Chapter 10:

The tension in the air was thick as the two teams clashed. Red versus Blue. The forest seemed alive with the sounds of battle—branches snapping under the pressure of heavy footfalls, the sharp clang of metal on metal, and the shouts and battle cries echoing between the trees. Aidon's senses were heightened, every rustling leaf and distant shout sending his mind into overdrive. He'd barely caught his breath since the game had started. His body moved on instinct as he darted between trees, his eyes scanning for the next obstacle, the next target. Beside him, Jade and Aria were like shadows, flanking him on either side as they moved through the underbrush.

"Stick to the plan!" Jade called out, his voice laced with determination. His goggles glinted in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the canopy above them. "We get to their flag, and we're golden! We can do this, no problem."

"Easier said than done!" Aidon shot back, his voice laced with a touch of frustration as an arrow whistled past him, narrowly missing his shoulder. He didn't need to look back to know it had been Jacob's handiwork. The kid was fast with a bow—dangerously fast.

Aria was focused, her movements a perfect dance of precision and grace. She had already nocked an arrow, drawing it back with an effortless fluidity. The bowstring sang as she released, and the arrow flew through the air, finding its mark with a soft thud. An opponent's sleeve was pinned to a nearby tree.

"We need to keep moving!" Aria urged, her voice steady as she kept her eyes on their surroundings. The game was heating up, but she knew it was only a matter of time before they ran into something more than just other players.

The trio broke through a dense thicket, entering a small clearing, and Aidon's senses pricked. Something wasn't right. The air felt too still, the shadows too deep. His instincts were on edge, and his gut twisted with unease.

Before he could voice his concerns, a deep, guttural growl shattered the uneasy silence of the clearing. It was a low, menacing sound that made his blood run cold.

A monstrous shadow surged from the underbrush, moving with terrifying speed. Aidon's eyes narrowed as he recognized the shape—he didn't need to look twice. It was a Chimera, and that was not part of the game.

The Chimera's lion head snarled at them, its golden eyes blazing with ferocity. The goat head hissed, its twisted horns gleaming wickedly, and the serpent tail coiled with unsettling anticipation. The creature's claws dug into the earth as it sized up its prey, its powerful limbs rippling with muscle.

"Oh, come on!" Jade groaned, gripping his giant screwdriver tighter as if it could make this situation better. "This isn't part of the game! Where'd it even come from?"

Aria's face tightened with resolve as she drew another arrow, her bowstring taut. "Looks like Team Red doesn't play fair," she muttered under her breath. She aimed at the Chimera, her eyes narrowed in concentration.

The Chimera roared, the force of the sound shaking the very ground beneath them. Its fiery breath scorched the grass in front of them, the air thick with heat. Aidon instinctively stepped in front of Aria and Jade, positioning himself between them and the beast. His staff was raised defensively, the wood creaking under his grip.

"Split up!" Aidon ordered, his voice steady, more confident than he felt. His heart hammered in his chest, but he couldn't afford to show it. "Jade, Aria, get clear! I'll keep it distracted."

Jade didn't waste any time, darting to the left. He hurled a wrench-like tool at the Chimera's goat head, aiming for its eyes. The tool hit its mark, momentarily distracting the beast as it turned toward him with an angry snarl.

Aria sprinted to the right, her agility allowing her to scale a nearby tree with ease. From her perch, she let another arrow fly, this time striking the Chimera's goat head once more. The beast roared in pain, but it didn't slow down. It was too enraged.

Aidon stood his ground, his staff gripped tightly in both hands. His gaze locked on the Chimera, every muscle in his body coiled, ready for the attack.

The Chimera lunged, its lion head snapping forward with terrifying speed. Aidon barely managed to roll out of the way, the lion's jaws snapping shut with a sickening sound just inches from his face. His pulse raced in his ears as the serpent tail whipped toward him, aiming for his midsection. Instinctively, Aidon raised his staff, and the tail struck the staff with a resounding impact. The force reverberated through his arms, sending a shock through his bones. He staggered back but regained his footing.

"Any bright ideas?" Jade shouted from behind cover, his voice tinged with panic as the Chimera's claws tore through the bark of the trees nearby, sending splinters flying in every direction.

"Working on it!" Aidon called back, his mind racing for a solution. He couldn't keep dodging forever. There had to be a way to stop it, to fight back.

The Chimera's eyes locked onto Aria, who had climbed higher into the tree. Its lion head opened wide, preparing to launch itself toward her. The beast's fiery breath scorched the air as it tensed to leap.

Aidon's grip on his staff tightened, and suddenly, the strange sensation inside him—an energy he didn't fully understand—flared. The air around him seemed to hum, as though the very wind itself was alive. His heartbeat quickened, and his thoughts focused, clearing in an instant.

"Hey! Over here!" Aidon yelled, his voice commanding as he spun his staff in a rapid motion, then charged forward, putting distance between him and the others. The Chimera's head snapped toward him, its attention fully focused.

It snarled in anger, launching itself forward with a roar that echoed across the clearing. Aidon didn't hesitate. He swung his staff with all his might, and as he did, something unexpected happened. A powerful gust of wind erupted from the motion, blasting forward in a concentrated burst. The wind slammed into the Chimera with such force that it staggered backward, its claws scrabbling at the earth as it tried to regain its footing.

Jade, eyes wide with surprise, poked his head out from behind a tree. "What was that?" he asked, his voice barely above a shout.

"I don't know," Aidon replied, his voice hoarse. His hands trembled as he lowered the staff. His heart was still pounding in his chest, and he could feel the strange energy inside him, swirling with an intensity that made his head spin. It was like the wind itself had answered his call—had acted on its own.

The Chimera roared again, the sound echoing through the trees. It shook itself off, its fiery breath scorching the ground as it prepared for another attack. Aidon's instincts screamed at him to act. The energy inside him pulsed with urgency, and the air around him seemed to buzz with power.

The Chimera charged again, its three heads snapping with unrestrained fury. Aidon swung his staff once more, and another gust of wind blasted forward, slamming into the Chimera with enough force to send it crashing into a nearby tree. The impact was deafening, and the Chimera crumpled to the ground, dazed.

"Keep it up, Aidon!" Jade shouted, his voice filled with encouragement. He emerged from his cover, charging forward with his giant screwdriver ready to strike.

Aria fired another arrow, its celestial bronze tip glowing faintly. It flew through the air with pinpoint accuracy, piercing the Chimera's serpent tail and pinning it to the ground. The creature thrashed, roaring in pain, but it was weakening.

Aidon didn't hesitate. The Chimera's lion head snapped forward with renewed ferocity, its jaws closing in on him. But Aidan wasn't backing down. With a deep breath, he crouched low, feeling the energy within him surge once more. His body coiled, ready to spring.

Then, with a powerful leap, Aidon shot into the air. His staff crackled with energy, and for a moment, everything seemed to slow. The Chimera's three heads looked up at him, their expressions a mix of confusion and rage.

Aidon twisted midair, his staff raised above his head. The wind howled around him, building in intensity as he descended. The power inside him surged to a peak, and with a forceful yell, Aidon brought the staff down.

The impact was catastrophic. The Chimera let out a final, ear-splitting roar as the staff struck its lion head. The force of the blow created a shockwave that flattened the grass and scattered the leaves around them. The Chimera shimmered and flickered, its form disintegrating into golden particles before vanishing entirely.

The clearing was eerily silent in the aftermath. Aidon landed lightly on his feet, his staff still glowing faintly from its channeled energy. He stood still for a moment, breathing heavily, before finally letting the tension drain from his muscles.

Jade and Aria emerged from their respective hiding spots, their faces a mixture of awe and disbelief.

"What the Hades was that?" Jade asked, his voice filled with wonder. He pointed at the spot where the Chimera had stood moments ago.

"And what was that with the wind?" Aria added, her eyes fixed on Aidon. She was still processing what had just happened.

Aidon's expression was unreadable, but there was an underlying tension in his eyes. He lowered his staff, his hands trembling slightly.

"I…" he started, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know."

Before they could press him further, the distant sound of horns echoed through the forest, signaling that the game was far from over.

"Let's go," Aidon said, his voice firm, though there was an underlying unease that he couldn't shake. He adjusted his grip on his staff and started walking, his gaze focused ahead. "The flag isn't going to capture itself."

Jade and Aria exchanged a glance but followed without argument, silently acknowledging the strange power Aidon had unleashed. Together, they disappeared into the forest, leaving behind the remnants of their battle with the Chimera.

Double Update cuz midterms are done (pretty sure I failed every single one). I am also releasing another story later, it's regarding Minecraft, and it is heavily inspired by the Unstable Universe (if you know you know). Aidon and the gang will still be the main characters :)

Thank you for the follows: (ya'll r goats)
SammySosa'sDatBoi
Master Chief Tyler-117
Colonelj19972016
Chickenhell
Breton117