Aldine didn’t respond. She simply raised her arms, her palms glowing with a dark energy. Chains of magic shot out from her hands, wrapping around the soldiers, pulling them back as they struggled to move.

"Let’s battle then," she said calmly, her voice filled with resolve.

MYSTERY OF THE WIND KINGDOM

The soldiers, with their silver armor glinting in the low sunlight, thrust their right hands skyward, channeling magic that shimmered and crackled in the air. As they chanted in unison, deep purple circles materialized above, hovering ominously before cascading down like deadly rain, each orb hissing as it neared Kane and his team.

“Stay close!” Loer shouted, spreading his arms wide as he called upon his own power. The earth responded immediately, a massive shield of solid sand rising to intercept the incoming attacks. The surface of the shield was rough, its edges cracking slightly under the impact of the magical assault.

Kane took a step back, his face pale as he watched Loer struggle to hold the barrier. “This is insane,” he stammered, panic clear in his voice. “Why are you fighting like this? We should be talking, not throwing spells!”

Loer shot Kane a look, his face tense but resolute. “There’s no point, Kane. These people… they aren’t here to talk,” he said, his voice hardened by experience. As if to emphasize his words, a fresh barrage of purple orbs slammed against the shield, chipping away at its edges.

Without a word, Hitoshi slipped a leather-bound grimoire from the pouch at his side, his fingers moving swiftly as he flipped through its pages. Finding the spell he sought, he looked up at Kane, his expression unusually serious. “Orleans isn’t a place where reason works,” he explained, voice steady. “It’s dangerous here, and the only way we’re getting out is by standing our ground.” With that, he whispered an incantation, and a crystal-clear barrier began to materialize around Kane.

Kane pressed his hands against the inside of the barrier, the cool surface sending a chill through his skin. Though he was protected, he felt his heart pound with helplessness. He could see his friends on the other side, struggling, and here he was, encased in a magic cage, unable to do anything. "No! Get me out of this thing!" he shouted, his fists pounding against the glass-like surface.

Hitoshi didn’t respond, only giving Kane a sympathetic but firm nod before refocusing his energy. He raised his hand, casting a layer of shimmering snow magic over Loer’s sand shield, reinforcing it with a crystalline layer that sparkled, even under the threatening rain of purple orbs. The spells collided with the double-layered shield, bursting into wisps of dark energy on impact, temporarily neutralized.

Aldine took the opportunity to channel her own power, her fingers glowing as chains of silver metal materialized from thin air, each link gleaming with power. With a flick of her wrist, the chains shot forward, weaving through the battlefield like serpents, wrapping tightly around the soldiers’ armored forms, immobilizing them.

The soldiers, however, were trained. The leader, a tall, imposing figure with the intricate detailing of command etched on his armor, smirked beneath his mask. The man who had first stopped them before this chaos began. With a simple motion of his hand, he summoned an intense burst of energy, shattering the chains that held him. His men followed, breaking free of the restraints with practiced ease.

Aldine’s eyes flashed with frustration as she took a step back, her magic faltering. “My power is still at stage one,” she murmured, biting her lip. “Against them, it’s practically nothing.”

Loer clenched his jaw, holding up the weight of the defense. “Same here. Offense isn’t my strength. But defense—I can hold this for a while.”

Aldine glanced at Hitoshi, her eyes narrowing. “Then it’s up to you, Hitoshi. Your magic might be our only chance.”

Hitoshi nodded, his calm gaze sharpening as he began chanting another spell, his voice steady and low. With every word, a swirl of silver light built around him, extending toward the advancing soldiers. Though Hitoshi’s calm demeanor made him seem unaware of his own strength, his magic radiated a quiet, deadly confidence.

Kane could only watch from within the crystal capsule, his breath fogging the inside as he muttered to himself. He glanced up at the sand and snow shield above their heads, now splintering from repeated blows. Loer’s earth magic was barely holding, and the snow layer, though strong, was beginning to crack. Kane’s hands clenched in helplessness until a sudden thought struck him.

Digging into his pocket, he pulled out a small, brand new card. He’d nearly forgotten about this—his new Sciro, a creature he had recently obtained but hadn’t yet summoned. His lips curled into a slight smirk, a flicker of hope lighting up his face. He carefully slid the card into the small gap at the top of the crystal shield, whispering, “Xedence… now’s your time.”

The card vanished, and outside the capsule, a shimmering light filled the air. The soldiers faltered, eyes widening as a massive creature began to materialize. With a flash of glowing blue scales and piercing, glowing eyes, Xedence emerged—a dragon of legendary size and presence. Its wings stretched, spanning wide as it released a low, guttural growl that rumbled across the field. The air around it crackled with raw energy, as though the dragon itself were charged with a tempest waiting to be unleashed.

The soldiers halted in their tracks, stunned by the sight of the dragon towering before them. Its scales shimmered in shades of blue and cobalt, each one reflecting the light with an almost blinding intensity. Its eyes, a fierce, molten red, narrowed as it locked onto the soldiers, daring them to make a move. Even the leader, who had previously dismissed Kane’s group, now found himself visibly shaken.

With an ear-splitting roar, Xedence unleashed a burst of raw magic that rippled through the ground, sending waves of dust and debris scattering into the air. The soldiers staggered, struggling to keep their balance as the dragon’s presence radiated overwhelming power.

Kane, still in his crystal cage, watched with wide eyes, a grin spreading across his face. He felt the surge of triumph course through him as he realized Xedence had turned the tides in their favor. With his friends now protected by the dragon’s formidable presence, he finally allowed himself a moment of relief.