Suddenly, Senshou's trembling hand reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, radiant artifact. Before anyone could react, he crushed it in his palm and consumed the shimmering essence within. The atmosphere shifted immediately, growing heavy and oppressive.
Above the arena, a figure appeared, standing effortlessly in mid-air. Clad in a dark cloak, the mysterious figure gazed down with a sinister grin. "Fufufu… it seems that he's used it," they said, their voice carrying a strange, almost mocking tone.
The Maestros, scattered throughout the arena, reacted instantly. Maestro Evengarde Rest's eyes widened with recognition. "That artifact… it's an
The urgency in his voice was palpable. The crowd erupted into chaos as people scrambled to escape. The ground beneath Senshou began to crack and shift as an overwhelming energy surged through his body.
Senshou, now standing unnaturally still, started speaking in a low, ominous tone. "Dread… It's everywhere. The world is filled with it, and yet none of you understand its weight. But I do. I will become its vessel."
As his words echoed across the arena, his body began to change. His frame expanded grotesquely, muscles tearing and reforming, his skin becoming scaly and dark. Ice began to erupt from the ground around him, freezing everything it touched. The transformation escalated rapidly, and within moments, Senshou's form towered over the arena, his body now that of an enormous serpent-like beast.
The Maestros' faces hardened. Maestro Evengarde Rest shoved Leo backward, forcing him out of the immediate danger zone. "Stay out of this, Leo! This is beyond anything you've faced."
Leo stumbled but caught himself, frustration flashing in his eyes. "But—"
"No arguments!" Rest snapped, his voice firm. "We'll handle this."
The transformed Senshou let out a deafening roar that shook the ground. His serpent-like body coiled around the remains of the arena, his head looming high above, his glowing eyes filled with malice.
Maestro Luminous Arclight's voice cut through the chaos. "He's become
Maestro Arcanos Duskweaver nodded grimly. "The same one your ancestor defeated, Rest. But now, it's stronger… and angrier."
As if on cue, the serpent unleashed a massive energy beam from its mouth, obliterating what remained of the arena. The Maestros barely managed to dodge, each of them moving with supernatural speed.
Maestro Evengarde Rest's gaze shifted upward, locking onto the mysterious figure still hovering in the air. His expression darkened. "So, you're behind this."
The figure smirked but said nothing, their posture relaxed as if they were merely observing a game.
Rest turned to the other Maestros. "Take care of the serpent. I'll deal with him."
Without waiting for a response, Rest teleported, reappearing in front of the cloaked figure. They exchanged a few terse words, their voices inaudible amidst the chaos below. Then, simultaneously, they drew their weapons—Rest's gleaming Purple Cloud clashing against the dark, otherworldly weapon wielded by the mysterious figure. Their battle began, a blur of motion and flashes of energy high above the serpent.
Meanwhile, the other three Maestros faced the colossal beast. Its icy scales shimmered in the dim light, and its movements were terrifyingly swift for a creature of its size.
Arcanos Duskweaver raised her staff, the air around her whipping into a violent storm. "Fourth Art: Heavenly Gale!"
A series of razor-sharp wind blades tore through the air, slicing into the serpent's scales. The beast roared in pain, thrashing wildly. But even as the attacks landed, the serpent's wounds began to freeze over, the ice regenerating its flesh.
Luminous Arclight stepped forward, his spear glowing with divine energy. "Fourth Art: The Hand of God!"
A massive pillar of light erupted from a sigil in the sky, slamming into the serpent with immense force. The ground shook as the attack connected, the sheer brightness blinding everyone nearby. For a moment, it seemed as though the serpent was subdued.
But then, the beast reared back, its maw glowing with a dark, icy energy. With a deafening roar, it unleashed a colossal energy beam, cutting through the light and forcing the Maestros to scatter. The blast tore through the cityscape, leaving a path of destruction in its wake.
Maestro Lethia Stormborne, wielding twin daggers infused with Thundercall, darted in and out of the serpent's reach. His movements were precise, each strike targeting a weak point in its scales. "We need to find a way to stop its regeneration!" he shouted.
Arcanos gritted her teeth. "Easier said than done. That core… it's amplifying its power exponentially."
As the battle raged on, Leo watched from the outskirts, his fists clenched. He felt useless, sidelined while the Maestros fought against the overwhelming threat. His thoughts were a whirlwind of frustration and determination.
"I can't just stand here," he muttered to himself. "I have to do something."
But before he could act, a familiar voice echoed in his mind. "Patience, Leo," Virtue's voice said, calm and steady. "This is not your fight. Not yet."
Leo hesitated, his grip on his sword tightening. "But… if they can't stop it…"
"They will," Virtue assured him. "Trust in them. And when the time comes, you'll know what to do."
Taking a deep breath, Leo stepped back, forcing himself to watch as the battle unfolded. He could only hope that the Maestros' combined strength would be enough to overcome the Doom of Caeranthil and whatever dark plans the mysterious figure had in store.