" Hello there,"
The room trembled as the orb turned a deep, menacing purple. Dark smoke swirled like serpents around it, slithering toward Elara. She reached for it, and the moment her fingers touched its surface, the dark tendrils surged into her. Elara gasped, a low moan escaping her lips as power coursed through her veins, arching her back. Her staff glowed pure purple, trembling as though alive, and she began to ascend midair slowly, her form radiating an unholy light.
"Oh my goodness," she purred, her voice thick with satisfaction. "This feels incredible." A sinister laugh escaped her lips, echoing through the chamber. The orb continued to feed her, its energy reshaping her. Her eyes turned a glowing purple, short horns protruded from her scalp, and her skin shimmered with an unearthly glow. Elara was no longer human—she had become a being of raw, chaotic power.
Billy staggered to his feet, his fists clenched in shock and fury.
"You can't stop her, son," King Morphine said, pulling himself up beside him.
"What do we do now?" Billy asked, his voice trembling as he handed his father the lightning staff.
King Morphine gripped the staff tightly, his eyes shutting as he muttered under his breath. Sparks of lightning began to flicker and crawl across his body, growing brighter and more intense.
"What are you doing, Dad?" Billy asked, stepping back as the electric charge enveloped the king.
" I have one more thing to try,"
The energy crackled violently, illuminating the chamber with blinding blue light.
Elara, mid-transformation, turned toward the noise. Her lips curled into a mocking smile. "Oh, it looks like someone wants to transform too. How hilarious!"
A bolt of lightning struck King Morphine from above, enveloping him in a cocoon of electric light. Elara shielded her eyes with her staff, the sheer brightness forcing her to retreat midair. When the light dimmed, she opened her eyes—only to see a glowing blue orb racing toward her.
It hit her squarely in the chest, sending her tumbling backward.
"Ugh!" she growled, scanning the room for the source of the attack. Another blow struck her side, the speed too quick for her to counter.
Billy watched in awe as his father—now surrounded by a golden-blue aura—moved with blinding speed, attacking Elara relentlessly. But as she stumbled, the orb slipped from her grasp.
"No!" Elara screamed, diving for it. But before her fingers could close around the orb, a blast of electricity from King Morphine's staff erupted, halting her advance.
For a moment, it seemed like victory was near. But Elara, now glowing with dark energy, conjured a protective bubble of purple smoke that absorbed the attack. With a scream of rage, she unleashed a massive ball of dark energy that hurtled toward King Morphine, knocking him off his feet. He crashed into the rubble, his aura flickering as he struggled to rise.
Billy's eyes burned with fury. "You won't get away with this!" he roared, his body glowing with pure blue energy.
Elara sighed, rolling her eyes. "Ahg....Again? You're exhausting, Billy."
She raised her staff and, with a single strike, sent him hurtling to the ground beside his father.
"So disappointing," she sneered, descending to retrieve the orb.
But a sharp cough from across the room stopped her. She turned, her eyes narrowing.
"Mum? Mum, you did it!" Kai exclaimed, stepping forward.
"Of course, son," Elara said, her voice softening. "All thanks to you." She held out the orb, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "Here, want to feel unstoppable?"
Kai's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "My pleasure," he said, stepping closer.
"Not so fast," a sharp, commanding voice rang out.
Everyone froze. Elara and Kai turned to see a figure emerging from the shadows. Queen Lysandra stood tall, her blonde hair tousled, her patient robes tattered, but her presence radiating authority.
"You're awake?" Elara stammered, her voice betraying her shock. "But how—"
"Hand over the orb. Now," Lysandra ordered, striding toward them barefoot but fearless.
Elara's shock gave way to rage. "Never!" she screamed, unleashing a blast of dark energy.
Lysandra's eyes glowed golden, as beams of lasers shot forth obliterating the attack and shattering Elara's staff into fragments.
"No!" Elara gasped, stumbling backward.
Kai seized the orb, gripping it tightly as a swirling black hole portal appeared behind him. "We need to go," he said, grabbing his mother's hand.
But Lysandra was faster. She summoned an alternate portal, its golden light countering the pull of the black hole.
"There's no escape, Elara," she said, her voice steady.
Elara's eyes glowed purple as she smirked. She pointed two fingers at her eyes, then at Lysandra.
A shadow beast materialized behind Lysandra, snarling as it lunged. She turned, blasting it into nothingness with a burst of light—but the momentary distraction was enough. When she turned back, Elara and Kai were gone, the black hole portal swallowing them whole.
"Dammit," Lysandra muttered, her fists clenching.
Magus Ben rushed in, helping King Morphine to his feet.
"Are you all right, Your Highness?"
"I'll live," the king replied, his voice weak.
Lysandra turned, her gaze softening as it fell on Billy.
"Mother?" Billy whispered, his voice cracking.
"My little beast..." she called out lovingly to her only child who she hadn't seen in five years.
Billy ran to her, wrapping her in a fierce hug. For the first time in years, he felt at peace.
---
The black hole portal appeared and Kai and mother jumped out landing peacefully on a dry ground in vast plains somewhere . The portal then vanished. They looked at each other and the Dark Orb in his hands and they smiled.
" You did it," Kai said.
" No no, we did it,together," she said and they hugged.
"They is someone missing in this family hug mom."
" I know, I will go back for her. But what's this place?"
Around them were nothing but dry plains with no single vegetation cover. Only dust and dirt could be seen from horizon to horizon.
To Be Continued...