Man With Super Medical Skill (Matthew)

Matthew had been searching for days at the borders of Montiria, but there was no trace of Sasha. Even Gadel's army, dispatched to aid in the search, had returned empty-handed. Amidst the swirling dust, Matthew, cloaked in black, stood alone in the vast, barren desert under a sky ablaze with stars. A bitter smile tugged at his lips as he gazed at the constellations. "That's enough," he murmured to himself, his voice barely audible above the whisper of the wind.

At least now, he knew that Sasha had grown far more powerful than he had imagined. The Sasha he once knew wouldn't have been able to avoid him for so long. In the past, he could have easily found her. Yet now, not even a whisper of her presence had reached him after all these days. She was clearly hiding from him, deliberately avoiding any chance of being found.

With a heavy heart, Matthew turned and walked back to his car. If she didn't want to meet him now, he would wait. He'd give her the time to deal with whatever she mentioned in her letter, those things she couldn't reveal just yet. When she was ready, he knew she would come looking for him. Until then, he would wait.

The engine roared to life, and Matthew drove away. As the vehicle's taillights faded into the distance, a shadowy figure appeared where he had stood moments before. Silent and still, the figure lingered before disappearing into the night.

Meanwhile, Jaylen ran frantically south of Everton, guiding Gadel as they fled toward the southern horizon. The latest intelligence indicated that Matthew had also headed south, and they knew they stood no chance against Aelion. Their only hope of turning the tide now was to find Matthew.

...

Suddenly, a pale and haggard figure rapidly closed in behind them. It was Arnold.

"Arnold, what's the situation?" Gadel asked urgently.

Gasping for breath, Arnold reported, "Aelion has taken complete control of the palace with the Aerial Legion. We..."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Before he could finish, the sharp whistling of projectiles cut through the air. Jaylen immediately threw himself in front of Arnold, raising his massive shield to block the incoming attack.

A cold, mocking voice followed. "Your move is impressive. I'll admit, you're unmatched below the rank of grandmaster, but today, all of you will die here."

It was Aelion. He had somehow tracked them and now stood atop a nearby tree, his face emotionless as he stared down at them.

"Aelion, you treacherous wolf!" Gadel

spat, his voice trembling with fury. He once thought Aelion was just a

.n

double-edged sword to be wielded-but he never imagined that sword would turn on him so quickly and viciously.

Aelion's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Your Majesty, you flatter me," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Allow me to escort you to your death." Without warning, he launched himself from the tree, hurtling straight at Gadel with deadly intent.

"Protect His Majesty!" Arnold

shouted, his pale face twisting in alarm. Jaylen sprang forward to shield Gadel, but Aelion struck with deadly precision. His palm slammed into daylen's shield with

ov

earth-shattering force, sending him flying like a broken kite.

With a sickening thud, Jaylen crashed into a nearby tree. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he slumped to the ground, unconscious.

Now, only Arnold, Gadel, and Aelion remained.

Arnold's expression darkened. He hadn't fully recovered yet, and Jaylen, his stalwart ally, was down. Gadel, though capable of fighting, wasn't strong enough to face Aelion. Their odds were grim.

As Arnold frantically searched for a way out, his gaze fell upon the rushing river behind them. The sight of the turbulent waters sparked a desperate idea-a glimmer of hope.

Without hesitation, he used the last

of his spiritual power to envelop Gadel in a protective aura. With a final burst of strength, he hurled Gadel into the turbulent waters of the river behind them.

The vast and treacherous river led straight to the Highsea of Montiria. Gadel might find a safe place to come ashore if he was lucky. If not, the endless sea would claim him. It was a gamble, but staying here meant facing Aelion-a death sentence for them all.