The dungeon quaked violently, its walls trembling as Cain and Namior clashed with relentless ferocity. Their movements blurred, ricocheting across the battlefield like pinballs. Each strike sent shockwaves echoing through the cavern, their weapons Cain's sword and Namior's spear colliding with deafening sonic clashes. Every blow was parried, every counter answered in kind, their duel a relentless dance of precision and power.
Namior, his spear brimming with golden energy, suddenly lunged forward. The slash he unleashed tore through the air like a roaring gale, its sheer force closing the distance between them in an instant. Cain, suspended mid-air, reacted with practiced swiftness. His sword pulsed with vibrant purple mana, invoking Absolute Division. The two energies collided in a brilliant explosion, the force propelling Cain backward as he landed gracefully on the cracked ground.
Namior's deep, resonant voice filled the battlefield. "I never thought a human could rival my strength. You have my praise, Cain Locke," he declared, his tone carrying equal parts respect and menace. "But all things must come to an end."
Raising his spear high, Namior summoned an overwhelming surge of golden mana. The energy flared to life, illuminating the battlefield with a radiant glow. Suddenly, dozens of golden spears materialized above him, their ethereal forms glimmering like fireflies scattered across the ceiling of the dungeon. Each spear mirrored the divine energy coursing through Namior's weapon, their light casting long, flickering shadows across the battlefield.
Cain raised his head, his sharp eyes narrowing as he took in the spectacle. The golden spears hovered ominously above, their brilliance painting the scene in hues of radiant gold.
"Caelestis Furor!" Namior roared, his voice reverberating through the dungeon like a battle cry from the heavens. The golden spears above began their descent, streaking down like a meteor shower, each impact shattering the ground with the force of missile strikes. The dungeon shook violently, the relentless barrage carving craters into the battlefield.
Cain weaved through the chaos, his movements swift but precarious. Each deadly projectile grazed him by mere inches, forcing him to push his agility to its limits. Dark fog and debris filled the air as the spears clashed with the dungeon's defenses, their collisions creating shockwaves that blurred vision and rattled the senses.
Through the choking smoke, Cain caught sight of Namior. The golden warrior stood firm, his gaze fixed, his spear now leveled at Cain with lethal intent. Time seemed to slow as Namior exhaled, his focus unwavering. Without hesitation, he hurled the mana-charged spear forward. Its golden brilliance illuminated the battlefield, cutting through the smoke like a radiant comet.
Cain's breath hitched. He's aiming to kill. The spear ripped through the air, breaking the sound barrier with a deafening crack. Its sheer velocity was unmatched, its golden glow casting jagged shadows against the fractured walls. Rocks and debris scattered in its wake, leaving a trail of destruction.
Reacting instinctively, Cain raised his sword, its edge glowing with a pulse of purple mana. The moment the spear collided with his blade, the impact released a shockwave that reverberated through the battlefield. Steel clashed against steel in an earsplitting symphony as Cain was hurled backward, his body careening through the air before his boots skidded across the ravaged ground. The force sent cracks spidering out beneath him as he fought to regain his balance.
Namior's spear, imbued with his immense power, spun through the air like a boomerang. Its path curved gracefully, golden trails left in its wake as it returned to its master's outstretched hand. Namior caught it effortlessly, his golden aura flaring like an unyielding beacon amidst the devastation. His calm yet commanding demeanor only added to the suffocating pressure.
Blood dripped steadily onto the shattered ground, pooling beneath Cain as he clutched his wounded side. His left abdomen had been torn open by one of Namior's spears, the gash deep enough to threaten his life. He gritted his teeth, his fingers pressing firmly against the injury in a desperate attempt to slow the bleeding. The taste of copper filled his mouth as he spat blood, yet his legs refused to give out.
Namior's golden eyes widened in astonishment. "How are you still standing, human? That attack should have ended you. How are you still alive?" His voice carried a mixture of frustration and reluctant respect.
A sudden crackle of lightning broke the tense silence. Both combatants turned their attention to the source a swirling blue portal that tore through the fabric of reality. Its ethereal light bathed the battlefield in an eerie glow, casting long shadows and illuminating Cain's blood-streaked face. The portal's energy hummed, its edges sparking with electric arcs.
Namior's lips curled into a sinister grin. "It appears the gate to your world has opened," he said, his voice laced with satisfaction.
Cain's face tightened, his jaw clenched as he stared at the swirling blue portal. The faint glow of its energy reflected in his eyes, but his expression was far from hopeful. His mind raced, piecing together the grim reality of the situation.
"This is bad," he muttered under his breath, his voice low and tense. "I lost track of time. Six hours... it's already been six hours since we entered the dungeon." His frustration mounted as he realized the implications. "The portal always opens with a six-hour interval, it'll already be too late by the time Kael locates this place,so I'm on my own now."
******
Elsewhere, Zarek floated in an abyss of darkness. There was no sound, no direction, only an oppressive silence that weighed on his chest. A faint glow emanated from his body, illuminating only a small radius around him. His thoughts raced as he stumbled through the void. "Where the hell am I?" he muttered, his voice swallowed by the emptiness.
Then, like a jolt of electricity, a memory surged through his mind—sharp and vivid. He remembered the blade piercing his chest, the searing pain as life drained from him. "That's right... I was stabbed," he murmured. His fingers brushed the spot where the weapon had struck. "Am I dead? Is this... the other side?"
A sudden crackle of lightning echoed through the void, its sharp sound piercing the silence. Sparks danced around him, illuminating the space briefly before fading. Zarek's eyes darted to the source of the disturbance, his heart pounding. "What was that?"