simply watched.

A slow, deliberate movement, its eyes locking onto Jack's.

The rest of the team came through the portal behind him, one by one. They barely had time to register their surroundings before they, too, saw what was waiting for them.

Silence.

Jack's fingers tightened around his sword hilt. His heartbeat pounded in his ears as he carefully took a step forward.

Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he muttered, "Well… this just got complicated."