The weight of the Dark Commander's presence bore down on the valley, thick and oppressive. Even the air seemed to grow heavy, stifling the movement of Lukas and his soldiers. The remaining Drevyn forces had retreated to the shadows, awaiting their commander's signal. The eerie silence that followed was more unnerving than the chaos of battle.
Lukas stood still, his eyes fixed on the dark figure at the far end of the valley. The oppressive energy radiating from the Dark Commander was unlike anything he had ever felt. It wasn't just power—it was malice, the pure essence of darkness. His heart pounded, but he gripped Stormbreaker tighter, refusing to let fear cloud his mind.
"We're not backing down," Lukas muttered under his breath.
The Dark Commander stepped forward, his movements smooth, almost casual, as if he had complete control of the situation. The shadows clung to him, making his form seem to blur at the edges.
"Lukas Veridan," the Dark Commander said, his voice cold and filled with derision. "You've been a thorn in my side for too long."
Lukas kept his expression unreadable, though inside, his mind was racing. The system hummed in the back of his thoughts, offering battle strategies and assessing the enemy.
[System Notification: Dark Arts detected. Extreme caution advised.]
"We'll see about that," Lukas replied, his voice steady despite the rising tension.
Without warning, the Dark Commander raised his hand, and the shadows around him surged like a living entity. The darkness took shape, forming tendrils that slithered across the ground, reaching toward Lukas and his team. The air grew colder, and the light in the valley dimmed as if swallowed by the dark aura.
Lukas moved first, swinging Stormbreaker in a wide arc. The blade, infused with both Wind and Lightning, crackled with energy as it sliced through the approaching tendrils. But for every shadow he cut down, more appeared, relentless in their advance.
The Dark Commander smiled, his eyes glowing with a sinister light. "Do you see now? You cannot defeat the darkness."
Marcus stepped forward, Earthshaker in hand. The ground trembled as he struck the earth with his greatsword, sending a shockwave through the valley. The tremors disrupted the shadows for a moment, giving Lukas and the others a brief respite.
But the Dark Commander only laughed, the sound low and mocking. "Pathetic. You think your little tricks can match my power?"
Lukas clenched his jaw, his mind racing. This was a different kind of fight. The Dark Commander wasn't just stronger—he was playing by different rules. The dark arts were unpredictable, and Lukas knew he couldn't rely solely on brute force.
Lukas shifted his stance, preparing for the inevitable clash. "This isn't about matching your power," he said, his voice calm but filled with resolve. "It's about outsmarting you."
With a burst of Ether, Lukas darted forward, Stormbreaker humming with energy as he closed the distance between them. The Wind element surged through his body, increasing his speed, while Lightning crackled along his blade, ready to strike.
The Dark Commander reacted swiftly, his hand rising to summon more shadows. But Lukas was faster. He ducked low, avoiding the tendrils of darkness, and slashed upward with Stormbreaker. The blade connected, slicing through the dark aura that surrounded the commander.
The Dark Commander's eyes widened in surprise, but his expression quickly twisted into a snarl. "You're faster than I expected," he growled. "But speed won't save you."
Lukas didn't respond. He pressed the attack, his movements a blur of lightning-fast strikes. Each swing of his saber was precise, aimed at exploiting the smallest weaknesses in the Dark Commander's defenses. The Wind element allowed him to move like a phantom, dodging the counterattacks with ease, while the Lightning element infused his strikes with raw power.
But the Dark Commander wasn't easily overwhelmed. He countered with dark magic, summoning shadowy constructs that lashed out with deadly precision. Lukas deflected each attack, but the weight of the battle began to press down on him.
[System Notification: Ether levels dropping. Maintain focus.]
Lukas felt the strain of the prolonged battle, but he knew he couldn't afford to falter. The Dark Commander's power was immense, but Lukas had something the Dark Commander didn't—his team.
"Marcus! Darian! Vespera!" Lukas shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Now!"
As if on cue, Marcus raised Earthshaker high, and with a thunderous swing, he brought the greatsword crashing down. The ground shook violently, sending a ripple of earth toward the Dark Commander, disrupting his footing.
Darian followed up with a powerful strike from the Thunderclap Halberd, the weapon crackling with electricity. The shockwave hit the Dark Commander square in the chest, sending him staggering backward.
Vespera, moving like a blur of flame, closed in from the side. Her Flame-Edge Swords danced through the air, leaving trails of fire in their wake. She struck with precision, her blades slicing through the tendrils of darkness that had been reaching for Lukas.
The combined assault forced the Dark Commander to retreat, his dark aura flickering as he struggled to regain control.
For a moment, it seemed as though the tide had turned in Lukas's favor. But the Dark Commander wasn't finished yet.
With a snarl, he summoned a massive wave of dark energy, pushing Lukas and his team back. The sheer force of the attack sent them reeling, their weapons barely able to deflect the brunt of the impact.
"I'm not done yet," the Dark Commander hissed, his voice filled with venom. "This battle is far from over."
But instead of pressing the attack, the Dark Commander took a step back, his eyes narrowing. "I'll admit," he said, his tone cold, "you've surprised me, Lukas Veridan. You're stronger than I thought."
Lukas, breathing heavily, tightened his grip on Stormbreaker. "What's the matter? Afraid to lose?"
The Dark Commander's smile returned, twisted and malicious. "No, not afraid. But the time for your defeat will come soon enough. For now, I'll leave you to ponder your fate."
With a flick of his hand, the Dark Commander vanished into the shadows, his dark presence lingering in the air for a moment before dissipating completely.
The battlefield grew silent once more, the oppressive weight of the Dark Commander's presence gone, but the tension remained. Lukas lowered Stormbreaker, his mind racing with thoughts of what had just transpired.
"We forced him to retreat," Marcus said, his voice filled with a mixture of relief and concern. "But why didn't he finish us off?"
Lukas frowned, his thoughts troubled. "He's planning something. This was just a test. He wanted to see how strong we are."
"And now he knows," Zane added grimly, his eyes scanning the horizon. "We need to be prepared for whatever comes next."
Lukas nodded, but his mind was already moving ahead. The Dark Commander had shown them a glimpse of his power, but the real battle was still ahead. They had won a small victory, but the war was far from over.
As the Veridan forces regrouped, Lukas turned his gaze toward the eastern horizon. The Dark Commander was out there, plotting his next move. And Lukas would be ready.