The moment they stepped into the thick mist, the world around Tay and New seemed to change. The air grew colder, the trees more twisted and foreboding. Every sound was muffled, like the forest itself had fallen silent in anticipation of the coming storm. It was as though time itself had slowed, and with every step, the weight of what they were about to face pressed harder on their shoulders.
Tay kept a firm grip on New’s hand, guiding him through the haze. His heart raced, but his mind remained focused. He could sense New’s fear, feel the tension in his body, and Tay knew he had to stay strong—not just for himself, but for New and everyone depending on them.
Ryu led the group with Khaon walking alongside him, their faces set in grim determination. Behind them, the warriors moved in silence, their weapons ready, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of the Mist Walker.
As they moved deeper into the forest, the mist began to swirl around them more aggressively, as if it was alive, trying to push them back. New could feel it too—an energy that wasn’t just in the air, but in the ground, in the trees, everywhere. His connection to the mist was growing stronger with every passing second, but so was his unease.
“What if this is all a trap?” New whispered to Tay. “What if the Mist Walker is stronger than we thought?”
“We’ll face whatever comes together,” Tay replied, his voice steady. “Remember, you’re not alone in this.”
New nodded, but his mind kept drifting back to the visions he had seen—the faces of those who had come before him, those who had failed to control the power of the mist. He wondered if their fate would be his.
Suddenly, a sharp rustling sound came from the trees to their left. Everyone stopped, weapons raised, eyes darting in all directions. The mist thickened around them, and for a moment, everything was still.
Then, without warning, shadows emerged from the fog—figures cloaked in the mist itself. Their movements were swift, almost too fast to track, and before anyone could react, the attackers struck.
The battle began in an instant. Ryu swung his sword, meeting the first of the shadowy figures head-on, while the warriors behind him charged into the fray. Tay drew his own blade, positioning himself in front of New, determined to protect him at all costs.
New’s hands began to glow faintly as he summoned the power of the mist, trying to fend off the attackers. But as the fight raged around them, he felt something different—a presence, something familiar, calling to him from deeper within the forest.
“Tay, something’s out there,” New said, his voice barely audible above the clash of steel. “I can feel it.”
Tay glanced at New, concern flashing in his eyes. “What do you mean?”
Before New could respond, a powerful force rippled through the mist, knocking everyone back. The shadowy figures dissolved into the air, and for a moment, silence fell once more.
Then, from the depths of the mist, a figure emerged.
It was the Mist Walker.
His form was barely human, more a being of pure mist than flesh. His eyes glowed with an eerie light, and as he moved toward them, the very ground seemed to tremble.
“You’ve come far,” the Mist Walker said, his voice echoing through the forest. “But your journey ends here.”
Ryu stepped forward, his sword raised. “We’re not afraid of you.”
The Mist Walker laughed, a cold, hollow sound. “You should be. This power isn’t something you can fight. It’s older than any of you can imagine.”
Tay tightened his grip on his sword, ready to strike, but New stepped in front of him.
“Wait,” New said softly. “I know you.”
The Mist Walker’s gaze shifted to New, his eyes narrowing. “You...”
New’s heart pounded in his chest as memories from his past—his parents, the village, everything he thought he had lost—came rushing back. The connection he had felt to the mist, the strange energy that had always surrounded him, it all began to make sense.
“You were there,” New whispered. “When I was a child... you were the one who took everything from me.”
The Mist Walker’s expression changed, a flicker of recognition passing through his eyes. “So, you remember.”
Tay looked between them, confusion and anger building inside him. “New, what is he talking about?”
New turned to Tay, his eyes filled with a mixture of pain and understanding. “He’s the reason I have this power. He’s the one who destroyed my village... my family.”
Tay’s blood ran cold. The Mist Walker had been a part of New’s life all along, and now they were finally face to face with the source of all the pain and loss New had endured.
But New wasn’t the same frightened child he had once been. He had grown stronger, not just in his magic but in his resolve. He wouldn’t let the past define him any longer.
“I won’t let you control me,” New said, his voice firm. “Not anymore.”
The Mist Walker sneered. “You think you can stop me? You are nothing without me. Your power is mine.”
New stepped forward, his hands glowing brighter now. “No. It’s mine. And I’m going to end this.”
Tay stood beside New, his sword ready, his heart filled with pride and love for the boy who had endured so much. Together, they would face this darkness, confront the past, and fight for their future.
The final battle was about to begin.
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