Nova Force Book 1

Rivers of molten rock carved a winding path through the rugged cavern floor, their blazing glow casting wild shadows that flickered across jagged walls. Fiery veins of orange and gold traced through the blackened rock, the heat pressing down like a suffocating weight, making the air ripple and shudder.
Ahead, they spotted three figures—their forms barely discernible through the haze of heat and smoke. One man stood tall, wrapped in a pristine white cloak adorned with crimson markings, his face obscured by a mask. Beside him was a second figure draped in black, his hair a vibrant green that caught the light from the surrounding lava like a distant flame. This man, they could tell even from afar, was squaring off against a hulking, monstrous drake, its immense body pulsing with primal energy.
The drake was a terrifying sight to behold: a creature of obsidian scales, each as large as a shield, layered over thick, sinewy muscle. Etched across its massive body were intricate markings that glowed a fierce electric blue, illuminating the beast as if it had been forged in the very fires around them. Every rumble of the creature's growl sent tremors through the stone beneath their feet.
Without warning, the drake let loose an earth-shaking roar that made the cavern tremble, its markings igniting to life, pulsing brighter with each deep-throated snarl. It slammed one colossal hand down with enough force to crack the cavern floor. The impact generated a shockwave so powerful it blasted molten rock outward in searing sprays, sending out waves of blistering heat that reached all the way to the distant group. The shockwave crashed over them like a hurricane, making them stagger back, shielding their faces from the stinging heat and fierce wind.
"Brace yourselves!" Analu shouted, struggling to keep her footing as the ground heaved beneath them.
The drake wasn't done. Its entire body surged with power as it raised both monstrous arms, markings blazing so bright they left trails in the air. With a furious roar, it smashed its hands together in a brutal clap. The force tore through the cavern, sending another shockwave roaring outward, a blast so intense that it fractured nearby rock faces, causing debris and molten stone to rain down. This wave carried an oppressive heat, thick and sweltering, that hit like a wall of fire, scorching everything in its path.
The man in black was unfazed. He stood, unwavering, as the drake lunged forward, its colossal hands aiming to crush him with all the weight of a landslide. As the drake's hands descended, its markings flared again, infusing the attack with deadly nova force. The man moved with impossible speed, ducking just in time, his cloak billowing from the force as he sidestepped, leaving the drake's crushing hands to splinter the stone floor.
The drake recoiled, momentarily stunned that its quarry had dodged such a powerful strike. But the man in black capitalized on the creature's momentary hesitation, his green hair flickering in the ambient light as he raised a hand. Dark energy crackled at his fingertips, swirling into a dense, concentrated mass.

The drake hissed, stepping back as if recognizing the threat. It swung its tail with lightning speed, aiming to knock the man off balance, but he anticipated the move, leaping up as the massive tail swept just beneath him. He landed smoothly, the dark energy now swirling even more intensely around him, casting a sinister glow across his form.

The drake's rage boiled over. It thrust one clawed hand into the ground, creating an explosive shockwave that split the floor, sending another torrent of lava spilling across the space. The powerful blast was so intense it reached the group again, sending rocks and dust whipping past them as they shielded themselves from the heat and debris.
Through the dust and smoke, the fight continued. The group watched in awe as the man deftly maneuvered through the drake's relentless attacks, each one heavier and more destructive than the last. Suddenly, the drake reared back, gathering energy as its markings flared brighter than ever. With a deafening roar, it released a devastating nova-fueled blast that tore through the cavern, engulfing the man in a blinding flash.
For a moment, everything went still.
As the dust began to settle, the group's eyes widened. A massive, dark brown hand, its surface marked with intricate gray patterns, extended outward from the site of the explosion. The hand lingered, unharmed by the flames and lava, then withdrew, revealing the man standing there—completely unscathed.
"What on earth is that?" the group gasped in astonishment.
"That's… unbelievable," Analu whispered, struggling to comprehend the scene. "Not even a scratch!"
"It appears we might not need to get involved after all," John remarked, a smirk tugging at his lips.
The battle raged on. The mysterious man wielded a short sword, poised to attack the monster, but the diminutive blade hardly made a dent even against a regular dog.
The Drake swung its massive arms with incredible speed, causing the ground to tremble as its limbs made contact. Yet, the man elegantly evaded each assault effortlessly.
"Pick up the pace, this is becoming tedious," remarked the other man in the white cloak.
"At times, one must toy with their prey, granting them a chance to fight back before their inevitable demise," he replied.
The Drake, evidently furious, emitted a deafening roar, its echoes resonating throughout the dungeon. Other creatures within the dungeon went into a frenzy, attempting to flee and hide in response to the master of the domain.
"What's that sound?" Selinthia inquired."It feels as though the entire place is quaking," Jashin added. They all covered their ears trying to shield it from te defeaning sound.
"Yes, and it's originating from all directions," John concurred.
"This all started after that creature bellowed. Stay vigilant, everyone!" Analu advised shouting so they could hear her.
"Damn, monsters are converging on us!" Sarah shouted.
However, instead of attacking, the monsters hurried past them, their expressions a mix of fear and panic. Roughly a minute later, they vanished completely.
"So, what was all that about?" Sarah wondered.
"Take a look around, and you might find your answer," John suggested, pointing towards the ongoing battle.

The runes or markings on the beast began to glow a brilliant shade of red, starting from its legs and extending to its chest. It took aim at the man standing before it, yet he stood firm. The air crackled with an intense nova force as the monster charged its attack.

"Team, let's proceed further. That attack appears excessively potent. Consider if the monster goes berserk and turns its attention our way," Selinthia proposed.
"She's right. We must relocate immediately," Sarah demanded.
Just before the monster's attack was unleashed, carrying a force capable of obliterating anything in its path, the man shouted, "Expand."
The man's sword grew to an enormous size, and with incredible strength, he swung it, hitting the monster's head towards the Slayer Five, redirecting the attack and ultimately saving himself from a direct impact.
The devastating force of the attack erupted like a star gone supernova, its raw energy tearing through the air with a deafening roar. The chamber quaked violently, ancient stone walls groaning under the onslaught as waves of debris and choking dust cascaded in all directions. The slayers braced themselves against the overwhelming power surging toward them, a storm of destruction intent on consuming everything in its path.
John's voice cut through the chaos like steel. "Brace yourselves!" With a fierce gesture, he summoned towering walls of ice, each glistening with ethereal blue light. The icy barricades rose swiftly, jagged and unyielding, their crystalline edges shimmering with frost. The attack struck the first wall with a thunderous crash, sending shards of ice flying like deadly shrapnel. Cracks webbed across the surface, and the sound of splintering echoed like cannon fire.
"Not enough," Jashino muttered, his eyes blazing with determination. With a flourish, he unleashed a surge of kinetic energy, crafting a shimmering barrier that encased the group in a dome of golden light. The barrier hummed with an almost musical resonance, holding back the furious assault. But the energy wave was relentless. It ripped through the ice wall after wall, each layer collapsing under the sheer force, before colliding with the kinetic shield in a blinding flash. The barrier quivered violently, its luminous surface fracturing under the strain like glass about to shatter.
"Hold it together!" Jashino barked, his voice strained as beads of sweat rolled down his temple. The fractures grew, glowing faintly as if the shield itself was screaming in agony.
Amid the pandemonium, Selinthia raised her hands, her voice soft yet commanding as she began to chant. Waves of healing energy radiated from her, their soothing warmth cutting through the terror. The golden light of her magic intertwined with the chaos, mending wounds and restoring vigor to those on the brink of collapse. Her presence was a beacon of hope amidst the turmoil.
"Move! Now!" Sarah's voice was sharp, her hands weaving fluid arcs through the air. Moisture condensed around them, forming a liquid layer beneath their feet. The water shimmered with an otherworldly glow, granting the group the ability to glide with uncanny agility despite the cataclysm surrounding them.
Analu joined in, her wind energy coiling around them like an invisible lifeline. "I'll push us clear!" she shouted, her voice fierce as she manipulated powerful gusts to redirect the group, fighting to steer them away from the attack's epicenter.
But the relentless energy struck again, sending seismic shock waves crashing into their shield. The force hurled them backward with the violence of a hurricane, slamming them into the chamber wall. Stone cracked and crumbled, the air filled with the echo of impact and strained cries. The kinetic shield flickered desperately, fractures spreading like lightning across its surface.
For a moment, time seemed to freeze. Dust hung in the air like a shroud, and the echoes of the assault reverberated in their ears. Yet, even as their defenses wavered, a spark of defiance burned in their eyes. They were battered, but not broken.
"Jashino, can you reinforce the shield!" yelled Analu, her voice barely audible amidst the chaos.
"No, I'm all out of juice, this is too much for me....I...cant...." Shouted Jashino, straining to keep the shield up while they were all being pressed against the wall behind them. They had already slammed and pushed through two walls already. This was nothing like they have faced before. Was this it for the slayers?
"This can't be it, We will not lose here!!" Shouted Analu. With a last resort surge of strength she summoned a huge amount of wind nova force and with the help and determination oh Sarah, they both managed to push themselves out of the powerful energy blast from the monster slightly, but it wasn't enough.
Just as despair began to close in and the kinetic barrier shattered into glimmering fragments, a single, unblinking eye appeared in the haze before them. In an instant, a new barrier materialized—its surface gleaming with shifting hues of violet and gold, pulsating like a living force. The monstrous energy collided against it with a deafening roar, redirected with staggering precision toward the very beast that had unleashed it.
The explosion rocked the chamber. The redirected blast struck the monster with unrelenting fury, engulfing it in a fiery maelstrom. Its guttural roar echoed, a sound of rage and agony that reverberated through the collapsing dungeon. The newly formed barrier trembled under the force, its surface spiderwebbing with cracks, but it held just long enough for the danger to subside.
Amidst the swirling smoke, ash, and dust, footsteps emerged—measured and deliberate, each step cutting through the cacophony like a clock ticking toward an ominous end. The tension thickened as a calm, yet condescending voice floated through the chaos, rich with an unsettling mix of charm and menace.
"No need to panic," the man said, his tone almost playful. "I couldn't bear to see such beautiful women perish while I'm around... unless, of course, it's necessary." A faint chuckle followed, his words dripping with arrogance. "I've been watching you for some time now. Sensed your energy. Knew you weren't here to harm my friend and me."
The group tensed, instincts taking over. Analu stepped forward, his voice sharp and unyielding. "Who are you?" she demanded, her fingers curling tighter around his weapon.
The figure's silhouette became clearer, his presence radiating authority and danger. He tilted his head, a smirk evident in his voice. "A little gratitude would suit you better, beautiful." His gaze lingered on Analu, then swept to the others, his confidence unwavering. "But don't worry—soon enough, you'll know exactly who I am."
And just like that, he vanished. One moment he was there, his aura suffocating the space, and the next, he dissolved into the swirling dust and smoke as if the shadows themselves had swallowed him whole.
The group stood frozen, caught between disbelief and unease. The silence that followed was broken only by Celinthia's voice, tinged with urgency. "Hey! Snap out of it! We need to move—this whole dungeon is falling apart!"
The tremors intensified, shaking the ground beneath their feet. The once-majestic chamber now resembled a war zone, fissures spreading across the walls like jagged scars. The dungeon guide, pale and trembling, pointed down a dimly lit corridor. "T-this way! Follow the main passage. When it forks, take the left route. It's the fastest way out… if we're lucky."
Analu's eyes narrowed, her voice laced with skepticism. "Lucky?" She adjusted her grip on her weapon, her tone biting. "Guide, we'd better be more than lucky. Are you sure this is the right path?"
The guide swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "Yes! Just keep moving, don't stop! Whatever caused that blast… it's something far beyond anything I've ever seen. We have to go now!"
John's expression was grim, his voice cutting through the chaos. "If he's this scared, we shouldn't waste time. Let's move."
The ground lurched violently, sending a cascade of stones and dust raining down from above. The air was heavy with the metallic tang of destruction, each breath laden with tension.
"Come on!" Jashino shouted, grabbing Celinthia's arm as the corridor tilted under another violent tremor. His voice was strained but resolute. "This place is coming down—fast."

As they pushed forward, the dungeon seemed alive, its walls groaning and cracking as though resisting their escape. The air was thick with dread, but within each of them burned a singular thought: survive at all costs.