Catalyst Of Chaos Part 3

As the team retrieved the Devourer's Tooth, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. The sky above them darkened, and the surrounding temple walls morphed into a sinister hideout. The oppressive air was thick with tension, and the shadowed figures of Nordicus and his henchmen emerged, encircling the group.

The lead figure stepped forward, her short grey hair framing a face that exuded arrogance and confidence. Piercing yellow eyes glinted from beneath a dark hood. and a wicked smile, her presence alone made the hairs on Aalto’s neck stand on end.

"Good job retrieving that," the woman purred, her voice low and taunting. "But... I think it's time for you to reveal yourself, don’t you think... associate?"

Her gaze swept over the team Aalto, Mira, Lyra, Jaxith, and Alina. A moment of uneasy silence fell upon the group. Aalto's heart raced as suspicion crackled in the air. He felt his throat tighten, the weight of her words sinking in.

"Who... who is she talking about?" Lyra whispered, gripping her sword tighter, her knuckles white.

Mira’s eyes darted between the lead figure and her teammates, her usual calm now tainted with fear. "Someone among us?"

The lead figure smirked. “Oh, come on, one of you must have figured it out by now. In fact...” she paused, her finger slowly pointing toward Aalto, “how about you? Surely, a clever kid like you have put it together?”

Aalto froze. His mind raced. A mole? It couldn't be... but the way she was speaking, the confidence... His thoughts swirled, trying to make sense of everything. "What—?" Aalto stammered, struggling to process the accusation. His eyes flicked to his friends, each one looking just as shocked as he felt. Could it be one of them?

Suddenly, the tension broke as a second figure stepped into the dim light—another cloaked figure, the second mysterious cloaked lady from earlier, her long grey hair cascading down her shoulders. Green eyes gleamed from beneath her hood, watching the unfolding drama with detached interest.

He searched their faces, his mind darting between possibilities. Lyra—she had been so fierce in battle, always by his side. No... it couldn’t be her. Mira—no, not Mira. She was the one who had been the most strategic, always looking out for them. Alina? But she had been nothing but loyal since joining them...

Suddenly, the lead figure's voice cut through his thoughts like a blade. "If you don’t want to reveal yourself, let’s make this interesting. How about we play a little game? If you choose the right person, maybe... I'll spare the girl." She tilted her head toward Mira, her wand raised, sparks crackling at its tip.

Mira’s face paled. “Aalto, please...”

Aalto’s stomach twisted. This is insane. Who could it be? His eyes flicked to Kaidën, standing just behind them. Kaidën... he’d been acting off lately. Hadn’t he? Or was Aalto imagining it?

He wracked his brain, recalling the little things. The way Kaidën had been quiet, almost too quiet. The way the sigils they'd encountered were strangely easy to bypass. Too easy. As if someone had planned for them to succeed... but only just.

Aalto shook his head, doubt clawing at him. No, it can’t be. But... What if he was right? He opened his mouth to speak but hesitated. What if he was wrong? He glanced at Lyra, then Mira. If he accused, the wrong person...

“Come on, Aalto," the lead figure taunted. "Tick-tock. Make your choice. Or maybe I should just kill her now?” She tightened her grip on her wand, and Mira flinched as a spark of magic flickered in the air.

“No!” Aalto shouted, his heart hammering. He could feel everyone’s eyes on him, waiting for him to decide.

Finally, his gaze landed on Kaidën. "It’s... it’s Kaidën. It has to be Kaidën."

The air went still. A wave of disbelief rippled through the group.

Kaidën stepped forward slowly, his expression unreadable. "What are you saying?" he asked, his voice calm, too calm. "You think I’d betray you all?"

Aalto faltered, doubt flooding his mind again. Was he wrong?

Kaidën’s smile spread, cold and mocking. "Well... you’re right."

Gasps echoed in the air. Lyra stumbled back, eyes wide with horror. "No... it can’t be you!" she cried, her voice breaking. "We’ve been through everything together. How... how could you?"

Mira stood frozen, her hands trembling. “You... you’ve been working with them this whole time?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, disbelief and hurt clear in her eyes.

Kaidën shrugged nonchalantly. “Sorry, not sorry,” he said, stepping toward the lead figure. “I’ve been playing my part. But now that it’s over... well, I guess I don’t need the act anymore.”

Lyra’s expression twisted with rage, her sorrow boiling over. "YOU... YOU PIECE OF—!" She lunged at Kaidën, her sword flashing through the air. The blade found its mark, plunging into Kaidën’s side... but then something unnatural happened.

Kaidën’s form wavered, his cloak billowing as an illusion unraveled around him. He didn’t flinch, didn’t bleed. Instead, he laughed. A cold, heartless sound.

"You thought that would work?" he mocked, his voice filled with dark amusement. “How naïve.”

Before Lyra could react, Mira suddenly collapsed to the ground, a glowing wound spreading across her body, blood pouring from her chest.

“MIRA, NO!!” Lyra’s scream tore through the air, her eyes wide with horror as she rushed to her friend’s side. "Mira! Please, wake up! Please..." Tears streamed down her face as she cradled Mira's limp form.

Soren snapped into action, darting to Mira's side. "Here! Mira, drink this!" he urged, holding a vial of healing potion to her lips, his voice trembling with desperation.

Jaxith knelt beside them, his hands glowing with magic as he tried to ease her pain. "Stay with us, Mira. Please."

But Aalto’s gaze was fixed on Kaidën and the lead figure, who stood watching the scene unfold with smug satisfaction.

"You... YOU MONSTERS!" Aalto screamed, his heart a raging storm of fury and grief. He took a step forward, every fiber of his being trembling with raw emotion.

Lyra tried to stand, but before she could, the lead figure flicked her wrist, sending a bolt of lightning directly at her. Lyra cried out as the energy hit, and she collapsed to the ground, near death.

"LYRA!" Alina cried, rushing toward her, her hands shaking as she tried to help.

Aalto's scream pierced the air, the force of his anguish shaking the very ground beneath him. The pressure of everything—the betrayal, Mira's injury, Lyra’s fall—crushed him. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn’t feel anything but pure, undiluted rage.

Then, something inside him snapped. A surge of raw power erupted from within, and his eyes blazed with blue light. His body lifted off the ground as magic coursed through him, his hair swirling in the air like flames.

With a primal roar, Aalto unleashed a shockwave that tore through the hideout, shattering illusions and sending shadows scattering.

Kaidën and the lead figure exchanged glances, their smiles widening. This was what they had been waiting for—the chaos to come.

Chapter Ends