Lilla and Clara were approaching the Fox Village, exhausted from the long walk. The scouts had spotted them from afar and the warriors awaited at the entrance. Upon arrival at the gate, they were met with suspicion. That's when Katara, who already knew the two, approached:
"Let them in! They passed through our spiritual barriers, which means they are no evil beings."
The guards reluctantly opened passage. Clara felt resentment towards Katara, who had once deceived Kal to remove him from the village. Upon entering, they spotted Orem, the chief warrior and Katara's brother. He looked at the visitors with suspicion.
"What brings you here?" - he asked seriously.
"Obviously we've come to get back what you stole from us!" - Clara retorted angrily at Orem.
Lilla stepped forward and said they needed to see Kal as soon as possible. Orem tried to stop them but Katara intervened:
"Brother, these are difficult times. We need everyone's help against the darkness."
Orem remained silent. The village must prepare for what may come. After being led by Orem to where Kal was, Lilla and Clara watched him from afar, surprised by the changes. In the two months in Fox Village, he had trained tirelessly to strengthen himself, even more so after his powers had been sealed. Now Kal trained shirtless, revealing his body that was once young now developed with firm muscles. His long hair had been cut short, and he seemed more mature, without the childlike air of before.
With the same sunny tone eyes, Kal seemed more serious and experienced. Lilla and Clara felt themselves blush in front of him, who had become a handsome man. At that moment, Katara and Orem approached. The woman commented, smiling:
"I see you've noticed the changes in Kal. He dedicated himself a lot to get stronger."
Orem added, still distrustful:
"Yeah. But will he be strong enough to fight the Darkness now reigning in Nannu?"
Lilla stepped forward, determined:
"There's only one way to find out!"
Lilla looked towards Katara and Orem, gathering courage. She slowly approached Kal, who was finishing drying his sweat.
"Kal... it's us, Lilla and Clara. We have news from home."
Kal raised his eyes, meeting his friend's gaze. His face lit up in recognition, a wide smile forming.
"Lilla! Clara! I'm glad you're alright!"
He ran towards them, enveloping the two in a caring hug. Lilla felt the warmth of Kal's athletic body, resting her head on his chest. Her heart pounded.
"We missed you so much," she whispered, emotional.
"I missed you guys too," said Kal, stroking Lilla's hair.
Clara couldn't hold back the tears, letting them flow freely down her face. After so much suffering, it was comforting to reunite with the friend. Katara felt a tightness in her chest seeing the scene. She realized how much Lilla cared for Kal, wishing it was her in that embrace.
"So many things have happened since you left," said Lilla, looking into her beloved's eyes.
"Tell me everything. I'm ready to help you again."
The reunion brought joy and hope that, united, they could overcome the challenges to come. Katara, unnoticed, turned to distance herself, silently carrying a pain of jealousy in her heart. Later in the temple they sat down to talk about what had happened. Lilla took a deep breath and began the difficult account:
"After you left, Kal, many bad things happened. My father Mordret was murdered by my older brother Morfrey, who seized the throne of Nannu. He fell to darkness and transformed the capital into a realm of horrors."
"Alnuum today is infested with the undead and cultists performing macabre rituals," added Clara, with disgust.
"That's when we decided to create a resistance. Relon, my brother, led the movement. The rebels crowned him 'King of the Waters'," said Lilla.
"We set up our secret base, but Morfrey is very powerful. We've already lost many brave warriors," Clara continued, regretfully.
Lilla held back her tears as she revealed:
"The worst is that your mother and siblings were captured by the tyrant. We came for you, Kal, because only you with your unknown powers can save your family now."
Rage ignited Kal's heart. His eyes flamed like liquid gold in the sun.
"How dare he kidnap my family?! I swear I will rescue them!"
Katara and Orem noticed the shadowy transformation in the young man. He was ready for revenge.
"Take me to Alnuum. It's time to overthrow Morfrey and free my people! No one hurts mine and gets away with it!"
Kal delivered a punch to the tree, felling it. His inner flames would incinerate Nannu's darkness. Katara and Orem approached Kal when they heard he wanted to leave.
"You still haven't fully regained your powers, Kal," said Katara, concerned.
"It would be risky to go to Alnuum now," said Katara.
"Katara is right. You could be killed before rescuing your family," evaluated Orem prudently.
"I don't care about the risks! My family is in danger, I need to save them!" Kal exclaimed desperately.
"Then fight me," challenged Orem, getting into a guard position.
"If you win, you can go. But if you lose, you'll need more training time."
Kal hesitated, torn between his love for his family and his friends' advice. But seeing Orem in his way, he understood he had no choice but to accept.
"Very well, we'll decide this in a fair fight!" said Kal, also getting ready.
Relon, Lilla and Clara watched worriedly. If Kal lost, his rescue would be delayed. The fight promised to be fierce, with so much at stake for both sides. The village training field was silent. Only the sound of wooden swords clashing broke the calm. Orem attacked with mastery, his strikes precise and powerful. Kal was still developing, showing his talent but making mistakes.
The more experienced warrior was dominating the duel, forcing the boy to retreat under his blitz. Kal sweated and panted while Orem maintained a light pace. In a moment of despair, Kal focused his strength and delivered furious blows. Orem defended skillfully, analyzing the gaps. Suddenly, Kal's eyes shone a vivid gold. An explosion of power enveloped him in a mantle of light. With a savage cry, he charged at Orem in a furious attack. The surprised warrior could barely defend against the incandescent whirlwind.
In a moment, Kal caught him off guard and landed a powerful kick to his opponent's arm, which broke with a horrible sound. Orem fell to his knees, shocked. Kal breathed heavily, returning to normal. Everyone's eyes widened, impressed. For the first time, Kal had defeated the village's strongest. Through tears of pain, Orem nodded:
"You deserve to go. Good luck, brother. I hope you save your family."
Kal simply extended his hand to help Orem up, also wishing him luck. Kal, Lilla and Clara prepared their horses and weapons for the journey. That's when Katara approached with some guards.
"Don't think you're going without me, Kal. I'm the Priestess of the Primordial Light, I must serve your will even without powers."
Kal smiled, grateful.
"Thank you, Katara. Your help will be valuable."
She nodded, satisfied. Then they turned to the capital, ready to face Morfrey. Meanwhile, in the dungeons of the rebel fortress, Relon fought for his life. His wound was severe and kept him between life and death. Suzannah, Gwen and Lua studied tirelessly for ways to dissipate the darkness plaguing Alnuum. They combined various magics to create a spell capable of freeing the city from shadows.
However, Morfrey's black magic was powerful. A superhuman effort would be needed to free the people from oppression. The rebels' hope rested in Kal and his allies. An epic battle loomed in the now ruins of Alnuum.
As they approached the capital, a sepulchral silence reigned. The ruins that once swarmed with dark creatures were now deserted.
"I don't like the smell of this," Clara said suspiciously.
Katara agreed: "Morfrey wouldn't leave his area of influence unprotected. He must be plotting something."
But Kal remained focused on finding his family. They advanced through the empty streets, on guard. Suddenly, they heard screams coming from the city center. They ran there and saw a frightening sight. The citizens were crowded in the square, surrounded by an army of undead. Sebastian observed from atop a platform, laughing:
"If you want to save these worms, you'll have to get through me first!"
Ella and Kal's siblings were unconscious, held captive by ghouls.
"Release them, Morfrey!" Kal roared furiously.
"Come get them if you dare, fools!" provoked Sebastian.
It would be the final confrontation between the Forces of Light and Darkness. The battle began! Lilla, Clara and Katara, along with the warriors, charged against the undead. Meanwhile, Kal charged furiously at Sebastian, Morfrey's right-hand man.
"Come face me, traitor! Return my family!" Kal challenged.
Sebastian smiled coldly and wielded his dark scythe. The duel of the titans began, with heavy blows that shook the ground. Their weapons clashed in fury, neither giving quarter. Now Kal had the strength and skill to match the enemy giant. Lilla and the others battled valiantly against the hordes of zombies, their precise attacks taking them down one by one. Still, they were outnumbered.
Meanwhile, in the castle, Morfrey watched the unfolding battle through the window, laughing diabolically. He loved seeing his people suffer at the hands of his macabre creations. The fight between Kal and Sebastian began fiercely. Kal used his strength and speed to pressure the enemy. Sebastian merely defended skillfully but arrogantly smiling. This further enraged Kal, who charged like a hurricane of blows.
He landed some hits on his opponent, who staggered. Thinking he had gained the upper hand, but it was a mistake. Suddenly Sebastian furrowed his brow, hardening his expression. He counterattacked like thunder, forcing Kal back under the hail of his scythe. The blows were now furious and precise, almost hitting the young warrior. He could barely defend against the unexpected blitz.
"I was just playing with you, boy!" mocked Sebastian.
Kal understood that the enemy was much more powerful than he seemed. He had deceived him from the beginning, overestimating his abilities. He would need all his cunning and hidden strength to have any chance. The fight resumed, this time without the element of surprise. This would be Kal's most difficult battle yet. Meanwhile, far away at the rebel fortress, Suzannah finished preparing for the great spell.
"It's time, sisters! Let us conjure the Divine Magic of the Fifth Circle: Divine Sanctuary!"
Gwen and Lua joined her, channeling their energy through the huge grimoire. A pillar of pure light burst from the heavens, illuminating all in its path. The sacred energy expanded across the lands like a benevolent tsunami. Undead and demons in its wake were reduced to ashes. In the capital, the luminous wave swept away the shadows. Some zombies fighting Kal and the warriors were disintegrated.
Sebastian felt his strength being sucked away. His skin began to burn under the celestial blessing. Taking advantage of the enemy's weakness, Kal attacked with all his might. He landed telling blows but spared Sebastian's life. Exhausted, Sebastian fell at Kal's feet, his flesh seared raw by the Red Queen's purification magic. The battle finally turned in favor of the righteous.
At that moment, on the outskirts of the capital, Black Priests activated their dark magic circle. An enormous incandescent pentagram emerged, gushing blood from the sacrificed victims. Suddenly, the divine light permeating Alnuum turned black and chaotic. Cries of agony echoed throughout the city. Then Morfrey's cold, sarcastic voice resonated everywhere in the Empire:
"Thank you for the help, dear Red Queen. I needed so much divine energy for my purposes, but as a servant of Darkness I would never have access. I imagined such power would come from you!"
Suzannah heard, confused and horrified. Morfrey continued:
"I placed cultists as spies among the rebels to steer the development of the magic in my favor."
"And the crowning touch was luring young Kal Launno to me, capable of awakening the Primordial Light and creating gods. Behold the birth of a new Avatar of Greed!"
His diabolical laughter echoed as the city plunged into a sea of darkness. Morfrey had achieved through deceit his ultimate goal. Terror spread. A wave of negative energy began sweeping the empire, felt in distant realms. In Alnuum, the cultists began swelling and exploding in a cascade, showering the demonic symbols with blood. Even Arnon and Lord Legra perished in that brutal death.
In the palace, a black luminosity radiated every room. From the throne room, Morfrey observed in ecstasy. Suddenly, a cataclysmic explosion incinerated the former Palace of Aquarion. A majestic entity emerged from the smoldering ruins. Morfrey appeared transformed. His human form replaced by an aberration of darkness, with black horns, a strange black carapace encircling him and crimson red eyes instead of characteristic blue eyes of the Aquarion, black wings arose on his back.
The former prince had achieved his ultimate goal. He had awakened as an Avatar of Greed, servant of the god of greed and ambition. His presence emanated a desire for domination and disorder. Kal and his allies had lost the battle, though they did not know it. An age of darkness began over the empire.
Suddenly, Sebastian also transformed. His human form gave way to a vampiric-looking demon, perhaps due to the powers of his family. With a sweep of his scythe, he opened a deep gash in Kal's chest, felling him. Morfrey's demonic voice echoed:
"Bring him to me, Sebastian. My evolution is not yet complete!"
It was then that Ella awoke in her cell. Seeing her son wounded, her tears turned to prayer:
"I know not your name, oh protector, but help me save my family once again!"
Her plea was heard. The bars opened. Before Sebastian could deliver the fatal blow, Ella threw herself upon the demon. At that moment, the rebels arrived in the square, coming from their hideout. A new battle began against the forces of darkness, this time in a world dominated by Morfrey's black magic. It would be the final confrontation between Light and Darkness. The end of the Empire of Nannu may be sealed, but courage and love could give them one last chance against he who styled himself the god of evil.
The battle caused havoc in the central square. Brave men fell to powerful demons. Suzannah, though shaken, fought valiantly alongside her students. It was the resistance's only chance. Ella had been thrown to the ground, injured. Sebastian moved to take Kal once and for all. That's when a faint light emanated from the young warrior's body, touching the Red Queen's forehead. Her right eye shone intensely golden, and a voice whispered in her mind: "Tell all survivors to focus on me!"
She then cried out, possessed by a greater force:
"All of you, focus on me now!"
The warriors, exhausted as they were, heard and closed their eyes, directing all their surviving energy toward Suzannah. That's when the unexpected happened. The witch's body began radiating a faint but visible celestial light, linking all to Suzannah, even those distant or unconscious.
At that moment, Katara also felt divine influence. Her right eye shone with the same message:
"Bring all survivors to me with your magic!"
Katara focused and invoked her divine projection magic. Everyone still alive outside the square was transported near Suzannah and Kal. Finally, Ella's eye was illuminated. A calm voice sounded in her mind:
"I am the Unknown who has always protected you and yours. I heard your prayers and know your heart. The prophecy in you must now be revealed, for within you I placed the light of salvation."
At that instant, Ella saw a demon attacking Inala, her youngest daughter. She ran with superhuman speed and touched her head, disintegrating the beast. Securing her children, she also transported them with the others. In this moment of reunification of forces through the will of the protector, something unprecedented was about to happen.
Morfrey felt a presence in the plaza and immediately flew there with his black wings. Ella understood the final moment had arrived. She said to Suzannah and Katara:
"You know what to do, now depart from here!"
Under Suzannah's command, all leaned on each other, spreading the energy through Kal's body. The instant Morfrey appeared, Ella ran toward the Avatar of Greed and his servant, smiling.
"Thank you for watching over us," she murmured to the protective entity.
"I understand my purpose now, I was meant to have died many times over, but my life was always under this purpose. I could have been angry, but I was given time, I met a wonderful man, and together we had the greatest loves of my life, my sons Sin and little Inala. Thank you for watching over us, and protect my son Kal as you always have!"
Her body radiated a majestic, powerful solar light, vaporizing all the demons except Morfrey and Sebastian, who were gravely wounded. In the blink of an eye, Ella disappeared along with the light. The rebels lost that battle, but were able to greatly weaken Morfrey's forces that day. Meanwhile, at the location they were transported to, Suzannah, Kal and the others were safe, thanks to Ella's final noble sacrifice.