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Kaelus slowly rose from the rubble, dusting the fragments off his cloak. He glanced at the blood on his hand, an almost nostalgic smile creeping onto his face. “Blood…” he murmured, eyes gleaming with a sinister satisfaction. “I haven’t seen this in a while.” He looked out over the landscape, his voice calm yet brimming with anticipation.
“You know, Doran, I’ve fought countless battles, crossed dimensions, seen the rise and fall of empires. Yet here you stand, somehow thinking you’re the one to stop me.” Kaelus clenched his fists, his gaze like steel. “You’re not like the others, I’ll give you that. You’ve pushed me farther than I expected, made me taste my own blood.” His voice dropped lower, a dangerous edge in his tone. “But don’t mistake this as anything more than a temporary indulgence. The darkness I wield—the void I command—is the end. It consumes all, leaving nothing but whispers and ash.”
He straightened, one hand raised, fingers curling as he sensed Doran’s approach. “Come then,” he muttered, eyes narrowing. “Show me whatever spark you have left.”
And in a flash, Doran was there, materializing before Kaelus with an arm poised to strike, aura blazing around him. His fist shot forward, charged with the destructive energy of Interdimensional Dragon Strike, but Kaelus’s Eternal Void Sight anticipated the move, countering with Shadow Crush. Kaelus’s fist, guided by pinpoint accuracy, struck Doran with force capable of shattering boulders. Yet, Doran barely staggered, his Cosmic Titan Form absorbing the blow effortlessly.
With a grunt, Doran’s foot stomped down, sending seismic tremors through the ground as he unleashed Celestial Quake Mastery, rupturing the terrain beneath Kaelus. But Kaelus had already anticipated it, his sight tracking every nuance of Doran’s movements. Doran vanished again, this time bouncing off the air itself in a rapid sequence, becoming a blur that even Kaelus struggled to follow. Yet, when Doran appeared to strike, Kaelus was there, intercepting with Void Rend Strike, a punch infused with the annihilating energy of his Obsidian Beam of Annihilation.
The impact sent obsidian energy rippling through Doran, testing his durability and defenses. As the energy dissipated, Kaelus grinned, showcasing his mastery over the Obsidian Fist style—a combat technique blending brutal power with psychological warfare, each strike not only designed to injure but to unsettle and demoralize.
“You’re slowing down, aren’t you, Doran?” Kaelus taunted, his laughter echoing. “All that strength, yet I can see the fatigue setting in. The Vision of Infinite Abyss takes its toll. You’re at your limit.”
“Not… yet!” Doran’s voice boomed, defiant. He shot down to the ground, rebounding with incredible force, channeling all his energy into Nexus Shockwave Convergence. The blast expanded outwards, rippling across the landscape, bending the very atmosphere. Kaelus countered with Obsidian Wallbreaker, deflecting the attack and amplifying it, forcing Doran to dodge his own powerful blast. Doran activated Gale Force Step: Advanced Technique to evade, moving at speeds nearly impossible to follow.
With a look of fierce determination, Doran reappeared beside Kaelus, launching into his Harmonic Force Cascade, each strike synced with the frequencies of matter itself, causing fragments of Kaelus’s defenses to weaken. Kaelus laughed, unfazed, and activated Fist of Revelation, the power of Obsidian Revelation enhancing each of his counter-strikes. His punches were impossibly precise, predicting every strike from Doran.
The two warriors were locked in a furious exchange, the landscape around them shattering with every blow. Doran’s heart pounded in his chest, the exertion of his Essence Manifest—Titanic Force Nexus—draining his reserves. His vision blurred, his focus slipping as the Vision of Infinite Abyss clouded his mind. For a single, agonizing moment, his body froze, weakened by the monumental energy cost.
Kaelus saw his chance, his grin widening. With all his strength, he drove his fist into Doran, channeling Void Rend Strike directly into Doran’s weakened form. The punch hit with the weight of a thousand storms, driving Doran into the ground, his form crumbling as consciousness slipped away.
As Doran lay defeated, his thoughts drifted. Kiera, he thought, a faint smile crossing his face. She’ll make a fine successor. He let out a quiet chuckle, thinking of Seraphina. Guess I won’t get that date after all. Then, he let his mind wander to peaceful shores, to an imagined life on an island, reading a book with nothing but calm surrounding him.
But suddenly, he felt something cool, a sensation that washed over him like a gentle tide, soothing his aching body. A voice, warm yet powerful, broke through the haze. “You did well, Doran. I know you’d prefer the peaceful rest of a warrior’s end, but your fight isn’t over yet.”
Doran’s eyes fluttered open, meeting the serene yet fierce gaze of Queen Nia. Her hands glowed as she used her Aqua Harmonium, summoning the Waters of Eternity. A revitalizing wave surrounded him, his injuries mending, and his spirit strengthened.
As the cool energy of the Waters of Eternity stabilized him, she offered a soft smile. “You’ll get your rest soon enough,” she whispered, slightly exasperated yet clearly relieved. In a single motion, she activated Celestial Water Gate, opening a shimmering portal. Doran, too exhausted to reply, slipped into a peaceful slumber, transported back to Fort Vigilance, safe from the battle’s reach.
Queen Nia turned, her gaze shifting to Kaelus. Her demeanor hardened, an imposing aura of calm yet powerful resolve radiating from her. "Where is Seraphina?"
Kaelus chuckled, feigning ignorance. “Ah, Queen Nia. Here to save what’s left of your champion? As for Seraphina, I haven’t the slightest clue where she might be.”
Queen Nia took a slow, purposeful step toward him, her voice cold and unyielding. “I don’t care what powers you wield or what shadows you hide behind. If you want to sit here and play dumb, then let me show you why that will be the last mistake you ever make.”20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMnwc7wh9X
