The Little Val, a sleek, smaller vessel named in memory of a past identity, approached the battle-scarred behemoth that was the Stormbreaker. The Stormbreaker, once the pride of the empire's fleet, now bore the marks of countless battles. Its hull was scorched and pockmarked, patches of hastily applied armor plating covered gaping wounds, and its once-proud insignia was faded and almost unrecognizable. Despite its worn appearance, the ship radiated an aura of resilience, a testament to the many times it had stood firm against overwhelming odds.
Surrounding the Stormbreaker were the remnants of Raz Maliv’s fleet. These ships, like the Stormbreaker, bore the scars of relentless warfare. Once grand vessels, now their surfaces were marred by deep gouges and blackened burns, evidence of the fierce battles they had survived. Many of these ships listed slightly in space, their stabilizers damaged, and their engines flickered weakly as they struggled to maintain position. Yet, they held formation, a ragged yet determined line of defense in the face of an enemy that seemed unending.
As the Little Val maneuvered into the docking bay of the Stormbreaker, the interior of the capital ship came into view. The docking bay was a cavernous space, bustling with activity despite the tension that hung thick in the air. Engineers and deckhands rushed about, tending to the damaged vessels and preparing for the next assault. The walls were lined with scorch marks, and the floor was littered with debris from previous skirmishes. The atmosphere was thick with the smell of burning metal and the ozone tang of overloaded energy circuits.
Sophia disembarked from the Little Val, her footsteps echoing through the bay. She was clad in the armor of Valicar, a near-perfect replica of the ancient battle gear she had once worn—blue and crimson with gold trim, exposing her navel. Her hair, a striking blend of crimson and sapphire, flowed down her back, and her eyes, one blue and one red, scanned the bay with a mix of determination and sorrow. This place, these people, had suffered so much in her absence, and the guilt weighed heavily on her.
Across the bay, Raz Maliv was waiting. In her human form, Raz cut a tall and elegant figure, her golden hair falling in waves over her shoulders, and her sharp yellow eyes filled with a mix of emotions. Despite the years of war etched into her face, there was still a warmth in her gaze as she saw Sophia. For a moment, the stern leader and strategist was gone, replaced by a friend who had missed someone deeply.
Without hesitation, Raz moved forward, closing the distance between them. When they were close enough, Raz reached out and pulled Sophia into a tight embrace.
"Sophia…" Raz’s voice trembled, barely containing the surge of emotions she had held back for fifty long years. “I missed you. It’s been so long.”
Sophia, taken aback by the sudden display of affection, felt a lump form in her throat. She returned the hug, squeezing Raz tightly, feeling the weight of her own guilt and regret.
“I’m sorry, Raz,” Sophia whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I should have been here. I should have been here for you… for Taileral.”
Raz pulled back slightly, her hands still gripping Sophia’s shoulders, her eyes studying the armor that Sophia wore. There was a flicker of a smile, a small sign of hope.
“You look like Valicar again,” Raz said, her voice steadier now. “Maybe even better. We need that strength, Sophia. We need you to save Caldera—and Holvor.”
Sophia nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. The sight of Raz, her unwavering loyalty, and the scars of war all around them, filled her with a renewed sense of purpose. She was not just here to fight—she was here to save her galaxy, her people, and maybe even her brother.
“I will fix this,” Sophia said, her voice firm. “We’re going to win this, Raz. I swear it.”
Raz nodded, releasing her hold on Sophia. “We’ll head to the bridge,” she said, her voice slipping back into the calm, controlled tone of a commander. “There’s much to discuss before we reach Caldera.”
As Sophia and Raz made their way through the docking bay and deeper into the bowels of the Stormbreaker, the true extent of the empire's suffering became painfully clear. The corridors were crowded with wounded soldiers and crew members, many of whom were performing their duties despite their grievous injuries. Some had lost limbs, replaced by crude cybernetics that looked painfully outdated, even by the standards of fifty years ago. Others bore the marks of intense battle—burn scars, missing eyes, and twisted flesh.
They passed a merman who, instead of his sleek, fish-like lower half, now moved awkwardly on robotic spider-like legs that clanked loudly against the metal floor. His once-graceful movements were replaced by a stiff, almost jarring gait, a testament to the hasty and inadequate repairs done to keep him mobile. Despite this, his eyes were sharp and focused as he carried out his duties, refusing to let his condition hinder him.
Further down the corridor, they came across an elf who had once been a vision of beauty, her features now marred by a gruesome burn that had claimed half of her face. The skin was twisted and scarred, a stark contrast to the untouched elegance of her other side. She was speaking softly to a group of younger soldiers, her voice calm and reassuring, even as she bore the pain of her injuries with a grace that seemed almost otherworldly. But even she could not hide the weariness in her eyes, the toll that endless war had taken on her spirit.
As they continued, the sounds of the med bay grew louder, filled with the hum of machinery and the soft murmur of healers working tirelessly. When they reached it, the sight was overwhelming. The med bay was overcrowded, every bed occupied, with more wounded lying on makeshift cots on the floor. The combined efforts of magic and technology were focused solely on keeping people alive rather than fully healing them. There were simply too many casualties, and not enough mana or prosthetic limbs to meet the demand. Healers moved between patients, their faces etched with exhaustion as they poured what little energy they had left into saving lives.
Sophia felt a deep pang of sorrow and guilt at the sight. She had been absent for so long, and this was the result—her people, the very heart of the empire, struggling to survive. As they walked, she could feel the eyes of the wounded on her, a mixture of hope and resignation in their gazes.
But she wasn’t helpless anymore. Her power, once depleted, was now fully replenished, surging within her like a river of pure energy as the mana of Caldera's galaxy flooded into her. Without hesitation, she extended her will, letting her magic flow outward, enveloping those around her. Scars began to fade, twisted limbs straightened, and missing appendages regrew. The air shimmered with the intensity of her power, as she poured herself into healing the wounded, giving back what had been taken from them in this endless war.
“Ka ran muvan,” Sophia chanted, her voice carrying the weight of ancient healing magic. As the words left her lips, the effects of her spell intensified, the shimmering light of her power enveloping the injured. Their pain faded, replaced by the warmth of life as their bodies were restored, whole and strong once more.
The merman they had passed earlier stopped in his tracks, a look of astonishment crossing his face as his spider-like legs began to morph and change, becoming more fluid and natural until, at last, his original form was restored. He blinked in disbelief, his tail glistening with renewed life as he flexed it experimentally, a hesitant smile creeping across his lips.
The elf with the burned face gasped softly as her ruined flesh began to heal, the twisted scars smoothing out until they were no more, her once-perfect beauty restored. She touched her cheek in wonder, tears welling in her eyes as she whispered a quiet prayer of thanks.
Throughout the ship, those in Sophia’s presence felt the weight of their injuries lift, their bodies mending in ways they hadn’t dared to hope for. It wasn’t just their physical wounds that healed; there was a shift in the air, a lifting of the despair that had clung to them for so long. Hope, once a scarce commodity, began to bloom again, fragile but real.
As Sophia and Raz continued their journey through the ship, the whispers began to spread like wildfire among the crew. The once-muted corridors now hummed with the low murmur of astonished voices, as word of her return rippled through the ranks. Each passing step seemed to fuel the growing sense of awe, fear, and reverence that clung to the air like a thick fog.
"Is it really her?" one whispered, eyes wide with disbelief as they caught sight of Sophia's imposing figure.
"It has to be," another murmured, their voice tinged with a mix of fear and admiration. "I’ve heard the stories, seen the old records. That armor... it's the same as in the ancient texts. The Last Dragon Lord... she's returned."
"The World Cracker," someone else added in a hushed tone, the title slipping from their lips as if it were a forbidden curse. There was a pause, the words hanging in the air, heavy with the weight of history and destruction. Even now, the title carried with it the echoes of the past—a reminder of the time when Sophia, as Valicar, had shattered worlds in her pursuit of victory.
Sophia tensed slightly at the mention, her stride never faltering, but inside, she felt the familiar flash of annoyance. That particular title had always grated on her—more so now, when she was striving to reclaim the part of herself that was not defined by the destruction she once wrought. Yet, she couldn’t deny its truth, nor the fear it instilled in those who spoke it. It was a part of her legacy, whether she liked it or not.
As she and Raz pressed on, the whispers grew louder, more insistent.
"Grand General Sophia... she's here to save us."
"The Hero of the Empire has returned. Maybe we have a chance now."
"Archmage of the High Order... I heard she could collapse a star with a single spell."
"Supreme Admiral of the Celestial Fleet... commanding the heavens themselves."
Sophia could feel the weight of every title, every name they spoke—each one a testament to the countless roles she had played, the impossible burdens she had carried. Yet, in this moment, she felt a strange sense of clarity. The awe and fear she inspired were not just relics of the past; they were a reminder of the power she wielded and the responsibilities she had to shoulder once more.
Raz walked beside her, her golden eyes sharp as they took in the renewed energy of the crew. She could see the change in them—where there had been despair, there was now a flicker of hope. Where there had been resignation, there was now determination. The return of Sophia, in her ancient armor, had rekindled something within them that had been dormant for too long.
"The Last Dragon Lord," someone whispered as they passed, and this time, the title was spoken not with fear, but with reverence. It was as if they were seeing not just Sophia, but Valicar herself—a being of legend, come to life before their eyes.
Sophia approached the bridge with a growing sense of purpose. She was not just Valicar, nor just Sophia—she was both, and more. She had been called back to lead, to fight, to save the galaxy she loved.
The doors to the bridge opened, and a wave of silence followed her entry. Every eye turned toward her, filled with awe, fear, and hope. Her many titles whispered through the corridors like a reminder of who she had been and who she needed to be now.
Sophia stood at the center of the command deck, her presence commanding the room. Her armor gleamed under the dim lights, a perfect replica of her ancient battle gear. Her crimson and sapphire hair flowed like fire and ice, and the weight of her past no longer burdened her—it fortified her. She had reclaimed her identity and purpose.
Beside her, Raz Maliv golden eyes scanned the room with sharp focus, deferring to Sophia—the leader they had been waiting for.
Before Sophia could speak, the holoprojector at the front of the bridge flickered to life, and the image of Emperor Easton von White appeared. His features were lined with exhaustion, his uniform stained from battle, but his eyes brightened slightly when he saw her.
"Sophia," Easton began, his voice carrying a mix of relief and urgency. "It’s damn good to see you again. We’ve been holding the line, but Holvor isn’t giving us any time to breathe. He’s relentless."
Sophia inclined her head, the weight of their shared history clear in her gaze. "It’s good to see you too, Easton. We’re heading to Caldera now. We’ll join you in the fight."
Easton nodded, his expression grim. "We need you here, Sophia. Holvor’s forces are relentless, and we’re barely keeping them at bay. Get your ass to Caldera as fast as you can. We can’t hold them off much longer without you."
Before she could respond, the transmission flickered, Easton’s image breaking up as the sounds of battle grew louder on his end. "Holvor’s pushing again—I have to go. See you soon, Sophia. And… it’s good to have you back."
The transmission cut out abruptly, leaving the bridge in silence once more.
Sophia turned to Raz, who was already issuing orders to the crew. "Set course for Caldera. Full speed."
The bridge came alive with activity as the crew responded to Raz’s commands. The Stormbreaker rumbled to life, the engines roaring as the ship altered course toward the Caldera system. The sense of purpose in the air was palpable—everyone knew what was at stake.
As the stars outside the viewport blurred into streaks of light, the ship jumped to hyperspace, hurtling toward the heart of the empire. Sophia stood at the front of the bridge, her eyes locked on the viewport, her thoughts focused on the battle to come.
The jump was brief, and when the Stormbreaker emerged from hyperspace, the devastation of the Caldera system stretched out before them. The system, eerily similar to Sol but without Earth, lay in ruins. Entire planets had been shattered, their remnants drifting aimlessly in space like gravestones to the countless lives lost. The moon, the very one where the world had once witnessed the climactic fight on the day she killed Mike, stood as a grim reminder of what had been and what Holvor now threatened to repeat.
Her heart tightened at the sight. This place—the cradle of all magical races: dragons, humans, elves, dwarves, orcs, and beast kin—was being torn apart. The destruction mirrored her own memories of that fateful day, and the parallel was impossible to ignore. Holvor, like Mike, was on the same path, corrupted by Anna Sha. Both men had been powerful, stubborn, and driven by their own twisted sense of destiny. Both had slipped further from her grasp, despite how deeply she had cared for them.
The thought of Mike and Holvor, similar in their own ways, now twisted by forces beyond their control, made Sophia's fist clench, the sharp edges of her gauntlet biting into her palm. The shadow of the past loomed large—the Shadow Orb that Mike had once wielded, the demonic power that had consumed him. It was happening again, this time with Holvor. Another soul she couldn't save. Another betrayal of her own legacy.
Beside her, Raz broke the heavy silence, her voice hard but steady, the determination in her golden eyes unwavering. "This is our home, Sophia. We can’t let Holvor destroy it. Not after everything we’ve lost."
Sophia glanced at her, her resolve hardening as she faced the ruins of the world she had once fought for. She would not allow another to fall under Anna Sha’s influence. No more. She had lost Mike, and Holvor had killed Taileral. Too much had already been taken from her.
"I won’t let it happen again," Sophia replied, her voice low but fierce, more to herself than to Raz. "Not this time."
Sophia nodded, her resolve hardening like steel. "We won’t. I’ll make sure of it."
Ahead of them, the battle raged on. The remnants of the empire’s fleet were locked in a desperate struggle against Holvor’s armada. The space around Caldera was a maelstrom of energy beams, explosions, and debris, with the empire’s forces fighting valiantly to protect their home.
Without hesitation, Sophia and Raz prepared for the next phase of the battle. The Stormbreaker surged forward, joining the fray as the two women took to the skies in their dragon forms. Sophia’s massive, majestic blue dragon form, accented by crimson, soared into the chaos, her eyes blazing with determination. Raz followed, her golden scales reflecting the fiery light of the battle.
Together, they dove into the heart of the conflict, their roars echoing through the void as they engaged Holvor’s forces directly. The battle for Caldera had truly begun, and with Sophia leading the charge, there was finally a glimmer of hope that the tide might turn.
As they fought, Sophia felt the full weight of her past and present converging into this moment. She was no longer just Valicar, the warrior of legend, nor was she simply Sophia, the burdened leader. She was both, and she was ready to save her galaxy—no matter the cost.
The void of space was a maelstrom of chaos, with ships clashing in brutal combat, their hulls tearing apart under the relentless assault of Holvor’s demonic fleet. Explosions ripped through the darkness, sending debris spiraling through the void as the forces of the empire fought desperately to hold the line. Holvor’s fleet, twisted and corrupted by dark magic, was a terrifying sight—its ships not only battle-hardened from decades of war but also possessed by demons, their forms warped and monstrous. Yet despite the demonic influence, the soldiers remained fiercely loyal to Holvor, their devotion to the dragon who had led them outweighing any allegiance to the empire they once served.
Sophia and Raz cut through the chaos, their massive dragon forms weaving between the beleaguered ships of their fleet. The Stormbreaker led the charge, its cannons firing relentless volleys into the enemy ranks, but the sheer scale of the battle was overwhelming. Everywhere Sophia looked, she saw the destruction Holvor had wrought—ships torn apart, their crews floating lifeless in the void, the wreckage of once-thriving space station reduced to little more than cosmic dust.
“This is madness,” Raz murmured through the comms, her voice tinged with sorrow as she took in the devastation around them. Her golden scales shimmered in the faint light of the distant sun, her wings slicing through the vacuum with precision and grace. “Holvor… how could he have fallen so far?”
Sophia’s heart ached at the sight, but her resolve was unshakable. “We have to try, Raz,” she replied, her voice firm despite the turmoil within her. “We have to make him see reason before it’s too late.”
As they flew deeper into the fray, they spotted Easton engaged in a fierce battle with Holvor above the skies of Caldera. The planet’s surface, teeming with life, was a distant blur beneath them. Holvor, his crimson scales darkened by the blood of his countless victims, was locked in a deadly dance with Easton, the emperor of the empire. Easton, his golden aura flickering with the strain of the battle, was using every ounce of his power to keep Holvor away from the planet, preventing him from completing the world-ending spell that would claim the trillion souls on Caldera.
Suddenly, a blast of holy light erupted from Easton’s hands, a radiant column of energy that streaked through the sky and struck Holvor with the force of a thousand suns. Holvor’s massive form was hurled from the sky, his body crashing through the atmosphere and into the cold void of space. The impact was cataclysmic, shaking the entire battlefield and sending shockwaves rippling through the stars.
Sophia and Raz didn’t hesitate. They dove toward Holvor, their combined might bearing down on him with the fury of a storm. As they neared, they could see the madness in his eyes, the twisted determination that had consumed him. His once-proud form was a grotesque reflection of power corrupted, his scales blackened and cracked, his wings shredded from countless battles. Yet, despite his injuries, Holvor radiated a terrifying strength—one that seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment.
Sophia was the first to speak, her voice echoing through the magical comms that linked their minds across the vastness of space. “Holvor! Stop this madness! We’re not your enemies—we’re your family!”
Holvor’s laughter was a harsh, grating sound that sent chills down Sophia’s spine. “Family? Is that what you call yourselves?” His voice crackled with dark energy, his every word dripping with contempt. “You, who turned your back on your true nature? You, who abandoned the power you could have wielded? Don’t make me laugh, Solaria. You’re nothing but a coward.”
Sophia flinched at the mention of her old name, the memories of her past life flooding back with a vengeance. But she forced herself to stand firm, to reach out to the dragon she had once known. “Holvor, please… I know what you’re going through. I’ve been there. I’ve felt that power, that hunger. But it’s not too late to turn back. We can help you.”
Raz, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, her voice laden with emotion. "Holvor, you don’t have to do this. We’ve fought side by side, bled for the empire. You were the one who saved the empire when Sophia disappeared, and you protected us from the rebels and the alien threat. But the way you did it—by turning down this dark path—and when Taileral tried to stop you—our own sister—you killed her. You know she would never have wanted this. She believed in you, in what we once stood for."
At the mention of Taileral, a flicker of pain crossed Holvor's face, but it quickly twisted into a sneer of cold malice. "Taileral was weak, just like you, Raz. She tried to stop me from claiming the power that was rightfully mine. The Faluians and the Ja'ias needed to be wiped out for the empire to survive. I did what needed to be done. If you had any sense, you would’ve done the same." His voice dripped with contempt, as if the weight of Taileral’s death and the genocide of entire races meant nothing to him anymore.
Raz’s voice trembled with anger and grief. "You killed her, Holvor. You killed our sister for your twisted quest for glory. And then you genocided billions. How can you call that strength?”
Holvor’s laugh was cold and hollow. “Strength is not measured by sentiment, Raz. It’s measured by power—by the ability to shape the world as you see fit. Taileral was a hindrance, just like all the others who refused to see the truth. I did what was necessary to ascend.”
Sophia’s heart broke at his words. The Holvor she had known, the dragon who had once fought beside her and shared her dreams of protecting their world, was gone. All that remained was this twisted reflection, consumed by the same darkness that had once threatened to consume her.
“Holvor, don’t you see?” Sophia pleaded, her voice thick with emotion. “This path leads only to destruction. You’re repeating the same mistakes I made—Mike made. You’re turning into the very thing we swore to fight against.”
Holvor’s sneer widened, his eyes gleaming with a manic light. “You’re the fool, Solaria. You had the power to rule, to ascend beyond the limits of mortality. But you threw it all away! You chose to play guardian to these weak, pathetic creatures instead of claiming what was rightfully yours. You could have been a god, but you chose to be nothing!”
His form crackled with dark energy, the souls he had absorbed swirling around him like a storm of despair. His voice, dripping with malice and certainty, cut through the chaos. “But I won’t make the same mistake. I will ascend where you failed, Solaria. I will become a true god, not some false immortal like the rest of you!”
Holvor's eyes, now a twisted reflection of blackened madness, narrowed as he continued, claiming the title that had once been his father's and then Sophia's. "I am the Dragon Lord now, the one true ruler of our kind! Anna Sha herself promised me that only a dragon could ascend fully—a perfect fusion of demonic and holy power. It was foretold during the Creation Wars! You, and even your brother Mike, were too weak to achieve it, but I will succeed where you both failed. I will rise to godhood and fulfill the destiny that was always meant to be mine!"
Sophia’s heart tightened at his words, the weight of his madness pressing down on her like a physical force. Holvor, in his twisted quest for power, believed that by claiming the title of Dragon Lord—a title once held by his father, Ignial, until he was killed by the Pillar of the North—he could reclaim the legacy he believed was stolen from him. But this title was more than just a crown; it was a mantle that bore the responsibility of ruling all dragons, and by extension, all magical races, with unparalleled strength and wisdom. As Dragon Lord, Ignial had wielded power like an Archmage to all other mages—a metaphor for the position's immense power, one only the strongest of their kind could claim through sheer might. Holvor’s belief that strength alone could make him worthy of this title was tragically flawed.
Sophia, even as Solaria, had briefly claimed the title and challenged Ignial for it in a past life. Despite being a dragon of immense magic, her strength had always been in her spells, not in brute force. Female dragons were naturally smaller than their male counterparts, and though Sophia’s magic made her formidable, she had known she could never match Ignial in raw physical power. Their challenge had remained unresolved, as the Pillar of the North had killed her before they could settle it. She had sought the title and the power it symbolized during her campaign to destroy the world for Anna Sha—seeking the billions of souls and the power they would bring, much like Holvor was doing now. But the Pillar’s intervention had ended her destructive path, sending her to Earth to be reborn. Yet, despite that second chance, she had led Mike down the same dark road, a path that had ended in nothing but ruin.
Her thoughts flashed back to Mike on that day, who had taken over Ignial’s body in another life, his soul forever changed after merging first with her, and then with Ignial. His soul had become almost draconic, a fusion of their essences. Yet, the same tragedy of necromancy and demonic power had corrupted them both, leading them down a path of destruction.
Sophia’s voice hardened as she spoke, her eyes locking onto Holvor’s with a fierce intensity. “Your father would be ashamed of you, Holvor. Ignial was the Dragon Lord through might, yes, but he understood what that title truly meant—responsibility, wisdom, and the protection of our people. He didn’t need to corrupt his soul with demonic power or sacrifice billions to prove his strength. You’re not claiming the title of Dragon Lord; you’re desecrating it.”
Holvor’s expression darkened, the manic light in his eyes flickering with anger. “Ignial was a fool, just like you! He held back, refused to take the power that was right in front of him. But I won’t make that mistake! I will be the Dragon Lord in truth, and I will achieve what neither he nor you ever could!”
Sophia shook her head, her heart heavy with the weight of his delusions. “This isn’t about power, Holvor. It’s about what you do with it. Your father understood that, even if you don’t. You’re not ascending—you’re falling, just like Mike did, just like I almost did. This path you’re on… it only leads to ruin.”
The words reverberated through the void, a chilling reminder of the dark path he had chosen. Sophia could see the conviction in his eyes, the twisted belief that he was destined for something greater—something terrifying. The madness that had consumed him was complete, and there was no turning back.
Sophia’s heart sank at his words, the weight of his madness pressing down on her like a physical force. She had hoped—prayed—that they could reach him, but now she could see that the Holvor she had known was gone, consumed by his lust for power.
Raz’s voice was a whisper through the comms, filled with a sorrow that mirrored Sophia’s own. “He’s too far gone, Sophia. We have to stop him.”
Sophia nodded, her resolve hardening as she prepared for what she knew had to come. “I know. But it doesn’t make it any easier.”
Holvor’s sneer widened as he saw the determination in their eyes, mistaking it for weakness. “That’s right, hesitate! Show me your weakness! You’ll never have the strength to stop me, because you’re too afraid of what you could become if you embraced your true power! Even now, you hold the Shadow Orb and refuse to use it!”
His voice dripped with venomous mockery, each word a dagger aimed at the heart of their resolve. “You cling to your past, to your pathetic notions of redemption and restraint. But power—true power—requires sacrifice! I am not afraid to do what is necessary. That is why I will ascend, and you… you will remain forever chained by your own fear!”
Holvor’s laughter echoed through the void, a chilling sound that reverberated off the shattered remains of the planet below. He believed he had already won, that their hesitation was proof of their impending failure.
Sophia’s response was a roar—a sound that shook the stars and sent tremors through the very fabric of space. “I’m not afraid of you, Holvor! I’m not afraid of what I could become. But I refuse to let you destroy everything we’ve fought to protect!”
With a single, powerful beat of her wings, Sophia surged forward, her claws outstretched and blazing with icy fire. Raz followed, her golden form cutting through the void like a blade of pure light.
Holvor met their charge head-on, his roar reverberating through the void as he lunged toward them, dark energy crackling around his massive form. The impact was cataclysmic, sending shockwaves through the battlefield as dragon met dragon, the sheer force of their collision tearing apart the remnants of ships and asteroids in their path. Raz, despite her smaller size, darted around Holvor, striking with precision, but her attacks barely seemed to faze him. Holvor had grown immensely, his demonic pact granting him a size and strength that eclipsed even Sophia's formidable draconic form.
Holvor swatted Raz away with a brutal swipe of his claw, a blast of black fire erupting from his jaws and enveloping her. The dark flames twisted around her, searing her scales and sending her spiraling through space, her golden form disappearing into the distance.
"Raz!" Sophia's voice carried a mix of rage and desperation, but there was no time to dwell on her fallen ally. Holvor was already upon her, his massive claws descending like meteors.
Sophia twisted in midair, narrowly avoiding the blow, but the sheer force of it sent her hurtling through the wreckage of a shattered battleship, the debris clattering off her scales. Holvor followed, relentless, his larger form dominating the battlefield. His claws tore through the wreckage, and his tail whipped through the debris, scattering it like dust in the wind.
Sophia retaliated with a blast of lightning, the crackling energy arcing through space and striking Holvor square in the chest. "Loa vu brmala!" she chanted, her voice resonating with ancient power. The impact slowed him for a brief moment, but he roared in fury, shaking off the attack with a surge of dark energy.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Undeterred, Sophia followed up with dozens of elemental spells, her hands moving in a blur as she unleashed a barrage of fire, ice, wind, and earth. Each spell was perfectly cast, a testament to her mastery of magic, yet each one dissipated harmlessly against Holvor’s dark aura. The flames licked at his scales, the ice shattered upon contact, and the wind and earth barely slowed him down in the void of space.
Holvor fought with the same brute force that had made his father, Ignial, so formidable. His massive claws tore through the void, and every swing of his tail sent shockwaves through the battlefield. He seemed to absorb the raw power of her spells, using it to fuel his own dark might. Each time she struck, he grew stronger, more relentless, his form crackling with dark energy as he advanced on her, his strength overpowering even her most potent magic.
"You should have embraced your destiny as Solaria!" Holvor's voice boomed through the magical comms, his jaws opening wide as he unleashed a torrent of hellfire. The black flames seared through space, their heat palpable even from a distance.
Sophia dodged the attack, her movements fluid and precise, but the flames licked at her scales, draining her strength. She fought through the pain, knowing that she couldn't afford to let Holvor gain the upper hand.
As they clashed again, Sophia unleashed a torrent of her own flames, blue and crimson fire meeting Holvor's black inferno in a violent explosion. The force of the blast sent them both tumbling through space, their massive bodies crashing through asteroids and debris, the impact sending shockwaves that rippled through the battlefield.
Holvor's claws found her as they met once again, raking across her side and tearing through scales and flesh. The pain was immediate and blinding, but Sophia fought back, her jaws closing around his shoulder and tearing into his corrupted flesh. Dark, viscous blood spilled into the void, but Holvor only roared, his claws digging into her back and forcing her to release him.
Locked in a brutal dance of destruction, they tore through the battlefield, destroying everything in their path. With a powerful sweep of his tail, Holvor sent Sophia crashing through a nearby asteroid, the massive rock shattering on impact. Sophia shook off the debris, her eyes blazing with fury as she charged at him again, her claws crackling with energy as she struck. Holvor met her blow for blow, his larger form absorbing much of the damage, but Sophia's strikes were relentless, fueled by a desperate need to protect everything she held dear.
Their battle raged on, tearing through the stars as they clashed again and again. Sophia could feel her strength waning, her body battered and bleeding from the relentless assault. Holvor was larger, stronger, and his dark power seemed to be growing with each passing moment.
But Sophia wasn't ready to give up. She was the Last Dragon Lord, the protector of her people, and she would not let Holvor destroy everything she had fought for.
With a final, desperate surge of power, Sophia unleashed a blast of energy—a fusion of magic and science so potent it threatened to unravel the very fabric of space around them. She focused all her might on the gas giant they were hurtling toward, compressing its immense mass with a gravitational spell that defied the natural laws of the universe. The planet began to collapse under the pressure, its gases igniting as Sophia triggered a fusion reaction.
"Neas vaans ru ala!" she chanted, her voice echoing through the void with the weight of ancient power.
The gas giant flared into a miniature sun, its short-lived brilliance outshining the stars, but Sophia was far from finished. The newly formed star roared with energy, its heat and light growing more intense as she continued to channel her power into it, pushing the limits of what even she could control.
Channeling an ungodly amount of magic, Sophia forced the newborn sun into the final stages of its life cycle, accelerating its collapse into a supernova. The star’s core imploded, and for a moment, it seemed as though the entire solar system would be obliterated by the catastrophic explosion that followed. But Sophia, with her unparalleled mastery of both arcane and scientific forces, contained the supernova’s energy within a tightly controlled field, condensing its immense power into a single, concentrated beam of destruction.
The concentrated laser of pure stellar energy, hot enough to vaporize planets, was directed with pinpoint precision at Holvor. The beam tore through space, a spear of light and heat that left a blazing trail in the void, aimed directly at the corrupted dragon who had once been her kin.
"Jeas van mura!" Sophia chanted, her words infused with the power of ancient magic.
In response to her command, the very fabric of gravity bent to her will, moving Holvor into place like an invisible hand of the universe, ensuring the beam would strike with lethal precision.
Holvor saw the attack coming, his eyes widening in shock at the sheer magnitude of the power Sophia had unleashed. But instead of fear, a twisted grin spread across his face. With a roar of defiance, he summoned the billions of souls he had absorbed, forming a dark, pulsating shield around himself. The souls writhed and screamed, their anguish forming a barrier of immense dark energy, as Holvor braced for impact.
The gamma ray burst struck with unimaginable force, the explosion of energy lighting up the surrounding space in a blinding blaze. The collision of light and dark forces sent shockwaves rippling through the cosmos, tearing apart the debris of the battlefield and sending fragments of destroyed ships careening into the far reaches of space.
For a moment, it seemed as though nothing could survive the onslaught. The power of the supernova, concentrated into that single beam, should have been enough to annihilate even the mightiest of foes. But as the light began to fade, Sophia's heart sank. Holvor was still there.
His shield had held. The billions of souls he had sacrificed had absorbed the brunt of the attack, their torment and despair fueling his dark powers to withstand the impossible. Holvor emerged from the fading light, his form battered and scorched, but still standing, still defiant.
"You think this can stop me, Solaria?" Holvor’s voice boomed through the void, filled with a cruel triumph. "You cannot kill me with your pitiful tricks! I am beyond death, beyond your reach!"
Sophia, drained from the monumental effort it had taken to control the supernova, struggled to stay aloft. Her wings, once so powerful, trembled uncontrollably, and her once-pristine scales were now charred, cracked, and blistered from the intense heat of the blast. Each movement sent waves of agony through her body, but she refused to let the pain overcome her. Holvor wasn’t finished. His roar, filled with dark fury, echoed through the void as he launched himself at her with renewed ferocity, the storm of dark energy around him intensifying, fueled by the billions of tormented souls he had absorbed.
Their collision was cataclysmic, sending shockwaves rippling through space, and they hurtled toward the system's real sun. Sophia desperately tried to maneuver, to shift the battle away from the star, fully aware of the catastrophic consequences another uncontrolled explosion could have on Caldera and its surrounding planets. But Holvor was relentless, his rage driving him closer and closer to the sun's blazing surface, intent on finishing the fight in the most destructive way possible.
As they grappled, Sophia felt her strength ebbing, the immense strain of the previous battles catching up with her. Holvor's sheer size and power, now even greater than hers, began to overwhelm her. His claws raked across her scales, tearing deep into her flesh, but it was his jaws, snapping with dark energy, that posed the greatest threat.
With a surge of desperation, she threw herself at him, aiming to push him into the star, but it cost her dearly. Holvor's jaws clamped down on her arm with a sickening crunch, the dark energy swirling around them searing her flesh as his teeth bit deep into bone. With a roar of pain and fury, she sent them both hurtling toward the sun at near light speed, her remaining strength focused on driving him into the fiery inferno. But as they plunged toward the star, Holvor’s jaws clamped down harder, and with a savage twist of his head, he tore her arm clean off, the agony blinding.
Sophia screamed, the sound reverberating through space, but she didn’t falter. The loss of her arm only fueled her determination as they broke through the sun’s surface, their bodies consumed by its blazing heat. The light was blinding, the heat unbearable as they descended into the star’s core, their forms burning as they continued to tear into each other with a primal savagery.
Holvor’s dark energy shielded him from the worst of the sun’s heat, but Sophia, exhausted and grievously wounded, felt her scales melting, her flesh searing as they fought. Each strike from Holvor felt like it was tearing her apart, but she refused to give in, her own claws ripping through his scales, each bite infused with the last remnants of her strength.
The intense gravity of the sun pulled them deeper, the pressure crushing, the heat unimaginable. As they neared the core, Sophia knew she had to end it here, before either of them could escape and bring destruction to everything she had sworn to protect. With one final, desperate surge of power, she wrapped her remaining arm around Holvor’s neck, pulling him deeper into the core, using the sun’s immense gravitational force to trap them both in its deadly embrace.
As Sophia’s strength began to wane, the sun’s core roared around them, a furnace of unimaginable heat. Even her mighty dragon form was beginning to buckle under the intense pressure, but she refused to yield. With a final, desperate surge, she summoned all the energy she had left, unleashing a torrent of pure power that sent Holvor reeling, driving him deeper into the sun’s molten heart.
But Holvor was not defeated.
As he plummeted into the star’s fiery depths, he gathered the last of his strength and lunged at her with brutal ferocity. His claws, crackling with dark energy, swiped across her chest, carving a deep, jagged gash into her scales and sending searing pain through her body. With a savage roar, he tore off one of her horns, the force of the attack sending a shockwave through her entire form.
Suddenly, with devastating power, Holvor’s brute strength hurled Sophia from the sun's core. Her massive form hurtled through space at near-light speeds, the force of his blow flinging her like a comet through the void. The heat and pressure from the star still clung to her as she soared uncontrollably, the gaping wound in her chest burning with agony as blood poured from her torn scales.
The world blurred into streaks of light and shadow as she crashed violently into the cracked moon orbiting Caldera, the impact sending shockwaves through its fractured surface. Sophia’s body tore through the jagged edges of the moon’s crust, creating a massive crater, her breath coming in ragged, labored gasps. Every inhale sent sharp pains through her chest, the open wound in her chest poured blood, draining her strength with each passing second.
She tried to lift her head, to move, but her body felt impossibly heavy, her limbs refusing to obey. The jagged edges of the moon’s surface loomed around her like the jaws of some monstrous beast, trapping her in the aftermath of her brutal fall. Sophia’s vision swam as the weight of Holvor’s dark magic pressed down on her, her strength ebbing away with every pulse of the corrupted energy.
Holvor’s towering form cast a long shadow over her, his eyes blazing with triumph as he loomed closer. Despite his injuries, the dark energy within him continued to heal his wounds, knitting flesh and bone back together with horrifying speed. His once-proud red scales were now a patchwork of burns and scars, yet he still exuded an overwhelming aura of power.
“You’re finished, Solaria,” Holvor sneered, his voice dripping with malice. The name sent a shiver of revulsion down Sophia’s spine. He took another step forward, each movement slow and deliberate, savoring his impending victory. “And soon, everything you’ve ever fought for will be mine.”
Sophia’s heart pounded in her chest, not out of fear, but out of desperation. She couldn’t let it end like this. She had to protect Caldera, her people—everything. But as much as she tried to summon her strength, her body refused to respond. The darkness crept closer, threatening to swallow her whole.
Holvor’s massive clawed foot came down, pinning her to the ground. The weight of it pressed down on her chest, driving the air from her lungs in a choked gasp. “I told you,” he hissed, leaning down so his face was inches from hers, his breath hot and foul. “You should have embraced your true nature. You should have joined me.”
Sophia’s vision blurred as tears of frustration welled in her eyes. She tried to speak, but no sound came out. The darkness was closing in, and she knew that if she let go now, everything would be lost. She had to do something—anything—to stop him.
But just as Holvor raised his claw to deliver the killing blow, a sudden surge of dark energy crackled through the air, distorting the very fabric of space around them. Holvor hesitated, his eyes narrowing in confusion as he looked up.
A miniature black hole formed above them, its gravitational pull distorting the light and dragging everything toward its center. Holvor roared in frustration as the pull yanked at him, forcing him to stagger backward, his grip on Sophia loosening just enough for her to draw a shuddering breath.
Through the haze of pain and exhaustion, Sophia saw a small, nimble fighter jet streak across the sky, weaving between the debris and ruins of the battlefield. The familiar hum of its engines and the dark silhouette within filled her with a sudden, desperate hope.
“Not today, bastard,” a voice crackled through the comms, steady and full of resolve.
It was James.
He had found her.
The black hole intensified, the pull becoming almost unbearable as Holvor fought against it, his claws digging deep into the ground to anchor himself. His roar of rage echoed through the shattered landscape as he struggled to maintain his footing.
James’s fighter hovered above them, its sleek form bristling with Celestial technology. Through the cockpit, Sophia could just make out his figure—his long gray beard and dark robes a stark contrast to the blinding light of the sun they had just escaped.
"Hang in there, Sophia," James's voice crackled through the comms again, filled with both determination and a weight of knowledge that made her heart tighten. "I’ve been looking for you for so long… but we need to end this together. There’s a spell—Soulbound Revolt. It’s the only way to stop him."
Sophia’s breath caught as she recognized the words, the memory crashing into her like a tidal wave. Soulbound Revolt… It wasn’t just any spell. It was the very same incantation that had once been used against her in her first life as Solaria, back when she had nearly brought the world to ruin. The memory was sharp and raw—the way the spell had torn at her very essence, weakening her enough for the Pillar of the North to deliver the killing blow with Violet Night, a blade designed to slay immortals.
For a moment, fear gripped her heart. Soulbound Revolt had sealed her fate before, and the thought of wielding such a destructive spell again was almost unbearable. But there was no choice now. Holvor, consumed by demonic power, was unstoppable unless she used the very magic that had once been her downfall.
James’s voice cut through the storm of emotions swirling inside her. “We don’t have much time, Sophia. You know what this spell can do. It was the only thing that weakened you enough for the Pillar to finish you off. We have to use it now, or Holvor will destroy everything."
He paused for a heartbeat, his voice softening slightly as it carried the weight of something unspoken. “I’ve been searching for you all this time, Sophia. I never stopped, since the day you vanished. But we can talk about that later. Right now, we have to finish this together."
The words hit her harder than she expected, flooding her with a sudden warmth and a pang of guilt. All this time, while she had been fighting, struggling to make sense of her return and her purpose, James had been searching for her, waiting for the moment when they could stand side by side again. It gave her strength, a renewed focus on the task at hand. They had come too far to let Holvor destroy everything.
Sophia clenched her fists, forcing herself to push past the fear, past the memories of her own death. This was different. She had to be stronger this time. "I know what it can do, James,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm inside. “And this time, I’ll make sure it’s enough to stop him."
From above, Raz Maliv descended in her smaller but no less fierce golden dragon form, her wings slicing through the air like blades. With a mighty roar, she unleashed a torrent of golden flames aimed directly at Holvor’s exposed flank. The flames, infused with Raz’s fierce determination, seared through the void, their brilliant golden light cutting through the darkness that surrounded Holvor.
At the same moment, the Stormbreaker, under Easton’s command, opened fire, releasing a barrage of golden beams, each infused with holy energy. The beams tore through the darkness and converged on their target with deadly precision. The combined assault struck Holvor with such force that even he couldn’t ignore it, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.
As Sophia struggled to maintain her spells, she glanced around, and a surge of emotions overwhelmed her. The sight of Raz fighting with fierce determination, Easton commanding the Stormbreaker with precision, and the steady, reassuring presence of James filled her with a profound sense of relief and gratitude. Despite the chaos, her allies had regrouped, and they were by her side when she needed them most. They had rallied together in this dire moment, giving her the strength to keep fighting.
As they fought to hold the line, Sophia’s mind raced with thoughts of James. She was both happy and shocked to see him here, to know that he had been searching for her all this time. The memory of his voice, steady and resolute, filled her with a warmth she had almost forgotten. Despite the years that had passed and the countless battles they had fought, James had never given up on her. He had been searching, waiting for the moment they could reunite, ever since she had vanished before his eyes. That unwavering loyalty stirred something deep inside her, reminding her of the connection they shared, stronger now than ever.
The thought gave her strength. Sophia channeled that strength into the Soulbound Revolt, tightening the metaphysical hold over the billions of souls trapped within Holvor, their rebellion now fanning the flames of chaos inside him. She wasn’t alone in this fight—not anymore. With Raz, Easton, and James by her side, she knew they had a chance to end this once and for all.
"Lus von la runala con ba yu ji talra," she chanted, her voice ringing with power as the ancient words reverberated through the battlefield. The spell surged with renewed intensity, and the souls within Holvor responded, their cries of rebellion growing louder as they tore at the dark power that had consumed him.
Holvor howled in pain and rage as the combined assault struck him, his massive body shuddering under the force of the attack. The golden flames and beams of light scorched his scales, tearing through the demonic energy that protected him. For a brief moment, it seemed as if they had turned the tide, as if the combined might of Sophia’s allies would be enough to bring him down.
But Holvor’s fury knew no bounds. With a roar of pure, unbridled rage, he unleashed another wave of demonic power, sending Raz, James, and the Stormbreaker all flying backward. The black hole collapsed under the strain, vanishing in an instant, and Holvor turned his bloodthirsty gaze back to Sophia.
“Enough!” he bellowed, his voice reverberating through the planet’s shattered surface. “I will not be denied!”
He charged at Sophia, his claws crackling with dark energy, ready to end her once and for all. Sophia, still too weak to move, could only watch as he closed in, her heart pounding with despair.
Just as his claws were about to strike, Holvor's other hand shot forward, conjuring a spear of demonic energy. With one brutal thrust, he drove the dark spear through Sophia's chest, the shock of it sending a wave of cold agony through her body. As his other hand raked across her throat, slicing deep, Sophia felt the warmth of her blood pouring from the wound, her breath coming in wet, gurgling gasps. Her vision blurred as the darkness closed in, the spear burning like molten fire in her chest.
In the last second, before his claws could finish her with a decapitating strike, a flash of golden light erupted as Raz, in her dragon form, slammed into Holvor from the side. The force of the impact sent him sprawling, but the damage had been done. The jagged wound in her throat left her gasping for breath, while the spear embedded in her chest pulsed with demonic energy, slowly draining the life from her.
Raz's desperate intervention had saved her from immediate death, but the spear lodged in her chest promised a slow, inevitable end.
And then, just as all hope seemed lost, she heard it—her name, faint but unmistakable, carried on a voice she hadn't heard in millennia.
“Sophia…”
The air above her began to ripple. A dark portal shimmered into existence, its edges crackling with energy. And from within the portal, she saw him—a figure bathed in both divine and infernal light, wings of gold and black unfurling behind him. His armor, forged from the bodies of Archdemons, gleamed with terrifying power, and his violet hair, an unmistakable blend of crimson and sapphire, merged into one much like it had once been. She would recognize that soul anywhere—the one that had merged with her own as Valicar, his cool blue intertwining with her fiery red, becoming one, true violet.
Sophia’s breath caught in her throat—or at least, it would have, if she could still breathe properly. She didn’t know this face, but she knew who it was.
It was Mike.
Her brother had returned.
Holvor, sensing the sudden shift in power, threw Raz off with a violent twist of his body, sending her crashing into the rubble below. His claws crackled with dark energy as he turned back to Sophia, preparing to deliver the final, fatal blow. His eyes gleamed with twisted satisfaction, ready to finish her once and for all.
But just as he raised his claws for the strike, he felt it—a sudden, unsettling shift in the air. His attack faltered as his gaze was drawn upward. A portal had begun to form, dark and swirling, crackling with energy that rippled through the battlefield. For the first time, Holvor hesitated, confusion and suspicion flashing across his features.
Before he could react further, from within the portal came an immense surge of necromantic energy. It raced toward Sophia like a torrent of raw, dark power. Holvor’s attention snapped to the figure emerging from the shadows of the portal, the power behind it undeniable, as the necromantic force cascaded toward her.
Sophia felt the souls rushing into her, healing her ravaged body, filling her with a strength she hadn’t felt in ages. The pain from her wounds began to fade as her flesh knitted itself back together, the black spike dissolving under the onslaught of necromantic power. Her throat, which had been brutally slit by Holvor, began to heal, the raw flesh knitting together, the agony slowly fading to a dull throb.
For a moment, she resisted, wanting to reject the dark magic that had caused so much suffering. But then she saw Mike’s face—his eyes, filled with determination, staring down at her from the portal. And she knew he was trying to save her.
“Mike…” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion as her throat continued to heal.
Their eyes met across the dimensions, the connection they had once shared as Valicar flaring to life once more. It was stronger now than ever before, a bond that transcended time and space.
But the portal began to close, Mike’s hand reaching out to her as he was pulled back into the depths of Hell. Sophia’s heart ached as the portal snapped shut, beginning to cutting him off from her once again.
“No!” Sophia cried out, her voice filled with desperation, her newly healed throat straining with the effort. She couldn’t lose him again. Not now.
But there was no time to mourn. Holvor, enraged and desperate, lunged at her once more, his claws ready to tear her apart. But Sophia was ready. The power Mike had given her coursed through her veins, and with a roar of defiance, she unleashed a torrent of icy magic. A massive column of ice erupted from the ground, slamming into Holvor and sending him flying back as the portal closed completely.
Sophia staggered to her feet, her body still battered but now filled with a renewed sense of purpose. James’s voice crackled through the comms again. “Sophia, you need to use the Soulbound Revolt spell. It’s the only way to stop him!”
Raz, in her golden dragon form, swooped down from above, joining Sophia in the battle. "We’ll cover you," she growled, her voice filled with fierce determination. "Do it now!"
Sophia could feel the presence of her allies gathering around her. The Stormbreaker loomed in the distance, Easton directing the fleet with precision, his golden beams of holy energy slicing through Holvor’s forces. James’s fighter zipped through the chaos, casting powerful spells to keep Holvor at bay. Raz, despite being far smaller than both Sophia and Holvor, fought with the ferocity of a true dragon, her golden scales gleaming in the dim light of the distant sun.
Sophia closed her eyes for a brief moment, gathering her strength. The image of Mike’s face, the sound of his voice, still echoed in her mind. She couldn’t let him down. She wouldn’t. Her power, combined with the dark magic she had once despised, surged through her like a tidal wave.
With one final, desperate effort, she continued casting the Soulbound Revolt spell, her voice rising above the chaos of the battlefield. The ancient words, spoken in the tongue of the dragons, reverberated through the air, carried by the winds of magic. "Ruals man valu," Sophia chanted, her voice filled with both power and desperation.
Holvor, sensing the looming danger, roared in defiance and charged at her with all the fury he could muster. But it was already too late. The spell had taken hold, and the dark energy that had once sustained him began to turn against him. The souls trapped within—those he had consumed—rose up in rebellion, no longer bound as prisoners but transforming into a storm of revolt. James’s voice came through the comms, steady and full of certainty.
“Soulbound Revolt,” James intoned. “It stirs the rebellion within the souls he’s taken. Finish it, Sophia!”
Sophia’s resolve solidified. Her voice grew stronger as she channeled every ounce of her remaining strength into the spell. The air itself seemed to ripple with the intensity of the magic, as the souls trapped within Holvor began to rebel with a violent force. Their cries of anguish and rage reverberated through the void, no longer his thralls, but now the harbingers of his demise. The Soulbound Revolt was not a prison—it was a catalyst, turning his own stolen power into the force that would tear him apart from within.
As the souls waged war within him, Holvor’s strength began to unravel. His connection to the demonic magic that had fueled his might cracked under the relentless rebellion, weakening with every passing second. The harder he fought to maintain control, the faster his power slipped away. What had once been his greatest weapon was now the very thing breaking him down.
His roar of fury turned into a desperate howl as his indomitable form faltered. The souls, once the source of his power, now clawed at his essence, tearing away the dark magic that sustained him. Holvor’s enormous body trembled under the strain, unable to heal fast enough to withstand the relentless assault from within. His strength, once a force of terror, crumbled as the revolt consumed him.
At that critical moment, the tide of the battle turned. Easton and the empire’s fleet, having decimated Holvor’s demonic armada, shifted their full might to the fight against him. Colossal ships fired beams of holy light, cascading in columns of searing energy. The Stormbreaker’s cannons roared in unison, and James’s bolts of lightning combined with Raz’s golden flames as they all converged on the now-broken dragon. The sky above Caldera’s moon was ablaze with the united force of Sophia’s allies, converging upon Holvor from every side.
Though the spell exacted a tremendous toll on Sophia’s own strength, she pressed on relentlessly. This was the moment—the culmination of everything she had fought for. The end of Holvor’s reign was at hand, and with it, a new hope for Caldera.
Panic filled Holvor’s eyes as his once-formidable power drained away. “No... No! This cannot be! You coward!” he bellowed, his voice tinged with desperation.
Sophia’s gaze hardened, her determination unwavering. The souls continued their rebellion, tearing at Holvor’s weakening defenses. His monstrous form staggered, unable to hold against the unrelenting assault. The dark magic that had once empowered him unraveled, and with every strike, the end drew nearer.
As Sophia stood amidst her allies, James’s voice echoing in her mind, she knew Holvor’s time was running out. His dominion was crumbling, and with it, a dawn of hope began to break over Caldera.
"Join me now, Demon Lord!" Holvor bellowed, his voice shaking the very fabric of reality. "I, as the Dragon Lord, welcome you to the mortal plane! Give me your power and I will gift you my enemy's souls!"
Fueled by his desperation, Holvor gathered what remained of his raw, unfiltered energy and, in a reckless surge of power, attempted to mimic the Shadow Orb—a spell so dangerous it had torn the very boundaries between dimensions in the past. But this was an imperfect summoning, a crude imitation, and the magic wavered wildly as he forced a tear open between worlds.
The void around them trembled as the dark portal began to take form above the battlefield, its edges rippling with unholy energy, spiraling outward like a vortex eager to consume everything in its path. From within the swirling darkness, a malevolent force stirred—a presence too vast, too horrifying for mortal comprehension.
Anna Sha.
Her essence oozed from the portal, seeping into the mortal realm with an eerie grace, her dark silhouette gaining substance as she emerged. The portal pulsed with infernal energy, and her twisted form, blackened and otherworldly, loomed over the battlefield. A malicious smile played on her lips as her gaze fell upon Holvor, who stared up at her, oblivious to the truth behind his cry for help.
Holvor roared in triumph, certain that salvation had arrived. But the sneer of victory quickly dissolved as Anna Sha's mocking laughter echoed across the void, colder than the deepest reaches of space. Her voice dripped with disdain, as though amused by his foolish belief that she had come to grant him power.
"You think I came for you?" Anna Sha’s voice was like ice slicing through bone. "You pitiful creature… you are nothing but a vessel. Did you truly believe you could rule by my side?"
Holvor’s eyes widened in confusion, her words sinking in like a slow poison. He had summoned her, thinking that together they would rule, that he had been chosen. But the reality crashed over him like a wave, shattering the delusions he had built up. His triumph withered into something hollow, and the realization cut deeper than any wound.
"I… was just a tool?" Holvor’s voice trembled as if the very words drained the last of his strength. All those lives, all that blood—his sister's blood—sacrificed for what? A fleeting promise of power? The ambition that had once driven him, that had seemed like his purpose, his very identity, now crumbled into dust. The realization hit him with devastating clarity. "I killed Taileral… for nothing." His voice cracked, barely more than a whisper now. He wasn’t the Dragon Lord. He wasn’t anything. Without the dream of godhood, without that delusion of glory, what was left of him? Just a hollow shell. Just a puppet.
His thoughts tumbled into chaos, a storm of bitter self-reproach, disbelief, and agony. Taileral. Her face flashed in his mind, not as the enemy he had made her out to be, but as his sister—the one who had always believed in him, trusted him. She had loved him, even when he had forsaken her. And he had repaid that love with death. I should’ve listened… Every sacrifice, every ruthless decision, all the lives he had taken—they had all been for this, a lie, a cruel, twisted game orchestrated by Anna Sha. He had never been destined for greatness. He had been nothing more than her pawn from the start.
"Why?" His voice wavered, filled with regret as he felt his strength crumbling. "Why did it end this way? Why did I do this to you, Tail…?" He felt the weight of his betrayal, heavier than any burden he had ever carried. His vision blurred as he whispered, "I'm sorry, Taileral… I'm so sorry." But the words came too late—too late to undo the devastation, too late to bring her back.
As his broken form trembled under the suffocating grip of Anna Sha’s domination, Holvor understood there would be no redemption, no absolution for his sins. No glory, no triumph—only the cold, unforgiving truth that he had sacrificed everything and gained nothing. His dreams of godhood, his quest for power, all of it reduced to ash in the face of the cruel reality that he had been nothing more than a pawn, destroying those he had loved most.
Through the shimmering portal, Sophia caught a glimpse of Mike on the other side, locked in combat with the demon lord. His form, draped in armor forged from archdemons, his wings blending gold and black, exuded raw, terrifying power. Long violet hair, trailed behind him as he fought. Despite the fierce battle raging around him, Mike was gaining the upper hand, his attacks pressing Anna Sha back, her dark form showing signs of damage, though still terrifying in her resilience.
Sophia’s heart raced as she realized what was happening—Anna Sha, even while battling Mike in another realm, was exerting her demonic influence into their universe. Her dark, twisted essence had the ability to act across dimensions, splitting her power to invade this reality while still desperately holding her ground in the other. Holvor’s summoning had only given her a foothold, a temporary escape as she tried to siphon enough power to survive the fight with Mike.
Sophia narrowed her eyes, watching as Anna Sha’s dark form flickered between worlds, her attention divided. For a brief moment, Sophia glimpsed something unexpected in the demon lord's gaze—fear.
"You're... running" Sophia said quietly, her voice cutting through the chaos.
Anna Sha's eyes shifted, just for a heartbeat, before her sneer returned. "You dare, Solaria!" The truth was evident. Mike had become far more powerful than anyone had expected, and Anna Sha, though still formidable, was struggling to keep him at bay. Holvor, once a proud dragon, was now nothing more than a tool, a temporary vessel for Anna Sha to siphon strength from as she fought a battle she was losing.
Without fully turning from her fight with Mike, Anna Sha extended her essence toward Holvor, shadow wrapping around his broken form. Her voice echoed across the void, directed at both Holvor and Sophia. "Holvor may be weak, but he will serve his purpose. And you, Solaria, will die knowing that your galaxy falls with you—right before your brother's eyes."
Sophia’s heart raced as the truth sank in—Anna Sha wasn’t here to conquer. She was running, desperate to gather power before Mike delivered the final blow. This invasion was nothing more than a last-ditch attempt to survive.
Holvor, reduced to little more than a pawn, had no strength left to resist as Anna Sha’s dark power merged with him. The stars seemed to dim as the grotesque fusion of dragon and shadow began to take shape, twisting Holvor’s form into something monstrous.
Anna Sha’s gaze locked onto Sophia, her voice laced with mockery. "I would have preferred to take you as my vessel again, but this dragon will have to do."
Sophia remained silent, watching as the corrupted form of Holvor roared, his once-mighty power now fully under Anna Sha’s control. There was no partnership here, no shared ambition. Holvor had been reduced to nothing more than a shell, and Anna Sha wielded him like a puppet.
Anna Sha’s control over Holvor tightened, her sneer never faltering, but the cracks were showing. "You dragons have always thought too highly of yourselves, haven’t you, Solaria?" she hissed, her voice venomous. "You were never more than tools in our war—a vessel for divine and infernal forces. Dragons may be perfect vessels, but you were nothing without us."
Holvor’s massive form trembled under the weight of her dominance, his aspirations of becoming the Dragon Lord crushed completely. The souls he had harvested, once his claim to power, were now devoured by Anna Sha fueling her, leaving him a hollow husk—a mere puppet.
Sophia’s mind churned with memories of her bond with Mike, of their unity as Valicar—a merging born of love and shared purpose, not this twisted, parasitic control. She pitied Holvor, seeing the echoes of what he could have been, a brother and protector like Mike, had he not given in to the darkness. But as much as sorrow welled up inside her for him, she knew the truth—he had made his choice. This wasn’t just tragedy; it was the result of his own ambition, his willingness to sacrifice everything, even his sister. Anna Sha wasn’t conquering; she was afraid. This wasn’t strength—it was desperation. Holvor had chosen this path, and now, there was no turning back for him or Anna Sha.
Sophia’s voice rang out, cutting through the void. "Dragons might be a good choice... but Mike is the perfect vessel for both powers, isn’t he? That’s why you’re running. You’re not conquering, Anna Sha. You’re running from Mike."
Anna Sha’s eyes flashed, but she said nothing. The silence was confirmation enough.
Anna Sha’s sneer faltered, just for an instant, but it was enough. Sophia knew the truth now. Mike had become something far greater than any of them had imagined, and it terrified Anna Sha.
"Afraid?" Anna Sha spat, her voice rising in anger. "Your brother is a fool, just like you. I will crush him, and I will crush you. With this dragon and the souls he gathered, I am unstoppable!"
But Sophia saw through it. Anna Sha had been forced to settle for Holvor’s broken form, a far cry from the perfect vessels she had once desired. She wasn’t as powerful as she claimed to be.
Anna Sha, her rage boiling over, surged toward Sophia, her corrupted form towering above the battlefield. "This ends now, Solaria!" she roared, her wings unfurling as darkness crackled around her.
Sophia’s heart pounded as Anna Sha charged, but she stood her ground. This wasn’t the end. Not for her. Not for the galaxy she fought to protect.
As Anna Sha’s monstrous fusion bore down on her, Sophia clenched her fists, ready for the fight ahead. She wouldn’t let this dark reflection of her past destroy everything.
She would win.