Meanwhile, some distance away from the battle between Scott and Costa, Ember and Zara fled through thick vegetation, carrying the cocoons. The ground trembled under the force of the explosions behind them. Orion’s maniacal laughter echoed, blending with a wheezing, eerie sound, but neither of them dared stop to check the source of the chaos between the mage and the unknown man.

“Aren’t you tired of this already?” Marek asked, hovering calmly above the ground. His gaze swept over hundreds of Orion’s clones, all trapped within shimmering crystalline barriers. His voice was cold, almost bored. “This isn’t a battle you can win,” he said, his eyes narrowing as they focused on one clone in particular. “Let me grant you a swift death. I don’t take pleasure in torturing the weak.”

In eerie unison, the clones not yet trapped within crystals chuckled, their eyes gleaming with dark amusement as they fixed on Marek. Barely seconds after his words, a dozen clones lifted gatling guns, opening fire with a deafening barrage of bullets. Simultaneously, multicolored magic circles materialized around the clones, some wielding as many as six.

The elements responded violently—earth trembled as jagged spikes shot toward Marek, the woody vegetation sprang to life, launching fibrous tentacles, while terrifying cyclones began to form. Thunder rumbled overhead, and lightning crackled as some clones conjured flames, while others took to the sky, levitating like Marek.

Yet Marek remained unmoved, his expression unchanged as a crystalline barrier thickened around him. He watched impassively as bullets, elemental attacks, and spells slammed into the barrier, the translucent surface shimmering under the onslaught. This is why I hate fighting fools. Why can’t they see when they’re outmatched? Marek thought with a sigh, lazily swinging his right hand.

One of the crystals embedded in his face glowed with a deep crimson light, and in an instant, massive spikes formed on the exterior of his barrier. With a single motion, the spikes launched outward, obliterating the flying clones before they could come close. The projectiles continued their descent, tearing through the artillery units in mere seconds.

Marek’s gaze shifted toward the clones controlling the weather. Another crystal shimmered, this time with a silvery sheen. A mercury-like liquid bubbled along the barrier’s surface. With a flick of his wrist, the liquid shot toward the elemental clones. They hastily erected various barriers of fire, water, earth, and wind, but the liquid coated them effortlessly, trapping the clones within its quicksilver embrace. The magic circles winked out of existence, and in an instant, most of the elemental wizards were neutralized.

Only a handful of clones remained, standing apart from the destruction, watching with gleeful smiles. They had done nothing since the fight began, and their unsettling stillness was now more unnerving than the attack itself. Their eyes followed Marek with an intensity that made him pause.

I really don’t like the way they’re looking at me, Marek thought, a frown deepening on his brow. They’re staring at me like I’m some kind of zoo animal. Another crystal embedded on his face ignited, this one flashing with a rapid strobe of light.

Without warning, the crystals trapping the nearby clones exploded in a violent eruption, sending shards flying in all directions. The vegetation within a three-hundred-meter radius was reduced to ash, while those outside the blast zone were riddled with sharp, deadly shrapnel. The clones that had been watching, had also been decimated.

“Have you had enough?” Marek’s impassive voice cut through the stillness that followed the devastation. He hovered arrogantly, staring at the only patch of untouched land amidst the barren battlefield. There, intricately woven runes shimmered, forming a protective barrier. Inside the barrier, Orion smiled back at him, unfazed.

“You have an impressive set of abilities,” Orion remarked, clapping slowly as he stepped forward. As he did, the protective barrier dissolved, and instantly, everything that had been destroyed restored itself. The scorched earth, the shattered trees, even the faint footsteps left behind by Ember and Zara reappeared as though nothing had happened.

For the first time, Marek’s features betrayed a flicker of surprise, his impassive mask cracking under the weight of disbelief. Is this an illusion? His eyes scanned the battlefield, but the acrid smell of smoke and ash had vanished. The air, now crisp and clear, was devoid of any sign of the chaos that had just unfolded.

A crystal on Marek’s face glowed with an azure light as he probed the environment. His frown deepened as he reached the inevitable conclusion. It really isn’t an illusion. His gaze returned to Orion, who stood casually amidst the resurrected landscape. How did he do it? Marek’s mind raced. Why waste energy on restoring the battlefield when he could have attacked me?

Orion chuckled, his voice breaking the silence. “Derision naturally gives way to curiosity in the face of uncertainty,” he said, stepping closer.

Marek’s eyes narrowed, and a wave of crystalline projectiles materialized around him, hovering threateningly. But Orion took another step, unbothered by the warning. Without hesitation, the projectiles launched toward him. Yet, to Marek’s shock, they shattered mid-air, the sound of breaking glass ringing out as they crumbled before reaching their target. Marek blinked, struggling to process what had just happened. He did nothing, yet my crystals…

No, no… this can’t be real. Marek’s mind reeled. I must be under some sort of illusion. The azure light in his crystal pulsed again, desperately scanning for the telltale signs of trickery. But the more he searched, the deeper his frown became.

“You don’t believe me,” Orion said with a soft chuckle, halting his advance. “But your face tells me all I need to know.” His smile grew wider. “This is no illusion.”

Marek hissed through clenched teeth, summoning a fresh onslaught of crystal shards to assault the mage. But as before, the projectiles disintegrated the moment they appeared, collapsing into nothingness before they could even approach him.

“It took a bit of time, but I’ve figured out your abilities,” Orion continued, his eyes glinting as he met Marek’s bewildered stare. “Now would be a good time to use whatever trump card you have left.”

Marek’s face twisted in fury. This time, multiple crystals ignited at once. Spiked projectiles and the mercury-like liquid formed, converging on Orion with deadly intent. The liquid engulfed the mage in an instant, while the projectiles tore through the shining fluid toward the encased figure.

With a clenched fist, Marek solidified the mercury-like trap around Orion, turning the liquid into an impenetrable prison. Then, massive crystal blocks erupted from the ground, towering over the spot where the mage was trapped. Marek pressed his thumbs together, summoning a colossal barrier that encased the entire region. His crystals flared with flickering lights, and everything within the barrier—crystals, trees, land—disintegrated into nothingness. All that remained was a gaping, bottomless void.

Marek floated above the chasm, his chest heaving. Surely that did it... he thought, scanning the pit for any sign of Orion. His eyes remained trained on the pit, but all he saw was an abyss of darkness. The destruction had obliterated every sign of life, leaving only the yawning chasm as a grim reminder of the devastation he’d wrought.

Figure that out, asshole, he cursed inwardly, rising higher into the air to survey the area once more.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

“Was that it?” Orion’s familiar voice suddenly pierced the air, freezing Marek mid-ascent. His gaze flickered around the expanse, but no matter how hard he searched, the elusive mage remained hidden. How did he survive that? Marek’s mind raced, summoning a fresh barrage of projectiles, each tipped with the ominous liquid that pulsed with destructive energy.

“Not this again,” Orion’s voice echoed, carrying a note of exasperation. “Your abilities are incredible, but sadly, you’re wasting them.”

Marek sneered, the taunt igniting his temper. “Big talk from someone hiding in the shadows,” he shot back, scanning the landscape for the source of the voice. His arsenal grew as more projectiles swirled around him, ready to strike at a moment’s notice.

“If I’m so incompetent, why are you hiding like a rat?” Marek taunted, but his patience was wearing thin.

His eyes darted across the terrain, ever alert for movement. Another sigh floated on the wind from somewhere to the north, and Marek unleashed his projectiles, annihilating the vegetation in a relentless assault. But as the dust settled, there was no trace of Orion.

“I despise people who can’t accept when they’re outmatched,” Orion’s voice sighed again, now tinged with pity.

Marek’s rage boiled over. This fool thinks he can talk to me like that? Crystal shards erupted from his body, covering his elbows, fingers, and spine with jagged, glowing fragments. The sickly yellow crystals shimmered ominously as a barrier materialized around the forest, stretching for miles. Standing atop the barrier, Marek drove a crystal-tipped finger into his chest, watching as his blood dripped onto the translucent surface below. The barrier reacted violently to the blood’s impact, exploding in a thunderous wave that obliterated everything within its bounds.

Tens of hundreds of projectiles hovered beside Marek as he descended into the now deeper gorge. “Come on, speak up. Don’t you have anything to say now?” His voice echoed through the emptiness, but only silence answered him. His projectiles hovered near the edges of the decimated terrain, ready to obliterate any movement.

Fucking coward, he spat, eyes returning to their normal state as he turned westward, toward where Ember and Zara had fled with the cocoons. I should deal with the others before Costa finishes, Marek thought, already preparing his next move.

But just as he was about to depart, Orion’s voice rang out again, now closer than before. “Is that really everything you’ve got? It was... alright, I suppose,” the mage mused casually.

Marek’s eyes widened in disbelief. He instinctively moved to launch an attack, but before he could react, Orion’s voice cut through the tension once more. “This is a turn-based fight, my friend. And now... it’s my turn.”

The sound of breaking glass echoed through the air, and in an instant, all of Marek’s crystals—except for the ones adorning his face—shattered into fragments. Marek attempted to move, but his limbs remained frozen, unresponsive to his will. No weight pressed down on him, no visible binds restricted him, yet his body refused to obey.

This feeling... it's just like Hurly’s. A wave of panic washed over him. Can he copy abilities like Costa, too? Questions swirled through his mind as he tried to make sense of the situation. Orion's survival, after the devastating attacks, had already confounded him, but now Marek found himself paralyzed, just like Hurly's victims. Fear gripped him.

Before Marek could process any further, Orion appeared in front of him, wearing a whimsical smile. The mage’s gaze was curious, as though inspecting a curious specimen, while Marek stared back, defiant despite his helplessness.

“How did you do it?” Marek managed to croak; his voice strained as he locked eyes with Orion.

“Oh? You can still talk? Interesting.” Orion’s eyebrows arched with mild surprise. He idly stroked his jawline, considering the situation. “So, what else can you do in this state? Please, enlighten me.”

“Don’t mess with me, you damn lunatic!” Marek spat; his bloodshot eyes filled with rage. “How did you survive that? And how in the hell are you able to use Hurly’s ability? Who the hell are you?”

Orion responded with a mocking grin. “My name is Orion, nice to meet you.” His tone dripped with sarcasm as he leaned in closer, inspecting the motionless man. “I don’t quite get your anger. You didn’t factor in this outcome? Didn’t it even cross your mind that one of us might know how to counter your abilities?” Orion tilted his head, curious. “Or were you so blinded by arrogance, confident in the fact that you were teamed up with a calamity and someone who could negate powers?”

Marek opened his mouth to retort but fell silent. He hadn’t anticipated this at all. He had been certain that Costa’s overwhelming power, combined with Hurly’s ability to manipulate emotions, would be more than enough to wipe out the Hound Extermination crew. The thought of losing hadn't even crossed his mind, even when Hurly had been discarded.

As Marek stewed over his miscalculations, Orion continued, his voice cutting through Marek’s thoughts. “I get it—your arrogance is understandable, given your abilities and companions. But you didn’t even bother to research the abilities of those you came to fight. Maybe if you had known I specialize in sound manipulation, you wouldn’t have been so reckless.”

Marek’s eyes widened in realization. Sound manipulation? It all made sense now. Orion had shattered the crystals using sound alone. As improbable as it seemed, Marek had witnessed it firsthand.

“I’m curious, though.” Orion’s voice snapped Marek back to the present. The mage took a step closer, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. “What’s your connection to that Costa variant?”

Marek’s shock deepened. “How do you know about that?” he blurted out before he could stop himself.

Orion raised an eyebrow, looking genuinely perplexed. “Isn’t it obvious?” he asked casually, pulling a vial from his inventory. “Sure, he looks a little different, but there's no mistaking him for anyone else. I’d recognize the founder of the Shadow Syndicate anywhere.” Without waiting for a response, Orion began collecting hair, skin, and blood samples from Marek, storing them away with deliberate care.

“Are you a member of the syndicate too?” Orion asked as he finished collecting the samples, his tone casual but with a sharp edge.

Marek’s eyes narrowed. “Are you going to let me go if I answer?” he asked, his tone defiant.

Orion grinned sarcastically. "Come on," he replied, barely holding back a laugh.

"Then go fuck yourself. I’m not telling you shit," Marek declared, his voice steady despite the tension. "Kill me and get it over with."

Orion shook his head gently, as though humored by the response. "No, no, no. That’s not how this works, my friend," he said, extending his hand slowly toward Marek. "I was just being polite, hoping you’d tell me of your own free will. But whether you like it or not, I’m going to get what I want." His smile twisted slightly. "Forgive me if I sound like some cartoonish villain, but consent is not necessary."

A chill raced down Marek's spine as he watched the approaching hand. Something about those seemingly harmless fingers filled him with dread. He didn’t know why, but he felt certain that if those fingers touched him, he would never be the same. Yet, all he could do was watch helplessly as they drew closer.

But just as Orion’s fingers were about to make contact, they paused. His attention shifted, gaze drifting toward the direction where he had left Scott.

Huh? Why did he stop? Marek's mind whirled with confusion. What’s going on?

"This could be troublesome," Orion muttered, turning his attention back to Marek. "Looks like we'll have to continue this conversation another time."

Before Marek could react, an overwhelming force crushed down on him, sending him hurtling toward the depths of the massive gorge he had created. The speed was so incomprehensible that within seconds, Marek vanished from sight, swallowed by the canyon below.

Orion hovered casually in the air; his expression unbothered. A second later, Costa’s hulking form appeared mere meters from where Orion floated.

"Strange," the calamity muttered, scanning the area. "Marek isn’t here… but you are," Costa’s gaze settled on Orion. "Are you going to tell me what happened, or will I have to force it out of you?"

"Unfortunately, I’m not much of a talker," Orion said with a sheepish grin. "And we won’t have enough time for that anyway."

Costa frowned, unable to make sense of the mage’s cryptic response. Orion, unfazed, pointed toward the depths of the gorge below them. Costa instinctively glanced down.

At that moment, hundreds of flashing lights emerged from the valley, casting a sinister glow over the seemingly bottomless expanse below. A low, ominous hum, like the awakening of something ancient and terrible, filled the air.

Costa’s teeth turned yellow immediately, his eyes darting between Orion and the source of the lights. But still—nothing happened. He’s not using any ability to fly? Costa’s disbelief grew as the tension mounted. He began to sense something dangerous rising from the gorge. He prepared to move… but found he couldn’t. His body, and Orion’s, were frozen in place, locked in midair.

The humming grew louder, joined by an eerie beeping echoing from the depths.

"So… it was you who negated our abilities," Orion blurted out, his face contorted in unnatural ways as he struggled to speak. "I wish we had more time to chat, but it’s too—"

A blinding crimson laser erupted from the gorge, enveloping both mage and calamity in an instant. The beam tore through the sky like the wrath of an ancient god, annihilating everything in its path. The searing light blazed upward for ten terrifying seconds before dissipating, leaving nothing but a scorched, empty void in its wake.

The entire land had seen it—the day the heavens and the underworld clashed, and two mighty forces were wiped out in a single flash.