Lorian's gaze remained cold and unyielding as he advanced on Zephyr, every step infused with the raw, ruthless energy of his newfound Abyssal power. But as he closed in, Cyrthal snarled, determined not to let Lorian finish this fight so easily. The demon lunged, claws raised, aiming for Lorian's exposed back. Before he could strike, however, Lysara intercepted him, her own Abyssal energy flaring with fierce intensity.
Lysara moved like a shadow, her form weaving through Cyrthal's attacks with deadly precision. She struck out, her fist blazing with Abyssal energy as it collided with Cyrthal's chest, forcing him back with a powerful shockwave. Her gaze was fixed, her every movement controlled and calculated as she kept Cyrthal at bay, her strikes relentless.
Cyrthal sneered, twisting his claws to strike her, but she was faster. Dodging to the side, she launched a series of swift, brutal punches, each blow amplified by her dark energy. Her power crackled around her like a storm as she unleashed a surge of energy that collided with Cyrthal's own Abyssal force, the impact creating a blast that shook the ground beneath them. She slipped around his next attack with fluid grace, her eyes narrowed with a predator's focus as she sought his weaknesses, exploiting every opening she found.
Lorian, catching the exchange out of the corner of his eye, felt a surge of determination as he turned his focus back to Zephyr. With a renewed, merciless drive, he struck with his sword, the blade shimmering with an intense blend of Abyssal energy. Zephyr staggered, barely able to raise his defenses as Lorian bore down on him with relentless fury.
Meanwhile, Lysara continued to press Cyrthal back, her movements an intricate dance of power and precision. She spun around him, a blur of dark energy, her fists crashing into his sides, her magic weaving through the air like black lightning. She struck his armored chest, sending a shockwave rippling through his body that left him reeling. She didn't relent, her strikes connecting with deadly accuracy, each hit weakening Cyrthal's defenses as she forced him back.
Cyrthal, enraged, retaliated with a powerful swipe, but Lysara slipped under his claws, driving an Abyssal-charged punch into his jaw. The impact echoed through the battlefield, and Cyrthal stumbled, his sneer faltering as he tried to recover. She used his momentary lapse to her advantage, leaping forward with a fierce uppercut that sent him sprawling.
As Lysara dealt with Cyrthal, Lorian unleashed another brutal combination of strikes on Zephyr, who struggled to keep up, his wind magic barely shielding him from Lorian's attacks. But every shield he raised was met with an overpowering surge of Abyssal energy that shattered it, each strike driving Zephyr closer to the edge.
Cyrthal, recovering from Lysara's last strike, roared in fury and lunged at her with a renewed ferocity. But she met him head-on, summoning a swirling vortex of Abyssal magic that wrapped around her arms, forming twin whips of darkness. With a flick of her wrist, she sent one of the dark tendrils snapping forward, wrapping around Cyrthal's arm and yanking him off balance. Before he could recover, she lashed out with the other whip, striking his side with enough force to crack the bone beneath his armor.
"Stay down, Cyrthal," she hissed, her voice low and commanding, her gaze piercing as her Abyssal energy flared even brighter.
Cyrthal's face twisted in fury and desperation, but his defiance was met with another punishing strike from Lysara's whips, the dark energy crackling as it seared through his defenses. He staggered, his confidence replaced by a flicker of fear as he realized he was losing ground.
Just then, Zephyr, desperate, attempted one last counter against Lorian, summoning a powerful gust that tore through the battlefield. But Lorian pushed forward, undeterred, his Abyssal energy slicing through the storm as he brought his blade down in a decisive blow. Zephyr barely deflected it, but the sheer force sent him reeling, his wind magic flickering in exhaustion.
At that moment, Lysara appeared at Lorian's side, her expression fierce as she glanced at Zephyr and Cyrthal, both struggling to keep up. She gave Lorian a quick nod, her silent assurance bolstering his resolve.
With a final surge of Abyssal power, the two of them advanced, their combined presence overwhelming. Lysara's whips lashed out, wrapping around Cyrthal's legs and yanking him to the ground. Lorian, seizing the moment, sent a wave of Abyssal energy crashing into Zephyr, knocking him back with a brutal force that left him gasping.
With a final surge of Abyssal power, Lorian and Lysara advanced, their combined presence overwhelming. Lysara's whips lashed out, wrapping around Cyrthal's legs and yanking him to the ground. Lorian, seizing the moment, sent a wave of Abyssal energy crashing into Zephyr, knocking him back with brutal force.
Meanwhile, Cerys and Aldric's duel intensified, each combatant moving with a ferocity that seemed to warp the very air around them. Cerys swung her blade with precision, her gravitational magic amplifying each strike. The ground buckled beneath Aldric's feet as she closed in, her strikes relentless, forcing him to step back or risk being crushed. But Aldric wasn't easily cornered—his movements were deceptively smooth, deflecting her blows with the ease of a seasoned warrior.
Aldric lunged, slashing his sword down in a brutal arc. Cerys raised her blade to block, the clash of their weapons sending a shockwave that rippled through the air. Sparks flew as their blades locked, and for a moment, they were face-to-face, eyes locked in a battle of wills.
"Still clinging to honor and loyalty, Cerys?" Aldric taunted, twisting his blade to try to throw her off balance. "You're nothing but a pawn in a kingdom that's already doomed."
Cerys's gaze burned with defiance. "Better a pawn than a traitor," she retorted, shoving him back with a pulse of gravitational force that knocked him off his feet.
Aldric landed in a crouch, his eyes narrowing as dark energy crackled around him. Without missing a beat, he thrust his hand forward, unleashing a torrent of corrupted energy that surged toward her like a tidal wave. Cerys met the attack with a barrier of compressed gravity, the two opposing forces clashing with a deafening roar. Shadows and light exploded outward, leaving scorch marks on the ground as they battled for dominance.
Aldric's frustration grew, and with a snarl, he gathered a dark, swirling mass of energy in his hands. "You can't keep up forever," he sneered, hurling the mass toward her.
Cerys dodged, but not quickly enough. The edge of the blast caught her, searing across her arm. She grit her teeth against the pain, rolling to her feet as Aldric advanced with predatory intent. He lunged again, his sword whistling through the air as he aimed for her shoulder. Cerys parried, then countered with a vicious upward swing that nearly caught him under the chin.
They danced through the battlefield, neither giving an inch. Cerys struck with speed and precision, her gravitational magic pulsing in waves, slowing Aldric's movements and forcing him to adapt to the ever-shifting weight. Aldric retaliated with shadow-laden blows, his sword moving like a flicker of darkness, evading her strikes by mere inches.
He feinted left, then drove his blade toward her heart with a brutal thrust. Cerys barely twisted out of the way, feeling the blade graze her armor. She retaliated with a swift kick to his knee, sending him stumbling back just long enough for her to summon a heavy, concentrated sphere of gravitational energy. She hurled it at him, the orb streaking through the air with deadly intent.
Aldric raised his hand, dispersing the sphere with a pulse of his own dark energy, but the force sent him sliding back, his expression twisted with irritation. "Persistent as ever, aren't you, Cerys?" he sneered, blood dripping from a shallow cut across his cheek.
"Persistency is all you left me," she replied, her voice a deadly calm as she tightened her grip on her sword.
Aldric lunged again, his strikes becoming more erratic, more desperate, as he threw everything he had into overpowering her. His blade came at her in a flurry of vicious slashes, and for a moment, she was on the defensive, her movements a blur as she parried and dodged with razor-sharp reflexes. He struck low, then high, his sword arcing like a storm, but Cerys matched his pace, blocking and deflecting each blow.
Finally, Aldric drew back, breathing heavily, his eyes narrowing as he gathered his energy for one final assault. Dark, crystalline shards began to form around him, swirling in a deadly storm that pulsed with both celestial and abyssal magic.
"This ends now, Cerys!" he roared, sending the shards hurtling toward her in a blinding barrage.
Cerys stood her ground, her expression resolute. She raised her sword and channeled her gravitational magic, forming a powerful vortex around her. The shards collided with the vortex, deflecting off in every direction, but some managed to penetrate, grazing her skin with searing cuts. Ignoring the pain, she focused her energy, compressing the vortex until it formed a concentrated sphere of pure gravitational force.
As the last of Aldric's shards fell, she released the sphere, hurling it at him with everything she had. The attack struck him dead on, sending him crashing back with a force that shattered the earth beneath him. He gasped in pain, clutching his side as blood seeped from the deep wound her attack had inflicted.
Gritting his teeth, Aldric forced himself to his feet, his face twisted in rage and desperation. His gaze flickered to Cerys, then to the battlefield around them. With a snarl, he raised his voice, his words carrying across the field. "Cyrthal! Zephyr! We're regrouping… with Malcom."
His words hung in the air, echoing ominously. Cerys's eyes widened, her heart sinking as the realization struck. Malcom, the prince she had sworn to protect, was in league with Aldric. The prince himself was part of this treacherous plan. Beside her, Lorian's expression shifted to one of cold fury, his jaw clenched as he processed the enormity of the betrayal.
Lysara's eyes narrowed, her voice laced with contempt as she took a step forward. "So, even the prince has fallen."
Aldric's lips twisted into a bitter smile, his gaze flickering with a twisted satisfaction. "Oh, you have no idea what's coming. This kingdom will kneel before true power."
Before Cerys or the others could respond, Aldric and his allies retreated into the shadows, leaving the battlefield in an eerie silence.