The National Handball Competition and
It was exactly 10:00 AM on a bright Saturday morning,, when the national stadium began to buzz with a palpable energy.
The long-awaited national handball competition was finally underway, and the stands were packed with excited students, parents, and fans from all over the country.
The opening match was set: Haul Academy versus their fierce rival school.
As the whistle blew, the crowd erupted into cheers, waving flags and chanting in unison.
The atmosphere was electric, every heartbeat syncing with the rhythm of the game.
Rossie Carter stood on the sidelines, her breath steady but her green eyes sharp and alert. She was surrounded by her teammates, but her attention was divided.
Her bracelet, a simple silver band with an embedded gem, pulsed faintly against her wrist, sending a subtle warmth that made her senses tingle.
Something was off. On the pitch, Ethan Harl, the team captain, moved with fierce determination, commanding the ball and orchestrating plays with precision.
But there was one glaring absence.....Michael Thompson. His recent strange behavior, linked to an ancient, mysterious book he had found had raised alarms. He hadn't shown up for the match, and whispers about his odd actions circulated quietly among the team.
Rossie's gaze drifted across the stadium seats, and her heart skipped a beat. There, sitting among the crowd, were familiar faces—Tom, Mia, and a group of students known for their occultic interests.
Their cold, calculating stares locked onto Rossie's, sending a chill down her spine. She didn't hesitate. With a subtle nod, she signaled Becky, Ethan, and their new friend Lila to keep a close watch on the group. Her instincts screamed that trouble was brewing.
The match began in earnest. The first half was a thrilling showcase of skill, with both teams trading impressive passes, swift maneuvers, and spectacular saves. The crowd roared with every goal, the energy rising with each play. Rossie's heart pounded in sync with the cheers, but her mind remained partly elsewhere, focused on the ominous presence in the stands.
As the second half started, the intensity on the court remained high, but beneath the stadium, a sinister plan was unfolding.
Mia, Tom, and their occultic group had orchestrated a daring heist. Their target was the national treasure storehouse hidden beneath the stadium, a vault filled with priceless ancient artifacts and relics.
During a scheduled break, the group slipped away from the crowd, making their way to a secluded restroom. Tom expertly popped open a ceiling panel, revealing a narrow crawlspace.
One by one, they climbed through, some taking up guard positions in the corridors and outside the restroom, while Mia and Tom moved swiftly toward their prize.
Inside the treasure storehouse, the air was cool and thick with the scent of old wood and dust. Rows of shelves lined the walls, stacked with relics from a forgotten era—ancient scrolls, ceremonial daggers, and mysterious idols.
Mia and Tom worked quickly, stuffing a heavy sack with valuables. Among the treasures was a legendary pendant known as the "Parador."
According to legend, the Parador granted its wearer the power to summon and control wild boars and foxes from the nearby forests.
Mia slipped the pendant around her neck, and almost immediately, the runes etched into the metal began to glow faintly. She whispered an incantation under her breath, the air humming with magic.
Unbeknownst to the group, Lila had followed them, her curiosity overpowering her caution. She crept closer, trying to understand what was happening.
Outside the restroom, she confronted two masked occultic guards.
"What are you doing? This is wrong!" she demanded, her voice firm despite the fear creeping in.
The guards snarled, irritated by her interference. "Get lost!" one growled.
When Lila refused to back down, they overpowered her, dragging her inside the restroom, tying her hands, and sealing her mouth with duct tape.
Moments later, three security personnel, alerted by strange noises, approached the restroom cautiously. But the occultics moved with unnatural speed and strength, quickly subduing the guards and tying them up alongside Lila.
Their muffled protests faded as Mia and Tom rejoined the group, their faces grim but focused.
Suddenly, more security personnel, alerted by the cracking sounds from above, rushed to the scene.
Mia, Tom, and the others dropped down from the ceiling, their faces concealed by masks. Three of them grabbed the tied-up victims, including Lila, using them as human shields.
"Drop what you stole!" Detective James Carter's voice rang out, cutting through the tension like a knife. He arrived with his team, weapons drawn, eyes sharp.
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Back on the pitch, Rossie was unstoppable. She darted past defenders with enhanced speed, her green eyes glowing faintly with determination. She scored three brilliant goals, each one met with thunderous applause. Haul Academy took the lead, and the crowd's cheers reached a fever pitch.
But the celebration was brutally short-lived.
Suddenly, a thunderous pounding echoed through the stadium - like the charge of countless horses. Then, as if summoned by dark magic, fifty wild boars burst onto the field, charging from the forest edge. Panic erupted.
Security personnel shouted, "Run to shelter!" and fired shots at the rampaging animals, but the boars were relentless.
They charged straight toward the building housing the restroom where Mia's team waited.
James Carter shouted, "Reveal your faces!"
Mia's smirk was visible even behind her mask.
"Don't worry, my guests are here. For now, you got to deal with them first." With that, fifteen massive bears roared into view, charging toward the entrance. The crowd scattered in chaos, police firing desperately at the bears.
Several students were bitten, their screams piercing the air as they fled.
Amid the chaos, Mia and Tom signaled their team. With unnatural speed and agility, they fled with the stolen treasure, disappearing into the confusion.
Rossie, bewildered but resolute, faced two bears charging straight at her. She dodged their powerful grips and snapping jaws with swift agility, grabbed her handball stick, and performed a side-flip stunt, striking the bears and sending them reeling.
As the chaos subsided and police and security regained control, Rossie rushed to her friends
. Ethan and Becky, shaken but alive, joined her, their faces pale but relieved. They found Lila, still tied but unharmed, and quickly freed her.
Detective James Carter approached, his expression a complex mix of anger, disbelief, and concern.
They stood together amidst the aftermath—scattered debris, injured students receiving aid, and the breached treasure storehouse.
The scale of the attack and the boldness of the heist left them stunned.
"This was no accident," James muttered, his eyes locking with Rossie's.
The power of the Parador and the audacity of the occultic group hinted at a deeper, darker threat yet to unfold.
The battle for control over ancient magic and the safety of the nation had only just begun.