Eclipsing Eternity

76  Surprise, surprise

The raging inferno spun with increasing velocity, consuming everything in its path. Trees were reduced to charred remnants, rocks melted under the scorching heat, and the very air seemed to waver in the face of its destructive force. The fire tornado became a towering pillar of flames, a fearsome spectacle that dominated the landscape.

The group stood in stunned silence, their mouths hanging open in disbelief as they beheld the spectacle of the fire tornado. Eyes widened, and jaws dropped as they took in the sheer magnitude of the swirling flames and the destructive force it unleashed upon the land.

It was as if time had momentarily frozen, and they found themselves captivated by the raw power and overwhelming intensity of the fiery vortex. The deafening roar of the flames and the fierce gusts of wind that accompanied the tornado reverberated through their very souls, leaving them in awe of the elemental fury before them… and it was moving toward Terry.

"What the hell…" Terry thought while he began to feel a pull toward the fire tornado.

An invisible force, carried by the howling wind, seemed to tug at his body, pulling him towards the swirling inferno. He felt an undeniable pull, as if the very air around him was conspiring to guide him toward the heart of the tempest.

The sensation was unsettling. Terry's instincts told him to resist, to focus on the fight at hand. But the pull was persistent, growing stronger with each passing moment. The wind buffeted against his body, propelling him closer to the churning vortex of flames...

Shivers raced down Terry's spine as he succumbed to the mysterious force. It was an otherworldly sensation, as if the elements themselves were conspiring to draw him into the heart of the fire tornado. He could feel the power and intensity of the whirlwind, its energy pulsating through the very fabric of his being.

As Terry was drawn closer to the raging fire tornado, he noticed that he was not the only one being pulled towards its fiery grasp. The other fire drakes, with their natural affinity for flames, were also being caught in the relentless grip of the tempest. Despite their elemental connection, they, too, found themselves succumbing to the overpowering forces at play.

The scorching winds tore at their wings. Their bodies were engulfed in flames that surpassed their own fiery nature. Despite their resilience, the fire drakes were consumed by the sheer ferocity of the inferno. Their once-majestic forms were now twisted and contorted, reduced to mere charred remnants of their former selves.

It became painfully clear that Terry, too, would not be able to endure the onslaught for long. The intense heat threatened to overwhelm his senses, and the searing flames licked at his body, testing his endurance. His innate resistance to fire offered some protection, but even that had its limits.

Terry tried to pull himself in the opposite direction with numerous palm strikes, but it didn't work… he soon found himself spiraling around the fire tornado as well…

"Well, if I am going down, I will go down with a fight," Terry thought.

           Terry braced himself and then prepared to attack the eye of the fire tornado and try to disperse it before he became barbecue for drakes. However, much to his surprise, as soon as he touched the flames, the wind around his body disappeared in an explosion that made the flames around the tornado go crazy and move in all directions.

The fire tornado unleashed its wrath upon the surrounding area with a thunderous roar. Trees were uprooted, buildings were torn apart, and the very earth itself seemed to tremble in fear. The scorching heat radiated outward, turning the once-vibrant landscape into a desolate wasteland.

The fire drakes, caught in the relentless grip of the maelstrom, struggled to withstand its ferocity. Despite their natural affinity for fire, they found themselves pushed to their limits. Their scales were charred and cracked under the searing heat, and their wings were singled by the inferno. The fire tornado was an uncontrollable force, threatening to consume them all.

As the fire tornado reached its climax, it unleashed one final, cataclysmic burst of energy. The flames surged forth with a blinding brilliance, engulfing everything in their path. The air itself seemed to ignite, crackling with an intense heat that defied comprehension.

In that devastating moment, the fire drakes were pushed to the brink of annihilation. Their once-majestic forms writhed in agony as the all-consuming blaze threatened to consume them. It was a battle for survival, with the very essence of their existence hanging in the balance.

However, just as it seemed that all hope was lost, the fire tornado began to dissipate. The raging flames gradually subsided, leaving behind a trail of destruction in their wake. The intense heat dissipated, and the charred remains of the fire drakes slowly cooled.

The surviving fire drakes, battered and scarred, emerged from the aftermath of the cataclysmic event. They were a testament to their resilience and strength, having narrowly escaped the jaws of destruction. Yet, the once-mighty creatures were now diminished, their numbers significantly reduced by the devastating power of the fire tornado.

         Vanessa and the other guild masters hid behind some rocks. However, they still felt the agonizing heat before the fire tornado dissipated. Despite that, they pressed Forward since they had to deal with the fire drakes before they could recover; they also had to find Terry.

            It didn't take long for them to find him… he was lying on the ground while feeling like crap. His armor was a mess, but at least it saved him. The parts it didn't protect were now showing third-degree burns of third degree… Vanessa used all of her mana to disperse the fire tornado like that, but she still forced herself to use healing magic. Mary approached and also helped her.

Every movement sent sharp jolts of pain coursing through Terry's body, a constant reminder of the severity of his injuries. His skin, blistered and charred, protested with every breath he took. Each step was a test of endurance as he pushed through the excruciating agony.