**Chapter 15: The Fall of Malakar**
The air in the cavernous hall of Malakar's fortress was thick with the scent of blood and decay, the walls cracked and crumbling as though the very structure was struggling to contain the chaotic forces that had been unleashed. Riven's breath came in shallow, ragged gasps as he stood over the fallen form of the dark sorcerer. His once proud, menacing figure was now reduced to a twisted heap of flesh and bones. Malakar's ambition, his desire for dominion over both beasts and men, had finally been crushed under the weight of Riven's determination.
But victory had come at a steep cost.
Riven's body was a shell of its former self, battered, bruised, and covered in scorch marks from the final, desperate clash. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat a reminder of the strain he had pushed his body to in order to defeat the sorcerer. The battle had drained him of everything. His sword, once sharp and glowing with the power of the beasts, now lay heavy in his hand, its light fading. Riven could feel the weight of his own exhaustion, and it was almost as though the world itself was pressing down on him, urging him to collapse.
But he couldn't. Not yet.
With a final, agonized effort, Riven stumbled forward, his legs shaking beneath him. He had to finish what he started. The ritual that Malakar had set in motion was still active, the remnants of its energy swirling in the air like a storm waiting to burst. The beasts, though freed from Malakar's influence, were still raging across the world. The balance of nature, once carefully maintained, was now in ruins. The cycle of destruction was far from over, and Riven knew that the only way to stop it was to seal the ritual for good.
"Malakar…" Riven's voice was little more than a whisper, but it carried the weight of his fury and grief. "You thought you could control them... but you were nothing more than a pawn in their game. And now, your reign ends."
Riven's vision blurred as he fell to his knees beside Malakar's body, feeling the last of his strength begin to ebb away. His hand clutched his chest, where the raw energy of the beasts still pulsed in his veins. It was as if their power was alive within him, clawing at the edges of his consciousness. The connection that had once been a curse was now his only hope. He could feel the pull of the beasts—Veldra, Astra, Nyx—urging him to use their power to finish the job.
But even that power was not enough to stop the chaos from continuing. There was still one more step, one final act of desperation that Riven needed to take.
A flash of light erupted from his chest, and suddenly, Riven felt the familiar, comforting presence of his three companions surge through him—Veldra, the fierce dragon; Astra, the ethereal and wise spirit; and Nyx, the mysterious and silent force that had been his guide through the darkest times. The three entities, once separate, now flowed together, merging with Riven in an explosive wave of energy. The process was painful, far more than anything he had ever experienced. It was as if his very soul was being torn apart and remade.
But Riven endured. He had no choice.
In that instant, the symbiosis between them was complete. The three beasts' power coursed through Riven's veins, amplifying his strength and filling the empty spaces within him. His body crackled with their combined might, and the air around him became charged with the raw, untamed energy of the beasts. His senses were heightened to an unbearable degree, and he could feel the world around him as if it were an extension of himself. Every pulse of energy, every shift in the wind, every vibration of the earth—it was all part of him now.
But this wasn't just about power. It was about control. Riven had to take the power of the beasts and bend it to his will, to channel it into one final strike that would undo the ritual once and for all.
He turned toward the altar, its glowing runes pulsing ominously, a dark beacon in the heart of the ruined fortress. The ritual's energy was at its peak, ready to burst free and consume everything in its path. Riven felt the pulse of it in his very bones, and for a moment, he feared it would overwhelm him. But he knew he had no other choice.
With a roar that shook the very foundations of the fortress, Riven raised his hands, calling upon the power of Veldra, Astra, and Nyx. The world around him seemed to respond, the forces of nature itself bending to his will. The air crackled with the raw energy of the beasts as Riven focused all of his remaining strength into one final, desperate act.
"By the bond between us... I will stop this."
The light from the altar flared as Riven's body began to glow with an otherworldly radiance. His hands burned with energy, his veins glowing as if filled with molten light. The power of the beasts surged through him, and he felt the ritual's energy push back against him, like a living, breathing thing. But he did not falter. He had come too far.
With one final thrust, Riven unleashed the full force of his power.
The blast was unlike anything he had ever experienced. The energy of the beasts, now fully synchronized with his own, surged outward, tearing through the ritual's bindings and unraveling the dark magic that had been woven into the fabric of the world. The sky above the fortress lit up with a blinding flash of light, and for a moment, it felt as though the very heavens themselves had opened up to witness the final act of destruction.
But the victory was not without its cost.
As the light began to fade and the world slowly returned to its natural state, Riven collapsed to the ground, his body drained beyond measure. His heart pounded erratically in his chest, and he could feel the heavy weight of exhaustion pulling him under. The symbiosis, the fusion of his own life force with that of the beasts, had left a mark on him—one that would never fade.
The power that had once surged so freely through him was now an inextricable part of his being. His body bore the marks of the beasts' energy—his skin was scarred with glowing runes, the symbols of their power etched permanently into his flesh. The pain was unbearable, but Riven knew that it was a reminder, a permanent testament to the sacrifices he had made.
He had won. The ritual was sealed, the beasts' power contained. The world was safe—at least, for now.
But as he lay there, his body broken and battered, Riven knew that the battle was far from over. He had defeated Malakar, but the scars of his actions—both physical and emotional—would haunt him for the rest of his life. The weight of the beastly power within him was a constant reminder of the price he had paid.
And yet, there was a part of him that knew the fight wasn't truly over. The world had been spared, but the cost of peace was steep. The power of the beasts would forever be with him, and as long as it was, Riven would carry the burden of its influence.
With a final, exhausted breath, Riven closed his eyes, the world around him fading into darkness.