A World Between Realms

On which side are you?

Celeste, ever the strategist, greeted them with a sly smile. "Oh, having the same plan, are we not?" she mused, her eyes locking with Georgina's. "Would you like to make this easier? Why not we go together to destroy the Phoenix, and we shall settle our fight afterwards?"

Before Georgina couldst respond, Darian stepped forward, his countenance wary. "As much as I desire to avenge myself upon that Earthling, bear in mind that the enemy of our enemy is not necessarily our friend," he cautioned, his tone resolute. "To make this matter less convoluted, we should first settle it between our own teams."

Without waiting for another word, Darian launched an offensive strike towards Celeste and Summer. Reacting swiftly, Summer dodged and managed to apply a fast-acting poison to Darian's skin, a compound known for causing severe itching and respiratory distress.

Darian's face contorted in discomfort as the poison took effect, his skin burning with itchiness. Struggling to breathe, he still managed to land a solid punch on Summer, his desperation lending strength to the blow. Summer staggered back, the force of the punch knocking her unconscious.

As Darian grappled with the overwhelming effects of the poison, his movements became sluggish, and he soon collapsed, gasping for air but gradually losing consciousness.

Celeste, assessing the situation quickly, turned to Georgina with a cold pragmatism shining in her eyes. "It seems your companion has made his choice, and unfortunately for him, it was the wrong one," she stated flatly. "Now, shall we postpone our duel, or do you wish to continue without him?"

As Celeste and Georgina faced off in the tense standoff, the situation escalated rapidly as then Pita and Tali coming out from the Phoenix fortress. Pita, looking panicked, shouted as she ran back to the safety of the fortress, "Tali, what are you doing? We should run back inside!" for Tali does not move an inch. Their plan was to act as bait, luring any pursuers to go inside the fortress.

However, Tali, functioning as a double agent, hesitated, torn between her roles. As she stopped in her tracks, Celeste seized the moment to confront her. "Where is the emblem?" Celeste demanded, her voice sharp.

Tali, caught off guard and clearly under pressure, responded, "It's not with me. It's difficult to take hold of the emblem since I'm one of the weakest."

Celeste's expression hardened. "If that's so, then sorry, Tali, you need to sacrifice." She swiftly threw a round object, resembling a poison bomb, towards Tali.

In a breathtaking moment of precision, Sophie, who had been silently observing from the trees, intervened. Using her bow, she shot an arrow that struck the poison bomb mid-air, neutralizing the threat. She then signaled urgently to Tali to run.

Snapping out of her shock, Tali turned to flee, calling back to Celeste, "The emblem is inside the fortress, under the bunch of maple leaves!" as she sprinted.

Celeste and Georgina, driven by the urgency then rush to get inside the fortress. But as they pursue into what they believed to be the fortress, they were met with a shocking surprise. Both stepped into a large concealed pit, falling into a trap.

Sophie took swift action. She used a spear and arrow to destabilize the foundation of their previous fortress, causing it to collapse and cover the hole into which Celeste and Georgina had fallen. The debris formed a heavy cover over the pit, effectively trapping them inside.

She watched as her trap sealed, ensuring that Celeste and Georgina would be unable to continue their pursuit or escape easily. The forest echoed with the sounds of leaves rustling and branches snapping under the weight of the collapsed structure.

As the sun continued its slow arc through the sky, the situation in the forest remained tense and uncertain, particularly for Argus and his team. An hour had passed since Celeste had ventured toward the Phoenix fortress, and with no word from her, concern was mounting.

In his makeshift command center, nestled within a thicket of dense foliage, Argus considered his next moves carefully. The lack of communication from Celeste was troubling, suggesting that she might have encountered unforeseen difficulties or perhaps even a trap.

"Sytric, I need you to find out what's happened to Celeste," Argus directed, his voice laced with urgency. "She's been gone too long. We need to know her situation and assist if necessary." Sytric nodded,  and prepared to trace Celeste's last known path, disappearing silently into the forest.

Turning his attention to another team member, Simon, Argus issued a different but equally vital task. "Simon, keep a close eye on Ealdred's team. It's crucial we stay informed of their tactics and movements." Simon affirmed his understanding with a nod, slipping away into the deeper shadows of the forest.

With his team members dispatche, Argus decided to take proactive steps himself to personally scout for resources and gather intelligence. This would not only provide necessary sustenance but also allow him to do the surveillance around the forest.