Poll slowly opened his arms, the air around him growing heavy with an oppressive stillness. His gloves pulsed with an eerie, otherworldly glow as threads of magic coiled and twisted like living serpents, hissing with untamed power. His gaze darkened, shadows seeming to dance across his face.
When he spoke, his voice was a low, chilling whisper that carried across the battlefield like a harbinger of doom. "Do you see it now?" he murmured, his tone almost gentle, yet laced with a terrifying edge. His lips curled into a haunting smile, and his eyes burned with an unholy brilliance. "I am not just a man. I am the eternal."
The words hung in the air, sending a shiver through everyone present.
Vekris strained against the glowing threads that encased him, his body trembling under their weight. His crimson eyes burned with fury as he gritted his teeth. "Impossible!" he growled, his once-elegant demeanor cracking.
This magic... it's more than just mana manipulation. It's a fusion of intelligence, precision, and raw power. He struggled harder, but the threads only tightened. His thoughts turned chaotic. I can't break free. How? HOW?!
He glared at Poll, who stood with that maddening grin. This child... this fool! He makes jokes and waves his arms like a clown, but he's more dangerous than anyone here.
His rage deepened as he realized something. The corruption can't reach me anymore. He's severed the connection. Panic began to seep into his mind. Without that connection... am I powerless? No. No, I refuse to believe it.
Eryndor's grip on his sword tightened, his eyes locked on Poll. Pride and worry clashed within him, emotions he rarely felt so strongly at the same time. What the… he thought, his brows furrowing. He managed to do that?
His gaze shifted to the glowing threads binding Vekris and Nyra. I don't even understand half of what he said when he explained that spell. I've always known he was a genius, but this?
The image of Poll tinkering with gadgets and muttering to himself in the workshop flashed in his mind. He never gave any indication he was this powerful. Was he hiding it? Or did he just realize it himself?
A flicker of worry passed through him. What happens if he starts believing he's truly unstoppable?
Elowen stood silently, her shield lowered, her golden eyes fixed on Poll. Poll... you're far stronger than I ever imagined.
Her usually calm demeanor gave way to a pang of doubt. He's always been an eccentric, unpredictable presence. But this? This feels like something more. Something... untouchable.
Her gaze softened as she thought back to their training sessions, where he would fumble and joke, hiding his brilliance behind a veil of laziness. Was that all an act? Or did he truly not know his own potential until now?
Seraphina's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. Her golden eyes shone with pride as she wiped the blood from her face, leaning on what was left of her staff. Poll... I don't know what to say.
She took a deep breath, recalling the countless times she had seen glimpses of his genius. This doesn't shock me, not really. He's always been more brilliant than anyone gives him credit for.
Her thoughts drifted back to the past. Even during practice, I could tell he was holding back. That day, when he promised me he wouldn't experiment with dangerous spells... he was afraid of his own power.
Looking at him now, standing so nonchalantly amidst the chaos, she nodded silently. But today, he's used that power with purpose. He's not just a genius; he's a protector. My son.
Nyra's violet eyes darted wildly as the threads bound her body tighter. Her usual composure shattered as panic clawed at her mind. "What is this?!" she shrieked, her voice laced with desperation.
Her corrupted flames flickered and died against the threads, leaving her feeling exposed and helpless. I've fought armies, destroyed entire squadrons with ease. How can I... how can I be captured like this?
She turned her gaze to Poll, her eyes blazing with hatred. "You little worm!" she spat. This is impossible. This boy, this insignificant creature, is toying with us like we're nothing!
Deep down, though, fear crept in. If he can do this to us... what else is he capable of?
Celestia's silver eyes narrowed as she observed Poll. What is this boy? she thought, her mind racing. His casual tone grated against the monumental achievement he'd just pulled off. He explained the intricacies of his spell like it was nothing more than a schoolyard trick.
Her thoughts spiraled further. He has managed something I don't think anyone in the entire kingdom could achieve. To manipulate mana at this level, to create a spell of such complexity and precision, and still stand there without even a sign of exhaustion...
Celestia's expression hardened. This boy is dangerous—a threat, perhaps even a weapon. Does the King know about him? If he doesn't, should I inform him? Or would that put us all at greater risk?
Her gaze lingered on Poll's relaxed posture and manic grin. If this boy were to turn against us... The thought was interrupted as Poll clapped his hands together, drawing her attention back to him.
Poll stretched dramatically, rolling his shoulders as if to shake off invisible dust. "Well, that was fun," he said, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction.
Nyra's furious screams filled the air, while Vekris stared at Poll with a mixture of anger and grudging respect.
Celestia, Eryndor, Elowen, and Seraphina exchanged glances. None of them spoke, but the same thought echoed in their minds: This is only the beginning.
Poll's grin widened as he basked in their stunned expressions. In his mind, though, the overthinking had already begun anew. Okay, Poll, they're all impressed now. But what's next? What if the spell fails? What if they have some hidden power? Oh no, am I getting too cocky? No, no, I'm the main character! Main characters don't doubt themselves... right?
Still grinning, he turned to the group. "Alright, What's next? I'm feeling pretty unstoppable right now!"
Sudanly
The battlefield trembled as a deafening roar echoed through the sky. Everyone turned their gaze upward, their breaths hitching.
From the heavens, a blazing streak of dark crimson light plummeted toward the earth like a meteor, tearing through the air with unrelenting speed. The impact was catastrophic—stone shattered, and the ground cratered beneath the force. Dust and debris erupted in all directions, swallowing the battlefield in a choking veil of chaos.
When the dust began to settle, the mangled, broken figure of Demon Lord Kaedros lay at the epicenter of the devastation. His once-mighty form, cloaked in an aura of malevolent power, was now crumpled, his armor fractured, and his wings bent unnaturally. His blood, dark as ink, pooled beneath him.
Standing above his defeated form was Tiara, her presence a beacon of terrifying strength and radiance. Her crimson eyes burned with unrelenting fury, her body surrounded by the remnants of corrupt mana that fizzled and sparked in the air. She gazed down at Kaedros, her lips curling into a cold, victorious smirk.
"You're weaker than I expected," she said, her voice sharp as a blade. "And to think, you once called yourself The Ironclad Warlord ." With a casual flick of her wrist, she sent another surge of power crashing into Kaedros, eliciting a guttural groan of pain.
Eryndor tightened his grip on his sword, his face a mask of shock. Kaedros... defeated? And by her alone?
Celestia's expression darkened as she clenched her fists. What kind of monster is Tiara to bring down a Demon Lord with such ease?
Seraphina stepped closer to Poll, her protective instincts kicking in. "Poll," she whispered, her voice trembling, "stay behind me."
Poll's mind raced, his overthinking spiraling. Wait, what?! Tiara just threw the Demon Lord like he was trash? That's not supposed to happen!
No, no, This is not right Poll, think... THINK! His eyes darted nervously as he whispered to himself, "Main character energy... main character energy..."
Kaedros's Voice
A weak, raspy laugh escaped Kaedros's cracked lips. His glowing crimson eyes flickered, dim but not extinguished. "You think... this is the end?" he rasped, his voice carrying an eerie resonance. "You fools... you've only invited ruin. You cannot fathom what she truly is."
The chilling words hung in the air like a curse.
Tiara's Smile
Tiara tilted her head, her smirk widening into something far more menacing. "Oh, Kaedros," she said softly, crouching to meet his gaze. "You're not wrong... but you'll be too dead to see it."