Miko leaned forward, his voice trembling with anticipation. "Elder Ralnor… please. Tell me more. I need to know everything about my father. I promise, I'll repay your kindness in the future."
Elder Ralnor chuckled, his ancient features softening. "No need for repayment, young one. I was only joking. The story of Kael is a gift, not a debt. Now, where were we? Ah, yes…"
The room grew darker, and the illusion from before reemerged, surrounding them in a battlefield of chaos and destruction.
---
The Battlefield
Kael stood in the center of the ruined land, his black-and-gold armor scratched and dirtied, his once-pristine cloak now tattered. His blonde hair clung to his sweat-drenched face, but his blue eyes burned with unyielding determination. Despite his injuries, he stood tall, his blade still glowing with celestial energy.
Above him, the Demon King loomed, standing atop his massive dragon. The beast's scales shimmered like molten lava, its eyes burning with unholy fire. The Demon King's red-and-black armor was cracked and torn, revealing glimpses of his pale, bloodied skin. Yet his aura remained menacing, his crimson eyes alight with malice.
"You're persistent, Kael," the Demon King sneered. "But persistence won't save you. This battle ends now."
---
The Demon King's Ultimate Power
The Demon King raised his left hand, biting into his palm. Blood poured from the wound, defying gravity as it floated into the air, swirling into a vortex of crimson light. He began tracing ancient runes in the sky, each one glowing ominously as they formed a massive magic circle.
Kael's eyes narrowed. "So, you're going all out now."
The Demon King grinned, his voice a low growl. "I will reduce this battlefield to nothingness. Rite of Oblivion!"
The sky turned black as the magic circle expanded, engulfing the heavens in an eerie red glow. Bolts of dark energy shot down, tearing through the earth and sending shockwaves across the land. The dragon roared, its breath adding streams of black fire to the devastation.
---
Kael's Counterattack
Kael planted his sword into the ground, drawing upon his deepest reserves of power. He closed his eyes, his voice calm yet resolute. "You're not the only one with tricks up your sleeve."
He raised his hand, summoning an ethereal sigil that radiated with light. "Guardians of the elements, hear my call! Lend me your strength!"
The ground trembled as four massive figures materialized around Kael, each one representing an elemental force:
1. Earth Guardian: A towering golem of stone and crystal, its every step shaking the ground.
2. Light Guardian: A radiant figure of pure energy, blinding to behold.
3. Dark Guardian: A shadowy entity wreathed in tendrils of darkness, its form constantly shifting.
4. Space Guardian: A cosmic being with a shimmering, star-speckled form, its very presence bending reality.
The Guardians stood beside Kael, their combined auras radiating immense power.
Kael smirked, gripping his sword tightly. "Let's see how your darkness fares against the light of creation itself."
---
The Clash of Ultimates
The Demon King roared in defiance, unleashing a barrage of dark energy and fire from his dragon. The Earth Guardian stepped forward, its massive arms forming a barrier of stone that absorbed the attack. The Light Guardian retaliated, firing a beam of pure light that pierced the sky, forcing the Demon King to retreat momentarily.
The Dark Guardian lashed out with tendrils of shadow, wrapping around the dragon's wings and pulling it down. The Space Guardian warped the battlefield, creating portals that redirected the Demon King's attacks back at him.
"You think this changes anything?" the Demon King bellowed. "I will destroy you all!"
Kael raised his sword, its energy intensifying. "Not if I destroy you first!"
---
The Most Powerful Techniques
The battle escalated, each side unleashing devastating techniques:
1. Kael's Ultimate: Starfall Barrage
Kael pointed his blade to the sky, summoning a cascade of stars. Each one descended with the force of a meteor, obliterating everything in their path. The Demon King countered with streams of dark energy, but the stars overwhelmed his defenses, forcing him to summon a shield of shadows.
2. Demon King's Ultimate: Void Eruption
The Demon King roared, channeling the power of his blood magic. The ground cracked open, releasing waves of dark energy that consumed everything in their path. The Guardians combined their powers to form a barrier, barely holding back the destruction.
3. Kael's Combination Attack
Kael and the Guardians synchronized their efforts. The Earth Guardian hurled massive boulders, the Light Guardian amplified Kael's sword, the Dark Guardian created a vortex that weakened the Demon King's defenses, and the Space Guardian warped Kael directly to the Demon King's position.
Kael slashed with all his might, his sword glowing brighter than ever. The strike cleaved through the Demon King's shield, sending him crashing to the ground.
---
A Temporary Stalemate
Both combatants were battered and exhausted, their powers waning. The battlefield was unrecognizable, reduced to a wasteland of craters and scorched earth.
The Demon King stood slowly, blood dripping from his mouth. "You're strong, Kael. I'll give you that. But strength alone won't save you."
Kael smirked, his sword resting on his shoulder. "I'm not fighting to save myself. I'm fighting to protect everyone you seek to destroy."
The two warriors stared each other down, their energies crackling in the air.
Ralnor's voice echoed through the illusion, drawing the listeners back to the present. "This was the moment when the battle reached its peak, and the true stakes of their clash became clear. But the end… the end remains shrouded in mystery."
Miko leaned forward, his eyes wide. "What happened next?"