The cold winds of South Georgia Island howled as the airborne troops descended into the snow-covered landscape. Solomon Kane, gripping the handle of his rifle, landed smoothly amidst the swirling gusts, his eyes scanning the surroundings. The mission was clear—track down the elves who had taken Jamie before they could vanish again.

As soon as their boots hit the ground, the soldiers moved in formation. The Royal Marines, the U.S. Special Forces, and the contracted mercenaries, including Solomon under his false identity, were the only ground forces in the operation. Overhead, jets and helicopters patrolled, ensuring no escape from the island.

Their intelligence had pinpointed a hidden elven outpost in a valley surrounded by jagged cliffs and dense ice formations. It was there that they believed Jamie was being held. The elves had managed to slip away from Antarctica, but here, they were trapped—at least, that was what the commanders believed.

First Contact with the Elves

As the soldiers advanced, the first signs of enemy presence became clear. Tracks in the snow, abandoned supplies, and magical energy remnants—subtle distortions in the air that made the hairs on Solomon’s neck stand on end.

Then came the first attack.

Bright golden lances of Light Magic erupted from the cliffs above, forcing the soldiers to take cover. The Royal Knights—elite elven warriors handpicked by Mary—had set up an ambush. Their armor, enchanted to withstand bullets, gleamed under the pale sun as they leaped down from the rocks, their swords cutting through the air like beams of light.

“Contact! Contact!” a Marine shouted as gunfire erupted.

The elves moved like specters, their agility unmatched. Bullets struck but failed to bring them down unless perfectly aimed at the gaps in their armor. Meanwhile, the elves’ own magic attacks seared through the air, melting ice and forcing humans to reposition constantly.

Solomon, moving on pure instinct, dashed from cover to cover, his modified assault rifle spitting out controlled bursts at the advancing elves. He wasn't here for an all-out battle. He needed to find Jamie.

The Breakthrough

The battle raged for almost half an hour as the human forces pushed forward, inch by inch, forcing the Royal Knights into retreat. Explosions from grenades and magic blasts turned the battlefield into a scarred wasteland.

Finally, they breached the elven outpost—a hastily built underground chamber hidden beneath a rocky overhang. Solomon was the first to descend into the dimly lit tunnels, his boots splashing against melting ice. The others followed closely, weapons raised.

What they found made his heart sink.

Jamie was gone.

The holding cells were empty, and the magical traces suggested that a portal had been used just minutes ago. Mary and her Royal Knights had escaped, taking Jamie with them.

“Damn it!” Solomon slammed a fist against the cold wall. They had been too late.

Then, a new transmission crackled over the radio.

“Commander, we’ve detected magical fluctuations in the Amazon Rainforest. The elves have somehow bypassed the entire blockade—they’re in South America!”

Solomon exhaled sharply. Mary and her forces had done the impossible—they had escaped an entire siege and crossed an ocean in the blink of an eye.

But he wasn’t giving up. Not now.

“Get me a ride,” he said. “I’m going after them.”

---

Inside the dimly lit underground chamber, Jamie sat bound, her mind racing as she struggled against the cold metal restraints. Across from her, Mary stood, her golden hair illuminated by the soft glow of Lunar Priestesses who were weaving magic into the very air. Mary’s piercing amber eyes locked onto Jamie’s, her expression unreadable.

“You don’t even realize it, do you?” Mary said softly, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and cold calculation. “Your reaction to Lunar Magic is unnatural—for a human, at least. When we used it on you, your body didn’t reject it… it harmonized.”

Jamie’s breath hitched, confusion and fear mingling in her chest.

Mary knelt beside her, brushing a strand of Jamie’s hair aside. “That’s why you’re still alive. If your body had resisted, like the others, you would have died when we crossed from Antarctica.” She stood, arms crossed. “But because you acted as an anchor in space-time, the portal stabilized.”

Jamie’s eyes widened. She wasn’t just a prisoner—she was the key to something much bigger.

Mary’s gaze darkened. “You could be the breakthrough for a permanent portal to Earth. A way for us to come and go as we please.” She leaned in, her voice low and sharp. “Cooperate, or you’ll find out what happens when you resist.”

Jamie clenched her fists, refusing to look away. Despite the fear clawing at her throat, one thought burned in her mind—Solomon will come for me.

A sudden burst of human gunfire echoed from outside, and an elven scout rushed in. “Commander! The humans are closing in!”

Mary frowned but didn’t hesitate. She turned to the Lunar Priestesses, their silver hair gleaming as they stood in a circle, chanting in unison. “Open the portal. Use her to stabilize it.”

The air vibrated, and within seconds, a shimmering tear in reality formed, revealing a dark, humid jungle beyond. Jamie felt her body grow heavy, as though something deep within her was being pulled into the portal.

No… I don’t want to go!

As Mary’s Royal Knights grabbed her, forcing her through, Jamie’s heart screamed for one person.

Solomon… save me again.

---

As Solomon stepped onto the warship’s deck, David was already waiting. Before Solomon could speak, David’s fist crashed into his jaw, sending him staggering back. The surrounding soldiers tensed, but Solomon only chuckled, rubbing his sore jaw.

“I deserved that,” he muttered with a wry smile, shaking his head in regret.

David’s fury didn’t fade, but his voice was steady. “Beth collapsed.”

Solomon’s smirk vanished.

“She held it together until the mission failed,” David continued, his voice laced with exhaustion. “When she heard Jamie was gone… she broke. The doctors say it’s exhaustion and stress, but—” He exhaled sharply. “I should be with her, but I can’t. Not now.”

Solomon felt a pang of guilt. He had been so focused on Jamie’s rescue, he hadn’t thought about how Beth—his former love, Jamie’s mother—was enduring this nightmare.

David straightened. “I’m taking over the operation. This time, we’re bringing in Brazilian Special Forces—they know the Amazon better than anyone.” His expression darkened. “But we’re not the only ones hunting.”

Solomon raised an eyebrow.

“The cartels, warlords, and mercenary groups from all over the world have caught wind of the elves,” David explained. “Some want their magic. Some want revenge. And others? They just want a piece of the action.” He exhaled. “It’s a goddamn race now.”

Solomon crossed his arms. “And we don’t know if the elves can teleport again before we reach them.”

David nodded grimly. “Which means we move now—before we lose Jamie forever.”