Gorgoyle. The Brother They Longed For.
However, the figure standing before them was not the Gorgoyle they remembered. Ian and Gerude stood frozen, their bodies rigid, eyes wide in disbelief. The once handsome, spirited Gorgoyle was now a terrifying shadow.
The happiness they had felt moments before vanished in an instant, replaced by an overwhelming sense of worry and disappointment that gnawed at their hearts. They no longer knew what to think—too many questions flooded their minds in an instant.
Gorgoyle's body was now much larger, swollen with bulging muscles. His once bright skin was now dark, grayish-black, hard as stone. His face, once full of love, was now marred with scars that twisted his features into something grotesque and terrifying. His hair, unkempt and matted with dirt and wounds, added to the harshness of his appearance.
But what stood out most were his eyes—predatory eyes that gleamed with a sharp, golden-yellow light, horrifying and unnatural. The gleam cut through Ian and Gerude's hearts, freezing them in deep terror. These were not the eyes of their brother—they were the eyes of something else that had taken Gorgoyle's soul.
From his back, large black wings unfurled, rough-feathered and tipped with blades like swords. The wings trembled slightly, as though ready to carry the creature away. Gorgoyle's body was a powerful, threatening mass, inhuman.
Ian felt suffocated. He wanted to run, but his legs felt bound. Gorgoyle—his brother—had transformed into something unrecognizable. Anger, confusion, and fear swirled together inside him.
Gerude stared at him, mouth agape, unable to speak. Her heart shattered as she witnessed this change. They had laughed together, played together, but now, this was no longer the Gorgoyle they knew.
Ian shook his head in disbelief. "This... this can't be..." he whispered, his voice filled with rejection.
Elara stood beside them, her expression vacant. "I know this is hard," she said, her voice hoarse. "But what you see now is no longer the Gorgoyle you once knew."
Gerude looked at Elara with confusion and pain. "What do you mean? Gorgoyle... he's still here, right?" She pointed at the figure before them.
Elara lowered her head, her voice heavy with sorrow. "He's changed. Something dark took over him after the chaos. Your Gorgoyle... he's gone."
Around them, the world seemed to hold its breath. The once gentle mist now felt heavy, pressing against their chests. The sky, once clear, was now filled with dark clouds, and the wind howled, creating a sharp hiss that grew louder.
Gorgoyle stood there, his eyes locked on Ian and Gerude with an intensity that silenced them. The air thickened, forcing them to stay still even as their hearts pounded in their chests.
Gerude finally spoke, her voice barely a whisper. "Are... are you Gorgoyle?" Her voice trembled, as if questioning herself.
Gorgoyle didn't answer immediately. He stood there, his gaze deep and unreadable. Then, his mouth opened, and a cold laugh echoed in the silence, shattering the stillness around them.
"I... am no longer the Gorgoyle you knew," his voice rasped, filled with hatred. "I am something stronger. Something you cannot destroy."
Ian's heart clenched. "Why are you like this, Gorgoyle?" he whispered, full of sorrow. "We... we can fix this."
Gorgoyle laughed louder, terrifyingly. "There is no way out, Ian," he said, his voice dripping with hatred, slicing through their hope. "You'll understand soon enough. This world is already broken. We can never go back."
The atmosphere around them thickened, heavy with tension. Ian and Gerude stood frozen, trapped in a silence that suffocated them. No hope remained, only the crushing sense of loss that deepened with each passing second.
**
Elara, who had been silent until now, moved with determination. Her sharp blue eyes radiated a strength Ian and Gerude had never witnessed before. There was no fear in her gaze, only a powerful resolve flowing within her. She stepped forward, taking a few steps closer to Gorgoyle, as if testing the safe distance, while focusing the growing energy around her.
Elara's hand slowly rose. Her voice, though soft, carried an incredible power in every word she spoke. The incantation she uttered shook the air, reverberating in Ian and Gerude's chests. They could feel it—the energy building, pulling everything toward the center of the force forming between them.
Ian and Gerude could only watch, unable to move. The tension mounted, while Elara continued chanting, each syllable like a vibration tearing through the silence. Ian's heart raced, and Gerude's gaze never left Elara, who was now battling something neither of them understood.
The incantation neared its end. The energy around them trembled, like waves rising from the earth's depths. Every movement Elara made was filled with confidence—steadier, more resolute, more certain. Her voice, once soft, was now full of conviction, like an explosion ready to shatter the stillness.
As the last word of the incantation was spoken, the world fell silent. Everything seemed to stop for a moment. In that stillness, Elara lowered her hand decisively. The burst of energy she unleashed shattered the quiet, creating a wave of power that struck Gorgoyle with force. The ground beneath them trembled, and the air grew hotter.
This was the moment the battle began—two forces clashing, and only one would remain standing.
**
"My home has long been lost, witch!" Gorgoyle's voice echoed, hoarse and full of hatred. "And now, I will destroy you one by one!"
With that cry, Gorgoyle surged forward with incredible speed, his shadow merging with the surrounding darkness. His massive, gleaming claws shot towards Elara. The wind howled, and leaves and branches flew through the air. In the blink of an eye, the attack was upon Elara, ready to tear into her flesh.
However, Elara remained calm. She raised both of her hands. Without hesitation, she began to chant in an ancient tongue. "Vernitharez! Aelorae! Luminathis!" Her voice vibrated in the air, resonating with the forces of nature. The ground beneath them trembled violently, and giant tree roots erupted from the earth, moving swiftly like large serpents. The roots wrapped around Gorgoyle's body, ensnaring him with the immense power of nature.
Gorgoyle roared, his body quaking with rage. "You don't understand!" he shouted. "I have become a creature stronger than any of you!"
With a terrifying motion, the massive wings drooping from his back flared wide, creating a fierce wind that tore apart the roots entangling him.
Gorgoyle lunged again, swinging his claws without giving Elara a chance to react. This time, his attack was even stronger.
Elara was unfazed. With a movement faster than before, she dodged the attack in the blink of an eye. She began to chant again, calling upon a more powerful force. "Thyronis! Yelathar! Cindrathis!"
A bright green flash split the sky, striking Gorgoyle with incredible speed. The ensuing explosion of energy shook the earth, making everything feel turned upside down.
Gorgoyle staggered backward, his body engulfed in the green light. A scream of hatred erupted from his throat.
But Gorgoyle was not done. Trembling, he concentrated the dark energy within him, forming a sharp, glowing ball of black energy. The ball shot forward with near-untraceable speed, leaving a trail of ominous darkness in its wake.
Elara smiled, though tension hung in every passing moment. With a swift motion, she raised her right hand, and a shimmering energy shield, glowing like pale green light, appeared in front of her. The black energy ball slammed into the shield with a thunderous crash, sending out an ear-splitting explosion. The ground around them shattered, but Elara remained firm, unshaken.
"Hold!" she commanded, her voice resounding with authority. "Earth, heed our call!"
With both hands raised, Elara pressed them down onto the ground. The earth trembled more violently, and the great trees bowed. Their roots emerged, wrapping around Gorgoyle once again, trapping him in an ever-tightening grip.
This was the decisive moment. Gasping for breath, Elara gathered all her energy, determined to end this battle once and for all. "Volnathar! Rythael! Grathros!" she shouted, her voice ringing out, splitting the world apart.
The entire forest trembled violently. The trees bent, as though merging with Elara's peak power. The roots formed thick walls, imprisoning Gorgoyle within them, while the wind spiraled into a small tornado aimed directly at him.
With unmatched force, the tornado struck Gorgoyle, destroying everything in its path.
The world seemed to stop. Every second felt long, heavy. The battle had reached its climax. One thing was certain—one of them would fall.
**
Behind her, her two siblings—Ian and Gerude—prepared themselves, though they knew this battle was Elara's and Elara's alone. They could only witness a marvel beyond their understanding.
"Gorgoyle!" Elara shouted, her voice echoing, calling forth the storm. "Return to the darkness you created! This world is no place for you!"
However, there was no reply. Instead, the air was filled with an unsettling emptiness. The ground shook violently, and the great trees bent to the earth as if they could sense the power. Darkness spread, erasing the sunlight, and casting the entire world into shadow.
Elara tensed her muscles, realizing this was not merely a physical fight. This was a battle between darkness and light, life and destruction.
The forest trembled. Thunder rolled through the air, but it wasn't an ordinary lightning strike. Something massive, moving with the power to shatter mountains, slammed into the ground with a thunderous roar.
Elara leapt back, avoiding flying stone fragments. Her eyes locked onto Gorgoyle, who was now revealing his true strength. In an instant, Elara's body moved, her hand raised high.
"Vernitharez!" she whispered, channeling the power of nature. The ground beneath them trembled. Great roots emerged, like giant hands ready to snatch their prey, surrounding Gorgoyle.
But Gorgoyle evaded. He transformed into a swirling dark mist, dodging every grasping root. The black mist sped toward Elara, its velocity unfathomable.
With grace, Elara dodged, the fierce wind slapping against her body. The sky darkened further, enveloped by shadows. Yet Elara's eyes shone brightly, as though the very world itself supported her.
"Thyronis!" she cried, and the earth shuddered. Green light burst forth, illuminating the darkened sky. Nature's creatures—fire, water, air, and earth—appeared, forming a combined attack of destruction.
Gorgoyle roared in fury, attacking Elara with his sharp claws. Elara leapt aside, barely avoiding the strike. But she knew, mere evasion wouldn't suffice. With the remaining strength from nature's force, Elara raised both her hands.
"Cindrathis!" she shouted. A blinding green light filled the forest once again. Roots, stones, and water spiraled, forming a vortex of energy that grew larger, hurtling toward Gorgoyle with incredible force.
However, Gorgoyle absorbed the dark power, his body glowing black, reflecting the light. A ball of dark energy formed, spinning rapidly, exuding terrifying darkness. With a single motion, he hurled the sphere toward Elara.
The green and dark lights collided, creating an explosion that shook the earth. The ground cracked, trees were destroyed. Yet, Elara stood firm, holding the black energy ball at bay with a shield of nature that appeared in an instant.
But Gorgoyle did not relent. He shattered the shield with a devastating strike, sending Elara stumbling. Undeterred, Elara took a deep breath.
With the last of her strength, Elara released her final attack—a surge of natural energy so powerful it tore through the air. The energy blast shot toward Gorgoyle's body, piercing the darkness, and reducing him to dust that scattered in the wind.
Gorgoyle fell, his body scorched by the unstoppable force of nature. Elara dropped to her knees, panting heavily. Yet, above the shattered form of Gorgoyle, the forest became still once more, and nature began its slow healing.
Elara was certain her suffering would soon end. After a long and exhausting battle, Gorgoyle—the seemingly invincible foe—had finally fallen.
Silence haunted the forest, the mute witness to the battle that had just unfolded. The winds that usually whispered among the leaves were now absent. Only a chilling quiet remained, giving Elara space to breathe.
Yet, the fallen Gorgoyle suddenly stirred. His movements were slow but filled with menace. The large, scorched, and scarred body trembled, small vibrations crawling along the ground. Something far more terrifying was beginning to emerge from within.