The throne room of the King of the Underworld erupted into a whirlwind of chaotic magic. Eleonora and the Red Wizard, both imbued with the power of Chaos, clashed in a duel that shook the castle's foundations.
The Red Wizard, whose name Eleonora had forgotten or perhaps never learned, cast spells of pure destruction. Bolts of dark energy shot from his hands, slamming into the walls and floor, leaving smoking craters in their wake. He summoned living shadows, twisted creatures made of darkness, which launched themselves at Eleonora with sharp claws and fangs.
Eleonora, for her part, defended herself with a ferocity she hadn't displayed even in her days in Umbria. The red crystal in her hand amplified her magic, allowing her to counter the Red Wizard's attacks and cast spells of her own.
She created shields of crimson energy, deflected the dark bolts with wind barriers, and conjured hellish flames that consumed the living shadows. The room filled with a deafening roar, a mix of explosions, screams, and the roar of unleashed magic.
"You cannot defeat me, Eleonora!" the Red Wizard shouted, his voice distorted with rage. "Chaos is unstoppable!"
"Chaos is disorder," Eleonora replied with a cruel smile. "And I am the master of disorder."
Eleonora knew she could not win a battle of brute force. The Red Wizard, despite his wasted appearance, was a powerful sorcerer, and his mastery of Chaos was, perhaps, superior to hers. She needed to find a weakness, a way to break his concentration.
As she fought, Eleonora carefully observed her opponent. She noticed that the Red Wizard, despite his power, seemed… incomplete. His magic, though destructive, lacked the subtlety, the precision, that she had learned to master.
And then, she saw it. A small amulet, made from carved bone, hanging around the Red Wizard's neck. The amulet glowed with a faint red light, similar to that of crystal, but weaker, more unstable.
Eleonora understood. The amulet was the source of the Red Wizard's power, the channel through which he received Chaos magic. If she could destroy the amulet, she could weaken her opponent, perhaps even defeat him.
But reaching the amulet would not be easy. The Red Wizard guarded it fiercely, and his spells grew ever more powerful.
Eleonora decided to take a risk. She feigned a direct attack, launching a series of explosive spells at the Red Wizard. The Red Wizard, confident in his superiority, defended himself with ease, creating a barrier of dark energy.
But while the Red Wizard was focused on his defense, Eleonora used her true weapon: the red crystal.
With a swift movement, she threw the crystal at the Red Wizard's amulet. The crystal, attracted by the amulet's similar energy, flew like an arrow, straight toward its target.
The Red Wizard, realizing the deception too late, attempted to deflect the crystal, but it was useless. The red crystal impacted the amulet with a burst of blinding light.
The amulet shattered, releasing a wave of chaotic energy that engulfed the Red Wizard. He screamed, a scream of pure pain and despair, as his body began to disintegrate, consumed by the very magic he had tried to control.
Within seconds, the Red Wizard disappeared, reduced to dust and ash. The darkness surrounding him dissipated, leaving the throne room silent.
Eleonora, exhausted but victorious, picked up the red crystal from the floor. She felt its power, now even more intense, having absorbed the energy of the destroyed amulet.
She approached the throne of the King of the Underworld, holding the crystal high. Now, nothing stood in her way.
"Wake up," Eleonora whispered, touching the king's forehead with the crystal.
The red light from the crystal flooded the room, enveloping the king and the sleeping Moon Elves. Chaos energy, channeled through the crystal, broke the sleeping spell, awakening the creatures from their millennia-long slumber.
The King of the Underworld opened his eyes. Deep blue eyes that seemed to contain the wisdom of the stars. He looked at Eleonora with a mixture of surprise and… recognition.
"You…" the king said, his voice deep and resonant. "You have awakened my people. You have broken the spell."
Eleonora smiled, feeling the power flow through her. "Indeed," she said. "And now, you will serve me."
The king, however, did not seem intimidated. He rose from his throne, revealing his imposing height.
"Not so fast, sorceress," he said. "The crystal has given you power, it is true. But power is not enough to rule this kingdom."
"And what is it?" Eleonora asked defiantly.
"Legitimacy," the king replied. "The right to rule. And that right, you do not have."
The king extended his hand, and a sword, made of a silvery material that gleamed with lunar light, appeared in his palm.
"I am Eldrin, King of the The underground," she said. "And I challenge you to a duel. If you defeat me, you will be queen. But if you lose, you will submit to my judgment."
Eleonora hesitated for a moment. She hadn't expected this. She had planned to subdue the king with the crystal's power, not fight him.
But Eldrin's gaze, full of determination and defiance, forced her to accept. She couldn't back down now. Not after everything she had done.
"I accept your challenge," Eleonora said, raising the red crystal. "Let the battle begin."
And so, in the throne room of the underground kingdom, the former Mistress of Umbra, now a Chaos sorceress, faced the King of the Moon Elves in a duel that would decide the fate of two worlds.