The mist began to crumble under its weight, revealing the night sky above, where the rift radiated light onto the monster's new form. The humanoid creature bore more human features, with strands of hair shifting on its head, blank eyes and traces of exoskeletal lining etched across its body. It walked toward the deity to finish her off. Arifea's motionless body from which the infection continued to spread, paralyzing her and leaving her vulnerable to attack. The line traced where its mouth opened, revealing an abyss filled with sharp teeth and writhing tendrils.
As Selah pounded on the bubble from the inside, she shouted at the top of her lungs, trying to wake Arifea and escape the danger.
In that critical moment, a metallic figure bursts through the veil of crumbling mist, calling out for her. It was Clause, riding his flying machine equipped with dual attachments.
Clause: Selah, hang in there, I have come to rescue you!
The machine landed on two robotic legs, leaving trails on the ground as it stood tall. It emitted a sudden announcement in a language from an ancient forgotten civilization.
Purging machine: M̾a̾s̾t̾e̾r̾,̾ ̾w̾h̾a̾t̾ ̾i̾s̾ ̾y̾o̾u̾r̾ ̾n̾e̾x̾t̾ ̾o̾r̾d̾e̾r̾?̾
Then it remained inactive, as if waiting for its next instruction, creating an awkward silence in the air.
Inside the cockpit, beads of perspiration dripping from his forehead, felt unsure of what to do next. In a moment of panic, he pressed and mashed the controls, inadvertently causing the purging machine to dance comically while playing country music.
The monster then closed its mouth shut and shifted its attention toward the metallic object out of curiosity. Clause, peering at the monitor inside the machine, fear etched across his face as he stared straight at the humanoid creature before him, his hands shaking uncontrollably.
It then kicked the purging machine, sending it rolling a distance away, where a huge dent was easily visible on its front. Hovering above, the monster attempted various methods of torturing the metallic object, testing the limits of its newfound power and body.
Due to the violent shaking and sustained external damage, the machine activated its Automatic Extermination Sequence or (A.X.I.S.), setting its new ordinance. Smoke billowed from its sides, creating a dense smokescreen. Having learned from its previous mistakes, the monster leapt back, observing carefully and no longer underestimating its enemy.
Inside the smoke, a series of buzzing sounds echoed, followed by the clanking of contracting metal and the crackle of sparks. From the haze emerged the true form of the purging machine. A towering, humanoid machine with a sleek, armored exterior and jagged edges, its glowing eyes piercing the darkness and a C.O.R.E. logo painted on its side.
Its robotic legs were reinforced for stability, while its arms ended in sharp, claw-like appendages, each equipped with massive cannons with charging light bars. Clause was startled and confused by what was happening, the monitors in front of him flashing "Warning" signs as a crosshair tilted and locked onto the target.
In a split second, the purging machine activated its boosters, launching forward at Mach 7. Clause was quickly encased in a safety suit, with straps securing him tightly and an oxygen mask covering his face. Despite the protection, the immense force was brutal, causing his facial skin to swell under the pressure.
To the monster's surprise, the machine's attack was effective, even against its new form, sending it flying at a distance. Floating just above the ground for faster mobility, it then quickly scanned the area to minimize collateral damage and ensure no casualties. Surged forward, catching the monster by its leg midair and hurling it into the sky. As the bars on its cannons turned green, the machine aimed and fired a powerful beam. Its shoulders opened, releasing ten metallic objects that pursued the monster, culminating in a massive explosion that illuminated the sky.
Selah looked up, both surprised and amazed by her father's powerful arsenal. She noticed that Arifea's body was steadily dissipating. Feeling the strength return to her arms, she punched through the bubble and rushed towards the deity, desperately. She asked her to communicate through their usual mental link but this time, there was no response.
As debris fell from the sky, a charred, smoke-covered figure plummeted to the ground, looking severely burned. Clause glanced at his monitor and realized he might have won. Overcome with excitement, he threw his hands in the air and began jumping up and down, unaware that the machine outside was mimicking his movements exactly.
But as things stood, the fight was far from over. The machine detected a sudden surge in energy and immediately switched back to battle mode.
The charred figure lifted itself up. As it scooped up an ash from the ground, it noticed glowing objects among the debris. It realized that small particles laced within the weapons used against it had weakened it.
The machine's efficient programming did not waste any time and unleashed another merciless barrage of attacks as smoke formed at the monster's location.
Selah looked at her father with concern, her hands clutching Arifea's hand. The monster's eyes dilated in rage as it examined the machine's weaponry, analyzing that it was all made from materials that could actually hurt it. It stood up and healed itself completely in an instant, not minding the explosions and smoke. Enraged, it let out a deafening wail, bringing the machine to an abrupt halt.
The monster then stretched out its right arm, and an object materialized from nothing, similar to Arifea's ability. Moisture in the air coalesced into an icy weapon with a pointed hilt and icy guard cross on either side. It raised the sword, and the blade absorbed a massive amount of ethereal energy, causing it to glow brightly proving that the creature had now acquired the ability to harness manifestation powers.
As the swelling energies coursed through it, the sword morphed, the rough edges fell away, transforming into a formidable great sword. Throbbing blue veins runs through the blade.
Sensing the danger, the machine acted simultaneously, transforming the cockpit's interior, reversing Clause's position converting it into an escape pod that discreetly launched Clause to a safe spot, all while a smoke screen covered his escape.
The monster, now tremendously faster, appeared in front of the machine with blinding speed and, in an instant, sliced it in half. Selah screamed, calling for her dad, but fortunately the machine was now empty. As the lights on the machine blinked erratically, the monster swung its sword once more, blasting the machine into pieces and leaving a massive trail of smoke and deep carvings on the ground.
In that very moment, the monster levitated an inch off the ground and stood before Selah. Startled, she instinctively defends herself, but the monster effortlessly caught her hand and lifted her into the air, and threw her aside to enjoy a delectable meal. It opened its gaping maw once again, ready to devour her.
However, as it was about to take a bite, Selah, recovered her footing, grabbed and threw a stone at the back of the monster's head, immediately irritating it. Its eyes flashed red, glowing fiercely as it swung its sword in her direction.
Fortunately, the spirits from the forest returned to aid their master and shielded Selah with a barrier that blocked the monster's slash. A pink-eyed, rabbit-like creature with fluffy mane and oversized ears leaped onto Selah's shoulder, making her feel lighter. As the monster prepared to unleash another attack, a blue crescent-shaped energy hurtled toward her. Selah, recalling the previous encounters, managed to evade its strikes with newfound agility.
The monster kept throwing slashes, and as Selah dodged them deftly, she realized that the creature's actions, though not deliberate, were destroying the forest that held wonderful memories she had shared with Arifea and the spirits that dwelled within it. Pain filled her heart as she watched the beauty of the forest being torn apart. Feeling a heaviness in her legs, she stopped in her tracks and prepared to face the slash head-on when she heard a faint sound.
Arifea: Se.. Selah..
Hearing this, Selah dodged the slash with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. She commanded the spirits to surround the monster and launch simultaneous attacks, but the creature casually brushed them off like a speck of dirt. Undeterred, Selah leaped forward and unleashed a powerful kick to the monster's face, but it easily caught her leg. Thanks to her flexibility and acrobatic expertise, she spun around and launched another kick, this time landing a solid hit on the monster's face before leaping away.
But despite it all, the monster remained in the same spot, no longer interested, thinking it had seen it all.
Selah felt a sharp pain in her gut, realizing that the monster had already stabbed her from behind before gently raising her and throwing her aside. It then turned back to slaughter the remaining spirits and proceed to devour Arifea. The echoes of the spirits rang in her ears like painful cries, as tears streamed down her face, droplet scatters on the ground like precious gem.
Then, as the monster took another gnaw, its mouth snapped shut, tasting nothing. Arifea's body dissipated into blue energy, merging with Selah's pendant. It looked around, noticing similar blue energies emanating from the forest spirits, who were also merging with their master.
The pendant glowed with a brilliant bluish light and encasing the pendant with extra layer, illuminating the surroundings. Selah's form shimmered as her hair, once a beautiful vermilion, transformed into a lighter shade, her entire body enshrouded in emanating Erbecea's wrath.
Feeling an ominous energy forming, the monster didn't take any chances and attacked Selah with a powerful swing of its sword, unleashing a devastating slash. However, as the attack reached her, the monster was shocked to see Selah manipulate its trajectory, deflecting the strike back at point-blank range. Its eyes widened in disbelief as the slash connected.
Clause crawled out of the forest and beheld his daughter's transformation. Though her appearance remained unmistakably Selah, her demeanor was something entirely different.
The bleak feeling hung in the air as some of the spirits that never made it out alive, lay across the ground riddling it with death. The mist drew closer, covering the remaining space.
Disappointment etched across the monster's face as it stood up and leaped toward Selah, who faced it head-on. The impact rippled through the air, sending shockwaves across the forest. As the monster unleashed a powerful downward slash, Selah caught it by crossing her arms, causing the ground beneath her to crack and form a crater from the impact.
Their exchange lasted for a few moments, with both of them appearing evenly matched. But unbeknownst to anyone, Selah's mortal body reaching its limit, the sustained wound was taking its toll, and losing too much blood caused her consciousness to wane once more. Selah leaped back, clutching the wound and breathing heavily, looking weakened.
The monster opens its mouth in anticipation, revealing its jagged teeth, confident of its victory. Selah felt a surge of terror as it underwent another transformation. Its body appeared more mature in mere seconds. A pair of wings sprouted from its back, and a halo-like aura appeared over its head, radiating with dark energies, terrifyingly as it rushed towards her.
Its attacks now felt heavier, each one sending powerful waves of dark energy. Selah also noticed that the monster before her was no longer attacking solely by instinct. It expertly finds every opening, causing further torment for her, wounds all across her body. Then, as the monster spoke, her eyes widened as she suddenly able to comprehend it.
Monster: ĐØ ɎØɄ Ʉ₦ĐɆⱤ₴₮₳₦Đ ₦Ø₩, ₮ⱧɆ Đł₣₣ɆⱤɆ₦₵Ɇ ł₦ ØɄⱤ ₱Ø₩ɆⱤ?
Selah: I will never forgive you, monster!
Surprised, the monster halted its attack and conversed with Selah, its tone laced with malice.
Monster: How dare you call me a mere monster, I am Draknorax, the strongest general of Ecria!
Selah was unsure of what to say, for the monster had led her to believe that her actions were now meaningless against him. He did not shy away to reveal the secret of his endless power and his true intentions a revelation that terrified her to her very core.
Draknorax: Even at the beginning of time, we were created as the natural predators of humanity. We, as perfect beings, stand at the pinnacle of power without any flaws. Unlike you, inferior human, who were driven by emotions, are indecisive, frail and die so easily. We the superior race are not limited, we continue to live on for eons, devouring and destroying your world no matter how many times you attempt to rebuild it. We are your enemies, and you are the prey!
As Draknorax laughed maniacally, Selah felt the effects of withdrawal from harnessing too much power. Her glow began to fade retreating into the pendant. When she came about, the blood loss made her feel dizzy from anemia. When her demeanor returned to normal, Draknorax leaned toward her and whispered into her ear.
Draknorax: Is that the best you've got?
Clause: Selah!
Clause rushed towards Selah, realizing the danger Selah warned her dad not to come closer but it was too late.
Draknorax: Witness as I kill your father in-front of you in a slow painful death.
Selah: Father! Run! Don't come close!
Clause kept running toward her direction, unaware of the danger that the monster was a blur approaching him with terrifying speed. It opened its gaping maw, and with each passing moment, despair deepened in Selah's heart as she watched the monster draw closer.
Selah finally gave in, closing her eyes, crying, and covering her ears. But before her hands reached her ears, a loud bang resounded. Something struck the giant tree with such force it shattered and fall. In that fleeting moment, Clause found himself beside Selah, dumbfounded. She looked at her father, wearing the same expression, and with tears in her eyes, she hugged him tightly in utter disbelief that he's okay.
Her senses guided her to examine the swirling haze, which slowly revealed a young man clad in dark, unusual attire of that age, form-fitting gloves, a high-collared neckpiece hugged his throat, lined with a faintly glowing trim that matched the patterns on his jacket.
His pants were made from a durable, lightweight material, featuring strategically placed pockets and reinforced sections for added protection, tapered down to sleek, ankle-high boots with shock-proof soles. In his ear hung small, geometric earrings that glinted with a soft, azure light. His jet-black hair fell messily across his forehead, framing sharp, focused eyes.
Selah: This guy, is he from the poster?
Clause: Were safe now.
Selah looked at her dad, sensing he had connections with the person in front of them. He shrugged, pretending not to know anything, and waved his hands in denial to convince her otherwise. She then regarded him with a blank stare. Clause sweating profusely.
Draknorax rose from beneath the imposing tree with a broken jaw. And picked up his sword with his mouth dripping with saliva.
Draknorax: And who is it this time?
The young man just simply walked calmly towards him with, his face is painted with shadow as the brilliance of the rift continues to shower the surrounding with light, Draknorax quickly sensed danger and healed his dislocated jaw.
Draknorax: Ah, I see. You humans, with your inferior minds, never learn. No matter how many times you try, no matter the numbers your race's fate is leads only to extinction!
Draknorax extended his arms towards the pulsating rift above the land and beheld its beauty. With pure admiration he boasts how doomed the world beyond.
Draknorax: At my signal, swarms upon swarms of Ecrian race will invade this world once more. Each can level a city. I have tested your strength, and none of you can withstand our irresistible power. Your world is finished! Behold!
But no matter how many times he called upon reinforcements from within the void, the darkness remained pristine. His eyes focused as he took a closer look with his enhanced vision and was surprised to see a mesh-like network blocking the entrance and slowly restoring the rift.
Draknorax: What is going on, what did you do? What did you d- …
But before he finished his sentence, he was answered in a condescending tone by the young man with jet-black hair.
Soren: Soren, and he's not interested in what you are selling.
Cutting him off with another destructive punch to his gut, he sprawled onto the ground, confused yet relishing this type of painful sensation, which was foreign to him.
Draknorax: Urk!
Selah and Clause could not see the ongoing battle due to the veil of fog that covered the surroundings, along with the receding radiance from the closing rift above. However, thanks to an ability borrowed from Arifea, Selah channeled her manifestation into her eyes, but despite this, the only time she is able to see clearly is when an impact strong enough pushes the mist away, creating space for a clearer view.
Clause: Your eyes, what are those?
Selah: This is a power lent to me by a friend.
Clause, feeling proud of his daughter's growth in such a short period of time, smiled as he wiped away his tears with his sleeve.
Selah: Father, are you crying?
Clause: This is nothing, sniffles.
Meanwhile, Draknorax and Soren exchanged devastating blows, but Draknorax felt as if Soren gaining on him with each strike. Draknorax planted his great sword in the ground, conjuring ice shards against his foe, but Soren effortlessly punched through the ice, landing a blow straight to Draknorax's face, caving it in and sent him tumbling on the ground. Draknorax forcefully stopped his momentum by using his flight ability and the strength of his wings.
Suspended in the air, he flew above the misty veil, Draknorax touched his face, his palm drenched in his own blood. He thought to himself that the irregularity before him was against the reality he had ever pictured, completely unaware of the possibility of him losing.
Filled with pure rage and frustration, Draknorax forces his body to undergo another mutation, dark energies swirling around him. Soren looks above as if he anticipated the anomaly.
Draknorax: You an inferior defeating me? impossible!!
Draknorax raised his great-sword, and the radiant light emanating from its manifestation was blighted and assimilated into his own dark energies. The sword's natural blue hue turned a reddish-purple. The next thing that happened surprised Selah as he stabbed himself with the sword, absorbing the energy within into his own.
Draknorax: I… swear, in the name of our race and our lord, that I will destroy this world!
After an agonizing transformation, the sword that had been perched on his chest began to lose its glow and crumbled away, revealing a symbol of darkness on his chest. He looked up and straightened his body, convulsing, as a crack formed seamlessly from his forehead to his chin, beginning to peel away completing his metamorphosis. Draknorax's new appearance radiated with a purple-reddish glow. Six pairs of wings extended from his back, and his halo burned with flames atop his head, signifying his otherworldly power. His red, circular eyes were fixed on Soren.
Draknorax: Ngh…
Soren suddenly sensed a slight distortion in space, as he was about to launch himself above to make contact, a warning from his earring stopped him in his tracks.
Earring: Warning: massive energy output imminent...
Sensing the danger, Selah urged her father to leave the area immediately. He nodded and pulled a propeller-like artifact from his pocket, which lifted them into the air just in time. A powerful surge of energy scorched the entire forest, enveloping it in a huge blast creating a massive crater that razed the ground where they had been sitting moments earlier, watching the battle unfold in the sky.
Draknorax looking down sensing any signs of life, stretched his right arm again and unleashed another powerful blast that razed the ground even more, as the crater reached a nearby lake, water starts pouring down its massive basin leading into the center.
A few moments passed with no movement, confident that the enemy was gone for good, it descended to inspect the remains of his poor victim. Just as its toes were about to touch the ground, a hand emerged from beneath the rubble. Soren, with only a few scratches and torn pieces of clothing, caught him by surprise, smashing it deep into the ground with sheer force.
The monster, now lying face down, glanced at Soren and used a skill similar to H'reig's, making its body heavier. His legs were buried underground, but that didn't stop him. At a terrifying agility and prowess, he grabbed Draknorax by the head and dragged him across edge until smashing him into the rocks. As water flowed, an explosion erupted as Draknorax tried to retaliate, extending both arms and shooting a concentrated blast of energy from his palms.
As a flurry of attacks filled the battlefield with dust, Soren seized the opportunity. He stealthily sneaked behind Draknorax, gripping both wings before tearing them apart, causing him to scream in an agonizing pain. In the midst of his screams, Soren delivered a powerful axe-kick to his head, slamming him to the ground preventing any chance of escape.
Selah: Amazing, just who is he?
As Draknorax crawled out from the rubble, his usual glow slowly faded, his body clearly reacting to the brutality he had endured. He vomited blood a clear sign that he had reached his limit. Soren calmly walked toward him once again, his adversary did something out of ordinary.
Draknorax stretched out his arms prompting him to stop, realizing it was the same thing his victims, the bandits, had done so when he held the upper hand. Which is one of the most human things to do, he looked at his hands and screamed in humiliation.
Consumed by desperation disregarding the consequences, Draknorax grew a third eye on his forehead, concentrated all of his energy in one spot. However, Soren had already seen through his schemes, made a bold and calculated move.
As Draknorax was about to unleash his most powerful attack yet. With incredible speed, Soren built momentum, precisely timing his attack to coincide with the peak of his kinetic built up. By utilizing a mechanism that harnessed and reciprocated the impact, he effectively converted the stored energy into a devastating force. This amplification of his strike delivered a blow of significantly greater power back to Draknorax, leveraging both acceleration and energy transfer to maximize the impact. Sending the energy into the air illuminating the night sky.
Soren's right fist pointed directly at Draknorax, his gloves burned away to reveal the bare fist beneath. Smoke filled the upper half of his body, obscuring him. Finally, he pulled back his arm and stood motionless, facing Draknorax with a blank expression.
As the smoke dissipated, it revealed that half of Draknorax's body had been incinerated, his head lying at a distance but still conscious. As Soren walked past Draknorax's lifeless body, it fell down and crumbled into dust. Draknorax lay vulnerable gazing at the rift, which had turned into a thin line before closing in almost completely, at final moment, expresses his frustrations.
Draknorax: Th... this can't be, to be defeated by an inferior human, me a perfect being?!
Selah and Clause landed safely at a distance, her eyes still fixated on the ongoing confrontation, though she couldn't hear what they are talking about.
Soren: …
Draknorax: That's right, yes, you are not human, you are just like me! Of course, there's no way you, a mere human with no special abilities could stand against me!
Soren pointed to his earing.
Soren: Thanks to you, I've gathered enough data from our fight useful for studying your kind. I hope, with your thick skull, noticed that I relied solely on brute force to take you down. Statistically speaking, using you as standard, I think, I could take on at least a billion of your lackeys all at once.
Draknorax couldn't believe his ears from what he heard, seethed with indignation.
Draknorax: Gaaah!! I refuse accept this! It can't end like this, I can still fi- …
But before he could finish his words, Soren smashed him, his scattered pieces crumbled to dust, ending his reign of terror once and for all. As a fresh dawn broke on the horizon, Soren stood up, staring at the rift that had already vanished, restoring the peace.