The Lightning Night of Freedom

    Under the darkening night, a thick fog covered the forest. Moonlight pierced through the leaves, glinting off the elves’ shining weapons and casting a pale glow. The soldiers stood in silence—only the metallic clicks of rifles and the sound of magazines being loaded broke the stillness. Moris stood in the center, the trace of a heavy decision on his face. Beside him were Kail and Darion, both ready. Darion checked his frost rifle, releasing a cold breath, while Kail rested his energy axe on his shoulder and closed his eyes to steady his breathing. Moris stepped forward and spoke in a low but firm voice:

  “Moris: Elf soldiers! Tonight is the night that will be written in history. Tonight we raise our weapons not for vengeance—but for freedom! Our brothers, our sisters, our mothers, our daughters suffer in slavery. If we remain silent today—tomorrow our children will be slaves too!”

A murmur spread among the soldiers. Their eyes burned with fury. Moris continued:“Moris: The kingdom thinks we are weak. But we are no longer a silent people. This war is not for revenge—it’s to end their unjust system. Let no future generation ever know this humiliation again!”The soldiers shouted, “For justice!” raising their rifles to the sky.

  Moris turned and walked past the massive aircraft. The AC-130 stood in a clearing, its metallic hull glowing faintly blue, engines humming softly. The elf soldiers stared in awe.

Elf soldiers: “What is this wondrous machine? A flying chariot?”Moris: “Yes. A flying chariot—but one that commands fire, wind, and sky.”The rear hatch creaked open, spilling blue light. Moris gave the order:“Moris: Everyone, aboard! Tonight, the sky is our ally!”The soldiers climbed the stairs one by one; the metal steps clanked under their boots as the engine roar grew louder. Moris entered the cockpit and spoke to Kail and Darion behind him:

  “Moris: Kail, your target is the first manor—the Lord’s estate. Darion, you take the second. Free the captives and wait outside. We’ll strike the slave market.”

Kail nodded.Kail: “Master, as long as your weapon stands, we fear nothing.”Darion: “Trust us. Tonight will be the night of liberation.”

  Moris smiled and activated the engines. The turbines spun, the ground trembled, and leaves scattered into the air. Under the moonlight, the aircraft lifted off—the wind it left behind rippled through the forest. High above, Queen Mia and the elders watched.

Mia: “Return victorious... in the path of justice.”The moon hung over the city. Moris spoke into the radio:“Moris: Kail, prepare. Your target is ahead.”

  Kail: “I’m ready.”

He jumped—wind howled, his metal helmet glinted, and he struck the ground like lightning. The earth shook as he landed. Drawing his axe, he split the front gate in two. The guards barely had time to react.Guard: “Stop! What—”Kail: “Only justice.”His axe flared, lighting up the sky. One swing—and soldiers were torn apart. Kail stepped through the corridor, charging his axe with violet energy that surged forward, tearing through walls and turning soldiers into dust. 

  The camera rose slowly, showing the collapsing dome and blazing flames above the manor. The spells of enemy mages struck Kail’s axe, only to rebound as blinding bursts of light.

Kail (coldly): “This is not the curse of elves—it’s the judgment of justice.”He entered the Lord’s chamber, where the old man trembled.Lord: “The kingdom will destroy you alive, cursed elf!”Kail said nothing. Silence. Then—a swift movement, and a head rolled to the floor.

  Water dripped from the walls; the clinking of chains echoed. Elf girls sat chained in the corner, wounded. The sound of destruction drew closer. From behind the door came light—and Kail’s silhouette appeared.

Elf girl: “Our soldiers have come...!”Kail: “Are you unharmed? The time for freedom has come.”He struck the chains with his axe, the clang of metal filling the room, sparks flying. 

  Tears and hope mixed on the girls’ faces.

Elf girl: “Where do we go now?”Kail: “Wait. Someone is coming... from the sky.”Moris spoke through the radio:“Moris: Darion, the next manor is yours.”Darion: “With pleasure.”He leapt from the aircraft, landing perfectly on a dome. Holding his frost rifle, his eyes blazed with icy blue fire. Crystals shimmered along the weapon’s barrel, and the air thickened with mist. Darion moved swiftly, sliding along the wall and firing—each bullet turned a guard into a frozen statue.Guard: “Stop, y—”His last word froze in the air. Darion dropped into the courtyard, surrounded.

  Guard: “Don’t rush to your death, elf!”

Darion: “No. I’ve brought winter to you.”

  He pulled the trigger—the explosion of ice engulfed the yard in blue mist. Every guard became a block of ice. Darion entered the manor, hearing a shout:

“Be silent, slave!”He kicked the door open—the guard raising a whip froze mid-motion. The elf girl trembled.Darion: “Do not fear. I came for my people.”He shot the chains, shattering them into icy fragments.Elf girl: “You... saved us.”

  Darion: “You are free now.”

The freed elf girls emerged from the basement into the moonlight. Darion led them outside, waiting for Moris. Above, the giant aircraft glided through the clouds. The silence of the night was broken only by the deep rumble of the AC-130 gunship’s engines. Like lightning cutting the sky, the wings and fuselage gleamed. Inside the cockpit, Moris gripped the metal controls tightly, eyes fixed on the map. Beside him were two assistants and an elf operator.Moris (in a hard tone): “The slave market is ahead... Now everything is in our hands.”Operator: “Master, altitude—800 meters. Magical signals detected on the defense towers!”Moris: “The time has come. Signal all troops—prepare to attack!”Under dim light, rows of elf soldiers fastened their helmets and checked their rifles. Their faces showed no fear—only rage and pride.

  Soldier: “Today we avenge the blood of our enslaved kin!”

All together: “For justice!”On the towers above the slave market, mages stared at the sky.Mage: “Something’s approaching... a giant bird, no... a flying metal beast!”Second mage: “Activate defense spells! Hurry!”The dark shape grew larger—the aircraft’s lights flashed bright.Moris: “Activate turrets. Targets—watchtowers and main gate.”The side turrets swiveled—silence for a second. Then the sky roared as the guns unleashed their fury. Fire and bullets tore through the night above the slave market; guards scattered in panic. The captives screamed in confusion from their cages.

  Mage: “Hold the shield! The flying beast is slaughtering us!”

But Moris chuckled.Moris: “This isn’t over yet... witness the true fire of mankind!”He pressed a lever—the cannons fired. The slave market exploded into flames, the shockwave rumbling deep underground. Fire lit up the night sky, smoke rising high.The aircraft landed in a small clearing. As the doors opened, elf soldiers charged out, shooting down guards and smashing cages.Moris: “Free the slaves! Every living soul is proof of our victory!”The tiger beast, Rokki, dashed forward at a whistle, leaping onto the guards. His claws ripped through metal armor like paper.

  Guard: “It’s... it’s a demon!”

He couldn’t finish his sentence—Rokki’s blow hurled him into a wall.Mage: “Spirit beast! Burn in flames!”Fireballs flew, but Rokki moved like lightning, dodging and striking back. The mage raised a fire shield, blocking the attack. Rokki retreated, leaping between burning rooftops.Mage: “What’s wrong, beast? Afraid?”He fired more flames, missing every shot. The ground crumbled where Rokki had been. Suddenly Rokki stopped before him.

   The mage thrust his hand to the ground, summoning a surge of fire—but Rokki sensed it and halted in time. Thinking he had won, the mage laughed in relief.

Then Rokki growled: “Grrrr...”As the mage prepared his final spell, Rokki burst through the flames and tore off his head with a single strike.Moris, battling a stone warrior nearby, shouted:“Moris: You said you’re an A-rank warrior? Show me your strength.”Warrior: “Weak child! You can’t toy with the power of A-rank!”He raised spikes of stone from the ground, hurling them at Moris. Moris shattered them all with his hammer.

  Moris: “Is that all you’ve got?”

The stone warrior, enraged, punched with a massive fist, slamming Moris into a wall. Dust rose.Warrior: “Your end is near!”Moris smirked, provoking him:Moris: “I thought the power of A-rank could kill me. You’ve barely scratched me. Are you sure you’re even A-rank?”Warrior: “You bastard! I’ll crush you!”He lunged with another punch. Moris glanced at a metal beam nearby, raised it magnetically, and hurled it at the warrior.

 

 Moris: “Now it’s my turn.”

The heavy metal beam slammed the warrior into the wall. At that moment, lightning cracked across the sky. Moris raised his hand, drawing the lightning with magnetic force. It struck his body several times—but he only laughed.Moris (within the storm): “Now witness my true power!”He gathered lightning in his palm and launched it straight at the warrior. The bolt pierced the stone armor, incinerating him instantly.

  Moris (breathing heavily): “All troops, retreat to the aircraft!”

Elf soldiers loaded freed captives and carried the wounded aboard. The square was filled with fire and smoke. Moris lifted a fallen soldier’s metal shield with magnetism, stood atop it, and rose into the air. Channeling the absorbed lightning through his body, he struck down the remaining soldiers one by one with bolts of thunder. They tried to flee—but none escaped. Silence followed. Only the crackle of flames remained. Moris turned without looking back and boarded the aircraft.

  Moris (breathing hard): “Let’s go... I’ve spent too much energy.”

The aircraft ascended, leaving behind the burning slave market, fallen soldiers, and ruined buildings. A flash of lightning lit the horizon once more—and Moris’s plane disappeared into the darkness.