Far at the distant edge of the world, where a magnificent waterfall cascades into the vast expanse of the ocean, lies the Den of Dominos. This underworld is secluded from the rest of the world, an impenetrable place from which nothing can escape.
In the depths of this underworld, Dominos and his minions, along with the souls of the dead who pledged allegiance to him, faced condemnation. The Alpha god had woven an unparalleled, unbreakable magical wall to confine Dominos, a curse ensuring he could never break free.
Despite countless attempts, Dominos remained frustrated yet determined to seek revenge against the gods, longing to subdue the Earth under his control. His intricate scheme to harness the powers of the dark Phoenix found a vulnerable spot in Aquila, providing an opportunity to actualize his malevolent plans.
Before the ascent of the full blood moon, Dominos managed to capture and subdue the dark Phoenix, seizing control of Ritz's body and sending him into the depths of the underworld. As a reward for his service, Dominos bestowed upon Ritz a fraction of his own malevolent essence. Using a particular demonic ritual, Ritz was enchanted into a dormant state and confined to the pit of lost souls within the depths of the underworld.
Dominos employed his dark powers to enchant the fairies and trolls, beings of knowledge and magic, originally created by the dark Phoenix to harness its extraordinary powers.
Dominos, with an air of authority, addressed the gathered fairies and trolls in a commanding tone. "Listen closely, you pathetic creatures. I require your combined prowess to forge a tool of immense power. The time has come to craft the Kronos machine."
The fairies glanced at each other, their expressions showing reluctance. One of them, with a worried tone, replied, "But that machine will tap into the powers of the dark Phoenix. It's not wise to meddle with such forces, it could kill him."
Dominos' eyes glinted with a dark intensity as he leaned forward to bewitch them, his voice laced with menace. "Your concerns are irrelevant. Refusal means dire consequences. Forge the Kronos machine, or face the wrath of your new master."
The trolls exchanged uneasy glances and began to shuffle towards the materials laid out for construction, while the fairies hesitantly began their magical incantations, reluctantly compelled to carry out Dominos' bidding.
Under the influence of Dominos' spell, these magical creatures were compelled to craft a formidable apparatus named Kronos, fashioned from earthy materials. This machine was intended to tap into the immense power of the dark Phoenix.
Meanwhile, Jack, though worn out and weakened, was kept alive as a crucial part of Dominos' plan. His failing body held the key to unlocking the Phoenix's powers. On the day of the full blood moon, Jack was forcibly brought to the machinery chambers, where he was shackled in a crisscross pattern between adjacent earthy pillars. Grimacing in pain, sinister black cords were inserted into his spine to serve as conduits securing him in a horrifying ritual.
Across the chamber, Aquila lay similarly bound, a distant figure nearby. Dominos' throne loomed in the shadows, interwoven with the machinery, ready to harness dark energy from the captive Dark Phoenix.
As the blood moon reached its zenith, Kronos hummed to life, ominous energy crackling across the chamber setting in motion a dark ritual that would alter the fate of all involved.
"Aquila, you have to fight back!" Jack's strained voice echoed in the chamber, a desperate attempt to wake his son.
"I can't… let you take his powers," Jack gasped, beads of sweat dripping down his forehead as his breaths grew labored. "Aquila, wake up… and use your powers."
Dominos, perched on his throne, observed with wicked satisfaction. "Foolish mortal! You can't change his fate, your roles are crucial in awakening the might I seek."
Jack strained against his restraints, his voice laced with determination. "We won't let you triumph, Dominos! The gods will thwart your vile ambitions!"
As Aquila gradually regained consciousness, he felt an overwhelming weakness, his sight blurred and his skin splitting open to reveal a dark, tar-like substance oozing from within. His feet were melded into the machinery, his life force slowly being drained by Kronos.
As Kronos fed on Jack's life essence, siphoning the last remnants of the Phoenix's powers, an ominous surge of energy pulsed from the machinery. The ground trembled, and the underworld began ascending, the dark abyss rising to the ocean's surface.
Dominos, seated upon his throne infused with the contraption, reveled in the newfound power coursing through him. His form morphed, an aura of darkness enveloping him as he evolved into a more formidable, beastly figure. His eyes crackled with reddish lightning, and his voice boomed, a terrifying tone laced with fury.
"I am reborn! The gods shall tremble before my might!" Dominos' voice echoed through the chamber, resonating with a mixture of arrogance and malice.
Aquila, struggling against the draining forces, summoned the last bit of strength to defiantly retort, "You'll never be all powerful!"
But Dominos, now consumed by his newfound prowess, only laughed, a guttural sound of absolute disdain. He continued to bellow his blasphemies against the heavens, confident in his unrivaled might.
As the blood moon reached its zenith, the vessels of Valga approached Dominos' domain. Talia signaled Lucian, "We're nearly there. Rally the warriors." But as Lucian hurried away, the sea erupted in violent ripples, sending waves crashing against the vessels.
"What in the world!" Lucian exclaimed, stunned, as Valga's fleet trembled amidst the sudden upheaval of the underworld emerging from the water.
"By the gods!" Rudy gasped, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Mother, what's our plan?" Elena asked, struggling to keep her footing as the vessels were tossed about by the tumultuous waves.
As the vessels rocked violently, Talia steadied herself and scanned the chaos. "We need to maintain course!" she shouted above the roaring waves. "Get the warriors to stand firm and brace themselves. We're not backing down now."
Elena looked worriedly at her mother. "How do we face that? It's… it's monstrous."
Talia's gaze hardened. "We've faced odds before. We'll do this together. Keep the warriors focused!"
Rudy stepped forward, his expression determined. "We fight. We've trained for this, we'll stand tall. Valga's strength lies within us."
Lucian, still taken aback by the unfolding scene, gathered himself and shouted orders to the warriors, urging them to hold their positions. The vessels, though tossed about by the tumultuous waves, maintained their course toward Dominos' domain.
"You'll have to lead Valga's Army head-on against whatever emerges from there. Be vigilant because you're now in dark territory. I'll need time to sneak onto that island to find your brother. We'll also need support from underwater," Talia turning towards Elena explained amidst the troubled waters.
"How do you plan to infiltrate without being noticed?" Elena inquired.
"I know a secret passage. It's on the map of the gods," Talia replied with a soft smile and a wink. She turned to Lucian, who was approaching her. "Ensure our vessels dock on that island's shore before the break of dawn."
"Go find my brother. Let's hope he's with us," Elena urged her mother as she headed off to lead the warriors. Talia and Lucian exchanged a silent nod, understanding their tasks. Without a word, Talia swiftly dove into the water.