The ground beneath Reazeal's feet trembled violently, the Harbinger's presence sending shockwaves through the air. The rift that had opened was no longer a mere tear in reality—it was a gateway, a window into the abyss. Dark energy pulsed from within, and with every beat, it seemed to stretch the very fabric of the world. The skies above, once filled with the glow of stars, now hung heavy with dark clouds, swirling ominously as if nature itself had been twisted by the power emerging from the rift.
Reazeal gripped Duskcarve tightly, his knuckles white. The Harbinger stood before him, an imposing figure cloaked in darkness, its red eyes gleaming like the flames of a dying sun. The air was thick with an unsettling pressure, a weight that pressed against his chest and made each breath feel more labored. The creature's smile only widened as it noticed his discomfort.
"You feel it, don't you?" the Harbinger's voice was low and gravelly, echoing through the air like thunder. "The end of everything you've fought for. The world is already crumbling, and you're standing at the edge, powerless to stop it."
Reazeal's pulse quickened. He had faced countless foes in the past, each one threatening to destroy everything he held dear, but this... this felt different. The presence of the Harbinger was suffocating, its power ancient and unfathomable. Reazeal knew that this battle would be unlike any other.
"I've faced worse," he said, his voice steady despite the storm of doubt raging inside him. "And I will face this too."
The Harbinger let out a hollow laugh, and with a flick of its wrist, the rift expanded, sending a wave of energy rippling outward. Reazeal's feet dug into the ground as he fought to remain upright, but the force of the blast pushed him back. His body slammed against the ground, the impact knocking the breath out of him.
Lysara was not far behind, charging toward him with an expression of fierce determination. Her blade glinted in the moonlight, the edge sharp and unyielding. As she closed the distance, she launched herself into the air, cutting through the air with a fluid grace that was almost too quick to follow. She landed beside him, her eyes locking onto the Harbinger's form.
"We can't let it take any more ground," Lysara said, her voice breathless. "It's already too strong. We need to find its weakness."
Reazeal nodded, pushing himself to his feet. His chest ached, but he wasn't about to give up now. "There's always a weakness. We just have to find it."
The Harbinger raised its hand again, and this time, the rift began to open wider. The air crackled with dark energy, and Reazeal felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. The creature's red eyes locked onto them both, the malice in them undeniable.
"You think you can defeat me?" The Harbinger's voice was a low growl, full of contempt. "I am the end of this world. The darkness that devours all light. The Eclipse itself."
At that moment, the rift seemed to pulse with the weight of ancient power, and Reazeal could feel the world itself begin to shift. Reality bent and twisted around the Harbinger, its form flickering like a mirage. The very air around them seemed to darken as the energy surged.
Lysara's blade glowed with a brilliant light, her resolve unbroken. "We don't need to defeat you," she said, her voice unwavering. "We just need to keep you from breaking this world apart."
The Harbinger tilted its head, amused. "You truly believe you can stop what has already been set in motion? You can try, but it won't matter. I've already won."
With that, the Harbinger extended its hand, and a wave of energy shot toward them, tearing through the air with devastating force. Reazeal barely had time to react before the blast hit, sending him and Lysara flying in opposite directions.
Reazeal crashed to the ground, the wind knocked out of him. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he thought the battle was over. But the flicker of hope within him refused to die. He couldn't let it end like this. Not now.
He pushed himself up, his muscles burning with exertion. His hand gripped Duskcarve as though it was the only thing keeping him tethered to reality. The world seemed to spin around him, the rift's power surging through the air like an oppressive storm.
Lysara appeared at his side, bruised but unbroken. Her eyes burned with the same fierce determination that had carried them this far.
"We can do this," she said, her voice steady despite the overwhelming odds. "Together."
Reazeal nodded, his heart steadying. He knew that the odds were stacked against them, but they had always fought together. And together, they could overcome anything.
The Harbinger's laughter echoed through the air, mocking them. "Foolish mortals. You cannot stand against the end of everything."
Reazeal's grip on Duskcarve tightened as he focused. The power of the Beasts within him surged, and for a brief moment, he felt the pulse of their energy—wild, untamed, but potent. He had learned to control it in the heat of battle before. He could do it again.
He raised Duskcarve high, channeling the energy of the Beasts through it. The blade began to glow with a blinding light, its edge crackling with dark energy. Reazeal's body hummed with the power that now flowed through him, and for the first time, he felt truly alive.
Lysara stepped forward, her own sword raised in unison with his. The two of them stood side by side, ready to face the Harbinger once again.
"This is not the end," Reazeal declared, his voice echoing with newfound strength. "This is just the beginning."
With a battle cry, he charged forward, Lysara at his side. The Harbinger's eyes narrowed in fury, and it raised its hand to strike, but it was too late.
The two warriors collided with the dark figure in a burst of light and energy. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the air, and for a moment, everything went silent.
Then, with a deafening roar, the world around them shook.
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End of Chapter 20.