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The figure continued his approach toward Seraphina, his dark robes billowing and shifting as if defying the natural order. He was revealed to be Gravonix, the Lord of Gravity. Standing tall and foreboding, Gravonix had an air of untouchable power. His eyes gleamed with an unnatural violet light, mirroring his gravitational command, while his silver hair floated just above his shoulders, seemingly untouched by gravity itself. His pale skin gave him an almost ethereal appearance, an unearthly calm in the midst of the devastation Seraphina had wrought.
Seraphina’s mind raced. How is he walking through my fire, unaffected?
As if reading her thoughts, Gravonix’s deep, resonant voice echoed, “Singularity.”
Around him, an invisible yet dense field of gravity distorted space itself. This field, his Singularity, warps and compresses any incoming attack, be it elemental or physical, reducing its potency as it closes in. Any projectile that enters the Singularity’s radius is slowed to a crawl, losing speed and momentum as it approaches. For particularly powerful strikes, the Singularity compresses the attack to its breaking point, causing it to dissipate entirely or implode from the intense gravitational force. Its layered strength adapts to threat levels, automatically reinforcing itself against significant force.
As Gravonix finally came close, Seraphina stepped back, eyes sharp. “Back off,” she warned.
Gravonix paused, his voice calm. “Relax. We have a common enemy.”
Before she could respond, he lifted a hand. “Let’s move from this fire pit. I’d rather have a conversation where we’re not surrounded by flames.” With that, Gravonix used Gravity Well Teleportation, bending the space around them. Instantly, he and Seraphina reappeared a safe distance away, near where Captain Doran stood with Elder Aeliana’s cage, who he had managed to protect throughout the chaos. Doran, visibly fatigued, eyed Gravonix with suspicion.
Gravonix offered a small nod toward Doran. “I’m not here to fight.” He looked back at Seraphina. “I was once in a long-term alliance with the Eclipse Sovereignty. My organization and I held up our end of the deal—until Malakar betrayed us. They killed every last member of my organization and took everything we had built.”
Seraphina couldn’t help but scoff. “Serves you right for trusting a group like them.”
Gravonix’s gaze flickered but held steady. “Perhaps. But I know the location of their main base, and I’m willing to share it if you help me destroy them.”
Seraphina narrowed her eyes. “And why should we trust you?”
A smirk touched his lips. “If I wanted you dead, I’d have crushed you into the ground already.”
Seraphina crossed her arms, unfazed. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that.” With a final nod, she agreed. Turning to Doran, she instructed, “Stay here and rest with Elder Aeliana. You’ve taken enough damage already.”
Doran looked ready to protest but relented. “Alright.” He approached Gravonix, his expression serious. “Tell me where you’re going, just in case anything happens.”
Gravonix leaned in, his voice low as he disclosed the location. The specifics were kept hidden, but Doran’s expression darkened as he nodded. He turned back toward Aeliana’s cage and, with a slight smirk, called out, “Gravonix, no funny business. If you try anything with her, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
Gravonix merely inclined his head, taking Seraphina’s wordless agreement as permission to proceed. But before he could take a single step forward, a searing beam of obsidian energy sliced through the air, piercing through Gravonix’s Singularity and leaving a smoking hole through his abdomen. Gravonix staggered, his face contorted in shock, and slowly crumpled to the ground.
From the shadows stepped Kaelus, a cruel grin on his face. “I should’ve wiped you out when we took your organization, Gravonix. Malakar had too much patience.”
Both Seraphina and Doran turned, equally shocked at Kaelus’ survival and apparent ease. Seraphina’s anger flared. “How did you survive?”
Kaelus laughed, his voice filled with contempt. “You both underestimated the Eclipse Sovereignty’s strength.”
Doran clenched his fists, his aura igniting with energy. With a decisive motion, he tossed Elder Aeliana’s cage over to Seraphina, who caught it in one swift movement. Before she could react, Doran appeared beside her, moving with blinding speed using Gale Force Step. He leaned close, whispering something into her ear. Seraphina’s face fell slightly, but she nodded in understanding.
With a glance at Doran, Seraphina’s body ignited in dark flames as she activated her Demonic Phoenix Rebirth. In this form, she embodied the raw destructive power of Hellfire, her figure surrounded by a blazing, winged aura as she prepared to leave. Seraphina, now holding Elder Aeliana’s cage securely, took flight, soaring away from the battleground.
Kaelus’ eyes tracked her ascent, his smirk widening. “You really think she’ll make it to the Sovereignty’s base alive?” he sneered, an odd gleam in his eye. Doran’s gaze hardened, wondering how Kaelus knew what he told Seraphina.
Setting his concerns aside, Doran turned fully toward Kaelus, squaring his stance. “You and me. Let’s finish this.”
Kaelus tossed aside his cloak, revealing his muscular frame clad in obsidian armor. “I suppose I can spare the time.”
With fists raised and determination blazing, Doran stepped forward, prepared to settle their deadly battle once and for all.
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