With a sudden, violent motion, the wooden titan expelled the wolf flesh within it, transforming them into a hail of flesh needles that exploded into wooden seeds. Ravian's eyes widened, and he quickly swung his black cape in front of him, the dark fabric billowing as it intercepted the deadly barrage.
The seeds hit the cape with a series of sharp thwacks, bouncing off without penetrating, leaving indentations that quickly smoothed out as if the fabric were alive. But Wulfric was relentless, the antlered wooden titan charging forward, its real antlers aimed to impale Ravian.
Ravian's arms strained as he barely stopped the antlers, feeling them tear into his skin, the pain sharp and intense. Drops of blood trickled down, falling to the ground, seeping into the dirt as if alive, like clams digging into the sand. His breath came in ragged gasps, his muscles screaming in protest as he clenched his teeth.
"Honor your elders, vampire, or they'll kill you!" Wulfric taunted, his voice filled with malicious glee, his laughter echoing through the clearing, resonating with the very essence of the forest.
Ravian's eyes narrowed, his body tense, his mind focused. "Your power does not frighten me, forest god," he replied, his voice steady, his words defiant. The cape, now still, seemed to shimmer with an inner strength, gathering power Ravian was reluctant to unleash.
Around them, the forest seemed to respond to Wulfric's power, regrowing its wounds, the trees becoming denser and taller, the very air thick with the scent of growth and life. The ground beneath their feet pulsed with energy as roots and shoots form out of thin air.
Wulfric's laugh rang out again, his form looming over Ravian, his eyes filled with madness and rage. "We shall see, vampire. We shall see." he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt that materialized into the very forest itself.
With a sudden surge of growth, pinecones and berry shrubs multiplied, their vines and woody roots reaching out to restrain Ravian. The wooden tendrils wrapped around his limbs, pulling tight, but Ravian's rapid regeneration was already at work, slowly chipping away at the impaling antlers. Wulfric's focus was elsewhere, his eyes wild, his body taut with effort, oblivious to the subtle shift in Ravian's favor.
Ravian's breathing intensified, his chest heaving, his eyes beginning to tint red like blood. The repeated taunts of the word "vampire" echoing in his ears, sparked a deep, smoldering anger within him. In the distance, swarms of bats began to rise, a dark cloud against the sky, and the vines wrapping around Ravian shriveled, transforming into thorns and roses that pulled at Wulfric instead.
"Impossible!" Wulfric shouted, his voice filled with disbelief and rage, his body straining against the unexpected restraint.
"My dear Wulfric, it seems you've underestimated me," Ravian replied, his voice smooth and controlled, a faint smile playing on his lips. His eyes glinted violet, a sign of the power he was summoning, his face a mask of concentration.
With a sudden shift, gravity changed direction on Wulfric, pulling him away. Ravian used the momentum to push him further back. Then, with a commanding gesture, he summoned four consecutive fiery meteors, hurling them at Wulfric. The meteors were a spectacle of raw energy, trailing flames and sparks, each impact a thunderous explosion that shook the earth, the heat so intense it could be felt from a distance.
The meteors struck with devastating force, releasing small shockwaves that set the surrounding plant life alight. Flames danced and crackled, spreading rapidly, consuming everything in their path. Wulfric's form was engulfed, his screams of fury and pain echoing through the forest. The very ground seemed to tremble, the sky ablaze with the reflection of the fire and a pillar of smoke.
Ravian stood tall, his body poised, his eyes fixed on the inferno before him, his cape billowing in the wind as a silhouette against the chaos. The battle was far from over, and he knew that Wulfric would not be defeated so easily. His mind was already racing, planning his next move, aware that every second counted.
Before Ravian could make his next move, the wooden seeds from earlier sprang to life, growing with unnatural speed into impaling spikes of wood imbued with divine power. They shot towards him, one finding its mark and staking him in the heart. Ravian's body jerked, blood spilling from the wound, his face contorted in pain. Paralyzed but not killed, he could only watch as Wulfric, aflame and slowly regenerating his charred body, began to laugh. The sound was filled with malice and triumph, echoing through the forest, resonating with the dark energy that permeated the air. The forest itself seemed to respond to Wulfric's victory, the trees trembling, the ground pulsing beneath his feet.
"I thought you might win, vampire," Wulfric growled, limping towards the immobile Ravian, his body healing with every step. His voice was guttural, filled with wild satisfaction, his eyes gleaming with a feral light. "But you are nothing before a god," he added, his voice dripping with contempt.
Wulfric's claws reached out, cupping Ravian's cheeks, the god's mouth opening to reveal roots and vines lined with teeth. "What does rebellion taste like?" he snarled, his voice dripping with anticipation. The vines in his mouth writhed, eager to taste their prey, and the scent of earth and decay filled the air. His breath was hot and foul, a mixture of rotting wood and damp soil.
But then, something unexpected happened. Ravian's hand, trembling with effort, reached out and touched Wulfric. His fingers barely grazed the god's wooden flesh, but the contact was there, a connection made. Wulfric's eyes widened, his expression shifting to one of confusion. "Flesh and bones? You think it matters?" he spat, his voice filled with scorn, his body tensing as if expecting an attack.
"You forget, Wulfric, that I am more than just a mere vampire," Ravian replied, his voice weak but filled with resolve. His eyes met Wulfric's, a spark of determination burning within them. "And you should know better than to underestimate me."
Ravian's eyes, glowing with a sinister crimson hue, locked onto Wulfric. A faint smile, both weak and taunting, played upon his lips. "You are ensnared, Wulfric," he murmured, his voice a chilling whisper. Shadows began to writhe and black smoke coiled, encircling Wulfric, decaying his form into dust. The very essence of the forest seemed to tremble, caught in a moment suspended between time and eternity.
"A mere killing spell? Do you think such a thing can harm a god?" Wulfric scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. But then his eyes widened, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face.
"What is this?!" His voice trailed off, replaced by a dawning realization and a growing terror.
"This power!" His divinity waned, his strength ebbed, and fog rose around him, shadows twisting into serpentine shapes. Six swarms of bats approached from above, their forms appearing as if they had materialized out of pure darkness.
The bats descended like a dark storm, their wings a cacophony of terror. They swarmed Wulfric, their cries merging with his weakening screams. The god's form crumbled, consumed by the relentless onslaught. Flesh, bone, and divinity were torn asunder, devoured by the ravenous swarm.
The valley itself seemed to respond to Ravian's magic, warping into a land of fog, serpentine shadows, thorns, and bats. Trees twisted into grotesque shapes, and the very air thickened with a palpable dread.
Wulfric's final cry, a death croak, resonated through the twisted forest, a haunting requiem for a fallen god. The wooden spikes transformed into thorny roses, their petals a deep crimson, as if stained with the blood of the battle.
Ravian collapsed, his body spent, his vision dimming. The moon, now veiled in mist, watched over him, and the distant howls of wolves carried on the wind. The world blurred, sounds grew distant, and darkness encroached.
As his consciousness slipped away, a mysterious voice whispered to him a lullaby of sweet dreams. It seemed to come from the moon itself, a lullaby sung by the light who rules by night.