The Villain Professor's Second Chance

"Come on, Theo! Hold it steady!" Sharon shouted, her fiery temper flaring as she lunged forward, her blade striking at an orc's exposed side.

Theo didn't respond verbally—he couldn't afford to. His shield deflected another incoming swing, a clang echoing off the walls, the sheer force pushing him back slightly. Sharon took the opening he made, stepping in with her powerful swing aimed right at the neck of the orc. Her blade connected, slicing through the weak point where Draven had said the dark energy coalesced.

The orc let out a deep, guttural roar, its crimson eyes flaring before its body crumpled, the dark energy dispersing into mist. Sharon exhaled heavily, her lips curling into a satisfied grin. "That's one down!"

From her position in the distance, Sylvanna's keen eyes narrowed, her gaze locked on the remaining corrupted orcs. "I've got the other one in my sights," she murmured, drawing back her bowstring, her arrow glowing with a light imbued with magic. She released it with a practiced grace, the arrow cutting through the air with a whistle before striking at an orc's neck.

It roared, twisting in pain, and Rhea took the opportunity, slipping in with her daggers, her small form darting around the orc's bulk. She struck at the points Sylvanna had weakened, her twin blades flashing in the dim light.

"Quick, Sylvanna, again!" Rhea shouted, her voice high with tension. She danced back, barely avoiding a swinging mace. Sylvanna let loose another arrow, this one striking true to the orc's chest, where the dark energy pulsated most vividly.

The orc fell with a heavy thud, its massive form shaking the ground beneath it. Rhea stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as she brought her dagger down one last time into the creature's throat, ensuring it wouldn't rise again.

Sharon looked over to where Sylvanna had pinned down another corrupted orc, her heart pounding. She knew Sylvanna needed help, but it wasn't until she saw the archer forced against the cave wall, the orc's massive hand outstretched toward her, that Sharon's muscles coiled, springing her into action.

"Get away from her!" Sharon roared, charging forward, her broadsword lifted high. She swung with all her might, the blade cleaving through the orc's leg. It let out a bellow of pain, toppling sideways as Sylvanna quickly nocked an arrow and shot it into the creature's neck, ending its life. Sylvanna shot Sharon a quick, appreciative glance, her lips twitching into something akin to a smile.

"Thanks, musclehead," Sylvanna said, her tone lacking its usual mockery. There was only relief.

Sharon scoffed, panting. "Just try not to get yourself killed."

Sophie and Evan had their own fight against the last corrupted orc, working alongside the magma bear, whose molten core glowed with an intense heat. The orc swung its heavy blade at Sophie, and she ducked under it, her frosted sword cutting across its exposed arm. The cold of her magic mixed with the heat from the magma bear, a strange combination that weakened the orc.

The bear lunged, its massive paw slamming into the orc's side, sending it staggering backward. Evan seized the moment, thrusting his spear into the orc's glowing weak point under its arm. The creature let out a final roar, its dark eyes dimming as it collapsed to the ground.

The last of the corrupted orcs had fallen. Dark energy dissipated into the air, leaving the group standing amidst the echoes of their own heavy breathing and the dying growls of their defeated enemies. Sophie straightened, her frosted blade lowering as she looked around, her gaze meeting each of theirs.

"We did it," she said, her voice filled with a mixture of exhaustion and determination.

The intensity of the battle still pulsed in their veins, adrenaline keeping them on edge. Draven, however, seemed almost unaffected, his sharp gaze already locked onto the artifact at the center of the chamber. Its glow had dimmed slightly, but there was still power there—danger that hadn't yet been neutralized.

He stepped forward, his expression cold and calculating as ever, assessing the artifact. Its twisted tendrils still pulsated, though less violently than before. He raised his twin blades, his intention clear. He was ready to end this once and for all.

"Wait, Dravis," Sophie called, her voice steady. She approached him, her eyes searching his face. There was something unsettling about his cold efficiency—it was almost as though nothing touched him, as though he could end this without a second thought, without feeling the weight of what they had faced. "Are you sure destroying it is the best course of action? We need to understand what it—"

Before she could finish, the artifact began to pulse violently, dark tendrils twisting and writhing like serpents. A blinding red light erupted from its center, casting eerie shadows across the chamber. Draven took a step back, his eyes narrowing as he watched the energy surge.

The ground beneath the artifact cracked open, and a swirling dark portal emerged, the darkness spreading as the portal grew wider. The surface of the portal shimmered like an abyssal mirror, and within it, an image began to take shape—an underground empire.

It was massive, an entire kingdom carved into stone, filled with orc warriors clad in dark, metallic armor. They stood in formation, their numbers seemingly endless, as if preparing for an invasion. The sight was enough to make the entire group fall silent, the weight of what they were seeing pressing down on them.

"This..." Theo muttered, his shield still raised, his eyes wide. "What is this?"

Draven's eyes narrowed as he took in the sight. It wasn't just a single outpost—this was an entire kingdom, hidden away underground, preparing for war. He could feel the dark energy emanating from the portal, growing stronger, the power pulling at the edges of his consciousness.

"It's an underground empire," Draven said, his voice cold, controlled. He looked over at Sophie, his eyes hard. "This wasn't just an isolated incident. We're dealing with something much larger than we thought."

Sophie swallowed, her gaze locked on the portal. The sheer number of orcs, the dark energy that seemed to pulsate with malevolence—it was overwhelming. She turned to her knights, her heart pounding. "Everyone, stand ready. We don't know what might come through that portal."

The knights moved, forming a defensive line, their eyes flickering with both fear and determination. Sharon stood close to Sophie, her expression set in a scowl. "My Lady, what do we do now?" she asked, her voice low.

Sophie hesitated for a moment, her eyes flicking back to the swirling portal. She could feel the fear clawing at her, the uncertainty. But she pushed it down, steeling herself. She had to be strong—for her knights, for herself. "We find a way to close it," she said, her voice steady. "We can't let them come through."

"Close it?" Sylvanna called from where she was perched, her bow still drawn. "And how exactly do you propose we do that, Captain?"

Draven's gaze remained fixed on the portal, his mind racing, calculating. He could see the energy converging, the point where the portal's power was most concentrated. He pointed towards it, his voice sharp. "The convergence point—there. If we can disrupt it, we might be able to sever the connection."

Sophie followed his gaze, her eyes locking onto the point he had indicated. The dark energy twisted and coiled, a mass of shadows that seemed to pulse with life. She took a deep breath, her grip tightening on her frosted blade. "Alright. We do this together."

The magma bear let out a low growl, its molten body shifting as it moved towards the portal, its heat pushing back the darkness. Sophie stepped forward, her knights close behind, their weapons raised. The ground trembled beneath their feet, the portal's energy growing more intense with each passing second.

"Everyone, stay close," Sophie commanded, her voice carrying a strength that steadied the group. She stepped towards the convergence point, her blade glowing with frost, the chill of her magic swirling around her.

Draven moved beside her, his eyes never leaving the portal. He could feel the pull of the dark energy, the power that threatened to consume them if they weren't careful. "Strike together," he said, his voice low, meant only for Sophie. "It's our only chance."

Sophie nodded, her eyes meeting his. For a brief moment, she saw something in his gaze—something beyond the cold detachment he always carried. It was fleeting, but it was there. She raised her blade, her heart pounding.

"Now!" Draven shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om