All eyes turned toward the figure stepping forward from the shadows. Her presence alone commanded the battlefield, leaving soldiers frozen in both fear and awe. It was Seltharia Astraen, the legendary general of the Third Division of Solarys' Army, a name that resonated with both reverence and trepidation. Unlike Draxor, whose strength was celebrated, Seltharia was considered a living pillar of Solarys' existence. Her rank and power far exceeded most, making her one of the most revered generals in the history of the kingdom.
Seltharia strode forward with unshakable calm, her steps resonating like a drumbeat of war. Her armor shimmered with starlight, radiating an aura that was both regal and deadly. Her silvery hair seemed to carry the light of distant galaxies, and her eyes, an entrancing mix of golden and deep blue, pierced through anyone who dared meet her gaze. In her hand, she carried the legendary blade Divine Star, its celestial runes glowing faintly with an ethereal blue light. The sword was said to draw power from the stars themselves, and the aura surrounding it pushed back the oppressive darkness.
The soldiers around her trembled, overwhelmed by the sheer presence of someone they never expected to see. Generals of her rank rarely appeared on the battlefield. In fact, they only gathered every two thousand years to celebrate the founding of Solarys alongside the king before returning to their respective worlds and galaxies to maintain order.
DARKNESS: (laughing maniacally) "Let me guess… another general. They already sent one of your kind, and it didn't end well for him. Draxor and that little girl were amusing, but neither could match me. What makes you think you'll be any different?"
Seltharia drew her sword slowly, its light intensifying as the celestial runes flared. Her gaze was sharp and resolute, and her voice was colder than ice.
SELTHARIA: "If Draxor and Naelia failed to stop you, it only means you are a threat that must be eradicated—now."
With fluid precision, Seltharia raised her blade toward the sky, summoning a storm of radiant energy. Lightning danced around the sword, crackling with cosmic fury. Pointing the blade toward Darkness, Seltharia spoke with thunderous authority:
SELTHARIA: "Be gone."
A torrent of light erupted from her blade, tearing through the battlefield. The energy engulfed Darkness, disintegrating her entirely. The oppressive shroud that had enveloped Solarys dissipated in an instant. The sun, once dimmed by the creeping shadows, burned brightly again, illuminating the planet in its full glory. The monstrous creatures that had plagued the battlefield vanished as though they had never existed. Cheers erupted across the battlefield as soldiers and survivors alike began to celebrate their apparent victory.
But Seltharia remained still, her expression unreadable as her gaze lingered on the horizon. In a low, somber tone, she muttered:
SELTHARIA: (softly) "This isn't over…"
Her words proved true as a deafening scream pierced the sky, sending a chill through every soul. Above them, a sphere of darkness materialized, pulsating with malevolence. From it echoed a single word, repeating endlessly, like a death knell across the heavens:
DISSONANT VOICE: "Death… Death…"
Seltharia's sharp eyes darted to the sky. Her expression shifted to one of alarm as she witnessed countless stars from distant galaxies falling toward Solarys, drawn to the sphere of darkness.
SELTHARIA: (in shock) "That wretched being… she destroyed hundreds of galaxies and now drags their stars here!"
Acting swiftly, Seltharia poured her energy into her blade, creating an enormous barrier that enveloped the entire planet. Solarys, a planet so vast it dwarfed the human solar system a thousandfold, now rested under her protection. The falling stars collided with the barrier in a cacophony of explosions, shaking the cosmos itself, but none breached the general's formidable shield.
From the dark sphere, a figure emerged once more—Darkness, her form radiating even greater malice than before. Her voice oozed with twisted delight.
DARKNESS: (mocking) "Did you really think it would be that easy to defeat me? This is only the beginning!"
Seltharia wasted no time. She launched another luminous strike from her sword, a blinding arc of power aimed directly at Darkness. But as the light struck, it was absorbed completely, vanishing into the void without leaving a trace.
SELTHARIA: (staggering back) "What… what is this?"
Darkness extended her arms, and the remains of fallen soldiers and civilians began to stir. Lifeless bodies rose, their eyes empty and pitch-black, as if the essence of life had been ripped from them. The reanimated corpses turned toward Seltharia, their movements unnatural and terrifying.
DARKNESS: (grinning wickedly) "What's the matter, general? Don't you like my games?"
Seltharia's attempts to strike them down were futile; every beam of light she conjured was absorbed by the endless void surrounding Darkness. For the first time in centuries, fear crept into Seltharia's heart. But she quickly shook it off, her resolve strengthening.
SELTHARIA: (to herself) "I won't fail. Not now…"
Gathering every ounce of her strength, she prepared to charge at Darkness head-on. But just as she launched forward, a familiar hand grabbed her arm. Turning, she saw Draxor standing beside her.
DRAXOR: "Stop. You'll only die if you keep this up. This thing… it's beyond anything we've ever faced. Come with me."
SELTHARIA: (angrily) "Draxor! I can't abandon them!"
DRAXOR: "You'll accomplish nothing by staying here. We need to regroup and find another way. Trust me."
Before Seltharia could respond, Draxor activated his teleportation rune. In an instant, they disappeared, leaving the battlefield behind. As they vanished, Seltharia caught one last glimpse of Solarys. Darkness spread relentlessly, consuming everything in its path. The few remaining soldiers and citizens screamed in terror as they were swallowed by the void.
Darkness stood alone, her laughter echoing across the ruins of the once-glorious planet. Her voice carried a sinister edge as she repeated her grim mantra:
DARKNESS: "Death… destruction…"
Then, with one final chilling whisper, she spoke a name that reverberated through the void:
DARKNESS: "Where are you, Kael?"
Solarys, the proud beacon of light, was no more.
TO BE CONTINUED…