Ronad's domain settled over the trio like a heavy shroud.
Ariel, Devan, and Luna found themselves on an island made of air, suspended high above the earth.
The winds that swept across the floating island were nothing short of formidable, a force that threatened to sweep them off their feet.
Gusts howled with a fury, and every step they took required deliberate effort, because the winds around them were fierce.
"Welcome to my domain." Ronad said, spreading his arms.
"Shit!" Ariel exclaimed. With this domain deployed, his trump card became useless.
The only thing that could fight a domain was another domain. There was no escape when you got caught in one.
The trio exchanged a silent glance, their faces solemn in acceptance. The reality of the situation hung in the air, an understanding that the outcome of this battle was certain, yet they were willing to fight till the end.
Ariel moved with the grace of a shadow as he reached for the pair of daggers that hung on
his waist.
With practiced motion, he drew the daggers from their sheaths, the blades gleaming like slivers of moonlight in the darkness.
The daggers seemed to come alive in Ariel's hands, like an extension of him. Then, suddenly, Ariel's form seemed to melt into the shadows, a nod to his mastery of stealth.
Devan, with his bulging muscles, reached into his space storage. With practiced motion, he withdrew a massive hammer.
The hammer was etched on the surface with ancient symbols that seemed to pulse with a faint, luminescent glow.
Devan's fingers tightened around the weapon's handle, and an immediate connection hummed between them. He hefted the huge hammer effortlessly, holding it down with all his strength.
As Devan's grip on the hammer tightened, The ground beneath him seemed to tremble
in response. And then, in an astonishing display, Devan's clothes strained and tore, unable to contain the muscle that lay beneath.
Fabric gave way to sinew and muscle, revealing a physique honed from years of training. His bulging muscles flexed as he adjusted his stance, a sight to behold.
He then charged forth with unyielding determination, wielding the massive hammer that seemed to defy the laws of physics.
The weapon bore down upon Ronad with a force that buckled the earth around him.
Yet Ronad's face remained unchanged, as though a giant hammer wasn't threatening to turn him into mush.
With shocking agility, he raised a single hand, skillfully blocking the massive strike in almost casual nonchalance.
The devastating impact could be felt in the air, an explosive collision that sent shockwaves rippling outward.
Before Devan could recover, a fist shot through the air like a thunderbolt, hitting Devan in a brutal impact.
His body shot backwards, his limbs flung out as he hurtled through the air.
Luna's fingers closed around the pair of bracelets on her wrists, channelling mana into them.
The bracelets responded to her, elongating and reshaping, its form adapting to the
contours of her fingers and wrists.
As soon as she put on the gauntlets, her breath hitched, feeling them snugly fit on her hands, the gems on them glowing softly.
She flexed her fingers and suddenly her aura, previously barely noticeable, erupted around her in a brilliant, almost touchable force. It felt like the gauntlets had tapped into a well of power deep within her, enhancing her core being.
With a newfound sense of determination, Luna tightened her fists and jumped into the fight with a rapid series of attacks.
Her agility and speed were like a whirlwind, but Ronad easily grabbed Luna's arms with a strong grip, overpowering her with ease and slamming her onto the hard floor.
The powerful collision made Luna feel waves of shock and pain ripple through her body.
Ariel seized the opportunity, striking with the lethal precision of a predator. His daggers arced
through the air, one aimed for Ronad's heart, the other his eyes.
Yet, Ronad's defenses remained impenetrable. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned an air barrier, it shimmered to life, deflecting the deadly strike easily.
Ariel's attack was met with a swift counter, a powerful kick in the stomach that sent him reeling backwards hitting the floor and coughing up blood.
Ronad's voice cut through the chaos, rough and condescending.
"Let me show you why master-ranks can't compare to Grandmaster-ranks." he taunted. With a sudden burst of energy, he swiftly closed the gap between them.
Devan felt Ronad's icy grip around his throat, a chilling grin spreading across his face before a sickening crack echoed through the air.
Ariel's scream of pain echoed in the air, a mix of sorrow and anger. Luna made a sudden leap, her expression twisted with fury. She then unleashed her most powerful attack.
"Etherstrike Fist" she evokes.
The gauntlet's surface trembled with a sudden burst of energy. A punch infused with mana was released with blinding speed, causing the air to roar with its immense power. It felt as if the gauntlet had stretched its limits, turning the punch into a display of Luna's emotions.
Ronad responded with an air barrier, made twice as strong as the one used to deflect Ariel's
Strike.
The impact was as breathtaking as it was devastating, yet the air barrier remained strong.
Ronad sent her a brutal kick to the chest, the impact sending her hurtling backward. She landed with a sickening thud, unmoving.
Ariel was consumed by a raging storm of emotions that fueled his recklessness. He charged at
Ronad with a ferocity of a desperate prey, his attacks a flurry of strikes and slashes.
But Ronad was unfazed, he calculated every move and deflected with precision.
Ariel suddenly stopped, deciding to unleash his ultimate move. Lowering his stance with his
daggers raised. "Shadow Strike." he whispered.
In that instant, his form seemed to dissolve into nothingness, his very essence becoming one with the elusive realm of shadows.
Ronad's gaze sharpened as he detected a flicker of movement. Before he could fully react, a dagger materialized with blinding speed, its sharp edge mere inches from Ronad's eyes.
Ronad instincts kicked in, and with a quick reflex, he lunged forward, his hand snapping out to catch Ariel's wrist. He seized Ariel's hand with a grip of steel, yanking it free with a sickening snap.
Pain and shock crossed Ariel's features as Ronad loomed over him.
"This is for my son" Ronad suddenly declared, his tone a venomous whisper.
"Incase you still haven't figured it out, your last mission was bait."
Ronad whispered in Ariel's ears. The realization hit Ariel like a physical blow, betrayal in his eyes.
There was a traitor in the Sentinel Guardians!
"Ember, Caldor. I'm sorry". Ariel muttered with grief and finality. He would never see them again.
Ronad's laughter echoed through the air and in one brutal strike, he ended Ariel's life, snapping his neck.
His body fell down, lifeless.
Ariel Ravenstein was dead.