Time seemed to stop as the two beasts locked eyes, each waiting for the other to make a move.
For Kazumi, every second felt like an eternity. Like the monster that had pulled her from slumber, she wanted to run as fast as possible; yet the thrill of the moment kept her rooted in place. A smile spread across her face as she felt the charged atmosphere around her, the trembling in her body a mix of fear and exhilaration.
As the world around her seemed to freeze, the minotaur let out a deafening roar, its voice reverberating through the clearing. Blue lightning crackled intensely, enveloping its massive form like a snake constricting its prey.
Suddenly, chaos erupted. The colossal minotaur swung its enormous sword, charged with raw energy that sizzled in the air. With a ferocious roar, it lunged forward, the ground trembling beneath its massive feet and sending shockwaves rippling through the earth.
In response, the giant deer stood its ground, its shimmering antlers glowing with a mesmerizing mix of ice and flame. It stomped one hoof, sending a pulse of energy rippling through the ground, as a protective barrier of frost formed around it, shimmering in the flickering light.
However, the powerful swing combined with the blue lightning easily penetrated the barrier, crushing it like glass shattered from the impact.
With a deft leap, the deer dodged the minotaur's brutal swing, the sword slicing through the air where it had just stood. The ground caved in from the impact.
Mid-air, a ball of intense flames formed above the dear's head. Seeing this, the minotaur controlled the blue lightning concentrating it into its open mouth, ready to fire at any moment.
Both beasts charge their attack, and the air trembles as if telling of the destruction to come.
"Ahooooooo…"
"Roaaaaaaar…"
At the same time, the beasts unleashed their magic. The air shakes as magic traverse through the whole clearing.
The clash of magic and might resonated like thunder in the dead of the night, the explosion loud and devastating. The force created a crater where their powers collided, marking the ground with the aftermath of their battle—a stalemate.
Kazumi crouched on her knees, arms shielding her face as she braced against the powerful winds generated by the impact. Her ears rang from the deafening roar and explosions. The sheer might displayed by the two creatures took her breath away once more, literally and figuratively.
This is unbelievable! she thought, heart racing. 'How can they be this powerful?' The intensity of their battle ignited a thrill within her, mixing fear and awe. 'I shouldn't be here… it's too dangerous! But I can't look away. This is a world beyond anything I've ever known.'
The deer, recovering more swiftly than the minotaur, seized the opportunity to control the flames scattered from the explosion of magic. It conjured a wall of fire, obscuring its view of the minotaur. With a determined grunt, it summoned spikes of ice, its body glowing with the energy of its magic.
Before the minotaur could regain its composure, the deer unleashed the ice spikes toward it. The shards struck the creature, embedding into its tough hide, but barely slowing it down.
The minotaur growled in fury, shaking off the ice as if it were nothing. Fueled by rage, it charged again, channeling blue lightning through its sword. The weapon surged with energy, illuminating the clearing in a dazzling display of power.
Unfazed, the deer countered by summoning a wave of flames to meet the lightning, resulting in an explosive collision of magic.
The night sky erupted with light as fire and electricity crackled together, sending sparks flying in every direction. Kazumi felt the heat from the flames wash over her, the intensity of the magic pulling her deeper into the spectacle, her heart racing with both fear and exhilaration.
Suddenly, the deer leapt into the air, its antlers trailing sparks of ice and fire. With a powerful thrust, it aimed a strike at the minotaur's side, but the creature was ready. It raised its sword to intercept the attack, the two forces colliding with a blinding flash. The impact sent shockwaves through the clearing, and Kazumi stumbled back, gripping the tree for support.
"Come on!"
The battle raged on, each creature unleashing devastating attacks. The minotaur swung its sword in wide arcs, sending surges of blue lightning crackling through the air, while the deer retaliated with blasts of magic that left shimmering trails of ice and flame in their wake.
Kazumi watched in awe as the deer danced gracefully around the minotaur, evading blows and striking back with pinpoint precision. Yet the minotaur's strength was overwhelming; with every strike, it seemed to grow more relentless. The air crackled with tension, and the forest itself held its breath, caught in the throes of this epic confrontation.
Just when it appeared that the minotaur might gain the upper hand, the deer unleashed a powerful burst of energy, its antlers glowing brighter than ever before. A wave of ice and fire erupted from its body, encasing the minotaur in a swirling vortex of magic. The creature roared, struggling against the icy grip, but the deer pressed the advantage, launching forward to deliver a final, powerful blow.
But it was far from over. The air trembled yet again. The once blue lightning wrapping the minotaur's body transformed into a magnificent gold.
"What happened?" Kazumi wondered to herself, eyes wide as she witnessed the spectacle.
The deer, clearly shocked by this turn of events, leaped backward, positioning itself at a distance.
The minotaur roared as the towering vortex of ice and flames dissipated, leaving only the golden lightning crackling around it. Its body had changed completely, now glowing with the same radiant hue.
It was as if the minotaur had finally revealed its trump card.
Similarly, the deer began to glow more intensely, its antlers rapidly growing larger and more menacing.
Kazumi felt a surge of urgency; she needed to get away. If she stayed, something terrible was bound to happen. This was no longer just a battle of strength; it was a clash of wills, and the outcome hung precariously in the balance.
Backing away cautiously, she sensed the intense atmosphere suddenly shift to an eerie quiet. The two beasts halted their magical charging as if time itself had stopped for them once more.
Kazumi stopped in her tracks, curiosity urging her to understand the situation. She glanced back at the two beasts, now both looking up into the sky.
"What is going on now?"
The dense canopy of trees obscured her view of what had captured their attention, so she maneuvered to a spot where the trees thinned, remnants of the battle leaving a gap in the foliage.
With her heart racing, she looked up.
Hovering in mid-air like a storm cloud, foretelling inevitable ruin, it embodies an impending doom. Its body holds the depth of night itself, an infinite void that devours any hint of light. Wings of sheer obsidian stretch wide and fierce, spanning hundreds of meters, each movement casting shadows that intensify the darkness below. From this height, its silhouette becomes an expanse of endless blackness, blotting out stars as it glides, a harbinger of devastation. This creature, born of destruction, brings ruin with every beat of its wings, leaving desolation in its path.
"I need to go." Panic edged her voice as she turned and bolted, feet pounding against the ground with desperate urgency. She didn't dare look back, didn't waste a single second. All that mattered was getting as far away as she could, as fast as possible. Her heart raced, each breath shallow and frantic as she pushed herself to the limits, driven by a fear that urged her to keep going, no matter what lay ahead.