The landscape of the dead planet stretched endlessly under a sky devoid of any trace of life. It was a desolate expanse where the echoes of a once vibrant world lingered in something akin to ghostly whispers. Here, every speck of the planet has long lost its battle against time and nature.
The ground beneath was cracked and parched, resembling the wrinkled skin of an ancient being. Fine dust, the color of ash, coated everything, forming a thin veil over the rocky terrain. Jagged rocks protruded sporadically from the earth, their surfaces weathered smooth by eons of mythical erosion. Some were sharp and angular, as if frozen in a moment of violent upheaval, while others were rounded and worn down, softened by the relentless passage of time.
Across this desolation, there were occasional formations that hinted at the planet's geological history. Massive boulders, once part of towering mountains or ancient cliffs, now lay scattered like forgotten monuments. Their surfaces were marked with patterns of erosion, resembling abstract art carved by the whims of wind and sand.
The absence of water was starkly evident. No rivers flowed here, no lakes reflected the sky above. The only moisture in the air was a faint, lifeless mist that occasionally drifted across the landscape, carrying with it the scent of minerals and decay.
Above, the sky was a canopy of perpetual gloom. Thick layers of clouds, tinged with hues of sickly gray and muted ochre, hung low like a shroud over the planet. Rarely did sunlight penetrate this veil, casting the landscape in a perpetual twilight that knew no dawn or dusk.
Occasionally, the silence was broken by the eerie howl of the wind as it swept across the barren plains, carrying with it dust and debris. The air itself felt heavy with emptiness, devoid of the bustling sounds of life that once animated this now desolate world.
Here and there, hardy plants clung to existence against all odds. These were not lush forests or verdant fields, but rather sparse clusters of resilient vegetation, their leaves gray and leathery, adapted to survive on the faintest traces of moisture and nutrients.
The two figures stood facing each other. One wore heavy, ethereal white armor adorned with intricate red designs, their helmet completely obscuring their head and face. There was no visor, only glowing red circles for eyes, with two small antennae protruding from the top of the helmet. Behind them, a large ring of fire burned brightly, casting a warm glow on the armor. The flames appeared several feet high, licking up at the sky, the fire ring not a perfect circle, the flames flickering and bending in the breeze.
The other figure was less ethereal, more monstrous. Heavy obsidian black armor decorated their body, pulsating as if the armor was their own flesh, adorned in a dull gold that seemed dulled by the monster's aura. Their helmet resembled a grotesque face with jagged gold horns and gleaming red eyes that pierced their adversary.
"Hahahaha!" A deep laugh resonated from the dark fiend. "You did it, my friend! It should have been impossible, but you did it! You've ascended to the next level of power! How!?"
"There was no room for doubt," the white figure stated, their voice muffled yet soothing in an odd way. "I merely existed and observed, I would not deny myself." They spread their arms wide as if embracing the dead planet. "Cogito ergo sum, I think, therefore I am!"
"You do not cease to amaze me!" the black figure laughed deeply, the sound echoing. "But the time for talk is over."
"Yes, you are right." Power radiated from the two monsters. "Let me keep my promise and end you."