Ereshkigal staggered backward, his body struck hard by the dark attack launched by Malinaara. With forced steps, Ereshkigal stumbled and knelt, fine dust swirling around them, briefly obscuring their vision. His breath was ragged, blood slowly trickling from the corner of his mouth, yet his gaze remained sharp and full of determination.
Malinaara stood with an increasingly wicked smile, savoring every second of the resistance she witnessed. "Look at you, Gatekeeper of the Darkness," Malinaara said sarcastically, her voice dripping with mockery. "You're nothing more than a coward, unable to even fight me."
Ereshkigal lifted his bloodied face, his eyes glaring at Malinaara with intense hatred. "I will not let a cunning demon like you win," he said in a cold, threatening tone. With a determined movement, he began chanting, summoning the hidden power within him.
Dark shadows began to wrap around his body, slowly enveloping him in a dense shroud of darkness. He intended to use his full power in a perfect summoning mode, something highly taboo, without Ian by his side, without the presence of his soul's master to strengthen him.
Thalindra, sensing the tremendous surge of energy from Ereshkigal, suddenly heard the chant coming from his mouth. "Lux et Umbra, anima mea resonet..." Ereshkigal's voice echoed in the air, shaking the ground around them.
From a distance, Thalindra, who had been engaged in a battle with Ilyrien, immediately halted and created distance from the fight. She turned towards Ereshkigal, now shrouded in black shadows. Her eyes widened in disbelief at what she had heard. "No, Ereshkigal!" Thalindra cried out, her voice filled with concern. She rushed towards him with her wind magic, desperately trying to stop Ereshkigal, who seemed determined to surrender completely to the dark power.
"Stop, Ereshkigal!" Thalindra shouted once more, her tone now desperate.
Ereshkigal, now fully engulfed in the thickening shadows, gazed at Malinaara with hopelessness in his eyes. "I will save Ian," he said with firm resolve, but just moments after, his body staggered from the explosive energy within him. Horrifying screams and howls echoed from Ereshkigal's mouth, as if something had possessed his body, creating an intense pain deep within.
Malinaara, slightly taken aback by the events unfolding before her, stared at Ereshkigal with a confused expression for a brief moment. However, within seconds, a cynical smile returned to her face, and she stepped forward calmly. "What are you trying to do, beast?" she said in a soft, mocking tone, as if looking down on all of Ereshkigal's efforts. "You want to call upon your full power without your master? Do you think this will defeat me? You must be eager to die."
Malinaara's words cut like a knife, flying towards Ereshkigal, whose body was wracked with pain. The uncontrollable power began to take over from within, but Ereshkigal continued to struggle to resist. He then shouted, "Nothing will stop me!" With all his might, he tried to summon his true form.
Malinaara merely watched with a sneering smile, clearly confident that Ereshkigal, in his uncontrolled power, was already on the path to his own destruction. But for now, she simply waited, ready to destroy anything that dared to rise against her.
**
Thalindra darted quickly towards Ereshkigal, the wind magic swirling around her body, propelling her at incredible speed. However, before she could reach him, a terrifying aura of darkness suddenly burst from Ereshkigal's body. The aura was so powerful, filled with choking dark energy, that Thalindra staggered back instantly, her body thrown backward and crashing to the ground. The earth around Ereshkigal began to crack, as if the very world itself was being affected by the dark power that wrapped around his form tightly.
With a thunderous roar that shook the air, the dark aura receded abruptly, like a wave calming down. Yet, the brief silence was followed by an even more horrifying sight. The dark energy slowly seeped into Ereshkigal's body, merging with him, transforming him into something far more terrifying than anyone had ever witnessed.
Where Ereshkigal had stood, his true, monstrous form now took shape. His skin darkened, as if he had become part of the night sky, adorned with shimmering stars. His long black hair cascaded freely, hanging down his back, as though it had a life of its own, moving in the dance of darkness. Sharp claws decorated the tips of his fingers, revealing the primal, savage nature of the creature before Thalindra. His eyes glowed red, like frozen blood, filled with rage and hatred. Shadows danced around his body, adding to the horror that now enveloped the battlefield.
Thalindra, witnessing this dramatic transformation, felt a deep, crushing fear in her heart. She knew well that the being standing before her was no longer the Ereshkigal she knew—controlled, connected to Ian. This was Ereshkigal in Fyrakhan mode—a wild state that emerged when a familiar, bound by a contract with its master, attempted to break the limits of that contract. In this state, the familiar transformed into an uncontrollable beast, filled with terrifying power. Fyrakhan was the darkest, most savage form within the Familiar. When this mode emerged, control over the familiar was lost, and only darkness would lead.
Thalindra could feel the overwhelming, unpredictable power radiating from him. The being before her was a creature of darkness, filled with uncontrollable wild power.
Thalindra looked at Ereshkigal with deep concern, but her heart was filled with determination to protect him. "Ereshkigal," she said softly, her voice filled with despair, "don't let this power control you."
But there was no response. The figure before her only stared at Malinaara with eyes full of hatred and fury. In this state, nothing could stop the dark power within Ereshkigal.
**
Malinaara, now witnessing Ereshkigal in Fyrakhan mode, couldn't hold back his laughter. This time, his laughter grew even louder, as if he had found endless amusement. "How pathetic, Gatekeeper of Darkness," he mocked, his voice dripping with derision, as though he were superior. "A minute ago, you were a familiar with limited power. And now? You've turned into a mindless beast?" Malinaara laughed even harder, savoring the dramatic change in Ereshkigal.
Ereshkigal, now fully in Fyrakhan mode, remained silent, seemingly indifferent to the mocking words. His breath came in heavy, thunderous gasps, like that of a wild creature just freed from its chains. The darkness surrounding him thickened, and with a speed impossible to predict, Ereshkigal shot forward like a being that no longer had any boundaries.
Malinaara froze for a moment, taken aback by Ereshkigal's incredible speed. Before he could react or move, Ereshkigal was already upon him. With a quick, precise motion, Ereshkigal landed a devastating blow, wrapped in a potent dark energy. The punch struck Malinaara's face with a force so great that in an instant, Malinaara was thrown back, slamming into a large rock nearby.
Malinaara lay on the ground for a moment, blood spilling from his mouth, but a smile still lingered on his face. He crawled to his feet, though slightly shaken by the unexpected attack. "Hahaha..." he chuckled softly, though his laughter began to sound more restrained. "So... this is just a little bit of your power? If you want to play more, let's go," he said mockingly, unfazed by the wild creature before him.
Ereshkigal's empty, sorrowful gaze weighed heavily on his heart. He muttered in a low, heavy voice, words that came out like whispers meant only for himself. "Ian... Ian... Ian..." The words sounded more like the sighs of a trapped soul, reflecting deep unease and emptiness.
Each time Ian's name was spoken, the darkness around Ereshkigal seemed to thicken, becoming harder to contain. It was as if there was something deeply important to Ereshkigal, something that could only be answered by that one name, a name forever bound to his heart. In this wild state, Ereshkigal desired one thing—To save Ian.
Malinaara watched closely, observing every movement of Ereshkigal with calculating eyes. He knew that although Ereshkigal was out of control, there was one thing he could exploit from this huge weakness. But for now, he chose to continue enjoying the chaos—and wait for the right moment to capitalize further.
**
Before Ereshkigal could move further, Malinaara released an aura of darkness so powerful that it intensified, altering the atmosphere of the battlefield. The darkness took over his body, and quickly, Malinaara's form began to change.
His human legs withered, transforming into large reptilian legs with sharp, claw-like feet. His black horns grew larger, curving upwards with a terrifying sharpness. A long tail appeared, sweeping the air with lethal movements. Large wings, cloaked in darkness, emerged from his back, spreading wide and ready to strike.
His hands, once human-like, transformed into massive claws, fingerless and seemingly poised to destroy everything in their path. The tight clothing that had once covered his body morphed into scaly skin, further enhancing the horror of his appearance. His face, once graceful, was now covered with black scales, and his sharp eyes gleamed with a deadly darkness. An occasional serpent's tongue flicked out, hissing and grinning with utter hatred.
Malinaara stood tall, gazing at Ereshkigal, now in his Fyrakhan form, and laughed maniacally. The laughter echoed, filling the air with a sense of dread. "Let's enjoy this game, Ereshkigal," he said, his voice now rougher, far from the sweet tone it had once held. It now sounded like the growl of a monster, deep and menacing.
With every word he spoke, Malinaara demonstrated just how powerful the demonic energy within him had become. He flapped his large wings, whipping the air. "Do you think you can defeat me in that form?" Malinaara said as he moved closer to Ereshkigal. "Let's see who is more savage between us."
The darkness surrounding Malinaara thickened, and every movement of his body signaled that he had fully embraced his daemonium form, becoming a terrifying, hate-filled demon. His glowing red eyes locked onto Ereshkigal, waiting for the reaction from the creature who had now become wild and uncontrollable.
Ereshkigal, now looking even more feral, snorted in silence, glaring at Malinaara with burning anger. The tension in the air escalated, and the atmosphere seemed to vibrate with the dark power both beings were channeling into the battlefield. Their strength competed, and the battle was sure to become even more destructive.
**
Malinaara did not wait any longer. In the blink of an eye, he surged toward Ereshkigal, his body moving with lightning speed, accompanied by dark power that flowed through every movement. Ereshkigal, with equal speed, shot forward, as if nothing could stop the brutal force of his body.
They met in the middle. The ground shook with a deafening impact. Their punches and kicks collided, each one imbued with the dark power enveloping their bodies. Malinaara's punch, laced with demonic aura, struck the air, while Ereshkigal retaliated with a punch filled with dark energy surrounding his form.
Every punch they threw generated shockwaves of power that shook the earth. Each kick they delivered left traces of dark energy on the ground, creating cracks that spread out. They fought with incredible speed.
Ereshkigal leaped high, narrowly avoiding a punch from Malinaara aimed at his face. But Malinaara didn't hesitate. Quickly, he swung his reptilian leg, attempting to kick Ereshkigal while he was in midair. Ereshkigal deftly twisted his body and kicked back with equal force. The two kicks collided midair, followed by an explosion that rocked the surroundings.
Malinaara, with massive claws adorning his hands, tried to grasp Ereshkigal, but he easily dodged and countered with a swift attack. A punch imbued with dark power slammed into Malinaara's energy shield, but it held—just for a moment.
"There's nowhere to run, Ereshkigal!" Malinaara shouted, his voice filled with rage, his eyes burning with hatred and excitement. "You're just an uncontrollable beast now. You can't withstand my demonic power!"
However, Ereshkigal, now in his Fyrakhan mode, remained silent, his gaze vacant but filled with pain and fury. Every punch and kick he delivered wasn't just about defending himself—it was to reach his goal—for Ian, his master.
In one swift motion, Ereshkigal stomped his foot on the ground, unleashing a wave of power that forced Malinaara to stagger back. In that instant, Ereshkigal shot forward again, his fist cloaked in denser dark energy. The energy explosion shook the air as his fist once again struck Malinaara's shield with immense force.
The battle, which had initially been a clash of long-range magic, had now evolved into an intense duel of physical strength and extraordinary magical power. The two beings fought to defeat each other, attacking and evading with movements that were fast and lethal.
**
In a flash, Malinaara spun his body and launched a massive kick filled with demonic energy. The kick shot forward like lightning, slicing through the air with deadly force. Ereshkigal didn't have time to fully dodge, and the kick struck the side of his body. His body was thrown sideways, landing hard on the ground and causing an explosion of dust and debris to scatter.
However, Ereshkigal quickly rose, his form surrounded by ever-darkening power. He growled, feeling every wound left by Malinaara's attack, but the beast inside him gave no room for fear. He advanced, positioning himself carefully, and then shot forward once more toward Malinaara.
Ereshkigal's attack came with lightning speed. His fist, enveloped in dark energy, collided with Malinaara, but Malinaara skillfully angled his body, deflecting the punch with his massive claws wrapped in demonic power. Another explosion of dark energy rang out between them.
Malinaara staggered back slightly. He quickly leaped into the air, his wings spreading wide. He raised one hand and released a blast of dark energy directly aimed at Ereshkigal. The blast moved so fast that it left a trail in the air. But Ereshkigal was ready. With one swift movement, he deflected the attack with his arm, covered in his own aura.
They fought at an incredible speed, their bodies colliding in attack after attack. Every time Malinaara tried to slash or kick, Ereshkigal evaded with movements so fast, then countered with punches or kicks. Their hands met, claws clashing, creating sparks of dark energy that filled the battleground.
As Malinaara tried to strike again, Ereshkigal jumped high, avoiding the attack. With a powerful punch, he aimed for Malinaara's chest. Malinaara successfully blocked the attack, but Ereshkigal's strength was overwhelming—the punch pushed Malinaara back several steps.
Breathing heavily, they stood, staring at each other. Their bodies were covered in wounds and exhaustion, but their resolve remained unshaken. Their dark powers grew even stronger, and the battle neared its climax.
**
With incredible speed, Malinaara trying to avoid Ereshkigal's large kick aimed at his chest. His demon wings flared, lifting his body from the ground with agility. But Ereshkigal, wild and uncontrollable, matched Malinaara's movement perfectly. In an instant, his hand gripped Malinaara's outstretched wing tightly.
Malinaara was taken by surprise and struggled to break free, but Ereshkigal, with overwhelming strength, yanked the wing and tore it apart in one savage motion. Malinaara screamed in agony, his body shaking violently. The pain made him lose control for a moment, and he quickly backed off, trying to maintain distance from the next attack.
But Ereshkigal gave him no time. With terrifying speed, he shot forward, his body like a dark shadow, relentless and wild. Malinaara, his eyes wide, now filled with fear and dread, instinctively raised both hands to block the incoming punch. But Ereshkigal, with cunning, changed his attack. Instead of delivering a fatal blow, he swiftly altered his movement, and in the blink of an eye, his powerful hands gripped both of Malinaara's arms.
The sound of bones cracking filled the air. Malinaara screamed loudly, his body howling in pain as both his arms were broken with brutal force. Blood poured from his shattered limbs, but he had no time to feel the pain.
With a quick and merciless motion, Ereshkigal kicked Malinaara in the head with immense power. The kick sent Malinaara flying, his body crashing to the hard ground with a thunderous impact that shook the battlefield. His body rolled several times before finally coming to a stop, lying motionless on the ground with horrific wounds.
Malinaara, panting, tried to rise, his face contorted with rage and deep pain. But now, his fear was evident. Ereshkigal, his body cloaked in dark shadows and his eyes burning with ferocity, stood before him, ready to continue the battle.
**
Malinaara, though severely wounded with half of his face destroyed, still managed to rise. The left side of his head was shattered, missing entirely, exposing his hollow and dark skull, like a shell that had lost its essence. Yet, his breath was still audible, heavy and filled with rage. His eyes, glowing with demonic light, fixed on Ereshkigal with deep hatred.
A twisted smile appeared at the corner of his remaining lips, a smile that seemed more like mockery than victory. His voice, hoarse and booming, echoed. "Watch out, Ereshkigal," he sneered. "I'll be back."
Then, in an instant, Malinaara's body vanished into the dark shadow, blending into the darkness surrounding him. His laughter echoed, adding to the sense that he had not been fully defeated, that he still possessed some hidden strength.
The laughter gradually faded, leaving Ereshkigal alone in the silent battlefield, where darkness still enveloped him. With his body still in the wild and uncontrollable Fyrakhan mode, Ereshkigal stood, his breath heavy and fiery, realizing that his enemy, despite the severe injuries, could still vanish quickly. Yet, within him, only one thought prevailed—Ian. He had to find him, and would not stop until he could save him.
The darkness surrounding Ereshkigal's body grew stronger, and with a rumble that shook the ground, he stared at the empty space where Malinaara had stood moments before.
**
Thalindra remained still where she had been thrown, her body crashing hard into the ground. Yet her eyes remained fixed on the increasingly intense battle between Ereshkigal and Malinaara. Though victory seemed to be in Ereshkigal's hands, Thalindra felt an unsettling sense of uncertainty creeping in. The victory belonged to Ereshkigal, but not to them.
Ereshkigal, standing in place, snorted loudly, roaring in anger that reverberated through the air. His breath became heavy, flowing like scalding steam. His body radiated waves of energy so powerful, it seemed ready to explode. The entire battlefield was filled with the intensity of emotion pouring from that creature—Ereshkigal.
On the other side, Ilyrien was fiercely battling against Helel, Gerude, and Elara. The fight was escalating, but as the situation grew more dire, Ilyrien suddenly darted through the air with remarkable speed, heading toward Ereshkigal, who was still in his Fyrakhan form.
Ereshkigal saw Ilyrien and, with an unexpected swiftness, vanished from his position. In the blink of an eye, he appeared right in front of Ilyrien—or Myralith, the name given by Malinaara. Without warning, Ereshkigal grabbed Ilyrien's head with his enormous and powerful hand. His heavy breath rumbled. Ilyrien's head sank into Ereshkigal's grip, and Thalindra could feel the imminent threat—like Ilyrien's head might explode at any moment.
Thalindra, witnessing this, felt her heart nearly stop. She was filled with concern for both of them—Ereshkigal, trapped in the power of Fyrakhan, and Ilyrien, so close to death—and she knew she had to act quickly. With a determined movement, Thalindra immediately began to chant a spell, forming a sphere of energy between Ereshkigal and Ilyrien.
With the energy concentrated within her, the spell began to shape into a swirling ball of light that appeared between the two figures. The tension grew, and before Ereshkigal could continue, the light ball exploded with immense force, creating a burst of energy that threw both Ereshkigal and Ilyrien apart.
Ereshkigal was sent flying backward, his body crashing to the ground. Ilyrien, who had been trapped in Ereshkigal's grip, was also hurled far out of reach. Both of them fell to the earth. Silence followed the explosion, and Thalindra quickly got up, running toward Ereshkigal.
Thalindra then shouted loudly at Helel, Gerude, and Elara, who were still stunned. "Block Ilyrien! Don't let him near Ereshkigal!" Her voice was filled with urgency, trying to prevent further destruction. "I will face Ereshkigal!" she shouted again, her determination unwavering.
With those words, Thalindra was ready to face the greatest challenge of her life. Ereshkigal, now trapped in Fyrakhan mode, was no longer a figure she could recognize, and Thalindra knew that only by confronting him directly could she stop the dark force overtaking her former pupil, Famulus.