The air around them thickened as Alaric's Heaven Piercer domain expanded, reshaping the battlefield into a warped, purple-tinted wasteland. Jagged earth and a venomous fog filled the area, mimicking the poisonous nature of his spear technique. Behind Alaric, a massive spectral serpent coiled, hissing in sync with his movements, amplifying his deadly aura. Everything around breathed danger, from the lethal sharpness in the air to the earth, which twisted as though recoiling from the venom's presence.
Alaric lunged, his spear thrusting forward with terrifying speed, the serpent's shadow trailing behind, aimed with lethal precision at Eldric. Eldric, undeterred, concentrated his primal energy into the tip of his sword, igniting it with a blazing aura that seared the air. With a swift, powerful swing, he drew a flaming cross, meeting Alaric's attack with an intensity that caused the ground to quake.
The collision sent a shockwave through the land, but Eldric gritted his teeth, enduring the aftermath as a searing wound formed on his abdomen. His unyielding gaze met Alaric's, undeterred. Alaric faltered, his surprise evident at Eldric's resilience, even without a domain.
"What's the matter, Alaric? Thought exile had softened me?" Eldric's voice remained steady, tinged with fierce determination.
But before Alaric could respond, Darius, shrouded in shadows, took his chance and lunged at Eldric from behind. Eldric sensed him instantly, swinging his sword in a blazing arc that scattered the shadows, stopping Darius in his tracks.
"Still skulking in the shadows, Darius?" Eldric mocked. "Nothing has changed."
Realizing the advantage was slipping away, Eldric took a breath, and in a surge of power, unleashed his own domain, Ignil's Magnum. The fiery domain expanded, its blazing aura overpowering Alaric's as mountains of molten rock and rivers of magma erupted from the ground. The air grew scalding hot, burning everything in the field and Eldric's blade, now changed into a molten stick, turned into a sword of pure magma.
He advanced, slashing at Darius, severing his arm with one swift motion. Darius retreated, howling in pain, and screaming while Eldric shifted toward Alaric. Their blades met in a clash of heat and poison, evaporating all the poison in the surrounding, sparks flying as molten steel seared through the spear's poisoned tip, melting it.
Then, from the edge of the battlefield, an icy chill crept in, blanketing the land. Seraphine, who had watched in silence, lifted her hand, her power filling the air as the temperature plummeted. The fiery landscape began to fade as frost and ice began to form, smothering the heat of Eldric's domain. Exhausted and wounded, Eldric's body slowed, his primal energy waning.
Seeing his weakening state, Seraphine summoned a storm of ice spikes, which shot toward Eldric's open wounds. They struck him with deadly precision, piercing his chest, shoulder, and abdomen. Eldric's breath faltered as pain surged through him, his primal energy dwindling. With his last reserves, he swung his sword, releasing one final blazing strike that scorched part of Alaric's face before he fell, collapsing onto the bloodstained ground.
Seraphine looked down at him, her gaze softened just slightly as she nodded in respect.
"A warrior to the end, Eldric," she murmured, before turning to leave with the others, their own injuries severe.
---
As dawn broke, the first rays of sunlight filtered through the trees, casting a gentle light over Eldric's still form. His eyelids fluttered as he lay there, memories rushing through his mind, the laughter, the bond, and the pride he felt as he watched Ray grow. His chest tightened at the thought of leaving Ray alone in such a merciless world.
Suddenly, a shadow crossed his vision, a small, familiar figure sprinting toward him.
"Ray…?"
When Ray saw Eldric, lying amidst the blood-soaked ground and bruised earth, a wave of emotions crashed over him with an intensity he had never known. His heart dropped, twisting painfully as he took in every injury that marred Eldric's once-powerful form. The strong, steady figure who had guided him and shielded him looked frail and broken, each shallow breath like a knife driving deeper into Ray's chest.
His stomach churned, and a cold dread seeped into his bones. Ray had always seen Eldric as invincible, a guardian who could face any beast, any storm. But here he was, wounded and vulnerable. The sight struck something deep in Ray, a fear that he was unprepared to face, the fear of losing the one person who had been a constant in his life.
Tears blurred his vision as he stumbled forward, the overwhelming sense of helplessness making his hands shake. A fierce determination surged through his sorrow; he couldn't lose Eldric, not like this, not now. Sinking to his knees beside him, Ray's sobs broke free, his small hands reaching to grasp Eldric's own, desperate to feel some warmth, some sign that he wasn't alone.
"D-dad…" Ray choked out, his voice trembling.
With great effort, Eldric's eyes opened, a faint smile appearing as he looked at Ray.
"Ray… you're safe." Eldric's voice was a soft murmur, relief in his gaze.