Chapter 12:
Jacob's cocky demeanor didn't falter as he signaled for his teammates to regroup. He stood tall, aiming his bow at Aidon with a smirk. "You're all talk," he called out, his voice dripping with disdain. "But we'll see who's up for a fight."
Aidon's eyes remained locked on him, his expression cold. He didn't respond, instead focusing on the area around them. His grip tightened on his staff, his mind racing. There was no room for distractions now.
Aria moved to his side, her dagger slicing through the ropes that had trapped them. She worked quickly, and soon the ropes fell away, leaving them free to move.
"Stay focused," Aidon muttered, his voice low. Without waiting for a response, he descended into the trees, his senses sharpening.
Always quick to follow, Jade stayed at Aidon's side, but Aria lagged behind, not far enough to lose sight of them.
"Not bad, but you're still slow," Jacob called after them, the challenge in his voice ringing loud through the clearing. He nocked another arrow, this time aiming directly for Aidon.
Aidon didn't flinch, his instincts already taking over. As the arrow shot forward, he flicked his staff, deflecting the projectile with a sharp movement.
"Is that all?" Aidon's voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried across the clearing. His words weren't directed at Jacob but at the air itself. His focus was unbroken, his mind already calculating the next move.
"Not so fast," Jacob snarled, drawing another arrow—this one glowing faintly. He aimed again, his hands steady, his eyes locked onto Aidon's.
This time, something unexpected happened. As Jacob released the arrow, Aidon's hand jerked in instinctive defense. Without thinking, he hurled his staff into the air. The motion was so natural and unconscious that Aidon didn't realize what he had done until the staff was rising, spinning above him.
In that instant, his staff duplicated.
One became three. Three became five. Five became seven. And suddenly, dozens of staffs rained down from the sky, each one whirling and spinning in chaotic, synchronized motion.
The red team, unprepared for such a force, was thrown off balance. The first staff crashed into the ground, sending a shockwave that rattled the leaves in the trees. The second staff flew in a sweeping arc, deflecting an arrow Jacob had loosed toward Jade. Another spun, knocking a shield from a red team member's arm. More of them fell, landing like meteors, creating gusts of wind that sent the enemies scrambling.
It was madness—staffs everywhere, each one shifting unpredictably in the air, making it nearly impossible for the red team to stay focused. They tried to block, to parry, but the sheer number of weapons was overwhelming. The field became a storm of flying metal as if the very air itself was trying to fight back.
Jacob stumbled back, eyes wide, trying to keep his footing as the staffs surrounded him like an unyielding wave. His earlier confidence faltered. "What the hell is this?" he shouted, narrowly dodging one of the falling rods.
Aidon stood still, watching the chaos unfold around him. The wind howled, almost in response to his thoughts, as the staffs seemed to respond to his will—only he hadn't willed them at all.
"Not so fast," Jacob barked, rallying his team, but it was too late. The metal bars continued to rain down, too many to keep up with, each one knocking weapons out of hands, disorienting the red team, and pushing them back.
Aidon's heart pounded, but it wasn't from fear. The power surged inside him, unwelcome but undeniable. He didn't know why the staff had multiplied, didn't know how it had happened, but it had. And now, his enemies were being overwhelmed.
He didn't take satisfaction in it—not yet. There was still more to be done.
"Let's go," Aidon said quietly, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. He turned without looking back, Jade and Aria already moving forward to the flag.