Chereads / Drowned Abyss / Chapter 20 - The Doom Of Caeranthil 2

Chapter 20 - The Doom Of Caeranthil 2

The clash of blades reverberated through the skies above the crumbling arena. Maestro Evengarde Rest's twin swords shimmered in the air, their edges glowing with wind magic as they parried the dark, jagged blade of his opponent. The mysterious figure—draped in shadows that seemed to writhe like living things—smirked as their weapons collided again and again, sending shockwaves through the battlefield.

"First Art: Wind Blade!" Evengarde shouted, swinging his sword in a swift arc. A crescent-shaped gust of wind tore toward the shadowy figure, splitting the air with raw precision.

The figure countered in an instant. "First Art: Dark Blade," they intoned, their voice cold and detached. A surge of inky blackness erupted from their weapon, swallowing the wind slash whole before dissipating into the void.

Evengarde's eyes narrowed. This was no ordinary adversary. The sheer skill and power they wielded matched his own, and each exchange of blows only confirmed his suspicions. He might be the strongest opponent I've faced in years, Evengarde thought. And yet, there's something more...

To test his theory, Evengarde raised a hand and tore open a shimmering portal behind him. From within, he drew forth a massive great axe, its design intricate and ancient, with gears and clock hands embedded in its surface. As the Maestro gripped the weapon, the air around him shifted, and the battlefield grew unnaturally silent.

"Let's see how you handle this," he muttered. The artifact thrummed with power as Evengarde activated it. "Chronos Control!"

Time froze. The shadows stopped writhing. The distant roar of the serpent below ceased, and the wind fell still. Evengarde stepped forward, his blade raised to strike the now-immobile figure. But before he could land the blow, the air around his opponent seemed to ripple. A crackling noise filled the stillness as the figure's body began to move, shattering the grip of frozen time.

Evengarde's eyes widened as the figure's voice broke through the silence. "Impressive," they said, their tone tinged with amusement. "But time alone won't bind me."

The temporal stasis shattered entirely, and the flow of time resumed. Evengarde took a step back, his grip on the axe tightening.

"You're a Deepwoken, aren't you?" Evengarde asked, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "The Deepwoken of Shadow."

The figure chuckled but didn't reply. Before Evengarde could press further, another presence materialized behind him. This one had piercing dark blue eyes, adorned with concentric rings that seemed to pull light into their depths. The newcomer regarded Evengarde briefly before turning to the shadowy figure.

"Lord First," the newcomer said, their tone firm but calm, "you shouldn't be doing this alone. The others won't be pleased."

Lord First—as the newcomer had called him—lowered his weapon slightly. "I was merely testing the capabilities of the host," he replied with a smirk.

Evengarde's brows furrowed. "What are you talking about? What host?"

Lord First turned to him, his expression unreadable. "You'll find out soon enough," he said. Then, addressing the newcomer, he added, "Very well. Let's not waste any more time here."

The newcomer raised a hand and grabbed the air itself, as though pulling at an invisible curtain. The fabric of reality seemed to ripple and twist before swallowing both figures whole. In an instant, they were gone, leaving Evengarde alone in the ruined sky.

He sheathed his weapons, his thoughts racing. What is their goal? And what did he mean by 'host'?

Below, chaos reigned as the three remaining Maestros faced the fully awakened Doom of Caerenthil. The massive serpent—its scales glimmering with an eerie, dark energy—towered over the city, its sheer size dwarfing the arena that was now little more than rubble.

"We can't let it reach the civilians!" Arcanos Duskweaver shouted, her voice cutting through the deafening roars of the beast. "Luminous, on my mark!"

Maestro Luminous Arclight nodded, raising her staff high into the air. A golden sigil spread across the sky, its intricate design glowing with divine energy.

The serpent lunged, its jaws wide enough to swallow buildings whole. Arcanos darted to the side, his robes billowing as he unleashed his magic. "Fourth Art: O suffocating Wind!"

A colossal storm of wind erupted from her hands, the gale-force winds slicing through the serpent's scales. The beast recoiled, but its wounds began to heal almost instantly, dark energy knitting its flesh back together.

"It regenerates?" Arcanos muttered, her expression grim.

"Then we'll have to hit it harder," Luminous said, his voice resolute. The sigil above him pulsed, and he slammed his spear into the ground. "Fourth Art: Great Star Stephenson"

A pillar of radiant star of light descended from the sky, striking the serpent with overwhelming force. The impact shattered the ground beneath the beast and sent shockwaves through the city. For a moment, it seemed as though they had succeeded. But then, the serpent let out a deafening roar, its massive tail swinging toward the Maestros.

"Scatter!" Arcanos yelled.

The three Maestros leapt in different directions, narrowly avoiding the devastating attack. The serpent reared back, energy gathering in its maw as it prepared to unleash a devastating beam.

Maestro Lethia Stormborne, who had been silently observing the fight, stepped forward. His eyes glowed with a soft, electric light as he raised his daggers. "Third Art: Great Thunder"

An electrifying barrier of lightning enveloped the area, absorbing the serpent's energy beam and redirecting it into the sky. The explosion of electricity was blinding, but the barrier held firm.

"Nice timing, Lethia," Luminous said, his tone appreciative but focused.

Lethia nodded, his gaze fixed on the serpent. "We need to attack its core," he said. "Its heart is the source of its power. Destroy that, and it'll fall."

Arcanos grinned. "Leave it to me." She raised her hands again, summoning another whirlwind of magic. "Fourth Art: Tempest Fang!"

A concentrated blade of wind shot toward the serpent's chest, piercing its scales and exposing a glowing core beneath. The serpent writhed in agony, its tail smashing into nearby buildings as it roared.

"Now, Luminous!" Lethia shouted.

Luminous channeled his energy into the sigil above, his spear glowing brighter than ever. "Fourth Art: Divine Judgment!"

A sword of light, larger and more powerful than anything they had unleashed before, descended upon the serpent's exposed core. The impact was cataclysmic, shaking the very ground beneath them. The serpent let out one final, anguished roar before its massive body began to disintegrate, breaking apart into fragments of dark energy that dissipated into the air.

The Maestros landed on the ground, breathing heavily but victorious.

"Is it over?" Arcanos asked, his voice laced with exhaustion.

Lethia nodded, though his expression remained cautious. "For now. But something tells me this isn't the last we've seen of them."

Luminous glanced at the horizon, where the sky still bore traces of the battle's aftermath. "We need answers. And we need them soon."

The three of them exchanged a solemn look before turning their attention to the ruins of the city, where survivors were beginning to emerge from hiding. The battle had been won, but the war was far from over.