Both charge at each other, their figures blurring with sheer speed. Their swords collide with a thunderous clang releasing a powerful shockwave. The force kicks up a violent swirl of dust and debris shrouding the battlefield in a thick cloud. The soldiers nearby brace themselves shielding their faces from the blast.
Silence...
Suddenly a dark presence slices through the dust. A black, mist-like trail cuts across the horizon as Bael appears, riding his shadow-steed the hooves silent, his eyes calm yet ominous. His cursed blade rests loosely in one hand, dripping with faint dark energy.
Right beside him Lyraen hops off Bael's shadow gracefully, her crimson cloak billowing, her eyes glowing faintly with restrained power. Behind her, Freya, Klaus and Khaos follow, their injuries healed, resolve burning in their eyes.
Klaus: (cracking his knuckles) Tch. Missed a lot of fun, didn't we?
Freya: (eyes narrowing) Soren…
Khaos: (steps beside Kasper, silent but determined)
Kasper: Khaos! You alright now?
Khaos: Hmm (nods) I won't give you a chance to hurt me or Kasper, you Orion's puppet.
Lyraen: (calm, scanning the field) Seems we returned just in time.
Bael: (dismounts without a word, walking forward slowly, his cursed blade humming)
Kasper: (back to back with Khaos, not looking away from the dust cloud) Took you long enough but I'm glad you're alright
The wind clears the dust Soren stands alone sword raised, staring at the newly arrived council members. His grin falters slightly as he senses the weight of their combined power.
Soren: (low growl) So... you finally gather like pests swarming back.
Freya: (voice trembling but fierce) You broke me once, Soren... but I'm still standing. And this time, you won't break me again.
Klaus: (clenches fists, eyes glowing faintly) You're not the only one who's grown stronger.
Lyraen: (calm but deadly, blood chain magic swirling faintly around her hands) Your tricks won't save you this time.
Plagg: (tightening his grip on his heavy fist weapon, earth energy pulsing around his fists) I'm closer to the fight than you want. Let's see how you handle this.
Khaos: (narrowed eyes, earth energy crackling around her) I won't let you hurt anyone.
Kasper: (tight grip on sword, eyes locked on Soren) We're not backing down.
The clash of steel echoed fiercely as Kasper and the council pressed forward, each strike fueled by desperation and raw determination. Soren's counterattacks were brutal, pushing them back step by step across the wide, open battlefield.
Kasper: (gritting his teeth) We can't keep retreating... We need to end this here!
Lyraen: (blood magic swirling, voice sharp) Their mana's draining. We don't have much time before we're too weak to fight.
Bael: (silent, eyes cold, his cursed blade humming as he steps forward, slicing through a demonic beast effortlessly)
Freya: (clawing at Soren's defenses) He's stronger than before... but we can't give up now. Not after everything.
Klaus: (ghoul kagune flickering, launching a brutal barrage) This ends here, Soren!
Plagg: (charged, fists glowing with earth energy) Time to break the deadlock.
Soren: (laughing darkly, eyes gleaming with malice) You think you can trap me? I've already won.
With a sudden roar, Soren unleashed a massive burst of dark mana, forcing everyone back. The battlefield trembled beneath their feet as dust and debris filled the air, the fight becoming a brutal test of endurance.
Kasper: (breathing hard, eyes blazing) We're not done yet... Not until you fall!
The council tightened their formation, knowing this fierce battle could be their last stand. The battle roared around them, but the soldiers were no match for Soren's overwhelming presence. One by one, the soldiers dropped unconscious, their strength no longer enough to resist his mana drain.
The battlefield felt heavy, as if the air itself was being sucked dry of energy. Kasper, battered but unyielding, locked eyes with Soren. In a calculated move, Kasper gritted his teeth and shouted.
Kasper: (with fierce determination) You think I'm done? You'll have to do better than that!
Suddenly, Kasper focused his own mana into a brilliant pulse, a raw surge of power unlike anything Soren had anticipated. That burst acted as a catalyst, stirring something ancient and dark within Soren's borrowed power.