After the group stealthily exited the tunnels, they carefully made their way toward the towering Sacred Tree. Skillfully avoiding the dozens of soldiers patrolling the royal garden, they managed to advance undetected. However, as soon as they reached the tree, they encountered a new problem.
At the base of the tree, ancient inscriptions were engraved in Draconic. Orzoth stepped closer and whispered, quickly deciphering the text:
"It says that this place is the sacred tomb of the hero Galerik... That's probably the name of the dragon who sealed that creature in the tunnels."
Drayk contemplated the site briefly, feeling a mix of respect and unease. But at that moment, he had a more urgent concern: how to unearth the runes without being noticed by the guards.
Varian and Kaelon immediately began scouting the area, searching for clues that might reveal a secret passage, but they found nothing beyond roots and ancient stones.
Drayk's instincts were sharper than ever. Something inside him told him they were in the right place, but how could they access the Nexum Runes without attracting attention?
"Are we certain this is the place?" Kaelon asked in a low voice, still inspecting the ground for anything unusual.
"Yes, this is it," Drayk responded with conviction. "Malek's memories didn't lie."
For a brief moment, Drayk was confused when he once again heard that familiar voice in his mind.
[Notice: The runes' energy is near.]
He frowned, mentally questioning the need for that message. Nexum had already confirmed that the runes were close enough to reach. Reiterating that information seemed useless at this point.
"Something wrong?" Kaelon whispered, noticing Drayk's puzzled expression.
"Nexum's voice repeated something I already knew. The runes are close enough for me to reach them," Drayk replied, still intrigued.
Kaelon quickly considered it before suggesting with a confident smirk, "What if you try to absorb the energy directly using Greed?"
Drayk raised an eyebrow, surprised by his friend's suggestion. It was worth a shot.
"Greed!" he whispered.
Immediately, a massive surge of magical energy began to concentrate before them. The sheer intensity of the power was overwhelming, but unfortunately, it was far from subtle. Within seconds, the royal guards patrolling the garden turned their attention toward the Sacred Tree, alerted by the sudden surge of magical energy.
"Damn! They're coming!" Varian muttered, gripping her daggers.
The soldiers advanced quickly, alarmed and confused by the sudden magical disturbance. Though they didn't yet understand what was happening, it wouldn't take long before they identified the culprits.
"Prepare yourselves!" Drayk warned, maintaining focus as he struggled to absorb the power now within his grasp.
The group shifted into defensive positions, aware that their stealth mission had just been compromised. Now, there was no choice but to fight their way through, while Drayk desperately worked to absorb the Nexum Runes before it was too late.
Drayk watched anxiously as the numbers appeared before his eyes, progressing slowly but surely.
[Notice: 2/5]
[Notice: 3/5]
Meanwhile, the group was now completely surrounded by the royal soldiers. Orzoth quickly assessed the situation and made a grim conclusion:
"Almost a hundred men… We need to act fast."
Kaelon felt adrenaline surge through his veins. Internally, he was excited for the opportunity to prove his worth to Drayk, and this was the perfect moment. Without hesitation, he charged at the soldiers, his fists engulfed in vibrant energy, annihilating anyone who got too close.
"Come at me!" Kaelon roared, moving lightning-fast among the enemies, each devastating blow sending soldiers crashing to the ground.
[Notice: 4/5]
Varian wasted no time. Her slender figure melted into the shadows, allowing her to slip undetected past the frontline. With deadly precision, her daggers silenced the mages and archers, who posed a significant long-range threat.
Orzoth observed the battle intently, impressed by the raw talent of the two young warriors, all while maintaining a protective barrier around Drayk. Despite this, his serious expression showed concern.
Before Drayk could celebrate the message appearing before him:
[Notice: 5/5]
[The absorption of the Nexum Runes has been completed!]
Orzoth's urgent warning cut through the moment.
"Drayk, watch out! That magic is too powerful for my barrier!"
Drayk snapped his head up and saw, hovering above the battlefield, a mighty sorcerer, levitating in the sky, gathering an immense sphere of fire between his hands. The sheer energy was suffocating, and it was clear the mage didn't care about his own soldiers.
"Orzoth, quick! Open a portal so we can escape!" Drayk ordered, keeping his composure.
"Impossible," Orzoth responded, tension in his voice. "Kaelon and Varian are too far. They won't make it in time."
Drayk felt his heart pound in his chest. He had the runes—his primary objective was nearly complete. But now, he faced a cruel dilemma:
Would he escape with the runes and survive? Or risk everything to save his friends?
Drayk clenched his fists tightly, feeling the intense heat of the Nexum Runes pulsing inside him. Above, the gigantic fireball crackled, radiating a blinding light that illuminated the entire area. Every second felt crucial.
A quick glance at the battlefield confirmed what was already obvious: Kaelon, despite fighting with impressive determination, was beginning to wear down under the relentless assault of the soldiers. Varian, though skilled and agile in the shadows, was being cornered by mages constantly casting spells to neutralize her.
"They won't last much longer," Drayk thought.
Overcome by urgency, he turned to Orzoth and said firmly:
"Open a portal! We need to get out of here now!"
"Drayk, if you try to absorb that much magic, you might die"— Orzoth began, concerned.
But Drayk interrupted with a resolute roar:
"I SAID OPEN THE PORTAL!" — Without waiting for a response, he charged forward.
His body reacted instantly, the energy of the runes flowing through his veins, surrounding him in a brilliant golden aura.
The young dragon's speed surpassed imagination. In the blink of an eye, he appeared behind Kaelon, who was panting after defeating another group of soldiers.
"We're leaving, now!" — Drayk exclaimed with unquestionable authority.
Kaelon took a deep breath, nodding quickly.
Drayk extended his hand and, with a swift movement, cleared enough space for his friend to break free from the enemies.
Kaelon gave a brief smile of relief, taking advantage of the opening to sprint toward the portal Orzoth had opened.
Only Varian remained.
Drayk scanned the battlefield with sharp eyes until he found her, surrounded by a circle of Order mages. Her arms and legs were bound by magical chains, and her expression showed a rare vulnerability.
Without a second thought, Drayk vanished again, materializing beside the young assassin.
"Hold on!" — he shouted, grabbing the arcane chains with his bare hands.
The energy burned his skin intensely, but the pain was insignificant compared to the determination he felt. Drayk channeled all his strength, tearing the chains apart with a powerful shout.
"We're getting out of here!" — he said, extending his hand to Varian.
She grasped his hand tightly, her eyes shining with gratitude and relief as they both dashed toward the portal.
Drayk could feel that they weren't completely safe yet, but at least, for that moment, his friends were out of danger.
Drayk narrowed his eyes, realizing that Orzoth was desperately pointing at the sky. When he finally understood the warning, the destructive magic was already seconds away from hitting the ground.
— Damn it! — he exclaimed, bracing himself for the imminent impact.
...
The royal capital trembled violently upon impact. The great Sacred Tree began to crack, emitting terrifying creaking sounds. Slowly, the tree collapsed, crushing everything in its path—houses were reduced to rubble under its colossal weight, resulting in immediate devastation.
Chaos consumed the city. Dozens of soldiers were buried beneath the debris, and screams echoed from all directions as people ran to escape the disaster.
When the dust finally settled, there was no immediate sign of the group. The city, now in ruins, bore the deep scars of the unleashed power.
In the sky, the mage responsible for the devastation watched impassively, confident that his enemies could not have survived.