Chapter 5: The Cursed Crystal

  Scene 1: Throne Hall – Mission Briefing

  The knights return from Warma Village—exhausted, haunted by lost souls, but more unified than before.

  The king stares at them, his gaze heavy.

  King:

  "The next mission... may be the most important. The ancient temple of 'Eraah' in the Dust Mountains holds a crystal… called The Pulse of Kings. We need it to protect the kingdom."

  Faeron:

  "But beware… that temple isn't guarded by men. It's guarded by something…

  they say it used to be human, before magic devoured it."

  ---

  Scene 2: The Road to the Temple – Through the Grey Mountains

  The landscape is hostile: jagged rocks, skies void of birds.

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  The knights are tense… still scarred from Warma.

  Kain (grumbling):

  "We're not ready. The magic here—it suffocates."

  Hakura:

  "My ice won't form… even the air rejects me."

  Lorena:

  "It's like the earth is whispering… 'Turn back.'"

  ---

  Scene 3: Arrival at the Temple – Twisted Architecture

  The temple is carved into the mountain, its doors twisted as if forged from bone.

  Inside, the crystal floats above a circle of ancient glyphs.

  Hanto:

  "Be careful… this magic is not of the light."

  Before they can touch it, the entire temple ignites in black energy—and the creature appears.

  ---

  Scene 4: The Creature Awakens – “Karizar”

  Karizar: A skeletal, towering being with no face, and translucent skin that reveals swirling magic inside.

  Its voice speaks in reversed sentences, scrambling their minds.

  Abilities:

  Reflects all knight spells back at them.

  Feeds on "intent"—the more aggressive the attack, the stronger it becomes.

  Dissolves any weapon into ash upon touch.

  ---

  Scene 5: The Failed Battle

  Kain attacks from the shadows—only to be pulled into a temporary alternate dimension.

  Raigar tries to unleash fire—but it rebounds, burning him.

  Hakura freezes the ground—but the spell reverses, freezing her own legs.

  Lorena channels the light—but it turns into black flame, scorching her shoulder.

  Hanto steps forward, musters all his power, and strikes with the sacred sword—but...

  The sword snaps in half.

  Karizar (inverted voice):

  "Goodbye... can’t be helped… perish."

  A wave of dark energy bursts out—knocking all the knights unconscious.

  ---

  Scene 6: Awakening to Defeat

  The knights wake up outside the temple—wounded, the crystal… gone.

  Etched into the stone with magic:

  "Zork thanks you for the gift."

  Hakura (furious):

  "We were bait!"

  Hanto (quietly):

  "…Zork knew we were coming."

  ---

  Final Scene – A Watching Eye

  A black bird circles overhead, glowing with Zork’s magical sigil in its eyes.

  It speaks in a silky voice:

  Bird (Zork’s voice):

  "The next mission… is not to test them.

  But to break them."