Rowena Lomius stood amidst the chaos, her breath steady but her heart racing. Before her stood Athos, his monstrous form towering, and the weight of his presence pressed down on the battlefield like a dark cloud. The ground shook with the growls of the creatures he had summoned, each one twisted, deformed, and hungry for destruction.
"Monster!!" Rowena's voice cut through the air, filled with the rage of watching her comrades fall and the devastation wrought by this unholy being.
Athos tilted his head slightly, a mocking grin spreading across his face, his eyes glowing with a malevolent light. "Monster, this... monster, that. I am Athos, the son of Aurathos—the First Calamity."
The words hit Rowena like a blow to the chest. She froze for a moment, her mind racing back to the ancient stories told to every Eldoan child—the stories of Aurathos, the first calamity that nearly obliterated their world.
Athos raised his arms, and with a low, guttural chant, the air around him thickened. Shadows pulsed from his hands, and suddenly, the earth beneath them split open. From the fissures, grotesque creatures crawled out—warped beasts with too many limbs, burning eyes, and sharp claws. They let out eerie howls and charged toward the Eldoan forces. The sky above darkened further, as if responding to Athos' unholy power.
Rowena's comrades behind her began murmuring in shock and horror.
"Did he say Aurathos?" one of the younger mages whispered, her voice trembling.
"Impossible... how could the son of the first calamity be here?" a knight muttered, his hand shaking on his sword hilt.
"The one who nearly wiped out all the heroes in the past..." an elder mage said, his voice filled with awe and fear. "If it weren't for the sacrifice of Hero Roe... we'd all be dead."
Rowena clenched her fists. The legendary Hero Roe had been the savior of their people, sacrificing everything to vanquish the First Calamity. But now, standing before them was the son of that very monster—a threat just as dire, if not worse.
The creatures Athos had summoned were now upon them. Screams erupted from the Eldoan lines as knights and mages clashed with the nightmarish horde. Magic flew through the air, but for every creature they felled, another seemed to rise in its place.
"Is this the end for us?" a knight asked, his voice trembling as he struggled against the relentless assault.
Meanwhile, Cevic, Rowena's most trusted lieutenant, was engaged in a brutal fight against Ash Minse. Ash, Athos' devoted follower, was a former teacher, his skin seemed to pulsate with dark energy. He fought with a wild savagery, every strike of his blade fueled by malevolent glee.
"You Eldoans are pathetic!" Ash spat as he blocked Cevic's magical strike with ease. "You think you stand a chance? My lord Athos will drown this world in blood. Your strongest mage can barely keep up with him, and here you are, trying to challenge me?"
Cevic's jaw tightened. He was drenched in sweat, but his eyes burned with determination. "I don't care what you are! We'll fight until the end, and you'll fall before we do!"
Ash sneered. "Big words for a man so close to death." With a sudden burst of speed, Ash lunged at Cevic, forcing him back as their swords clanged and sparks flew.
Rowena, hearing Cevic's struggles, cast a quick glance toward her friend but knew she couldn't afford to be distracted. Athos was her responsibility. She planted her staff firmly into the ground and began to gather her magical energy, the air around her crackling with power.
But Athos only grinned wider, sensing her resolve. "Ah, I see that look in your eyes, Rowena Lomius. The look of someone who knows they're fighting a losing battle." His voice dripped with amusement. "I have slaughtered thousands of your kind, absorbed their powers, and still, it isn't enough. Soon, I'll consume everything, even the gods themselves."
Rowena's heart pounded, but she forced herself to focus. "I don't care who you are, Athos. Son of Aurathos or not, you will not destroy this world!" Her voice rang out with the authority of the strongest mage in the Eldoan army.
Without warning, she unleashed a torrent of lightning from her staff, the bolts crashing toward Athos with devastating speed. The ground shook, and the air hummed with the force of her magic.
Athos, however, barely moved. He raised his hand lazily, and the lightning bent around him, dissipating into the sky as if absorbed by the very darkness surrounding him.
Athos stood tall, his dark energy swirling around him like a shroud. His voice echoed with mockery as he asked, "Is that all, Rowena? I expected more from the 'Strongest Mage.'"
Rowena Lomius' eyes widened in disbelief. Her spells—once powerful enough to decimate entire armies—had barely scratched the surface of Athos' power. "How could he..." she whispered, her mind racing as she tried to comprehend the scope of the monster standing before her.
But Athos didn't give her time to think. With a chilling grin, he extended his hand toward her, dark energy crackling at his fingertips. "Rowena Lomius... Die!" His voice boomed across the battlefield as he unleashed a torrent of malevolent power, the air itself twisting under the weight of the spell.
Rowena's instincts kicked in. Without hesitation, she slammed her staff into the ground, her voice ringing out as she invoked one of the most powerful spells in her arsenal. "Lactus Inferno!!"
The ground beneath them trembled, and in an instant, the battlefield was engulfed in a blinding light. The earth cracked and split apart as flames erupted from the fissures, spiraling into the sky like fiery serpents. The heat was intense, almost unbearable, as the flames coalesced into the form of the ancient beast Lactus—a towering entity of molten fire and destruction. Its roar echoed across the battlefield, shaking the very ground as it lunged toward Athos.
Athos' eyes widened in surprise. "Aurg!!" he cried out as the beast sank its fiery teeth into him, its flames searing his flesh. The burning was unlike anything he had ever experienced, the intensity of a star's heat threatening to reduce him to ashes. He stumbled back, the force of the attack momentarily overwhelming him.
From the sidelines, Ash Minse, who had been battling Cevic, turned his gaze toward his master. "Master!!" he shouted in alarm, panic evident in his voice as he watched Athos struggle against the flames.
Athos gritted his teeth, his body convulsing under the onslaught of the infernal beast. But just as quickly as the flames had begun to consume him, his body began to heal. Dark energy surged through his veins, knitting his flesh back together with terrifying speed. "I'm fine," Athos growled, his voice strained but defiant. "Just caught off guard."
The flames of Lactus still raged around them, but Athos pushed through, his wounds closing as if they had never been there. The ancient beast's power, though devastating, had not been enough to bring him down. He looked up at Rowena, a dark gleam in his eyes. "I didn't think you had it in you, Rowena," he said with a cold smirk. "Pretending to be weaker than you are... Clever."
Rowena stood tall, sweat pouring down her brow, but her gaze was unwavering. "I needed you to underestimate me," she said, her voice steady despite the exhaustion creeping into her body. "Because the day you underestimate me... will be the day you die."
Athos' smirk twisted into a sneer, his patience wearing thin. "Arrogant bitch!" he roared, his anger flaring as dark energy surged around him once more. The ground beneath him cracked and shattered as his power began to manifest, dark tendrils of energy lashing out, seeking to consume everything in their path.
The flames of the Lactus beast flickered in the face of Athos' overwhelming power, but Rowena stood her ground. She had known this fight would be one of attrition—a battle not just of strength, but of will. Athos was a monster in every sense of the word, but even monsters could bleed. Even monsters could fall.
The battlefield was now a warzone of fire and darkness, as Athos' demonic energy clashed with the raging inferno summoned by Rowena. Knights and mages alike fought desperately to hold their ground, but they were mere spectators to the titanic struggle unfolding before them. The sky above them darkened further, as if the heavens themselves were watching the fate of the world hang in the balance.
Athos, undeterred by the pain he had endured, raised his hand once more, dark energy pooling in his palm. "You think you can defeat me, Rowena?!" he shouted, his voice booming across the battlefield. "I am Athos, the son of Aurathos! I will tear this world apart, and you... will die knowing you failed!"
But Rowena, her eyes burning with determination, raised her staff again. "Not today, Athos. Not while I still draw breath."
With a final cry, both unleashed their full power, and the battlefield erupted into a storm of magic and darkness, the very air crackling with the raw energy of their clash. As the forces collided, the fate of the Eldoan, the Beastfolk, and the entire world hung in the balance.
.............
In the vast, serene expanse of Mandu's mind, the elephant beastfolk stood in awe as he conversed with Jesus. The central plain they were standing on seemed endless, filled with light and warmth, and it was here that Mandu found himself face to face with the God of Magic.
Mandu, still struggling to grasp the gravity of the conversation, spoke with a tremble in his voice, "So you mean Chalu… he's training with the legendary hero Roe? That's why he's still unconscious?"
Jesus smiled gently, His expression full of kindness. "That's correct, child. Chalu is undergoing rigorous training under Roe's guidance, preparing for what lies ahead. He is safe, for now."
Mandu's eyes widened in disbelief, his voice filled with astonishment. "Wow... I can't believe it. This… and meeting you, my Lord…" Tears welled up in Mandu's eyes, emotion overtaking him as he stared at Jesus in reverence. "How could I not be overwhelmed by your presence?"
Jesus, ever patient, gazed at Mandu with compassion. "Then do not be overwhelmed, child."
Mandu, still awestruck, shook his head slowly. "But… you're the Son of God and the God of Magic! How can I not feel pressure standing before your holy presence?"
With a soft chuckle, Jesus replied, "I may be the God of Magic, but I am also like you. The only difference is my closeness to the Father. But one day, all of you will stand by His side, as equals, with the Heavenly Father and with me."
Overcome with emotion, Mandu felt tears streaming down his face. He tried to hold them back, but the warmth of Jesus' words made it impossible.
"Cry, child," Jesus said softly. "It's okay to cry. Your heart is heavy, and tears are part of the healing."
Mandu wiped his eyes with his large hands, feeling lighter but still filled with wonder and reverence. His mind, however, was now drawn to the task ahead. "There's something you want us to do, isn't there?" Mandu asked, sensing a divine purpose behind their meeting.
Jesus nodded. "Yes, there is. I need you to gather your comrades, the Beastfolk, and aid Rowena Lomius in her fight against Athos."
Mandu's face twisted with confusion. "Pardon me, Lord? Rowena Lomius is an Eldoan. She would kill us on sight—she hates us!"
Jesus shook His head gently. "There are times when even enemies must become allies to fight a greater evil. This is one of those times, Mandu. The fate of your world depends on it."
Mandu lowered his gaze, reflecting on the weight of Jesus' words. Could they really fight alongside an Eldoan mage, someone who had been their enemy for so long? He remained silent, trying to process the meaning behind the statement. "Who… who is Athos, my Lord?" he finally asked, his voice heavy with uncertainty.
Jesus' eyes darkened slightly, His gaze distant as He considered the name. "Athos is no ordinary foe. He is the son of Aurathos, the First Calamity—a being of pure destruction. Athos has absorbed the life force of countless beings, and his power is growing with each passing moment. If he is not stopped, your world—and all worlds—will fall into darkness."
Mandu stood frozen, fear creeping into his heart as the weight of Jesus' words settled on him. The fate of the world was indeed at stake, and now he understood why they needed to unite, even with their enemies.
"But… Rowena is powerful. She's the strongest mage of the Eldoan." Mandu said, still uncertain.
Jesus nodded. "She is strong, yes, but not strong enough to defeat Athos alone. Only Chalu, the Chimpanzee—the Son of Man—can truly vanquish him. But until Chalu completes his training, the fate of the world rests in your hands. You and your comrades must protect the world in his absence."
Mandu stood quietly, absorbing the gravity of the task. He looked up at Jesus, his resolve hardening. "I understand, my Lord. We will protect the world until Chalu is ready. We will stand against Athos, no matter the cost."
Jesus placed a hand on Mandu's shoulder, His touch filling the elephant beastfolk with warmth and hope. "Go, Mandu. Bring your people together. The battle ahead will be difficult, but with faith and unity, even the darkest evil can be held at bay."
Mandu nodded, the tears gone from his eyes, now replaced with firm resolve. "I won't let you down."
With that, the vision of Jesus faded, and Mandu felt himself returning to consciousness, fully prepared for the task that lay ahead. Protect the world until Chalu was ready—that was his mission now.
To be continue