As Valicar remained trapped in a trance-like state, James found himself confronted by the dreaded arch-necromancer Zaltheral atop the undead father of Kraken. The weight of their shared history hung heavy in the air as James unleashed torrents of arcane energy — fire and lightning rained down with each spell he cast. Despite his efforts, his spells only seemed to have slight effects, barely making a dent in the massive mountain of dead flesh that stretched endlessly before him, the air thick with the smell of charred flesh.
However, a beam of golden light unleashed by the Pillar of the North forced James to redirect his assault. In a desperate move, he split his body into several magical clones, each adding to his elemental fury. His anger at his brother, the head of the templar order, boiled over, driving him to channel his fury into a relentless barrage of spells.
"Damn it, Eckheart!" James spat from several clones simultaneously, causing his voice to echo, invoking a name that stirred memories of a past long buried.
"Don't you dare say that name, James! I abandoned it when I became the champion of humanity!" the Pillar retorted, his voice laced with rage at the reminder of his past as he lashed out, slaying several clones of his brother.
"Oh yes, always one to do daddy's bidding," James mocked, his words dripping with disdain for their father Merik, the god of humanity and their shared father. The Pillar's response was a column of golden light erupting from below, forcing James's main body to split from Zaltheral and evade the devastating attack.
"Watch your tongue, brother," the Pillar warned, his voice resonating with the authority of divine decree. "You may have chosen the path of darkness when you stole Blue Dawn from me and sided with the dragons, but I will not allow you to blaspheme against our father's legacy," he declared, his radiance burning into the undead kraken.
James's teeth ground together in defiance. "I chose mortality, like you did long ago!" His resolve fueled a relentless barrage of spells, directed at both the Pillar of the North and Zaltheral's undead horror. Arcane energy crackled from his fingertips, casting vibrant bursts of light across the battlefield.
Bolts of lightning streaked through the air, homing in on their targets with deadly accuracy. Explosions rocked the landscape as James's spells struck true, tearing through earth and debris.
As Zaltheral countered with another wave of undead minions, the necromancer narrowly evaded a golden sword aimed at his head. Averox, his mount, swooped in just in time, intercepting the deadly blow intended by the Pillar.
"And what of your own legacy, Eckheart?" James retorted, his voice echoing with bitterness. "Is it not stained with the blood of countless innocents, sacrificed in the name of your so-called righteousness?"
The Pillar's face soured at the words as he turned to face his brother, yet before he could retort, Zaltheral's mocking laughter filled the air. "Ah, how the mighty stoop," he jeered, his eyes alight with malice. "To witness the grand champion of humanity, now nothing more than a puppet to his divine masters, while he bickers with his demonic sibling, James, the rebel-turned-servant. How poetic, how pitiful," Zaltheral taunted, his disdain palpable.
James's fists clenched at Zaltheral's words, his resolve hardening. "I may have embraced the darkness, Zaltheral, but at least I am not a slave to it, I serve the mortal races! All of them, alive and dead!" he retorted, his voice dripping with contempt. "And by embracing a dragon or even yourself as a false god is no better then being a slave like Eckheart."
The arch necromancer's laughter only grew louder, an army of undead minions closing in around him to replenish his undead mount. "You will see, James. In the end, we are all slaves to something greater than ourselves. Even you, but I would rather choose my god, and it wouldn't be your whore mother that strives to corrupt Mike and steal everything from the master."
"He is only here because of your incompetence when retrieving Sophia!" James retorted with a defiant roar as he launched himself back into the fray, his spells crackling with renewed intensity. The battle raged on, but it was becoming increasingly apparent that the Pillar of the North was the dominant power, pushing both James and Zaltheral to their limits. The sheer magnitude of the Pillar's divine energy threatened to overwhelm them, and if something didn't change soon, they both faced certain death.
As James and Zaltheral launched attacks Averox was sent forth along with more clones to keep the Pillar occupied, they shared a fleeting glance amidst the chaos. There was no camaraderie between them at that moment, only a grim acknowledgment of their shared fate and the necessity of a temporary alliance.
"I hate to admit it, but we need to work together if we stand any chance against the overwhelming might of the Pillar," Zaltheral remarked, his voice tinged with grim determination.
"Just like the last time we faced Eckheart," James replied, bitterness seeping into his tone as memories of their past conflicts resurfaced. The tension in the air was palpable as they prepared to confront their mutual nemesis once more.
"And yet here we stand, enemies once more," Zaltheral remarked, his voice tinged with a hint of regret. "Back then Eckheart had been the one saving the world. Now he's the one trying to destroy it. How ironic."
James's jaw tightened at the mention of their shared past, his resentment simmering beneath the surface. "You made your choice, Zaltheral," he replied, his tone cold and unforgiving. "You chose power over loyalty, and now you must face the consequences, you're trying to turn the world into an undead wasteland as well, fool!" James yelled at his former pupil, his voice echoing over the chaos of battle.
"Just because you have forsaken our master doesn't mean we would all follow you, James!" Zaltheral spat back, his own voice filled with venom as he countered James's accusations. "You share the same blood with this monster, with the divine. It's no wonder you would side with elder litch horrors beyond your fellow mortals! So who really betrayed Death Tooth!" Zaltheral accused, his words dripping with contempt as the clash of dark and light magic illuminated the sky.
"And without those beings, magic dies! How dare you pretend to defend mortals when you enslave and destroy their souls in ways that would make even Anna Sha blush!" James retorted, his anger igniting a torrent of elemental fury. "Enough talk, let's finish this!"
Crackling with raw power, James and Zaltheral unleashed a combined assault against the Pillar of the North, their spells clashing with the demigod's golden shield. Above them, ominous dark clouds gathered, pulsating with arcane energy as meteors streaked through the sky, leaving trails of fire in their wake. The ground trembled with each impact, sending shockwaves rippling across the landscape as the Pillar struggled to evade the relentless barrage.
In response, the Pillar conjured massive columns of golden light, each one pulsating with divine power as they collided with the incoming meteors. Explosions of blinding energy illuminated the sky, casting eerie shadows across the battlefield. The air crackled with electricity as bolts of lightning danced around the Pillar, weaving a web of destruction that threatened to engulf everything in its path.
Meanwhile, Zaltheral channeled his necromantic magic with grim determination, summoning forth the souls of the dead to aid him in battle. Skeletal warriors emerged from the earth, their bones rattling as they surged forward to join the fray. With each incantation, Zaltheral's power grew, drawing strength from the countless souls under his command as he unleashed wave after wave of dark energy.
As the battle raged on, the landscape twisted and warped under the influence of their immense power. Mountains crumbled and forests burned as hurricanes of golden light clashed with torrents of necrotic energy, tearing through the earth with relentless force.
Despite the overwhelming odds, James and Zaltheral fought on with unwavering determination, their spells intertwining in a dazzling display of magical prowess. With each incantation, they pushed themselves to the brink of exhaustion, drawing upon reserves of power they never knew they possessed in their desperate bid to overcome the Pillar's might.
"Is your lover's spat over already?" The Pillar mocked their teamwork as he launched a barrage of golden lances at the pair, earning a renewed combined assault from James and Zaltheral.
"Truce ends after this attack, James! You know the one!" Zaltheral yelled, earning a frown but an understanding nod from James. The duo released two of their most powerful spells. James chanted "GEA NAS JU REA MA!" summoning two black holes to hold the Pillar in place, tearing reality apart as the immense power trapped the Pillar between the massive gravitational forces of the black orbs. These orbs absorbed the very light from his golden radiance, leaving him open for the attack.
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Chanting in unison with his undead horror, Zaltheral unleashed the gate to the underworld, "JADS BSES TEARVA!" The necromancer's spell tore through the fabric of reality, unleashing the might of a master necromancer on the Pillar of the North. Darkness and light clashed with unimaginable fury, a gate to beyond the veil temporarily opening as souls of the dead in the forms of thousands of hands reached out to grab the Pillar of the North.
The spell's special feature was its ability to bring back those killed by the target, and a legion of souls appeared, eyes ablaze with undead fury as they reached out to grab the Pillar of the North and drag him beyond the veil. It was more powerful than ever, fueled by the souls of every person the demigod had ever killed over the centuries. The number was in the millions, each victim resurrected to aid in the assault. Despite the overwhelming odds, the Pillar fought back with all his might, his divine strength pushing back against the onslaught of darkness.
As the undead brought the Pillar of the North to the brink of defeat, a sudden hush fell over the battlefield, broken only by the distant rumble of thunder that seemed to shake the world. The combatants paused, their attention drawn to the horizon as a sense of foreboding swept over them.
"What's that sound?" Zaltheral muttered, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the skies.
"It can't be..." James whispered, his voice barely audible over the din of battle.
But before they could comprehend the significance of the approaching roar, it was upon them—a deafening cacophony that reverberated through the very earth beneath their feet. It was a roar that all knew, a roar that struck fear into the hearts of even the bravest warriors.
"The Dragon!" Zaltheral exclaimed, his voice tinged with a mixture of awe and dread.
The Pillar of the North grinned wickedly, his eyes gleaming with anticipation as he beheld the approaching figure. And then, without warning, he began to glow with an intensity far brighter than before, his golden radiance bathing the battlefield in an otherworldly light. With steady purpose, he broke free from the hands of hell that were trying to drag him beyond. Each step he took resonated with the increasing surge of power emanating from him, a force that seemed to grow stronger with every heartbeat.
"It seems our battle is about to become even more interesting," he declared, his voice carrying over the roar of spatial magic and necromancy as the otherworldly energies clashed. "Let us welcome our newest challenger."
On the horizon, rapidly closing in on the chaos, emerged Ignial, the Ancient Red Dragon, one of the few survivors from the creation war. His massive form blotted out the sun as he soared through the skies, fiery breath engulfing the battlefield in searing flames. With each powerful sweep of his wings, he unleashed devastation upon all who dared to challenge him, transforming the three-way battle into a chaotic four-way clash of titans.
As Ignial's fiery breath swept across the battlefield, the ground turned to glass and ash, forcing James and Zaltheral to erect powerful wards to defend themselves against the scorching flames. In the midst of the inferno, the Pillar stood engulfed in draconic fire, his divine transformation momentarily obscured by the blazing tempest.
Undeterred, the Pillar raised his golden blade high into the sky, his resolute gaze piercing through the flames as he faced the three-way assault head-on. Despite the gravity threatening to tear him asunder and the intense heat turning the ground to magma, he remained steadfast. Caught between the onslaughts of fire, spatial magic, and necromancy, the Pillar drew strength from the gods themselves. He accepted his choice to transform, embracing the divine power surging within him with unwavering resolve.
"Damn it, dragon!" James's voice pierced through the chaos, his anger a sharp contrast to the roaring flames and the clash of magic.
"You ravage my domain and dare to work with this abomination again? I thought you had changed since the war, James," Ignial's words reverberated with familiar disappointment, his tone a mixture of reproach and fury. His gaze shifted to Zaltheral and Averox, his contempt evident. "And you," he continued, his voice dripping with disgust, "You dare to stop my kin from reaching her true form, then you defile Averox into such a state." Ignial's golden eyes narrowed with disdain as they settled on the mountain of undead flesh, once a majestic survivor of the creation war, now a grotesque tool of dark magic.
The ringing laugh echoed over the din of battle, signaling the completion of the Pillar of the North's transformation. With a surge of divine energy, he broke free from the constraints that bound him, his golden blade blazing with newfound power. James and Zaltheral watched in awe and intrigue as the Pillar's form radiated with overwhelming brilliance, a sight that surpassed anything they had witnessed before.
Meanwhile, Ignial, the Ancient Red Dragon, observed the transformation with a keen interest that bordered on fascination. His golden eyes gleamed with curiosity rather than fear or awe, as he beheld the spectacle unfolding before him. The combined onslaught from three of the world's strongest beings pushed the Pillar into his final evolution, his essence transcending from demi-god to full godhood.
In a dazzling display of divine power, the Pillar's form shimmered and shifted, his being engulfed in a blinding aura of golden light. With a resounding boom that echoed across the battlefield, he ascended to the pinnacle of his power, his status elevated to that of a true god among mortals.
"Oh, shit..." James breathed, his heart sinking as he realized the magnitude of what was about to unfold.
In a declaration that echoed with the weight of eternity, the Pillar proclaimed his newfound identity, his voice resonating with the power of the gods themselves. "I am the Pillar of the North," he thundered, his words carrying across the battlefield like a divine decree. "I wield the power of the gods, transcending mortal limitations to achieve my destiny, the shared destiny of humanity."
But even as the Pillar spoke, James saw through the facade, recognizing the toll that this power was exacting upon his brother. "You're not invincible, Eckheart," James insisted, his voice ringing with certainty amidst the chaos. "This power—it's consuming you from within. Your body can't handle it. You're going to die soon."
The Pillar of the North's defiant roar pierced through the chaos, his voice echoing amidst the rain of Zaltheral's shadow bolts and the fiery breath of Ignial. "That won't be a problem once I deal with the Veil," he declared, his tone laced with unwavering determination.
As the flames subsided and the shadows dissipated, a grim reality settled among them—Ignial and the Pillar of the North were no longer equals. The Pillar stood there, undeterred, emanating an aura of overwhelming power that sent shivers down their spines.
"Remarkable, isn't it, dragon? Your kin can keep the Sword. I have no need of it," the Pillar's voice sliced through the lingering echoes of the flames, its eerie calmness a stark contrast to the turmoil around them.
Ignial growled in response, irritation striking him at the mention of his lost sword, Blue Dawn. His eyes narrowed as he assessed the Pillar's newfound strength. "You've grown more powerful since our last encounter," he admitted grudgingly, a hint of awe mingling with memories of the creation war.
A smug smile crept across the Pillar's lips, his golden eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. "Indeed. And now, I shall reveal the true extent of my power," he declared, his voice resonating with divine authority.
Before James could react, the Pillar surged forward with divine fury, his golden blade cutting through the air like a comet. In a single devastating strike, he obliterated Zaltheral's undead horror, its grotesque form disintegrating under the onslaught of radiant light. Meanwhile, with a mighty leap, the Pillar ascended into the sky, his divine power propelling him with the force of a celestial being.
As Ignial, attempted to counter the Pillar's attack, the divine energy from the blade pierced through his crimson scales, sending searing pain coursing through his massive form. With a thunderous roar, Ignial was knocked from the sky, his mighty wings unable to withstand the onslaught. The ground trembled as the dragon crashed into the earth like a falling mountain, leveling everything in his path with a deafening impact.
Simultaneously, James found himself ensnared in the Pillar's divine assault, his arcane wards offering little resistance against the overwhelming power of the divine blade. With a blinding flash of golden light, James was launched into low orbit, his body hurtling through the vacuum of space with unimaginable force.
Left alone on the battlefield, Zaltheral attempted to flee, his mind racing with thoughts of survival. But before he could teleport to safety, the Pillar's blade, imbued with holy power, moved with supernatural speed. In one swift and decisive strike, the blade not only severed Zaltheral's head from his shoulders but also obliterated his very soul. The holy energy coursing through the Pillar's weapon ensured that even Zaltheral's powerful necromancy could not bring him back to life. His essence was utterly destroyed, leaving no trace of the dark power he once wielded.
"I warned you it would be by my hand, Zaltheral," the Pillar's voice rang out with finality, cutting through the chaos like a blade. His words carried the weight of divine judgment as he stood amidst the aftermath of the devastating battle, his golden aura pulsating with triumphant power.
As the Pillar turned his gaze toward the floating islands, a sense of inevitability settled over the battlefield. The balance had shifted decisively, and the odds now seemed impossible for those who dared stand against the might of the Pillar of the North.
But amidst the chaos and despair, a glimmer of hope remained. James's thoughts turned to Valicar as he flew through the air, their last hope against the unstoppable force of the Pillar of the North. With a heavy heart, he knew that their fate now rested in the hands of the twins, as the Pillar's divine power overpowered them all.