**Chapter 15: Veldra Unleashed**
The wind howled across the battlefield, the air thick with the smell of smoke and the sounds of clashing steel. It had been a long, grueling conflict—one that had stretched the limits of every soldier on the field. But as Riven stood at the heart of the fray, something changed within him. He felt it, the surge of energy rising through his veins, a presence inside him that had remained dormant for too long. Veldra. The ancient power that had once saved him and bound itself to him, now threatening to take control.
The enemy's forces were relentless. Their numbers seemed endless, their tactics brutal. But it was the power of Veldra, a force born of primordial energy, that had been the deciding factor in many battles so far. Riven had always been careful to use it sparingly, wary of the consequences of letting it run unchecked. But now, faced with a critical moment where defeat was just a breath away, he knew there was no other choice.
"Riven, no!" Lia's voice cut through the din of battle, filled with panic. She pushed her way toward him, her heart pounding in her chest as she saw him standing at the edge of the chaos. His eyes were glowing, an eerie light shining in them as he summoned the power of Veldra.
"I have to end this," Riven said, his voice low but filled with a determination that sent a chill down Lia's spine. "If I don't, we won't survive this."
With a sharp motion, Riven raised his hand, calling on Veldra's power to flood his body. The dark energy surged through him, and his connection to the ancient force deepened. His body trembled as the power coursed through his veins, the pain of the transformation almost unbearable. His muscles expanded, his skin burned with the intensity of the magic, but he didn't falter. His connection to Veldra, now more complete than ever, was a bond forged through desperation and necessity.
The ground beneath him cracked, and a wave of energy radiated outward, pushing back the enemy lines with an overwhelming force. The soldiers closest to him staggered, their weapons dropping as the sheer magnitude of the power took hold of the battlefield. Riven's body was an instrument of destruction now, his every movement a testament to the immense strength he wielded.
"Riven!" Lia shouted again, her voice breaking as she approached him, her eyes filled with fear. She had seen the toll that Veldra's power took on him before. She knew the risks, and yet, she couldn't bear to see him like this. The man she loved—her Riven—was slipping away from her, consumed by the very force that had saved him.
"Don't worry," he said, his voice steady despite the tremor in his limbs. "I'm not going to let it take me. Not this time."
But Lia could see the strain in his eyes, the way his breath came in shallow gasps as he fought to maintain control. Veldra's power was wild and untamed, and it was clawing at him, threatening to break free. It was a battle not just against the enemy, but against the force inside him.
The enemies before him were like ants underfoot. With every swing of his arm, Riven sent shockwaves through their ranks, his strikes tearing through armor and flesh with terrifying ease. He was unstoppable, an avatar of raw power. But every strike took more from him, and he could feel the strain on his body intensifying.
Lia watched helplessly as Riven fought, his movements growing more erratic with each passing second. She knew that the longer he stayed in this state, the more likely it was that Veldra would consume him entirely. But there was nothing she could do. If she intervened, the enemies would overwhelm them all.
"Riven, please," Lia whispered, her heart breaking as she pushed through the battlefield toward him. She could see the toll it was taking on him, and the worry gnawed at her insides. "Please, stop."
But Riven didn't hear her. His mind was consumed by the battle, by the need to end it before it was too late. He could feel the power of Veldra coursing through him, and the exhilaration of such strength was intoxicating. The pain, the risk—it was all worth it. For the first time, he felt invincible. But deep down, a voice inside him whispered that this power was never meant to be wielded by a human. It was a curse, a weapon that could break not just the enemy, but the one who held it.
In the distance, the enemy commander—an imposing figure clad in dark armor—watched the destruction unfold. He could sense the shift in the battlefield, the sudden surge of power that Riven had unleashed. He raised his sword, and the rest of his troops hesitated for a moment, unnerved by the sight of Riven standing at the center of the storm.
The enemy commander was no fool. He knew that if Riven was allowed to continue, the battle would be over in moments. And so, with a cold, calculated resolve, he ordered his forces to strike.
The first wave of enemies charged toward Riven, their weapons raised high. But Riven was too fast. With a single swing of his arm, he shattered the front line, sending soldiers flying in all directions. The battlefield seemed to tremble beneath his power as the enemy recoiled in fear.
But the commander had anticipated this. He had prepared for it.
From the shadows, a group of assassins, cloaked in dark robes, slipped through the battlefield. Their movements were swift and silent, and they knew exactly where to strike. They were aiming for Riven's vulnerabilities—the places where his control over Veldra was weakest. They were going for the heart.
Lia saw them first, her eyes widening in alarm as she spotted the assassins closing in on Riven. She knew that if they reached him, the battle would be over. She couldn't let him fall like this. Not after everything they had been through.
Without hesitation, Lia sprinted toward Riven, using the last of her strength to push past the enemy lines. She reached him just as the first assassin made their move, blade raised high. Riven was too caught up in his own power to notice them, his focus entirely on the chaos around him.
With a cry of desperation, Lia threw herself in front of him, her magic flaring to life as she summoned a barrier of energy. The assassin's blade clanged against the barrier, but Lia's body trembled with the strain. She could feel the power surging through her, but it wasn't enough. The barrier shattered under the weight of the strike.
But before the assassin could land a second blow, a burst of light filled the air. Riven's eyes snapped open, and for a fleeting moment, he was back in control. With a roar, he unleashed another wave of Veldra's power, sending the assassins flying.
The battlefield fell into a tense silence, the air thick with the aftermath of the chaos. Riven staggered, his body shaking as the full weight of Veldra's power took its toll. His connection to the ancient force was slipping—his body was burning with the intensity of the magic, and he could feel himself slipping further into the abyss.
Lia rushed to his side, her face pale with worry. "Riven!" she cried, her hands gripping his arms as she tried to steady him. "You have to stop. You're going to kill yourself."
Riven's breath came in ragged gasps as he looked at her, his vision blurry. "I... I can't," he whispered, his voice strained. "Not yet. We have to finish this."
But Lia could see the truth in his eyes. He was fading, his body unable to handle the immense power he had called upon. The consequences of using Veldra's power were too great, and now he was paying the price.
"You don't have to do this alone, Riven," Lia said softly, her voice filled with both fear and tenderness. "Let me help you."
But even as she spoke, Riven's eyes fluttered, and his body collapsed into her arms. The battle was over, the enemy scattered, but for Riven, the cost had been far greater than he had ever imagined.
The victory, hard-won and bitter, was overshadowed by the deep concern that lingered in Lia's heart. She had seen him at his strongest, but now she feared he might never be the same again.