Gregory and Bryce stumbled through the darkened forest, both physically and emotionally drained from the night's events. After about an hour of aimless wandering, they came upon the crumbling remains of what appeared to be an ancient stone structure.

The shuttle touched down on the outskirts of what should have been Outpost Zeta. As the team disembarked, they were met with an eerie silence. The military base, which should have been a hive of activity, stood as a hollow shell of its former self.

The group rode hard through the night, pushing their mounts to the limit as they sought to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the shadow demons. Adeline's mind raced, replaying the events at the outpost over and over.

Gregory's heart pounded in his chest as he tore through the forest, branches whipping at his face and arms. The sound of heavy footsteps behind him spurred him on, even as his lungs burned for air.

Consciousness returned to Marcus slowly, like wading through a thick fog. He blinked, his vision gradually coming into focus. Above him, a familiar face swam into view – Rylee, her brow furrowed with concern.

As the days wore on, Adeline found herself settling into the rhythm of their journey. The initial excitement of the quest had given way to a steady determination, punctuated by moments of both wonder and trepidation. They had left the dense elven forests behind, transitioning int...

Bryce moved quickly through the brush, heading directly west, and he set a pace fast enough that Gregory was struggling to catch up. He was panting from the exertion and wanted to ask for a break to catch his breath.

The world exploded into a cacophony of light and sound as Marcus and the team plunged into the swirling vortex. He felt as if he were being torn apart and reassembled, his very essence scattered across time and space.

The pre-dawn air was crisp and filled with anticipation as Adeline made her way to the city gates. A small group had already gathered – her escort for the journey back to the human kingdom. She recognized a few of the human guards from their original party, but there were also se...