In the heart of the Ytherrian clearing, the air pulsed with tension. The silence was almost deafening, broken only by the soft hum of latent energy vibrating through the atmosphere. Roylen stood at the center of the group, his tall, lean frame exuding an effortless confidence. His striking crimson eyes flickered with an unnatural glow as if they contained entire storms within them. His aura was suffocating, yet mesmerizing—a predator in every sense of the word.
Xalin, Kell, and Lira faced him in a semi-circle, their powers flaring to life in response to Roylen's overwhelming presence. They didn't know what he was, but instinct told them he was far more dangerous than anyone they had ever encountered.
Xalin was the first to react. The markings across his body ignited with blinding white light, his pupils disappearing as he slipped into the Luminary state. His entire form became a vessel of pure power, radiating divine energy that made the ground beneath him quiver. His voice, calm but fierce, cut through the tension.
"We don't know what you're planning, but we won't let you harm anyone."
Roylen tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "Harm?" he mused, his voice smooth and velvety, yet carrying an edge that sent chills through the group. "I don't need to harm anyone. I simply... exist."
Before anyone could process his words, Lira let out a guttural cry. Her form twisted as she transformed into her Blood Queen state, her silver hair whipping like tendrils of liquid mercury. Her eyes glowed a haunting crimson as veins of blood-red energy crackled around her. She stepped forward, raising a hand as blades of blood formed around her like sentinels.
Kell followed suit. He released a primal roar as his Berserker mode activated, his pupils narrowing to slits. His eyes glowed a feral yellow, and shadowy tendrils erupted from the ground around him, writhing like serpents eager to strike. The shadows coiled around him, creating an almost impenetrable aura of darkness. He flexed his hands, his voice a low growl. "Let's end this quickly."
Roylen smirked, his fangs briefly visible. "Fascinating."
---
The First Clash
Xalin moved first. In a flash of white light, he closed the distance between himself and Roylen, his fist wreathed in divine flames. He aimed a devastating punch at Roylen's chest. But before it could connect, Roylen's form blurred. In a heartbeat, he was standing behind Xalin, his hand casually gripping Xalin's glowing wrist.
"You're fast," Roylen murmured, almost in admiration. "But not fast enough."
He flicked his wrist, sending Xalin flying backward like a ragdoll. Xalin twisted mid-air, using his momentum to land on his feet, his teeth gritted. The ground beneath him cracked from the impact of his landing.
Kell didn't waste the opportunity. His shadows surged forward like a tidal wave, forming massive claws that swiped at Roylen from every direction. At the same time, shadow spikes erupted from beneath Roylen's feet. But Roylen didn't move. Instead, he extended his arm, his movements fluid and graceful. In an instant, the shadows dissipated, as if consumed by an invisible force.
"What—?" Kell's voice faltered.
Roylen appeared directly in front of Kell, his movements a blur of speed. He delivered a swift knee to Kell's abdomen, sending the shadow manipulator skidding across the ground. The blow should have incapacitated him, but in his berserker state, Kell only growled, the pain feeding his primal fury.
Lira took her chance. "Blood Spiral!" she shouted, her voice echoing with an otherworldly cadence. The blood blades surrounding her shot forward in a corkscrew formation, aiming to pierce Roylen from all sides.
Roylen's expression finally shifted to mild interest. He raised his hand, and the air around him shimmered. The blood blades froze mid-air, their momentum halted as if they had struck an invisible wall.
"You're powerful," Roylen remarked, his voice tinged with amusement. "But you lack control."
With a flick of his wrist, the blades shattered, raining droplets of crimson onto the battlefield.
---
A Storm of Power
Enraged, Xalin surged forward again, this time unleashing a barrage of strikes, each one imbued with divine energy. His movements were faster, more precise, a flurry of white light and power. Roylen dodged every blow with unnerving ease, his body moving like water, his eyes never leaving Xalin's.
"You fight like a god," Roylen said as he parried another strike. "But you're still human."
In a sudden counterattack, Roylen's palm slammed into Xalin's chest. The force of the blow sent shockwaves rippling through the clearing, uprooting nearby trees. Xalin crashed into the ground, a crater forming beneath him.
Kell and Lira attacked in unison. Kell's shadows formed a massive clawed hand that tried to ensnare Roylen, while Lira's blood constructs morphed into spears that hurled toward him with deadly precision. But Roylen was a blur of motion. He appeared above them, his form almost ghostlike, and unleashed a devastating downward kick that forced both of them to retreat.
"You're not fighting me," Roylen said, his voice carrying an edge of finality. "You're surviving me."
---
Pushing the Limits
The trio regrouped, their breaths heavy, their powers blazing brighter than before. Xalin's white markings pulsated like a heartbeat, Lira's blood aura swirled violently, and Kell's shadows writhed with renewed vigor.
"This isn't working," Xalin said, his voice strained. "We need to combine our powers."
Kell nodded, his glowing eyes narrowing. "Agreed. Let's hit him with everything we've got."
The air around them grew thick with energy as the three synchronized their attacks. Xalin summoned a pillar of divine light, Lira formed a crimson tornado of blood, and Kell unleashed a vortex of shadows. The combined attack roared toward Roylen, the ground shaking under its sheer power.
For the first time, Roylen's expression hardened. "Interesting."
He raised his hand, and the air around him seemed to crackle. A dome of crimson energy expanded from his body, absorbing the trio's attack. The resulting explosion lit up the entire clearing, a blinding flash that sent shockwaves rippling outward.
When the dust settled, Roylen stood untouched, his aura even more intense than before. "Your powers are impressive," he said, his voice carrying a dangerous edge. "But you're still so far beneath me."
The trio stared at him, their bodies battered but their resolve unwavering. This was only the beginning of the battle, and they knew the stakes had never been higher.