Who would have thought that magic could be amplified with nothing more than a simple rhyming tune?


    Aiden’s hands moved swiftly, weaving spells that reshaped the trees, bending their branches into intricate arches. The herbs and bushes around them curled into precise formations, as if preparing for an elaborate performance. Nearby, Lyrus worked in harmony with him, his magic resonating in a rhythmic chant, sending ripples of power through the air, amplifying the enchantments that filled the environment.


    The platform, adorned with meticulously placed runes, shimmered with latent energy. Every detail had been arranged with care, but time was slipping through their fingers. The stage was almost set.


    Scattered across the ground were stones and marbles—carefully selected materials meant to enhance the runes’ potency. Aiden was experimenting for the first time, layering different elements to amplify their effects. Aiden, crouched nearby, swiftly positioned emeralds in key locations, his every movement precise, yet his senses on high alert. Then, in a heartbeat, his gaze snapped toward the distance. He shut his eyes for a brief moment, attuning himself to the shift in energy—


    They were close.


    Without hesitation, Aiden signaled to Flame and Lyrus. They melted into the shadows of the trees and undergrowth, vanishing into the carefully arranged concealment of leaves. Every inch of the ground had been meticulously covered by Aiden’s power, ensuring no trace of their presence remained. Even the slightest disturbance could unravel everything.


    The stage was set.


    The first of them stepped through the barrier.


    Six figures emerged, their movements cautious yet confident. Aiden, hidden within the foliage, barely breathed as he observed them. His pulse quickened when his gaze landed on one particular figure—the way he moved, the sharp flicker in his eyes—it was clear he had already sensed something was amiss.


    The remaining five pressed forward, drawn toward the center of the rune circle, unaware of the web tightening around them.


    “Wait.”


    The voice was calm but firm. The leader, clad in white emerald armor, raised a hand, halting the others. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, his instincts whispering of an unseen threat.


    Aiden remained motionless, his fingers just inches from activating the runes. Timing was everything. He needed them all within the circle. The leader was perceptive, but suspicion alone wasn’t enough. Not yet.


    A tense silence filled the air.


    The leader''s gaze lingered on the uneven ground, his brow furrowed. Something felt... off. The arrangement of leaves, the unsettling stillness—it was almost too perfect. His hand hovered over his weapon.


    Aiden steadied his breath.


    Just a little closer...


    The leader shouted, "Wait!" But the very second he did, Aiden activated the rune. The ground glowed, leaves vibrated, and in an instant, a shimmering barrier enclosed the area.


    The leader didn’t hesitate. His body pulsed with a deep purple glow as he launched himself toward the center of the rune, slamming his fist into the ground. The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, scattering the materials Aiden had painstakingly placed to maintain the spell’s integrity. The rune—his carefully constructed trap—was unraveling before his eyes.


    Lyrus reacted instantly, fingers dancing across his instrument as he infused the air with a powerful melody. The vibrations of his music strengthened the failing rune, but it wasn’t enough. Hidden in the shadows, he swiftly cast a visionary sleep spell, hoping to incapacitate the intruders. It failed. These weren’t mere guards; they were far stronger than the Earl’s usual soldiers.


    Aiden’s chest tightened as he watched two hours of preparation undone in mere moments. He wanted to retreat, but it was already too late.


    His grip tightened around the hilt of his legendary Forged Star Saber. With no other choice, he dashed toward the other members of the group, excluding the leader, who was still focused on dismantling the rune.


    The attack should have taken them by surprise, but before he could land a single blow, something struck his chest with immense force. He barely registered the impact before he was sent hurtling backward, crashing into a tree. Pain exploded through his body as he gasped for breath. His dazed vision cleared just enough to see the leader standing where he had been, holding a golden metal rod. Their eyes met, and in that instant, Aiden knew—this was going to be a deadly fight. And he wasn’t sure he could win.


    Lyrus and Flame launched their attack the moment Aiden hit the ground. But they were only two against five, and their odds were dismal. Flame, despite his speed and agility, was still just a bird. Lyris, a child with exceptional magic, was still just a child. They were at a severe disadvantage.


    Aiden didn’t have the luxury of worrying about them. He had his own battle to survive.


    He lunged toward the leader, fully aware that brute strength alone wouldn’t be enough. The leader’s movements had already given Aiden a glimpse of his overwhelming power. He couldn’t win in a direct confrontation.


    Without hesitation, Aiden summoned a thousand blades.


    The ground trembled as countless ethereal swords erupted from the earth, hurtling toward the leader like a relentless storm. For a brief moment, the leader was caught off guard. But then, with an effortless twirl of his rod, he deflected each blade. One after another, they crashed against the weapon, shattering into harmless sparks before they could reach him.


    Aiden’s eyes widened. Not a single blade had made it through. It was an astonishing display of skill—one that sent a chill down his spine.


    But he wasn’t done yet.


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    He conjured a fireball and hurled it toward the leader. The explosion engulfed the battlefield, momentarily obscuring everything in thick smoke. Aiden didn’t waste a second—he dashed forward through the haze, saber poised to strike.


    The leader emerged from the smoke, his rod still spinning, deflecting the lingering blades. Though his armor had absorbed most of the impact, a few of the swords had managed to graze the surface, leaving faint scratches. It wasn’t enough to injure him, but Aiden saw it as a small victory.


    He pressed forward, slashing with a flurry of precise attacks. But no matter how fast or unpredictable his movements, the leader countered each one with ease. Every strike was met with a swift block, every opening vanished before he could exploit it. Aiden was completely outmatched in terms of skill.


    But he was smart.


    As he was forced backward, he suddenly shifted his approach. Feigning retreat, he leaped away. The leader, momentarily puzzled, hesitated just enough for Aiden to strike.


    Channeling his power, he surged energy from his sword directly into the tip of the leader’s rod. The instant their weapons connected, Aiden unleashed a spell-infused fireball at point-blank range.


    The explosion sent the leader flying, his body colliding with the thick trees lining the battlefield. His golden rod slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground.


    As the dust settled, Aiden took in the sight before him. The leader’s armor, flawless until now, bore the first signs of damage—hairline fractures snaking along its surface. More importantly, a thin trickle of blood ran down his forehead.


    Aiden smirked.


    But the leader… he was furious now.


    This fight was far from over.


    Aiden stole a glance at Lyrus and Fame. They were struggling, barely keeping up against the five warriors. His grip tightened on his sword, but before he could refocus on the leader, a blur of motion slammed into him. The sheer force sent him skidding backward, his body barely withstanding the impact.


    The leader moved with impossible speed. Aiden barely had time to register his movements before he saw the golden rod in his hands tracing intricate symbols in the air. The glowing runes shimmered, forming words of power. A spell.


    Aiden reacted instinctively. A fireball roared to life in his palm, and he hurled it toward the forming spell. The explosion lit up the battlefield, momentarily obscuring everything in smoke. But as the haze cleared, Aiden’s heart sank. The spell remained untouched, unbroken. Worse, the momentary distraction had only given the leader more time to complete it.


    A cold shiver ran down Aiden’s spine as the leader stepped back and pushed the completed spell forward with the tip of his rod. Golden energy rippled outward, covering the entire battlefield. And then—


    Silence.


    Aiden knew something was wrong. He could feel it in his bones. But before he could decipher the effects, he tried to move—and failed. His feet were locked in place.


    “Shit,” he muttered under his breath, struggling to break free. No use. The spell had rooted him to the ground.


    The leader’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. He raised his rod once more, his entire form glowing with a white aura. Then, without hesitation, he lunged forward, the rod aimed straight at Aiden’s chest.


    Aiden braced himself. He couldn’t defend. He couldn’t dodge. His only option was to attack.


    But before he could act, a deafening sound echoed through the battlefield—hooves, heavy and unrelenting, pounding against the earth.


    Aiden smirked.


    If you were even a few seconds late…


    A thunderous roar followed. A chorus of grunts, snorts, and wild screeches filled the air as a horde of monstrous bulls charged into view. Their eyes burned with an eerie red glow, and their massive horns gleamed under the moonlight.


    Chaos erupted.


    The warriors scrambled to dodge, but the bulls had already chosen their targets. Over a hundred of them surged forward, crashing into the battlefield like an unstoppable tide of destruction.


    Aiden didn’t waste a second. He leapt onto the nearest tree, using the momentary distraction to summon the Skyship.


    A small, fist-sized object materialized in his hand. With a flick of his wrist, it expanded—growing rapidly, unfolding like a blooming flower. Within seconds, it took shape, transforming into a massive floating vessel hovering above the battlefield.


    “Go!” Aiden shouted.


    Fame grabbed Lyrus and soared into the Skyship. Alina followed close behind. Aiden jumped last, landing smoothly on the deck as the ship began to ascend.


    The bulls—under his command—continued their rampage. When their job was done, they would return to the forest, waiting for his next call.


    But the enemy wasn’t finished yet.


    The warriors weren’t just skilled fighters—they could fly. Each of them wielded a strange staff-like device strapped to their backs, propelling them upward in pursuit.


    “They’re gaining on us!” Alina warned.


    Aiden didn’t answer. He already knew. But the Skyship was built for speed, and even at their best, the warriors couldn’t match its pace.


    Desperation fueled their attacks. Arrows, spells, and energy blasts rained toward the Skyship, but none even left a mark. Then, the leader raised his rod, its tip pulsing with radiant energy. A massive beam of white light erupted from it, streaking toward the skyship.


    The impact shook the air around them, but when the light faded, the Skyship remained unscathed.


    Alina turned to Aiden, eyes wide with suspicion. “Where did you get this Skyship?”


    Aiden smirked, saying nothing.


    Alina frowned. Day by day, Aiden was becoming more and more of a mystery.


    Now was their chance to strike. Aiden had already stocked the Skyship with an ample supply of crystals—it was time to put them to the test. Without hesitation, he activated the six cannons. The sleek weapons adjusted, each one capable of rotating a full 360 degrees to target enemies from any direction.


    As the cannons powered up, they began drawing energy—not just from the crystals embedded within the Skyship, but also from the surrounding atmosphere. The air crackled with tension as the energy coalesced into a volatile charge.


    Alina approached swiftly, her voice edged with cold determination. "Don''t leave them alive. If we let them escape, they''ll return with reinforcements. We can’t afford more trouble."


    Aiden understood. This wasn’t just a skirmish—it was survival. With a sharp nod, he turned back to the controls. The battle had already moved far from the forest and the bulls; there were no innocents left to be caught in the crossfire.


    The cannons unleashed their fury.


    Six beams of concentrated energy tore through the sky, each striking with pinpoint accuracy. The enemy barely had time to react before the first explosion erupted. The blast was cataclysmic—earth-shaking, sky-scorching, and utterly devastating. Fire and dust engulfed the battlefield as the landscape was obliterated. Where once stood towering trees and dense foliage, now lay a smoldering wasteland, carved open by the sheer force of the attack.


    Silence followed.


    No movement. No sign of pursuit.


    But deep within the shadows of the ravaged forest, a lone figure stirred. The leader of the enemy force lay broken, bloodied, and barely conscious. He had absorbed the brunt of the explosion to shield his comrades. His body ached, his vision blurred, yet his mind remained sharp.


    "That Skyship... it’s no ordinary treasure..." he murmured, coughing up blood. "And they... they are far from ordinary."


    A few surviving subordinates gathered around him, their expressions grim. "What are your orders?" one of them asked hesitantly.


    The leader clenched his fists, forcing himself upright. "We need more information. More warriors. This isn’t over."


    Meanwhile, miles away, in the grand halls of the Grace Temple Kingdom, the Duke listened as the report was delivered. The expressions of those around him darkened with each word.


    "The attackers wielded power strong enough to decimate half of the Enlightenment Forest," one subordinate relayed. "The Skyship alone was beyond anything we’ve seen."


    Another hesitated before asking, "What should we tell the king?"


    The Duke exhaled slowly, his jaw tightening. "The truth. We lost. And we didn’t just lose to ordinary opponents. These people... they are a force to be reckoned with. Even the Royal Army would suffer heavy losses facing them."


    He turned to his men, his gaze hardening. "Find them. Learn everything about them. I want their names, their pasts, their allegiances. Whatever it takes, we will uncover who they are—and how to destroy them."