Kael's eyes narrowed as he observed Malakar's movements. The demon lord's chest heaved with every breath, his once-precise strikes now sluggish and heavy as the rain dripped from his brow. Malakar's previously unyielding stance wavered. Kael seized on these signs of fatigue, feeling a surge of hope.
Kael's body had healed rapidly, a testament to his regenerative abilities. With calculated movement, Kael summoned a torrent of aetheric energy, channeling it into a beam and directing it Malakar. The beam blasted Malakar off his feet, sending him stumbling back. Kael took advantage of the reprieve, launching himself at Malakar with a fierce cry.
Their bodies clashed in a blur of speed and claw. The two forces collided in a spectacular display of light.
This was Kael's moment. Summoning the combined fury of his celestial and demonic heritage, a surge of power coursed through Kael. He had been waiting for the right moment to use his full power without holding back. His wings, catching the wind as he launched himself towards Malakar. His claws a blur of obsidian and blue light. Each strike was a testament to his power, each blow a promise that he would not falter.
Gone was the defensive Kael. This Kael was a whirlwind of power and fury. Claws, imbued with celestial energy ripped through the air, leaving trails of shimmering blue light. Malakar, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tactics, barely managed to raise his arm in a block. Kael's claws raked across the demon lord's forearm, drawing a roar of pain from Malakar. Kael's strength, agility, speed and intellect proving too much for the demon lord to handle.
The tide had turned. Malakar, weakened by the prolonged battle and Kael's relentless attack, struggled to defend himself against Kael's assault. Kael battered Malakar, Each swipe of Kael's claws left a burning mark on Malakar's hulking form as Kael knocked him to the ground over and over. The storm itself seemed to falter, the wind whipping around Kael in a frenzy, mirroring his own growing fury.
Malakar, fuelled by desperation, attempted to unleash a bolt of violet lightning, but Kael was a blur of obsidian and blue light. With a powerful swipe, he knocked the forming energy aside, the bolt dissipating harmlessly into the churning clouds.
Finally, with a roar that shook the very plains, Kael landed a direct blow. His claws sank deep into Malakar's chest, his celestial energy and his demonic energy combined, searing through the demon lord's flesh. Malakar screamed, a sound of pure agony that ripped through the storm as Kael's combined power tore through his very essence. He stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock and defeat.
Kael ripped his claws free, a spray of blood arcing through the air. He stood tall, his chest heaving, but his eyes blazed with an unwavering determination and a golden glow. Malakar, defeated and broken, crumpled to his knees, the storm's fury dying down with him.
In the center of the cratered battlefield, Malakar lay broken. Smoke rose from his singed flesh, and a dark ichor stained the ground where Kael had ripped him open. Kael, fully healed and triumphant, stood over the fallen demon lord, his wings slowly retracting.
Malakar, his voice ragged and weak, rasped, "You hid you true power all along."
Kael met his gaze, his eyes burning with cold fury. The raw power of his celestial and demon nature thrummed beneath his skin, a wellspring of protective rage and a desire to end Malakar. Yet, amidst the surge of emotions, a flicker of something else flickered – a sliver of hesitation.
Taking a deep breath, Kael quelled the storm within him. He wasn't a mindless person and he certainly wasn't a being fueled solely by the destruction of his opponent. He was a great leader, not a ruthless one. "I could've destroyed you if I wanted to, Malakar," he said, his voice ringing clear through the desolate landscape. "But I have no interest in killing you, you are defeated now. You will leave Zaron. Never again shall you set foot in my realm, never again shall you threaten or have any allegiance with any faction of Zaron for my throne."
Malakar coughed, a wet, rasping sound. "Leave?"
"Yes. You are no longer welcome in my realm," Kael countered, his voice firm. "And if you ever dream of setting foot in Zaron again, I will kill you, Malakar. Now leave, and never return."
Silence stretched between them, thick with the weight of the moment. Malakar, his eyes narrowed, seemed to be assessing Kael. Finally, a grudging respect flickered in their depths.
"You fight well, Prince," he rumbled, his voice surprisingly devoid of malice. "Perhaps your respect is... earned." He paused, a flicker of something akin to surprise crossing his features. "Though... tell me, Prince," he rasped, "whose blood flows through your veins to grant you such resilience and power?"
Kael straightened, a flicker of pride igniting within him. "I am Kael, son of Leor—the Celestial Guardian and Demon King, and grandson of King Aamon— the Primordial Demon King!"
The revelation struck Malakar like a physical blow. His eyes widened in recognition, his voice dropping to a reverent whisper. "Leor..." he breathed, the word laced with awe. "The savior of the realms... the one who defeated Xal'dar...and eliminated the Devourer...and Aamon, the powerful primodial demon King who defeated and imprisoned hundreds of chaos gods."
Kael watched Malakar, feeling a sense of ease as the demon lord's reverence became apparent. He had heard tales of Xal'dar defeat and the banishment of the Devourer when he was a child. His mother—Shania, told him the story of how she and his father defeated Xal'dar but the weight in Malakar's voice hinted at something that must've been cataclysmic. He also knew the legend of how his grandfather fought and imprisoned many powerful dieties, including Zarathos whom he once vanquished.
"I believe you know my ancestors." Kael asked, curiosity battling with suspicion.
Malakar nodded slowly, a flicker of fear replacing the grudging respect in his eyes. "They are... legendary and powerful. That explains your power. I do have a question though. Why did you let me think I could defeat you when you already had the power to end the fight even before it began?"
The question swirled in Kael's mind. After a brief moment of silence, Kael responded, "Because there's a thin line between pride and arrogance. Power never wants to be seen, it would rather operate from the shadows and exert control but the arrogant believe that power should be overtly displayed, when in actuality, they barely have enough of it."
Malakar continued. "You are a wise and worthy ruler, Prince Kael. May your reign be long and prosperous. I will consider this leave a...kind gesture. Farewell Demon Prince."
With a final, lingering look at Kael, Malakar closed his eyes. The air around him shimmered, and then he made his way into the open rift.
Resolute, Kael watched as Malakar, defeated and humbled, dragged himself through the veil. As the veil snapped shut and the last vestiges of the storm dissipated, a profound silence settled over the battlefield.
Kael stood tall, the heavy weight of his victory pressing down on him. The air, now still and clear, was thick with the scent of damp earth and smoke. Kael's body, fully healed showed no sign of the brutal conflict he had endured.
Mieza, Zephyros and the Wind Demons watched, respect and awe etched on their faces.
One by one, the Zephyros and the Wind Demons bowed their head in a gesture of solemn commitment. "We swear allegiance to you forever, Prince Kael. Our strength, our loyalty, and our lives are yours to command."
The battlefield echoed with the collective pledge, a powerful affirmation that resonated through the very winds. Kael felt a surge of pride and responsibility as he looked at the determined faces before him.