Explosions echoed from every corner of the sky as the mysterious man rained destruction upon the heavens, unleashing small spheres formed from his very life force. Each orb explodes upon impact, filling the air with a deafening roar and a storm of chaos. Arythos felt himself slipping, his vision darkening as the world around him spun. The sounds of battle, the cries of agony, and the relentless destruction consumed his mind, until all he could hear was the turmoil of the world breaking apart.
The sky seemed to fall away, and his body grew heavy, his senses overwhelmed. Just as the edges of his vision blurred, a voice cut through the haze, familiar yet distant.
King Draco: “Get up.”. It was Grandfather’s voice, manifesting in the shadows of his mind. Arythos could see him clearly, an imposing figure with eyes that burned like embers. King Draco extended his hand, firm and steady, reaching out to pull Arythos from the void.
Just as their fingers touched, a surge of warmth shot through Arythos, snapping him back to the present. His eyes flew open, and the chaos of the battlefield rushed back in. The acrid scent of smoke, the searing heat, and the thunderous clamor surrounded him. Before he could process it, another voice came, steady and unwavering.
Selene: “Get up, Arythos.”. It was Selene. Calling out for now.
Arythos’s chest tightened, and the world began to solidify again, the images slowly returning to him. The weight of the battle pressed on his shoulders, but the voices of those he trusted kept him anchored, pulling him back from the brink of darkness.
Selene's eyes, sharp with concern, met Arythos's as he stirred.
Selene: "Arythos, are you okay?". she asked, her voice urgent yet tempered with relief.
Arythos took a deep breath, feeling strength pulse through his limbs as he pushed himself up.
Arythos: ” “I’m... fine.”. he managed, surprised at how steady he felt. Selene's expression shifted to one of disbelief as she watched him stand so effortlessly.
Selene: “How are you already on your feet?” Selene questioned, eyes narrowing. “Even with my lightning and Liraen’s water healing, that blast should’ve left you down for much longer.”.
Arythos hesitated, running a hand over his chest where moments ago he had felt only pain.
Arythos: “I’m not sure myself,” he admitted, his voice quiet. He thought back to the vision of his grandfather’s hand reaching out, the touch sparking a surge of unfamiliar power that coursed through him. The sensation lingered, warm and powerful, but before he could dwell on it further, a booming voice cut through the chaos.
Zharin:“It’s good that Prince Arythos is back on his feet,” came the unmistakable shout of Zharin Falaris, the arena’s announcer. His voice echoed above the cacophony, infused with both irony and urgency.
Zharin: “But we still have a lunatic bombarding us from above, so what’s the plan now, folks?”.
Arythos’s gaze darted upward, catching sight of the mysterious being whose attacks rained down on the arena like relentless meteors.
The chaos of the moment began to take its toll. Voices rose in panic as confusion swept through the group. Guards shouted conflicting orders, while civilians argued with one another, fear sparking discord. The arena, once filled with cheers, now resonated with chaos and disarray.
Amidst the noise, Selene, Arythos, and Zharin found themselves in a heated exchange.
Selene: “We need to organize now!”. Selene shouted, frustration flickering in her eyes.
Arythos: “We’re wasting time!”.
Arythos retorted.
Arythos: “And what, rush in without a plan? We need to think this through!”.
Zharin cut in, gesturing wildly.
Zharin: “Both of you, stop! We need to make sure everyone’s safe first or this whole place will be torn apart!”
The argument intensified, their voices blending with the shouts and panic around them. Suddenly, a glowing sphere of energy cut through the sky, aimed directly at their position.
Before anyone could react, Doctor Liraen’s voice boomed through the turmoil.
Doctor Liraen: “Aq’kaal Val Ruun!”.
With a commanding gesture, a towering water barrier surged up, shimmering with a radiant blue hue. The barrier absorbed the impact of the sphere, which erupted in a harmless spray of mist. Liraen stood at its center, eyes fierce with determination.
Doctor Liraen:“All of you better get yourselves together! As a doctor, I can’t stand seeing people get hurt while I sit here being useless. Stop messing around and get your act together!”’
Her words cut through the arguing, snapping everyone’s attention back to the reality of their dire situation.
Selene and Arythos shared a look of resolve. Zharin, still stunned by the scene, asked.
Zharin: “What’s the plan now?”.
Selene’s voice was steady and firm. “.
Selene: Zharin, Arythos, get any injured people out of the area. Doctor Liraen, stay here and keep the guards and me supported while we engage the attacker.”.
Arythos frowned, crossing his arms.
Arythos: “Why do I have to be the one babysitting while you get to fight?”.
Selene’s eyes narrowed, a hint of a smirk appearing.
Selene: “Because you’re the best flyer here, Arythos. No one else can get people out faster.”.
Arythos paused, the weight of her words settling in. He nodded reluctantly, the responsibility clear.
Arythos: “Fine, but you’d better be careful.”.
Selene stepped closer, her gaze softening as she placed a hand on his shoulder. Without warning, she leaned in and kissed him briefly but firmly, a gesture that spoke volumes.
Selene: “Stay safe,”. she whispered.
Arythos's eyes widened for a moment, then he nodded, a determined fire igniting in his expression.
The group quickly dispersed to their roles, the earlier chaos replaced by a focused urgency. They were ready to face whatever came next, no matter how daunting.
The mysterious being seemed to be fighting off some of the guards in the air, unleashing a storm of attacks before crashing to the ground, creating a massive shockwave that reverberated through the area. As the dust settled, several guards descended around Selene, their eyes wide with uncertainty as they tried to assess the situation.
One of them stepped forward, his voice urgent.
Random Guard: "Mistress Selene, we need to get you out of here.".
Selene, however, stood her ground, eyes fixed on the wreckage.
Selene: "There’s no one else here right now who can take him on," she replied firmly, scanning the surroundings. "Plus, where are the other contenders?".
Before anyone could answer, a new voice cut through the air, brimming with confidence.
Unknown Voice: "Sorry for the long wait, lightbulb.".
Turning towards the voice, Selene saw two figures appear from the haze, Juris Vash, the first son of the Lûm’Vash family, known for his mastery over Law Manipulation, accompanied by his friend Darius Kaal, the fire-and-earth hybrid dragon. The two of them landed gracefully, ready for battle.
Darius, ever the realist, glanced around and said,
Darius: "Would’ve been nice if the other families had shown up by now. But since you and Arythos started your fight sooner than expected, we’re the best you’ve got right now.".
Selene smirked, grateful for the backup.
Selene: "Better than nothing,". she said, her tone sharpening as she prepared for the battle ahead.
Juris, with a casual grin and eyes that seemed to sparkle with mischief despite the gravity of the situation, stepped closer.
Juris: “I’d say you’re lucky your favorite troublemaker showed up in time. Can’t let you hog all the glory, Selene.”.
Selene rolled her eyes, a rare smile tugging at her lips.
Selene: “Focus, Juris. This isn’t one of your sparring matches.”.
Juris’ expression turned serious, the light-hearted banter fading.
Juris: “You’d better believe I’m focused. The figure that’s about to show itself… well, let’s just say we’ve got our work cut out for us.”.
Juris Vash, with his piercing eyes and unwavering presence, stepped forward, his power radiating.
Juris: "You guys better stay focused. The figure is about to show itself ".
The remaining guards stood at attention, ready to follow Selene’s lead and face the threat head-on, knowing that the outcome of this battle could shape their future.
The dark energy twisted around him like a swirling storm, a palpable force that seemed to warp the very air. The dragons could feel their strength waning, as if the shadows themselves were leeching away their power. The figure’s eyes gleamed with a sinister glow, burning with malevolent energy.
With each neck he slowly snapped, the energy grew stronger, more intense. The once proud dragons who had fallen were now nothing more than lifeless shells, their power absorbed into the figure's growing force. He stepped forward, his presence like an oppressive weight in the air, as if the very ground beneath him was suffocating under his influence.
Selene, Darius, Juris, and the remaining guards braced themselves, their instincts screaming at them to fight, but their bodies felt heavy, as if the very essence of their being was being crushed under the weight of the dark energy. It was overwhelmingly unnatural.
Darius: "Who... who is this?". Darius gasped, barely able to summon the strength to speak.
The figure’s lips curled into a cold, merciless grin.
Mysterious Man: "I am the end of your world," he said, his voice smooth, yet filled with malice. His words echoed in the air like a dark promise, and the very ground trembled beneath his feet.
Juris Vash’s wings unfurled, but the energy surged toward him like a tidal wave, striking him with a force that sent him crashing to the ground. The energy crackled, twisting around his body, paralyzing him in place.
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Juris: "Impossible...". Juris grunted, struggling to break free, but the shadows held him fast. His body shook, unable to move.
Selene: "Is this... what we are facing?". Selene whispered, her eyes widening with fear.
One of the guards transformed into his full dragon form, scales shimmering as he prepared to unleash an icy blast. But before he could act, the mysterious man uttered in a deep, resonant voice, “Xaeroth’Farn’Balth.”
In an instant, the guard’s powerful form began to wither, scales and flesh crumbling into dust as he decayed into nothing more than a pile of ash. The air fell silent, every eye locked in shock at the horrifying display. As the remains settled, a soft, eerie glow emerged, the soul of the fallen dragon drifting toward the mysterious figure. He absorbed it effortlessly, the dark energy around him growing denser, almost palpable.
The other dragons stood frozen, dread seeping into their hearts as the figure’s eyes, now more luminous with stolen power, turned toward them with a menacing glint.
The shadows around the mysterious figure began to dissipate, slowly fading into nothingness as his true form was revealed. The darkness that once concealed him lifted like a veil, exposing his towering figure. His eyes gleamed with an ancient, unreadable intensity.
It was Selene who first recognized him. Her breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding with a mixture of awe and disbelief. She could hardly believe her eyes, yet the truth was undeniable.
Selene: "It can't be... It’s the legendary warrior, Yourupt.".
The figure before her, now fully revealed, simply smiled, an enigmatic, knowing smile that seemed to carry the weight of millennia. His voice, when it came, was calm but carried a deep authority that resonated with power.
Yourupt: "Your reputation has certainly preceded you, Zaer'Kaan. o'shaer'Ruun khaan Lûm'Vorr Ruun?”.
Translation: "Your reputation has certainly preceded you, Zaer'Kaan. Or perhaps I should call you by your true title, Storm Queen of Lightning and Wind?".
Everyone was in shock, their eyes widening in disbelief, when Yourupt, revealed to be able to speak in Drak'Ruc. The language, a sacred tongue only known to dragons, crafted from deep, guttural sounds and magic-infused syllables,could only be properly uttered by those who bore the blood of dragons. The realization hit them all at once: he could speak it.
Selene: Her voice trembled, a mixture of confusion and disbelief. "How... how can you speak Drak'Ruc?".
Yourupt's eyes gleamed with a dark amusement as he gave a slight, knowing smile.
Yourupt: "That is a secret that stays with me and no one else.". His voice was low, but the power of his words seemed to reverberate in the very air around them.
A heavy silence hung in the air before Juris spoke up, his voice strained as he fought against the oppressive aura that surrounded Yourupt.
Juris: "Why are you here, attacking our people?". His words were filled with frustration and anger, but there was a hint of fear in his voice as well.
Selene: She mirrored his question, her voice steady but filled with mounting dread. "Yes, why? What have we done to deserve this?".
Before Yourupt could respond, Darius spoke, his voice laced with disbelief and a tinge of hope.
Darius:"You... You used to be good friends with King Draco. What happened to you?".
The moment Darius spoke King Draco's name, the very air seemed to shift. The force emanating from Yourupt intensified, growing so strong that the ground beneath their feet trembled. The pressure in the room was unbearable. It was as if the weight of the entire world was pressing down on them.
The atmosphere grew unbearably heavy as Yourupt's anger flared. His voice thundered through the air, filled with raw, unrestrained power.
Yourupt: "Don't you dare speak his name, naive child!" His shout echoed like a roar from the depths of a storm, and the force of his words shook the ground beneath them.
The pressure around them intensified to unbearable levels, and Selene staggered, clutching at her chest as the weight of it nearly crushed her. But it wasn't just her, the guards, standing in ranks behind them, began to gasp for air, their faces contorted in pain as the oppressive energy surged. Some of them, unable to withstand the suffocating force, began to bleed from their eyes, their bodies trembling as the overwhelming magic ravaged them.
Yourupt stood tall, his aura swirling like a vortex, his rage fueling the dark storm surrounding him. He sneered at them, his eyes burning with hatred as he continued.
Yourupt: "Your King, Zephyros, killed my students and my wife with his own hands!" His voice dripped with venom as he pointed toward them. "But your King ran like a coward once his failed attempt didn’t do the job. And as for me". His voice grew cold, calculating. "I stopped holding back, and now I'm going to kill all of you. Everyone here. This entire realm. And I'll rip your King to pieces, just like he did to my students and my wife.".
The air seemed to crackle with dark energy as Yourupt surged forward, his body pulsating with power.
Yourupt: "You will know the true depths of power" He shouted, his words like a thunderclap that shook the heavens. The ground beneath them seemed to quake as his immense power surged to its peak, building toward an explosion that would tear everything apart.
The air was thick with dark energy, vibrating with each of Yourupt’s commands. Doctor Liraen's hands trembled as he focused all of his willpower into maintaining the **water shield, his fingers growing numb as the pressure mounted. It was as though the very atmosphere itself was being crushed under the weight of Yourupt’s malevolent aura. The shield rippled, flickering as if on the verge of breaking, barely holding up against the force that pressed down on them like an avalanche of raw power.
With every moment, the ground beneath them seemed to tremble, as though the earth itself could feel the power Yourupt wielded. His presence was oppressive, suffocating. Darius, who had been struggling to stay on his feet, looked at the chaos around him with wide, panicked eyes. His voice cracked under the weight of disbelief.
Darius: "T-There’s no way… The King did *that*… right? You can’t possibly…"
Doctor Liraen sweat dripped from his brow as his concentration faltered for a brief moment, snapped back into focus, his voice a sharp contrast to Darius’s hesitation.
Doctor Liraen: "Darius, now is not the time for doubt. If Yourupt is telling the truth, then we have far bigger problems than we thought. But arguing about the past will do nothing to help us now. We need to stop him before this world becomes nothing but dust.".
His words were grim, but the urgency was clear. The shield was barely hanging on, flickering with every forceful wave of energy Yourupt sent toward them. Juris, wings flexing, muscles taut with barely contained fury, let out a low growl. His claws dug into the earth, the ground beneath him cracking with the intensity of his anger.
Juris: "Doctor’s right. If what Yourupt says is true, then we’re looking at the hardest fight of our lives. But we can’t afford to lose focus. Not now with him shaking our home so violently."
Selene didn’t flinch. Her eyes remained fixed on Yourupt, the darkness that radiated from him not just a physical presence but something that seemed to seep into the very air, draining the light from everything around them. Despite the suffocating power, there was a cold fire in her gaze.
Selene: "So this... is the full force of a Royal Guard. We’re facing something unlike anything we’ve ever encountered. But we’re not out of options. Not yet.".
Darius turned to her, urgency in his voice.
Darius: "If anyone’s got a plan, now’s the time to share it. We’re running out of time.".
Selene turned toward Juris, locking eyes with him for a brief moment, as though communicating without words. The two of them had been through countless battles together, but this felt different.
The weight of Yourupt's power was unlike anything they had faced before. Still, she knew what had to be done.
Selene: "I wasn’t planning to use this until later, but the time for holding back is over. Juris and I will take him head-on. We’re the strongest here, and we need to make sure it stays that way. Darius, Doctor you two will provide support. We need to keep him distracted, keep him off-balance. I know you both have the skill for it.".
There was a brief, tense silence before Doctor Liraen’s brow furrowed in concentration. His gaze drifted back to Yourupt, eyes scanning him, his mind racing. Something was wrong. There was something he wasn’t telling them. Selene noticed it instantly. There was a hesitation in his movements, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. He seemed to be holding something back, and that could mean life or death for them all.
Selene: "Doctor... you’ve got something on your mind. If you know something that can help us, now is the time to speak.".
Doctor Liraen's expression turned grave, his voice barely above a whisper as he spoke. His words were slow, calculated, as though testing each one for weight before he let it fall into the air.
Doctor Liraen: "When one of the guards tried to attack Yourupt, they... they turned to dust, instantly. But for a split second, I felt it. Something... ancient." His voice dropped to almost a murmur, as though afraid to even say the words aloud. "I felt the presence of Ancient Ruce Dragon Magic. Magic that hasn’t been used in centuries. Not since the Eldritch Old Wars.".
Selene furrowed her brow, her heart racing as she absorbed his words.
Selene: "Ancient Ruce Dragon Magic? I’ve never heard of that before. What is it?".
Doctor Liraen looked back toward Yourupt, his expression grim, as though the weight of the secret he was revealing was more dangerous than anything they had faced up until now.
Doctor Liraen: "It’s Ruce'Khaz'Rûn. A forbidden magic, tied to death and destruction. It’s something that hasn’t been used since the darkest days of the Eldritch Wars, this magic capable of ripping through the very fabric of life itself. If Yourupt has access to this kind of power, then we’re not just fighting a warrior anymore. We’re facing something far worse. This magic can destroy everything it touches. If you so much as hesitate when his power shifts, the very idea of yourself will be reduced to ash before you even know it. And the reason we still remember is because he didn’t completely erase him as he aborted him".
Juris, who had been standing ready to spring into action, now paused, his expression darkening as the weight of Doctor Liraen's words sank in.
Juris: "Great. So we’re not just up against some warrior with a vendetta. We’re fighting death itself*. Just our luck.".
Selene’s gaze was steely as she looked toward Yourupt, whose power seemed to pulse in time with the dark storm that surrounded him.
Selene: "We’ve faced impossible odds before, and we’ll face them again. But now we fight smarter. If Yourupt** is truly wielding Ruce'Khaz'Rûn, we need to stay one step ahead of him. Our survival depends on it."
Darius met her gaze, determination flooding his veins.
Darius: "So we hit him hard, and we hit him fast. If this is our last chance, then we don’t waste it."
There was a long pause. Then, Selene spoke, her voice low and commanding.
Selene: "We don’t have time to waste. The moment we hesitate, it’s over. Juris, you and I go straight for him. Darius, Doctor, stays close watch for any shifts in his energy. The moment he changes, we move. Understood?".
The team nodded as one, their resolve solidifying in the face of the overwhelming power before them. As Yourupt’s dark energy surged once more, they knew there was no turning back. The battle had begun, and they would either survive it together... or be erased by the very force of destruction they were about to face.
The shadows around Yourupt twisted and writhed, as if alive, pooling at his feet like an ocean of darkness. The air thickened with a suffocating weight, and the ground beneath their feet seemed to tremble. A faint, eerie rumble echoed from within the shadows, growing louder with every passing second. The tension was palpable, as everyone stood frozen in anticipation, unsure of what would happen next.
Then, the shadows erupted.
Four massive figures, dark as night, stepped out from the depths of the shadowy mist. Each one was a towering dragon, their scales glinting in the dim light like blackened obsidian. They were eerily familiar yet an unsettling reflection of the very guards they had fought just moments before. These dragons bore the same markings, the same shape, and the same menacing presence. But it was their eyes that gave them away heir once-living eyes were now hollow, black pits, filled with an unnatural, soulless emptiness.
Selene’s breath caught in her throat as she realized what was happening. Her heart raced, the weight of the moment pressing down on her.
Yourupt stood tall, his grin widening as he gazed at the dragons he had summoned. His voice echoed through the still air, low and filled with a cold, mocking tone.
Yourupt: "Let me introduce you lizards to Ethereal Rise." His words sliced through the tension like a blade. "This ability allows me to take the souls of defeated opponents, gaining all of their power, abilities, skills, and experience... while creating a spiritual soldier to add to my endless shadow army. An army I can call forth at any moment, as I please. So, don't disappoint me. Show me your power."
The four dragons' souls of the fallen guards rose from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with an eerie, predatory hunger. Their massive forms loomed over the group, their wings unfurling with a deafening roar that reverberated through the very earth beneath them.
The ground trembled beneath their feet as the shadows around them seemed to grow darker, the air thick with the unmistakable weight of death and despair. The power of the summoned dragons was unnatural, each one a twisted reflection of the foes they had once fought, now reanimated under Yourupt's command.
Selene’s eyes widened in disbelief as the shadow dragons circled, their massive forms looming over the battlefield like dark, twisted sentinels. Each one of them carried with it the echoes of her people, the once proud warriors now reduced to nothing more than soulless puppets under Yourupt*'s control. Her stomach churned as she realized the horrific truth: the very souls of her people were being used as slaves, forced to fight against her, to fight for a monster. A deep, seething anger rose within her, burning brighter than ever.
With a voice that was both defiant and filled with raw emotion,Selene shouted, her words cutting through the heavy silence like a blade.
Selene: "Whatever our king did to your loved ones doesn't give you the excuse to enslave our people! No matter how bad it was, I will free their souls and take you down, you demon!".
The words rang out with the full force of her fury and conviction, but they only seemed to amuse Yourupt. His smile curled into something dark and predatory, a reflection of the twisted power he now commanded.
He stood tall, his shadowy presence growing more oppressive as he summoned his legendary daggers. The blades appeared before him, formed from the very darkness that clung to him like a second skin. They were sleek and deadly, their edges gleaming with an unnatural glow as if they were forged from the very essence of the shadows themselves. Each dagger was a work of dark magic, its power resonating with the souls of the fallen, their twisted spirits trapped within the weapons.
Yourupt: "You think your words can change anything little girl?" His voice was low and filled with venom, dripping with disdain. "Your people are already mine, Selene. They are part of my army now, they will no longer be their own. And as for you, your defiance only makes your fate sweeter." He raised his daggers, the shadows around him swirling in anticipation of the violence to come. "Prepare yourself, for the end.".
Selene’s heart hammered in her chest as she stepped forward, her eyes locked on the demon before her. Yourupt was finally ready to fight. And so was she.
The tension in the air thickened as she unsheathed her own weapons, her movements graceful but filled with a quiet fury. She had nothing but her resolve and the power within her to stop him. Her people were being used against her, her very land tainted by his presence, and she would not allow this to continue. She would not let *Yourupt win. Not now, not ever.
With a final, defiant shout, **Selene** surged forward, her energy crackling in the air, ready to face this nightmare head-on. The battle was about to begin, and nothing would stop her from freeing her people—no matter the cost.