The alarm resonated through the museum's icy halls like a piercing scream, and the still air was broken by the sound of heavy boots and the whirring of magic plasma rifles. Ethan cursed under his breath, his gaze snapping to Jake as they ran.
"Jake! You just triggered an alarm spell and called in every damn guard in the building!" Ethan snarled, his tone edged with fury.
"I didn't see it!" Jake shouted back defensively, his frustration boiling over. The team sprinted through the twisting corridors, Kalthorne floating alongside Ethan's body, held securely by his telekinetic magic. The unconscious elf bobbed like a marionette as Ethan balanced combat preparation with keeping their target unharmed.
They rounded a corner and came face-to-face with a squad of armored guards, their crystalline weapons humming with energy. Some wielded magic plasma guns, sleek and deadly-looking devices glowing with fluctuating mana. The guards didn't hesitate—they opened fire. Bolts of crackling blue plasma surged toward the team, illuminating the dark halls like lightning.
"Domain Lock—Silent Sanctuary!" Ethan shouted, thrusting his hand into the air. A shimmering barrier expanded outward, encapsulating the museum. The magic dome glowed faintly and hummed with stabilized mana. The outside world wouldn't hear a thing—a fight here wouldn't disturb the city. But the enemies within? That was another story.
"Cover me!" Ethan ordered. The plasma bolts surged toward them, and Marika raised her hands, conjuring a shimmering green mana shield. The bolts splattered against it like glowing raindrops, leaving cracks and fractures in its surface.
"They're charging up their weapons for another volley!" Lindiwe called out, ducking low as a plasma bolt whizzed past her head.
"Jake, flank them!" Ethan commanded, his voice steady despite the chaos. Jake rushed forward without hesitation, summoning a fiery orb that hovered above his hand. He hurled it toward the guards, the resulting explosion engulfing three of them. The plasma guns clattered to the ground as their wielders screamed, their bodies seared by the magic.
"Keep moving!" Ethan said, slinging Kalthorne higher into the air with his telekinetic grip. The elf floated above them, shielded by an aura of protective mana Ethan had cast moments before.
The remaining guards retaliated fiercely, charging with glowing mana swords and unleashing elemental attacks. They weren't as skilled in magic as Grand Mages, but their combat experience and enchanted weapons made them formidable.
Ethan dodged a strike from a guard wielding twin mana swords, twisting his body to evade a lethal slash. With a flick of his wrist, he cast "Crushing Grasp," summoning spectral hands that clawed at the guard, gripping him in place. Ethan's eyes glowed faintly as his mana surged, and the spectral hands tightened until the guard's body snapped audibly. Blood sprayed across the polished floor as his lifeless form crumbled.
Marika faced down two guards who were attacking her simultaneously. She twirled her staff, channeling her mana into an explosive whirlwind. Ice shards and green fire erupted outward, slicing through the air. One guard's head flew clean off, while the other collapsed to the ground, clutching at the gaping wound in his chest.
"This is insane!" Marika shouted, her breathing ragged but her focus unwavering.
"Stay sharp!" Lindiwe yelled, forming a glowing blue blade made entirely of mana. She parried an incoming sword strike, her blade slicing through the enchanted steel as if it were paper. She spun, her movements fluid and deadly, landing a clean stab through her opponent's heart. Blood pooled rapidly beneath the guard's body as Lindiwe turned toward her next target.
Despite their efforts, the team was clearly outmatched. Entry-level Grand Mages were beginning to arrive—mages whose mana control and spell diversity far exceeded that of the guards. The Grand Mages didn't rely on weapons. Their spells were swift and destructive.
One Grand Mage raised his hand, summoning a massive spear of condensed lightning. He hurled it toward Marika, who barely managed to dodge, the spear grazing her shoulder. The resulting blast sent her flying into a wall, the impact leaving her momentarily dazed.
"Marika!" Jake shouted, rushing to her side and conjuring a fiery shield to block incoming attacks. His movements were wild and reckless, and Ethan grimaced, realizing Jake's rashness could get them killed.
"Get it together, Jake!" Ethan barked, casting "Bladed Tempest," summoning a barrage of ethereal blades that rained down on the attackers. Blood sprayed as the blades cut through armor and flesh, leaving the guards in pieces. Yet even as the last guard fell, the Grand Mages pushed forward.
A Grand Mage lunged at Ethan, wielding a shimmering glaive enhanced by elemental water magic. Ethan dodged and retaliated with "Mana Spike," conjuring jagged, glowing shards that erupted from the ground. The spikes impaled the Grand Mage, who screamed in agony as blood drenched his ornate robes.
Another Grand Mage cast a wave of black flames that swept toward the team. Lindiwe countered with a mana wall, her blue aura flaring as she struggled to contain the flames. Ethan stepped forward, channeling a massive amount of mana into his hands.
"Glacial Wrath!" Ethan roared, slamming his palms into the ground. The museum trembled as an icy shockwave erupted outward, engulfing the flames and freezing several enemies solid. Ethan staggered briefly, the immense mana output taking its toll, but he quickly regained his composure.
As the battle raged on, the team began finding their footing. The guards and Grand Mages grew desperate, their formations crumbling. Ethan's leadership shone as he coordinated their attacks, guiding Marika, Lindiwe, and Jake into perfect synchronicity.
Jake let out a primal yell, summoning a massive fiery explosion that consumed one of the remaining Grand Mages. Lindiwe darted forward, her mana blade cutting through another enemy's defenses, leaving his lifeless body slumped to the ground. Marika unleashed a vortex of wind and fire, scattering the final group of guards.
Ethan's eyes glowed as he raised his hand, telekinetically hurling frozen rubble at the last surviving Grand Mage. Blood splattered as the debris crushed him, his body mangled and broken.
As silence settled over the battlefield, the team stood amidst the carnage, their breaths ragged and their bodies battered. Ethan adjusted the protective mana aura around Kalthorne, ensuring their unconscious target remained unharmed. The museum was filled with shattered glass, frozen corpses, and pools of blood.
"Everyone okay?" Ethan asked, his voice steady despite the exhaustion.
Marika wiped the blood from her cheek, her expression grim but resolute. "I'm fine. Jake saved my life back there."
"Don't get used to it," Jake muttered, though his words lacked heat.
Lindiwe nodded, tightening her grip on her mana blade before letting it dissipate. "I think we're clear."
Ethan scanned the area with his mana senses. He knew they couldn't linger here. "Let's move. Back to the hotel."
The team fled the scene, slipping out of the museum under the cover of darkness. The Silent Sanctuary spell ensured their escape went unnoticed by the rest of the city. Once outside the museum's boundaries, they blended into the shadows of Frostveil's streets, heading for the shady district where their hotel awaited.
Though the battle had been won, the danger was far from over. Ethan couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was wrong—a feeling that would only solidify once they reached the hotel and he uncovered the true consequences of Jake's mistake.
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