The sudden blow caught Xenon off guard, sending him tumbling back toward the corner of the ancient temple. His eyes narrowed as he pushed himself back to his feet, brushing off the hit with ease. He straightened his stance, eyes scanning for the source of the attack.
"Who are you now?" Xenon asked, his voice cold, sharp like the edge of his blade.
From the shadows emerged a dark figure, humanoid but armored in an intimidating red suit. His wings were forged of steel, gleaming under the dim light that filtered through the cracks in the temple. His helmet, bird-like and metallic, obscured his face, but the flickering fireball he held in his hand betrayed his fiery nature.
Xenon eyed the figure as he dusted himself off. "Who are you?" he repeated, his tone as icy as before.
The armored man stepped into the light, revealing more of his gleaming armor and the fierce energy that radiated from him. "Leave him alone," the man ordered. "It favors us both."
Xenon sneered, his lips curling into a mocking smile. "A coward can't command me to do anything," he retorted, his voice laced with arrogance. "So be it," the armored man responded calmly, raising his hand and hurling the fireball directly at Xenon.
With practiced ease, Xenon sidestepped, dodging the attack with minimal effort. He grinned and unsheathed his sword, the Blade of Cosmos, its brilliant light casting an otherworldly glow across the temple. "This won't take much effort," he said, amused by the situation.
The sword hummed with power, and as he raised it, chains materialized from the blade, glowing faintly with cosmic energy. With a flick of his wrist, the chains lunged towards the armored figure, aiming to bind him in place.
The man, barely managing to escape, moved swiftly, dodging the attack by a hair's breadth. He staggered for a moment before regaining his balance. Xenon's grin widened, impressed by the man's reflexes.
"What's your name, coward?" Xenon asked, a mocking edge to his voice.
The armored man scoffed. "Now you care about my name?" He lowered his stance, preparing for another attack. "My name is Phoenix. And if you dare harm that kid," he gestured toward Hydra, "you'll be hunted by the Elementals. You're breaking their laws."
Xenon chuckled, the sound harsh and dismissive. "Elementals, huh? They won't be able to catch me. What I'm doing is for a good cause."
"A good cause?" Phoenix shot back, his tone dripping with disdain. "Does killing a child—a prince and bearer of the stone—count as a good cause to you?"
Xenon's eyes flickered with mild amusement. "Who cares? The Elementals won't be able to stop me. I'll disappear like I always do." His smirk faded as his voice grew darker, more impatient. "Enough talking. You're of no use to me, Phoenix."
Without warning, the chains shot forward again, faster and more aggressive this time, aiming to wrap around Phoenix. The firebird barely escaped, darting out of the chains' path just in time. He immediately closed the distance, trying to engage Xenon in close combat. But it was a mistake—he'd come too close.
As Phoenix neared, Xenon's eyes gleamed. "Too easy." With a swift motion, Xenon unleashed his blade, crackling with blue thunder, the energy surging down its length like a raging storm. Phoenix, realizing his error, braced himself, but it was too late—Xenon's strike was already in motion.
Just as Xenon's blade was about to land, a beam of dark energy shot across the temple, striking the ground between them. Xenon halted, turning his gaze toward the source. The energy hadn't been aimed to hurt him—it was meant to disrupt his attack.
From the shadows, Hydra emerged, transformed into his true form: a massive, three-headed snake with dark purple scales that glistened ominously in the dim light. His eyes gleamed with venomous intent, his fangs dripping poison.
"Don't forget me," Hydra hissed, his voice reverberating through the temple. "I'm still in this battle."
Xenon's eyes glimmered with renewed interest. "So, you're still alive, huh?" he muttered, almost impressed. "Good. I'll fight with pleasure."
Before Hydra could respond, Xenon's chains shot out again, this time targeting both Phoenix and Hydra. The chains wrapped around their limbs, the glowing cosmic energy tightening like a vice. Xenon grinned as he channeled his blue thunder through the chains, sending jolts of electric energy surging through both Phoenix and Hydra.
Phoenix grunted, struggling against the chains, while Hydra writhed in pain, his scales crackling under the intensity of the shock. Xenon moved in for the final blow, stepping closer to Hydra, his eyes fixed on the stone embedded in Hydra's forehead.
"This is it," Xenon muttered to himself, reaching out to take the stone. But just as his hand neared Hydra's head,Phoenix, still bound by the chains, yelled out, his voice strained but forceful. "Stop!"
Xenon paused, turning his cold gaze toward the firebird. "Why not?" he asked, his voice devoid of concern.
Phoenix, breathing heavily from the pain of the electrocution, struggled to speak. "Because... Evangeline's forces are already on their way to find the stones."
Xenon's expression remained indifferent. "I know that already. That's why I'm taking it—so it will be safe."
Phoenix, managing to catch his breath, shot back, "But they've already found most of the fragments of the other five stones. This time, they won't hesitate to use their full force. You can't do this alone, can you?" He let the question hang in the air for a moment before continuing. "You'll need our help... and the help of the Elementals."
Xenon's eyes narrowed as he considered Phoenix's words. His grip on the chains loosened slightly, though his blade remained ready. "And why should I trust you?" he asked, his voice laced with skepticism. "You two are standing in my way, after all."
Phoenix winced as he tried to break free from the chains. "Because we all need to stop Evangeline," he said, his tone now dead serious. "And you can't do that without us."
Hydra, still weak from the electrocution, nodded faintly, his voice hoarse. "We all have a part to play in this... even you, Xenon."
Xenon's cold expression remained unchanged, but his grip on the sword relaxed. For a moment, the temple was thick with silence, the only sound the faint crackling of energy lingering from his earlier attacks.
Finally, Xenon spoke. "Very well," he said, his voice sharp but measured. "But if either of you betrays me... next time, I won't hesitate."
With a flick of his wrist, the chains vanished, and both Phoenix and Hydra collapsed to the ground, free but exhausted. Xenon turned, his dark cape sweeping behind him as he strode toward the temple's exit. "Don't make me regret this," he added, not bothering to look back