The funnel cloud finished descending, towering like a mountain of swirling wind. Two glowing eyes burned deep inside the storm, and a booming voice echoed:
> "I AM THE GUARDIAN OF AIR. TRESPASSERS… BE ERASED."
The bunnies and butterflies scattered to the sides, forming a spinning barrier around the pasture.
The tornado's center widened, revealing a vortex of lightning and blades of compressed air.
Lin swallowed hard. "This is not in the board game."
Elara tried to hold her ground, hair whipping. "That's a living tornado—!"
Nyra braced with glowing hands. "We can't outrun it."
Crystal's voice cut in: "Your Wind Step may help dodge, but damage output is insufficient. Recommend evasive maneuvers."
Lin muttered, "Translation: I'm screwed."
---
First Attack
The Air Guardian roared, releasing a shockwave. The ground cracked. Lin and the girls were thrown backward like paper dolls.
Lin used Wind Step midair, dashing sideways, but a stray butterfly's wing clipped him.
[Respawn]
He reappeared, coughing. "I'm starting to hate butterflies more than the bunnies."
---
Second Attack
He tried running at the edge of the storm, using Wind Step repeatedly like a ninja. He actually managed to dodge two blasts.
He shouted back at the sky: "You can't kill me forever!"
The tornado's voice thundered: "CHALLENGE ACCEPTED."
A gust caught him, spun him like a frisbee, and launched him into a rock.
[Respawn]
Lin spat dirt. "Okay. Fine. You win. But at least buy me dinner first."
---
Elara and Nyra's Struggle
Elara fired arrows laced with ice magic into the storm. They disintegrated midair.
Nyra cast a barrier; the wind shattered it instantly.
Nyra's eyes widened. "It's absorbing magic!"
Elara growled, "Then we're out of options!"
Crystal's voice, calm but clipped: "Analysis complete. Weak point: the Guardian's Eye of the Storm at its center. Direct hit may destabilize vortex."
Lin blinked. "And how exactly do I get in there without becoming wind sushi?"
---
Funny Power-Up
A small SYSTEM window popped up:
> [RESPAWN RESILIENCE ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED]
Repeated high-speed deaths in Air Biome grant minor durability boost to wind pressure.
New Passive: Gale Skin (Lv.1)
Reduces wind damage by 15%.
Lin grinned. "Finally! Plot armor—literally."
Crystal's dry voice: "Do not overestimate it. It's weak plot armor."
Lin cracked his knuckles. "Weak is still better than naked."
---
First Real Attempt
He dashed forward, weaving through butterfly wing-blades, bouncing off gusts with Wind Step, his body flickering like a leaf in a storm.
Elara shouted, "Lin! You'll die!"
He yelled back, "Already did twice today!"
Nyra screamed, "Don't—!"
Lin jumped into the vortex, using Wind Step to spiral upward. Air currents slammed into him but Gale Skin held just enough for him to keep going.
He saw it: the glowing core of the tornado — a swirling eye of calm wind and lightning.
Lin roared, "Here goes nothing!"
A massive gust roared up the vortex, hurling him toward the eye. The moment he reached out to strike—
—something yanked him sideways. Out of the vortex stepped a figure cloaked in wind and fire, a man with burning eyes.
The Guardian's voice faltered: "YOU…"
The figure smirked. "Looks like my game's still entertaining."
Lin's heart froze. "Wait. Are YOU the game creator?!" Fu..k you do you know how many times I died to your stupid game.
The cloaked man raised his hand, and the tornado shuddered.
To be continued…