Milla sank onto the cold stone ground, gasping for breath.
Her chest burned. Her arms trembled. Every movement made her feel the cost of her life-force drain.
The forest seemed… different now.
The trees twisted even higher, their blackened roots stretching across the stone floor like giant fingers.
The mist thickened, hiding everything beyond a few meters.
A low, constant hum echoed through the clearing, vibrating in Milla's chest.
The ten cards she collected floated around her in a semi-circle, glowing faintly.
She could feel the power in her hands. Fire, speed, shadows, lightning, wind… and the mysterious Red Joker.
"I… I can actually fight now," Milla whispered.
But deep down, she knew: the Wonderland wasn't done with her yet.
---
From the mist, a soft, eerie laugh echoed.
Then, the ground trembled.
A door appeared before her—gigantic, made of obsidian with veins of glowing red, etched with runes that twisted like living things.
A chill swept over her.
"Another trial? Or… a trap?"
A golden text appeared:
---
[NEXT TRIAL DETECTED: HALL OF ULTIMATES]
Objective: Survive encounters with multiple Ultimates.
Warning: High-level danger. All collected cards may be required.
Hint: Observe attack patterns. Combine abilities and cards strategically.
---
Milla swallowed hard.
Her hands shook, but she clenched her fists.
"I've survived before. I can do it again."
The door groaned and slowly opened, revealing a hall shrouded in shadow.
It stretched as far as she could see, with floating platforms suspended in the air.
Crimson light spilled from cracks in the stone, illuminating shapes moving in the mist.
Milla stepped inside.
Immediately, she felt the presence of multiple Ultimates.
---
[ULTIMATE DETECTED]
Name: Scarlet Thorn
Rank: Ultimate #8
Abilities: Blood magic, rose vines, deadly traps
Name: Harlequin Knight
Rank: Ultimate #2
Abilities: Unpredictable attacks, extreme speed, illusions
Name: Jack of Spades
Rank: Ultimate #4
Abilities: Card manipulation, shadows, teleportation
Name: Queen of Hearts
Rank: Ultimate #1
Abilities: Heart manipulation, life-force drain, control over weaker beings
Warning: All detected Ultimates are hostile. Extreme danger.
---
Milla's eyes widened.
"Four… Ultimates… at once?"
She felt the cards around her stir as if sensing danger.
The Red Joker hovered closer, its glow pulsing.
"Okay… think. Patterns. I need to fight smart."
---
Scarlet Thorn stepped out first.
Red petals swirled around her hands, forming glowing whips of thorned vines.
"Welcome back, little one," she said, her voice smooth and cruel.
"You've collected many cards… but will you survive me?"
Harlequin Knight appeared on the left, twirling a glowing dagger in each hand.
"You think you can dodge forever?" he said.
"Fun begins now."
Jack of Spades emerged from the shadows on the right.
Cards spun around him like spinning saws.
"You… have power. But not enough," he hissed.
A cold, regal voice echoed from above.
Queen of Hearts descended slowly, her dress flowing like liquid blood.
"Little Milla," she said, eyes glowing.
"You've collected my cards… now, you will pay the price."
---
Milla's heart raced.
"No… I can't fight them all at once… I need a plan."
She activated Diamond of Speed, blurring forward to the nearest floating platform.
Flames erupted from Heart of Flame, scorching the ground beneath Scarlet Thorn.
The Ultimates reacted instantly.
Jack of Spades teleported behind her, spinning a storm of spade cards.
Milla dodged using Diamond of Speed again, weaving through the storm.
"I need to combine abilities with cards… every move counts."
She activated Club of Shadows, summoning tendrils to sweep across Jack of Spades' spinning cards.
Some of his blades were destroyed, giving her a small opening.
---
Scarlet Thorn launched a series of thorned vines toward her.
Milla responded with Heart of Ice, freezing the vines mid-air.
Then she combined Heart of Fire with the Club of Wind, sending a wave of flames and wind to push the vines back.
"Yes… that worked!"
The Red Joker pulsed in her hand.
She hesitated. "I don't know what this will do… but maybe… now's the time."
She activated the Red Joker.
A burst of light shot from her hands, enveloping all four Ultimates.
They staggered, blinking, surprised by the sudden unknown force.
Milla's vision blurred. Her life-force drained rapidly.
---
[Life-Force Drain: 92%]
---
Milla staggered back, gasping.
The Red Joker's light faded.
She could feel the unknown power lingering in her veins.
It was strong… dangerous… but it might be the only thing keeping her alive.
The Ultimates recovered, glaring at her.
Scarlet Thorn's vines retracted.
Harlequin Knight twirled his daggers with a grin.
Jack of Spades' cards hovered aggressively.
Queen of Hearts' eyes narrowed, glowing like burning rubies.
"Interesting," Scarlet Thorn whispered.
"You survived the Joker… for now."
Queen of Hearts floated closer, her presence overwhelming.
"Little Milla… your life-force is weakening. Surrender… and I may spare you."
Milla shook her head, her hands trembling.
"Never… I survive… no matter what."
---
The mist around the hall thickened.
Cards of all suits and colors began to float randomly, some glowing red, others black.
Milla realized… the hall itself was alive.
"It's like the forest… but stronger. Everything here wants to kill me."
She took a deep breath.
Strategy. Patience. Observation.
She activated Diamond of Lightning, sending a strike of electric energy toward Harlequin Knight.
He twisted mid-air, avoiding it, but the lightning hit the floating cards around him, destroying several.
Milla used the opening to dash toward a platform with Heart of Fire cards floating above.
She grabbed one, adding another Fire Burst to her arsenal.
---
Scarlet Thorn charged again, rose vines snapping toward her.
Milla jumped and activated Spade of Shadow Strike, striking at Thorn from an unexpected angle.
Thorn staggered, petals falling from her arms.
Harlequin Knight spun toward her, but she used Club of Wind, sending him backward.
Jack of Spades teleported behind her, spinning his cards.
Milla barely dodged, using Diamond of Speed again.
The Red Joker pulsed, ready to unleash another burst.
Queen of Hearts floated higher, arms outstretched.
"Enough games!" she shouted.
A wave of crimson energy shot toward Milla, aiming to drain her life-force directly.
Milla's heart skipped.
She combined Heart of Flame and Heart of Ice.
A burst of fire and freezing energy collided with the wave, deflecting it partially.
She gasped, staggering.
Life-force drain: nearly fatal.
---
[Life-Force Drain: 96%]
---
She collapsed onto the platform, trembling, sweat running down her face.
The Ultimates closed in.
She looked at the cards orbiting her.
"I can't survive this… unless I use the Joker again."
Her hands glowed as she activated the Red Joker.
A massive pulse of energy erupted from her, filling the hall with blinding light.
The Ultimates screamed, staggering backward.
The floating platforms shook.
The hall itself seemed to roar.
When the light faded, Milla was panting, chest burning, vision blurred.
The Ultimates were still standing, glaring at her—but they weren't advancing.
The Red Joker hovered in front of her, its glow fading.
"I… I did it… somehow…"
A golden text appeared:
---
[TRIAL COMPLETE: HALL OF ULTIMATES]
All 10 cards collected and survived encounters with multiple Ultimates.
Hint: More Ultimates await. Use abilities and cards wisely.
Life-Force Warning: Critical. Immediate recovery advised.
---
Milla sank to her knees.
Her chest burned. Her body trembled.
But a smile crossed her face.
"I… survived again. I can… I really can…"
From the shadows, a whisper returned.
"Good… Milla. But the Wonderland has only begun. The Ten Ultimates will test you… and your cards will be your only salvation."
Milla clenched her fists, staring at her glowing cards.
"I don't care what comes next. I will survive… no matter what."
The hall's doors opened ahead, revealing a staircase descending into darkness.
Milla stood, trembling, but ready.
The journey was far from over—and Wonderland had much more to show.
To be continued.....