Ren grimaced, sweat dripping down his face as he barely stopped Torrath's massive warhammer with his leg. The impact reverberated through his bones, but he remained standing, muscles tense. His breath came in ragged bursts as he staggered backward, trying to gather his thoughts. I can't keep taking those hits, he thought, watching Torrath's granite-like form shift menacingly, the creature's fiery orange eyes locked on him with cruel amusement.
Torrath advanced, the ground shaking beneath his feet. He twirled Earthshatter with ease, its glowing runes pulsing with destructive energy. "You're strong, boy," Torrath growled, "but not strong enough."
Ren's mind raced. He knew he couldn't overpower Torrath's immense strength, but perhaps he didn't have to. It's his speed, Ren thought. I'm faster than him. If I can just strike him in the right place… his head.
Torrath lunged again, swinging Earthshatter with devastating force. Ren dodged, his heart pounding. The ground where the hammer struck erupted, sending debris flying. Ren kept moving, using his speed to stay out of reach, his mind calculating every step. I need to end this quickly. One solid strike to his head should do it… but I have to time it perfectly.
The fight continued, Ren darting around Torrath, barely avoiding the monstrous swings of the hammer. Torrath, growing frustrated, roared and slammed Earthshatter into the ground again and again, trying to catch Ren. Each missed strike left a crater in the earth, but Ren was quick, always a step ahead.
Ren circled Torrath, waiting for the right moment. His muscles ached, his breath came in short gasps, but his resolve never wavered. As Torrath raised his hammer for another powerful blow, Ren saw his chance. Now!
With a burst of speed, Ren dashed forward, dodging under the arc of the warhammer. He gathered all his strength into one final kick, launching himself upward. His foot collided with the side of Torrath's head with a sickening crunch, the force of the blow sending a shockwave through the air.
Torrath's eyes widened in shock as he stumbled backward, his massive form teetering. For a moment, everything seemed to pause, the air thick with tension. Then, with a final, earth-shattering crash, Torrath fell, his warhammer slipping from his grasp.
Ren landed a few feet away, breathing heavily, his body aching from the exertion.
Ren watched in disbelief as Torrath, blood dripping from his cracked stone-like skin, rose to his feet. The colossal creature grinned, his fiery orange eyes gleaming with excitement. "Now this is going to be fun," Torrath growled, gripping Earthshatter tightly in his hands. The ground seemed to tremble beneath him as his warhammer glowed with renewed energy.
Ren clenched his fists, panting heavily. His earlier kick had barely made a dent. I can't take him down like this… I need to make my attacks stronger, he thought, his mind racing. He had speed on his side, but speed alone wouldn't be enough to defeat this monster. His strikes needed more power—enough to crack through Torrath's seemingly indestructible form.
Gritting his teeth, Ren focused inward, feeling the energy within him surge. His muscles tensed as he concentrated, channeling every ounce of strength he had left into his right leg. He could feel the heat building up, his spirit energy intensifying with every breath. One more shot… I have to make this count.
Torrath let out a booming laugh as he swung his warhammer toward Ren, the sheer force of it splitting the air. Ren dodged the blow again, barely avoiding the devastating impact. The ground beneath him exploded into rubble, but Ren didn't stop. He was already moving, building up his energy for the decisive strike.
Meanwhile, far away in the Abyssal Void…
The air crackled with spirit energy as Seraphyx stood before the towering gate that separated the Abyssal Void from the human world. His eyes narrowed as he saw an entire army of spirits marching toward the gate, their ghostly forms shimmering in the dim light. At the head of the army, a familiar figure strode forward—Ignis, the Flame Warden. His fiery hair blazed like a torch, his presence as fierce as ever.
Seraphyx's stern expression melted into one of joy as he spotted Ignis. The two locked eyes, and without a word, they rushed toward each other, embracing like old friends. "It's been so long!" Ignis exclaimed, his voice filled with warmth. "I missed you so much, Seraphyx."
"And I, you," Seraphyx replied, his skeletal features softening. "We have much to catch up on."
Behind them, Goliath, the towering stone giant, watched the reunion with a faint smile. His granite face shifted as he stepped forward, his deep voice rumbling through the air. "Tell me, Seraphyx," Goliath asked, his tone eager, "what of my son? Where is Torrath?"
Seraphyx's eyes gleamed as he turned to Goliath. "Your son is still in the human world," he answered, a proud smirk on his face.
Goliath's stone-like features brightened, a deep chuckle escaping his lips. "Good," he rumbled. "I can't wait to return to the human world and meet him. It's been far too long since I've seen my son in battle."
The army of spirits behind them continued to march toward the gate, the anticipation of what lay beyond growing with every step.
The Spirit King, Kuroshin the Eternal, stepped forward from the shadows. His presence was overwhelming, a force so intense that even the spirits around him trembled in reverence. His dark aura pulsed like a living entity, suffusing the void with an unholy light.
Seraphyx bowed low as the Spirit King approached, a sense of pride swelling in his chest. "My King," Seraphyx said, his voice filled with devotion, "I have done as you commanded. The preparations are complete, and the gate is ready for you to cross into the human world."
Kuroshin's eyes, glowing with an otherworldly light, rested on Seraphyx. A smile, cold and calculating, spread across the Spirit King's face. "You have done well, Seraphyx," he said, his voice deep and resonant, echoing through the void like a storm. "The time has come for us to conquer the human world."
With a single gesture, Kuroshin signaled the spirits, and the massive gate creaked open, revealing the swirling mist of the Nexus Rift beyond. Seraphyx, Ignis, and Goliath followed closely behind, their steps echoing as they crossed into the Rift, the space between worlds where reality itself seemed to twist and bend.
As they stepped out of the Abyssal Void, Kuroshin paused, his senses tingling. A massive surge of spiritual energy rippled through the Rift, and the Spirit King narrowed his eyes, his gaze piercing through the mist.
In front of them, standing tall and unyielding, was Matteo.
He was alone.
Matteo's hand rested on the hilt of the ancient Blackwood sword, its dark blade gleaming with a faint, ominous light. His eyes burned with fierce determination, and though he was outnumbered, his spirit energy radiated so powerfully that even the spirits of the Abyssal Void seemed to hesitate.