Gorgoyle. The brother they longed for.

But the figure standing before them was not the Gorgoyle they knew. Ian and Gerude stood frozen, their bodies rigid, eyes wide in disbelief. The once handsome, lively Gorgoyle was now nothing more than a terrifying shadow.

The happiness they had felt moments ago vanished in an instant, replaced by deep worry and disappointment that pierced their hearts. They no longer knew what to think—too many questions flooded their minds in such a short time.

Gorgoyle's body was now much larger, swollen with bulging muscles. His once bright skin had turned dark, a grayish-black hue, hard like stone. His face, once full of warmth, was now marked with scars that distorted it, making him appear grotesque and horrifying. His hair, once neatly kept, now hung disheveled, tangled with dirt and wounds, adding a harsh edge to his appearance.

But the most striking feature were his eyes—predator's eyes, gleaming sharply, golden yellow and terrifying. The gleam pierced Ian and Gerude's hearts, freezing them in deep fear. These were not the eyes of their brother—they were the eyes of a creature that had taken over Gorgoyle.

From his back, wide black wings emerged, feathers rough, tips sharp like swords. The wings fluttered softly, as if ready to carry this being away. Gorgoyle's body was so powerful and threatening, inhuman.

Ian felt suffocated. He wanted to run, but his legs seemed bound. Gorgoyle—his brother—had transformed into something unrecognizable. Anger, confusion, and fear merged into one overwhelming emotion.

Gerude stared at him with her mouth agape, unable to speak. Her heart shattered seeing this change. They had once laughed together, played together, but now, this was not the Gorgoyle they knew.

Ian shook his head, still in disbelief. "This... can't be..." he whispered, his voice full of denial.

Elara stood beside them, her expression empty. "I know this is hard," she said in a hoarse voice. "But what you see now is no longer the Gorgoyle you knew."

Gerude looked at Elara, confused and pained. "What do you mean? Gorgoyle... he's still there, right?" She pointed at the figure.

Elara lowered her head, her heart heavy with sadness. "He's changed. Something dark overtook him after that chaos. Your Gorgoyle—he's gone."

Around them, the world seemed to hold its breath, waiting for what would happen next. The mist, once soft, now felt dense, pressing against their chests. The sky, once clear, was now filled with dark clouds, and the wind howled, growing louder with each passing moment.

Gorgoyle stood there, his eyes locked on Ian and Gerude with a piercing intensity that forced them into silence. The air thickened, pressing them to stay still even though their hearts beat wildly in their chests.

Gerude finally spoke, her voice barely audible, "Is... is that you, Gorgoyle?" Her voice trembled, as if questioning herself.

Gorgoyle didn't answer right away. He stood still, gazing at them with a deep, unsettling look. Then, his mouth opened, and a cold laugh echoed in the silence, shattering the air around them.

"I'm... no longer the Gorgoyle you knew," his voice was raspy, filled with hatred. "I am something stronger. Something you cannot destroy."

Ian felt his heart tighten. "Why are you like this, Gorgoyle?" his voice was faint, full of sorrow. "We... we can fix this."

Gorgoyle laughed even harder, menacingly. "There's no way out, Ian," he said, his voice laced with hatred, cutting through their last hope. "You'll soon understand. This world is broken. We can never go back."

Instantly, the atmosphere around them grew even tenser. Ian and Gerude could do nothing but stand frozen, trapped in the suffocating silence. There was no longer any hope, only a growing sense of loss.

**

Elara, who had been silent until now, moved. Her steps were full of conviction. Her sharp blue eyes radiated a strength Ian and Gerude had never seen before. There was no fear, only a resolve that flowed powerfully within her. She stepped forward, a few paces closer to Gorgoyle, as though testing the safe distance, and focused the energy gathering around her.

Elara's hand slowly rose. Her voice was soft, yet each word she spoke carried incredible power. The incantation she spoke shook the air, vibrating in Ian and Gerude's chests. They could feel it—the energy building, growing stronger, pulling everything toward the center of the power forming between them.

Ian and Gerude could only watch, unable to move. The tension mounted as Elara continued chanting, each syllable like a vibration tearing apart the silence. Ian's heart pounded, and Gerude's eyes never left Elara, who was now battling something they couldn't even comprehend.

The chant was nearing its end. The energy around them vibrated, like waves emanating from the depths of the earth. Each movement Elara made felt more confident, more resolute. Her voice, once soft, now brimmed with determination, like an explosion that would shatter the peace.

When the final word of the incantation was spoken, the world fell silent. Everything seemed to pause for a moment. In that stillness, Elara lowered her hand with certainty. The explosion of energy that followed shattered the silence, sending a wave of power hurtling toward Gorgoyle. The ground beneath them trembled, the air growing hotter.

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This was the moment the battle began—two forces clashed, and only one would emerge victorious.

**

"My place has long been lost, witch!" Gorgoyle's voice echoed, hoarse and full of hatred. "And now, I will eliminate you one by one!"

With that scream, Gorgoyle surged forward with incredible speed, his shadow merging with the surrounding darkness. His massive, gleaming claws lashed out toward Elara. The wind howled, and leaves and branches flew about. In an instant, the attack was upon Elara, ready to tear her apart.

However, Elara remained calm, raising both hands. Without hesitation, she began chanting in an ancient tongue. "Vernitharez! Aelorae! Luminathis!" Her voice trembled in the air, resonating with the power of nature. The ground beneath them began to tremble violently, and enormous tree roots erupted, moving swiftly like giant serpents. The roots coiled around Gorgoyle's body, trapping him in a grip of unimaginable force.

Gorgoyle roared, his body shaking with fury. "You don't understand!" he shouted. "I have become a creature more powerful than you!"

With a terrifying movement, the large wings sagging on his back spread wide, creating a fierce wind that shattered the roots binding him.

Gorgoyle surged forward once more, swinging his claws with such force that Elara had no time to react. This time, he came with even greater power.

Elara was not surprised. With a movement faster than before, she dodged the attack in the blink of an eye. She recited the next incantation, summoning an even greater force. "Thyronis! Yelathar! Cindrathis!"

A brilliant green flash split the sky, striking Gorgoyle with incredible speed. A surge of energy exploded, shaking the earth and flipping everything around them.

Gorgoyle staggered back, his body engulfed in green light. A cry of hatred tore from his mouth.

But Gorgoyle did not surrender. With trembling hands, he focused dark energy within his body, forming a sharp, gleaming black energy ball. The ball shot forward at breakneck speed, leaving a trail of suffocating darkness in the air.

Elara smiled, though the tension hung in every second. With a swift motion, she raised her right hand, and a shimmering energy shield appeared in front of her. The black energy ball collided with the shield with a deafening explosion. The earth around them shattered, yet Elara stood firm, unshaken.

"Hold!" she cried, her voice booming with command. "Earth, heed our call!"

With both hands raised, Elara pressed them down onto the ground. The earth shook even more violently, and the great trees bent low. Their roots rose, coiling around Gorgoyle once again, trapping him in an increasingly powerful grip.

This was the defining moment. With labored breath, Elara gathered all her energy, determined to end this battle once and for all. "Volnathar! Rythael! Grathros!" she cried, her voice resonating, splitting the world.

The entire forest shook violently. The trees bent as though merging with Elara's power, which had reached its peak. The roots formed a thick wall, imprisoning Gorgoyle within it, while a whirlwind formed a small tornado that spiraled toward him.

With unmatched force, the tornado slammed into Gorgoyle, destroying everything in its path.

The world seemed to halt. Every second felt long and heavy. The battle reached its climax. One thing was certain—one of them had to fall.

**

Behind her, her two brothers—Ian and Gerude—prepared themselves, though they knew this battle belonged to Elara, and only to Elara. They could only watch in awe, unable to comprehend the miracle unfolding before them.

"Gorgoyle!" Elara shouted, her voice resonating, calling forth a storm. "Return to the darkness you created! This realm is not your place!"

Yet, there was no answer. Instead, the air was filled with a chilling emptiness. The ground shook violently, the great trees bending toward the earth, as though sensing the power. Darkness spread, swallowing the sunlight, enveloping the world in shadow.

Elara tensed her muscles, realizing this was not just a physical battle. It was a struggle between darkness and light, life and destruction.

The forest trembled. Thunder rumbled through the air, but it was not ordinary lightning. Something enormous, moving with the power to destroy mountains, slammed into the ground with a deafening roar.

Elara leapt back, avoiding flying rocks. Her eyes locked on Gorgoyle, who now revealed his true power. In an instant, Elara's body moved, her hand raised high.

"Vernitharez!" she whispered into the natural power. The ground beneath them trembled. Huge roots appeared, like giant hands reaching out, ready to capture their prey, encircling Gorgoyle.

But Gorgoyle evaded. He transformed into swirling dark mist, avoiding every root's grasp. The black mist rushed toward Elara with uncountable speed.

With grace, Elara dodged, the fierce wind slapping against her. The sky grew darker, covered in black shadows. Yet Elara's eyes shone brightly, as though nature itself supported her.

"Thyronis!" she cried, and the earth writhed. Green light appeared, illuminating the dark sky. The elemental creatures—fire, water, air, and earth—emerged, forming a combined attack that shattered everything in its path.

Gorgoyle roared in fury, attacking Elara with his sharp claws. Elara leapt to avoid him, narrowly missing the strike. But she knew, merely dodging was not enough. With the remaining strength of nature, Elara raised both her hands.

"Cindrathis!" she cried. Blinding green light filled the forest once again. Roots, stones, and water spun, forming a vortex of energy that grew larger, speeding toward Gorgoyle with overwhelming force.

However, Gorgoyle absorbed his dark energy, his body shining black, reflecting the light. A dark energy ball formed, spinning rapidly, emitting terrifying darkness. With a single motion, he hurled the ball toward Elara.

Green and dark light collided, creating an explosion that shook the earth. The ground split, trees were destroyed. But Elara stood firm, holding back the black energy ball with a shield of nature that materialized instantly.

But Gorgoyle did not relent. He shattered the shield with a mighty strike, sending Elara stumbling. Undeterred, Elara took a deep breath.

With the last of her strength, Elara unleashed her final attack—a torrent of natural energy so powerful. The energy explosion shot directly toward Gorgoyle, piercing through the darkness and reducing him to dust that scattered in the wind.

Gorgoyle fell, his body scorched by the unstoppable force of nature. Elara collapsed to her knees, breath ragged. But above the shattered body of Gorgoyle, the forest grew quiet once more, and nature began to heal itself.

Elara was certain that her suffering was nearly over. After a long, exhausting battle, Gorgoyle, the seemingly invincible foe, had finally fallen.

Silence hung in the forest, the silent witness to the battle that had just unfolded. The wind, once whispering through the leaves, was now gone. Only eerie stillness remained, giving Elara space to breathe.

But then, Gorgoyle's body on the ground shifted. His movements were slow, yet full of menace. The massive, scorched, and wounded form wobbled, small tremors crawling across the earth. Something even more terrifying was being born from within him.