The sky split.
From the dark clouds, a colossal presence slowly descended. It was not a simple being, but a fragment of something much greater. A dense shadow, with eyes devoid of light and wings that seemed to be made of pure emptiness.
The Dark Phoenix, a being of destruction and rebirth, trembled before it.
Raigor and Veran stood on guard.
"What the hell is that?" Veran hissed, gripping the dagger he had fought a thousand battles with.
Raigor felt the weight of the presence in his soul. "It is not just an enemy… it is a messenger. The messenger of the greater entity."
The shadow spoke, but its voice was not a sound, but a whisper that invaded their minds directly.
"You have gone too far. You have awakened forces you cannot comprehend."
The Dark Phoenix screamed and lunged at the shadow. But as soon as its flames touched the presence, they were swallowed up without a trace.
Raigor leapt forward, his sword glowing with pure energy. "Veran, cover me!"
Veran obeyed without hesitation, summoning a whirlwind of holy poison and lightning arrows. Their combined assault struck the dark being with all their fury.
But the shadow did not retreat.
It raised one of its ghostly hands, and time seemed to slow. Raigor felt his muscles freeze, his breathing grow heavy. Veran felt the poison in his blood boil as if it had been corrupted.
The shadow drew closer, and for a moment, they saw beyond the veil of reality. They saw an ancient battle, the war between the Golden Lion, the Legendary Wolf, and the Celestial Dragon against this greater entity.
And they saw defeat.
Veran fought against the agony that was bending him. "Raigor… this thing… is the cause of everything."
Raigor understood. This enemy was not just an emissary of evil. It was the origin of wars, the true Puppet Master behind every tragedy.
But just as the shadow was about to strike them, something unexpected happened.
The Dark Phoenix, instead of attacking, spread its wings and enveloped Raigor and Veran in its warmth.
The fire did not burn them.
It protected them.
A last look between the two warriors, then an explosion of light enveloped them.
When their vision cleared, they found themselves in another place. The sky above them was golden, and an ancient city stood out on the horizon.
Veran stood up, looking at the scene with eyes full of surprise.
Raigor clenched his fist. "We have been transported… but where?"
A voice answered, grave and powerful.
"Welcome… to the City of the Gods."