Chapter 15: The Waterfall Portal

The thick canopy of the Amazon rainforest concealed many secrets, but tonight, it bore witness to an event unlike any other. The elves had reached their destination—a hidden cave behind a roaring waterfall, one of the predicted stable nodes for their portal magic.

Mary stepped forward, her golden hair damp from the mist as she surveyed the surroundings. Behind her, the Lunar Priestesses prepared the ritual, carving intricate symbols into the stone floor with glowing lunar energy. Jamie sat at the center, bound by magical restraints, her mind still racing from the massacre she had witnessed.

"You’ve seen what happens when we encounter resistance," Mary said coldly, kneeling before Jamie. "Your cooperation will make this easier for everyone—including your loved ones."

Jamie clenched her fists. She had made up her mind—she would never help the elves willingly.

Above the waterfall, flickers of strange lights began to materialize, sending waves of energy through the sky. It was subtle, but not subtle enough to escape the ever-watchful eyes of Earth's satellites. In mere minutes, every intelligence agency and military force tracking the elves had their sights locked on the new location.

The Hunt Begins

David Lancaster, Solomon Kane, and their warlord allies were the first to receive the satellite intelligence. Without hesitation, they pushed their forces forward, cutting through the jungle like a storm. They weren’t the only ones—multiple factions, from special forces to mercenaries and bounty hunters, were converging on the waterfall, all with different motivations.

The elves, knowing they were discovered, mobilized immediately. Mary made a decisive call—only she and the Lunar Priestesses would remain inside the cave to ensure the portal anchored successfully. The rest of the Royal Knights would form a defensive perimeter and delay the incoming forces.

As Solomon and David’s team reached the outskirts of the waterfall, the battle erupted.

The Clash at the Waterfall

The warlord’s men, hardened jungle fighters, fired first. Their bullets tore through the trees, but the Royal Knights, using Light Magic, moved faster than any human could react. Blinding flashes illuminated the darkness as elven swordsmen cut through the front lines.

David, relying on his sharpshooter instincts, took out three Royal Knights before they even reached him. Solomon, meanwhile, used his agility to weave through the chaos, dispatching elves with quick, precise strikes.

The battle was brutal. The elves had superior physical abilities and magic, but the humans had firearms and numbers. Explosions rocked the jungle as grenades tore through elven formations, while enchanted arrows struck down heavily armed soldiers.

Solomon and David fought their way to the waterfall’s entrance, where they finally came face to face with Mary.

The Final Stand

Mary stood alone at the cave entrance, her golden armor reflecting the moonlight, her sword radiating with holy energy. She was a Sun Knight—one of the best the elves had to offer.

"You are too late," she said as the ground beneath them hummed with arcane energy. "The portal is opening, and your world will fall."

David raised his rifle, but Mary was faster. With a single movement, she sliced through the gun’s barrel, forcing him back. Solomon lunged forward, knives flashing, but Mary anticipated his attack, countering with a brutal kick to his ribs that sent him crashing against the rocks.

David, recovering quickly, grabbed a fallen knife and slashed at Mary’s exposed side, drawing blood. She hissed in pain, but instead of anger, she smiled.

"You fight well," she admitted. "But it won’t be enough."

Inside the cave, the Lunar Priestesses chanted in unison. The portal’s energy was stabilizing. The invasion was about to begin.

Solomon spat out blood, rising to his feet. His mind raced—he had to stop them. He had to save Jamie.

The battle was far from over.

A Miscalculation

Suddenly, the magical circle flared to life, and a shimmering gateway formed. But something was wrong. Instead of connecting to Forestia, the portal pulsed erratically, redirecting its energy elsewhere. A second temporary portal had been opened—in Antarctica.

Far away, at the elven fortress built upon the ruins of McMurdo Station, the remaining High Elves watched in satisfaction as the newly formed gateway shimmered inside their stronghold. This was no accident—it was the result of their secret request to the Royal Court. Queen Elara had sent reinforcements, convinced by High Elven nobles that Mary and her Royal Knights had jeopardized the invasion with reckless decisions.

Standing before them, stepping through the glowing threshold, was a figure clad in flowing silver robes—the second Royal Elf to set foot on Earth after Prince Dyug. Their piercing gaze surveyed the gathered forces, their presence radiating an undeniable air of authority.

The war in the Amazon had just taken a new turn, but a far greater battle was about to begin in Antarctica.

Back in Cave

Mary's eyes widened in shock and fury as the portal stabilized—not to Forestia, but back to Antarctica. A cold realization struck her as she understood what had happened. The second portal, secretly opened at the elven base in Antarctica, had overridden their connection. The High Elf nobles had acted behind her back, bringing in reinforcements and seizing control of the invasion effort.

"Those cowards!" Mary seethed, her fingers tightening around her sword hilt. She turned sharply, storming into the cave to confront the Lunar Priestess. "Explain this! Why didn't the portal connect to Forestia?"

She demanded clarification even after knowing the answers herself.

The priestess, kneeling in exhaustion, looked up hesitantly. "A second portal was established in Antarctica... It interfered with the connection. Queen Elara's reinforcements have arrived."

Before Mary could react further, a sudden gunshot echoed outside. David had fired a round to disrupt the elves, while Solomon rushed forward with blinding speed. Using the momentary distraction, David pushed deeper into the cave, his eyes locked onto Jamie. Without hesitation, he grabbed his daughter, shielding her as Solomon provided cover fire.

Mary turned back toward the entrance, her expression darkening as she saw the Royal Knights struggling against the human forces. Their formation was breaking, and even the strongest among them were showing signs of exhaustion. Gritting her teeth, she made a swift decision. "Fall back!" she commanded. "Retreat to Antarctica!"

Even though the portal had failed to connect to Forestia, this stable node was still of immense strategic value. The Lunar Priestesses could now use it to create temporary portals from Antarctica to any location within a 100-kilometer radius. This meant they had successfully established a second invasion point on Earth—though they still had to go through Antarctica first.

With one last glance at the battlefield, Mary clenched her fists, frustration burning inside her. Then, with complicated thoughts weighing on her mind, she stepped through the portal, disappearing into the icy domain of Antarctica alongside her remaining Royal Knights.