The air around Lucius shimmered with prismatic energy, its chaotic glow casting an eerie light across the battlefield. The Crimson Veil soldiers and abominations had fallen silent, retreating into the shadows as though cowed by the sheer presence of their leader.
Elara's heart pounded as she gripped her dagger. The hum of the recently disabled Convergence Point still rang faintly in her ears, but now, it was drowned out by the oppressive force radiating from Lucius.
Lyra's hand was already on her bow, her gaze narrowing as she studied their opponent. "Keep your distance," she warned, her voice sharp. "He doesn't need to touch you to kill you."
Kael stepped forward, his posture loose but deliberate. His fingers flexed at his side, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Good to know."
Lucius tilted his head slightly, his masked face unreadable. "Kael," he said smoothly, his voice calm and resonant. "The tactician. Always moving the pieces. Answer me—don't you know when to give up?"
Kael snapped his fingers, the sound sharp and precise. He vanished in an instant, reappearing a few feet away as a glowing bolt of energy shot through where he had been standing.
"Not today," Kael replied evenly.
Lucius raised his staff, the runes along its surface glowing brighter. With a flick of his wrist, jagged arcs of prismatic energy shot toward the group, splitting the air with a deafening crack.
Lyra's bow moved instinctively, a golden arrow loosed mid-motion. The arrow curved, striking one of the energy arcs and splitting it apart before it could reach them.
"Stay spread out!" Lyra commanded, loosing another arrow.
Kael snapped again, swapping places with a loose boulder to avoid another attack.
Elara focused her ability, reaching out toward the energy surrounding Lucius. She felt its rhythm—wild, unstable—but every time she tried to disrupt it, it pushed back with overwhelming force.
"He's too strong," she said through gritted teeth.
"Not for long," Kael replied. "We just need to create an opening."
Oran's threads lashed out, aiming for Lucius's staff. The glowing strands coiled around it, but Lucius barely reacted. With a flick of his wrist, the threads unraveled, and Oran staggered back, cursing under his breath.
"You'll need more than that," Lucius said, his voice calm.
Kael's snapping grew more frequent, the sound cutting through the battlefield like a rhythm of its own. Every snap was deliberate, his movements a blur as he swapped places with debris, fallen enemies, or even his allies.
Lucius turned his attention to Kael, his masked face tilting slightly. "Your tricks won't save you."
Kael snapped his fingers again, this time staying in place. Lucius's staff glowed brightly as he prepared another attack—but Kael snapped again, the rapid sounds creating a split-second hesitation.
Lyra seized the moment, her arrow streaking through the air and striking Lucius's shoulder. The impact staggered him, his energy faltering briefly.
"Elara!" Kael shouted. "Now!"
Elara's heart raced as she pushed her ability to its limits, reaching out toward Lucius's disrupted energy field. This time, she found a crack—a faint weakness in the overwhelming power. She focused everything she had, disrupting the flow.
The glow around Lucius dimmed slightly, and his movements slowed.
Lucius raised his staff, slamming it into the ground. A shockwave of energy erupted outward, throwing the group off balance.
"You're persistent," Lucius said, his tone colder now. "But persistence without power is meaningless."
He turned toward Elara, his staff glowing ominously. "And you…are fragile."
Before Lucius could strike, Kael snapped his fingers, swapping places with Elara. The staff's energy slammed into the ground where she had just been standing, the impact sending cracks through the earth.
Kael reappeared beside Lucius, his blade flashing toward the masked figure's core. But Lucius twisted unnaturally, his staff intercepting the strike.
"You think you can outmaneuver me?" Lucius asked, his voice sharp with disdain.
Kael snapped again, reappearing a few feet away. He didn't answer—he didn't need to.
Lyra's arrows became a blur of golden light, each one striking with precision as Lucius's energy began to falter under Elara's disruptions. Oran's threads coiled around Lucius's legs, pulling him off balance and forcing him to focus on the ground beneath him.
"Keep him off center!" Lyra shouted.
Kael snapped his fingers twice in quick succession, each movement drawing Lucius's attention away from the others. The rapid snapping echoed, creating a rhythm that kept their opponent guessing.
Elara saw her chance. Focusing on the weakened energy field around Lucius, she poured every ounce of strength into her ability. The hum of the prismatic energy became a roar, and then—finally—it cracked.
Lucius staggered, his staff's glow dimming.
"Now!" Kael barked.
Lyra's arrow streaked through the air, curving in a dazzling arc before striking Lucius's staff. The weapon shattered with a deafening crack, and the energy around Lucius exploded outward in a blinding flash.
When the light faded, Lucius was gone. The shattered remains of his staff lay on the ground, the runes along its surface flickering faintly before going dark.
The group stood in silence, their breaths heavy. The Convergence Point was silent now, its chaotic energy extinguished.
"Did we get him?" Oran asked, his voice cautious.
Lyra didn't lower her bow. "No. That wasn't Lucius's full strength."
Kael stepped forward, crouching beside the shattered staff. His fingers brushed the fragments, his expression thoughtful. "This was a test," he said quietly. "He was testing us."
Elara felt a chill run down her spine. "Why?"
Kael's gaze turned toward the horizon, his eyes narrowing. "Because he knows we're the only ones who can stop him."