“Who are you?!” I shouted, my voice a mixture of anger and fear. In response, he seized my wrist and snapped it with a brutal twist. I screamed, desperately trying to heal it, but he ignited it with dark fire once more, and I cried out even louder, the pain unbearable.
“I am the vessel of Umbra, the Shadow Owl,” he said with a malevolent grin, his eyes glinting with sadistic pleasure. “The very same who killed the Divine Owl. You can call me Vex, and this,” he leaned closer, his voice dripping with menace, “is your execution.”
{Gaian, be aware! You might die!} The warning echoed in my mind, but I was too overwhelmed by the searing pain to fully process it. My vision blurred with tears, and I could barely make out the malevolent figure in front of me.
Ember, from her position on the ark’s platform, let out a piercing cry. The ark responded to her distress, glowing brighter and sending out pulses of energy. Vex glanced at her with a sneer, clearly unimpressed by the display. “The archangel of the Divine Owl huh? Am I supposed to be scared?”
The lights illuminated the figure, revealing wings that seemed to be woven from pure shadows, their edges flickering and shifting like living darkness. He wore a tattered cloak that shrouded his form, adding to his sinister presence. His eyes glowed with a malevolent light, betraying a soul steeped in pure evil. Everything about him exuded an aura of darkness, as if he was born to be a vessel for the Shadow Flock. The air around him seemed to chill, and his presence was suffused with an unnatural, foreboding energy that sent shivers down my spine.
The ark shot multiple pillars imbued with a colorful aura at Vex, who effortlessly dodged the attacks using Avian Weaving. "H-He can use Avian Weaving?!" I thought, gritting my teeth as I struggled to stand. Vex raised his hand, conjuring a crackling ball of dark energy. "I expected more of a fight from you, Gaian," he said, sounding annoyed.
Suddenly, Alden flew towards Vex, slicing his stomach with his feathered sword and then cutting his back. "Ember! You have to heal Gaian! I’ll handle him!" Alden shouted. Vex patted his bleeding stomach, a malevolent smile on his face. "Nocturne's vessel, huh?" he sneered, healing his wounds with shadow magic.
Alden summoned five shadow assassins with his dark magic, and they instantly attacked Vex. But in a terrifying twist, the shadow assassins turned on Alden. "Did you really think you could use Nocturne's shadow assassins against a shadow user?" Vex taunted, his grin widening as the assassins closed in on Alden.
Alden's eyes widened in shock as he tried to fend off his own summoned creatures. The assassins moved with ruthless efficiency, their blades striking with deadly precision. Vex watched with sadistic pleasure, his malevolent laughter echoing through the air. "Alden!" I yelled as the shadows stabbed him with multiple swords.
The ark extended a few stairs, allowing Ember to descend swiftly and rush to my side, her feathers glowing with healing energy as she worked to mend my injuries. "Stay with me, Gaian," she whispered, her voice filled with determination. I nodded weakly, feeling the warmth of her magic begin to ease the pain.
Without warning, Vex appeared behind her, delivering a brutal kick that sent her crashing into the ark, causing her to squawk in pain. "My master told me about Emberlyn," he sneered, dashing forward and seizing her by the neck. He slammed her small body into the pavement with a sickening thud. "She was just like you—weak, useless, and a mere striped owl."
Ember struggled to breathe, her eyes wide with fear and pain, but she didn't falter. "You're wrong," Vex laughed, a cold, hollow sound. "We'll see about that," he said, tightening his grip on her neck. His eyes glinted with sadistic pleasure as he raised his other hand, dark energy crackling around his fingers.
{The divine mode activated}
{BEAT VEX} Sagea yelled in my head, I could tell that she knew the dangers of the shadow owl’s vessel.
Vex stopped his dark energy attack and turned around, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of me. I stood there, glaring at him with golden eyes, my expression a mask of fury and determination. A golden aura surrounded me, crackling with raw power. I reached into my hair and pulled out a golden feather—the same kind I had used against Alden. It began spinning rapidly, a blur of light that cut through the air with deadly precision.
The feather sliced through Vex’s flesh, leaving deep, bloody gashes. He did his best to dodge and weave, but the feather was too fast, too relentless. Every attempt to evade was met with another vicious cut. Blood sprayed in arcs as the feather found its mark again and again.
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Vex’s face twisted into a malevolent grin, despite the pain. "This is it, Gaian!" he cackled, his voice filled with manic glee. He raised his hand and conjured a feather made of pure shadows, its edges dark and menacing. It spun with a speed and ferocity that mirrored my own golden feather. "You don't think I have the same attack?!"
Our feathers clashed in midair, the golden and shadowy blades colliding with a shower of sparks. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the battlefield, causing the ground to tremble. The two feathers deflected off each other, only to return and clash again, each encounter producing a burst of energy that lit up the surrounding area.
My feather swept behind Vex, slashing across his eye. "Dammit!" he growled, closing his eyes to heal the wound while his shadow feather continued to clash with mine. As his eye healed, he opened them to see I was gone, though our feathers were still locked in combat. He scanned the area, finding only the battered forms of Alden and Ember.
Suddenly, he looked up just as I leaped down from my perch on the wall. My legs locked around his shoulders, and I flipped backward, slamming him into the concrete with a resounding crash.
"YES, GAIAN!" he cackled, using his arms to support himself as he wrapped his legs around my body. With a powerful twist, he threw me into a wall, the impact creating a crater. The force of the collision knocked the wind out of me, but I quickly regained my composure, pushing myself out of the debris.
I charged at Vex, determination blazing in my eyes. He met me halfway, our bodies colliding with a bone-jarring impact. We exchanged a flurry of blows, each strike resonating with raw power. My golden feather continued to battle his shadowy counterpart, the two forces clashing in a dazzling display of light and darkness.
Vex's movements were fluid and precise, but I could sense his growing frustration. His smirk faltered as he realized I wasn't backing down. With a burst of energy, I unleashed a rapid series of kicks, forcing him to go on the defense.
His eyes narrowed, and he lunged forward, swinging his shadow feather with deadly intent. I dodged to the side, countering with a powerful punch to his gut. He doubled over, gasping for breath, but quickly recovered, launching a barrage of strikes in retaliation.
Our fight intensified, the air crackling with energy. The ground beneath us trembled with each impact, and the walls bore the scars of our battle. I could feel my strength waning, but I knew I couldn't give up. For Alden, for Ember, and for the legacy of the Divine Owl, I had to prevail.
I felt my heartbeat slow and gasped for breath. The intensity of the fight had left me breathless, my inexperience with real combat becoming painfully evident. I collapsed to the ground, struggling to regain control over my erratic breathing. Vex loomed over me, his face etched with annoyance.
"Over already?!" he groaned, his voice dripping with contempt. He planted his foot on my neck, and I tried to push it away, but my efforts were futile. "I had fun. Once I kill you, I'll have to track down the rest of the vessels. *He* won’t let me rest until I do. Goodbye, Gaian."
Just as despair began to close in, the ark sprang to life. It lifted off the ground, and a shimmering array of crystals surrounded Vex, trapping him in an impenetrable barrier. Vex's eyes widened in surprise and frustration as he struggled against the crystalline prison.
Looking up, I saw Ember lying on the ark's platform, a determined grin on her face. As the ark began to ascend, it effortlessly carried both me and Alden, still recovering from the battle, onto its surface. With a graceful surge, the ark soared out of the chamber, transporting us through a cascade of glistening water and back into the tranquil waters of the Aurora Springs.
The ark soared high into the sky, distancing itself from the trapped Vex below. As we climbed, a sense of relief washed over me, mingled with exhaustion. I let out a shaky breath, grateful for our escape from the Shadow Owl's vessel. Ember, her feathers aglow with healing energy, rushed to my side and began tending to my wounds with practiced care.
Alden, battered and bruised, struggled to his feet and limped toward us. Ember, without hesitation, moved to him next, her healing aura enveloping him. "Is everyone okay?" Alden asked, his voice filled with concern. I nodded, still trying to catch my breath, and Ember gave him a reassuring smile. We were all grateful to have escaped Vex's onslaught, but the weight of our recent encounter hung heavy.
"What... what was that thing?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper as I tried to piece together the events.
Ember's expression grew somber. "The vessel of Umbra, the Shadow Owl," she replied, her tone grim. "And he called himself Vex." Alden’s eyes darkened at the revelation, and he clenched his fists, the weight of our adversary’s malevolent power evident in his expression.
"We have to be ready," Ember said, her gaze resolute and unwavering. "Vex will come for us again, and we need to get the rest of the vessels." She then turned to Alden, a hint of pride in her eyes. "You really stepped up today. I’m proud of you."
Alden met her gaze, a flicker of determination lighting up his weary face. "Thanks, Ember. We’ll need every bit of strength we have."
As the ark continued its ascent, the tranquility of the Aurora Springs below was a stark contrast to the chaos we had just endured. The gentle hum of the vessel and the soothing glow of Ember's feathers provided a brief moment of solace. But the shadow of Vex's threat lingered, a reminder of the challenges yet to come.
We all knew that our journey was far from over. With renewed resolve, we prepared ourselves for the trials ahead, knowing that the fate of the vessels and our fight against the darkness rested heavily on our shoulders. As the ark sailed into the vast expanse of the sky, we braced ourselves for the battles yet to come, united in our purpose and strengthened by our resolve.