The Ironspine Cliffs hummed with energy. For days, Kael, Leah, Lira, Gareth, and the warriors of the four bloodlines trained together—elven archers firing magic-infused arrows, phoenixes soaring overhead unleashing fire, griffins practicing aerial strikes, and Kael honing his merged dragon-phoenix flame.
"Faster, Kael!" Lira shouted, launching a small phoenix fireball at him.
Kael reacted, summoning a gold-orange shield. The fireball hit it and bounced off, exploding harmlessly. He countered with a precise flame slash, which Lira dodged with a graceful leap.
"Good," she grinned. "But Julian's mages won't be as easy."
Nearby, Leah and Gareth practiced teamwork—Leah firing arrows from Gareth's back as he soared through the air, targeting dummy soldiers below. Merlin stood beside the Griffin Elder, muttering incantations as glowing runes appeared in the air, strengthening the cliffs' defenses.
"Your flame is balanced now," the Phoenix Elder said, landing beside Kael. Its feathers glowed in the sunlight. "But the Soul-Eating Lord's darkness feeds on fear. You must stay strong—not just in magic, but in heart."
Kael nodded. "I will. For the realm. For my friends."
As the sun dipped low, a horn echoed through the cliffs—loud, deep, and menacing.
The Griffin Elder's eyes darkened. "That's not our horn. It's the Dark Vanguard—Julian's elite force, infused with the Soul-Eating Lord's darkness."
Kael summoned his flame sword, the merged fire burning bright. "Everyone, to your positions!"
Warriors scrambled—elves taking cover behind rocks, phoenixes taking flight, griffins spreading their wings. Leah climbed onto Gareth's back, bow drawn. Lira stood beside Kael, her hands glowing with phoenix fire. Merlin raised his staff, runes swirling around him.
A dark cloud appeared on the horizon, moving fast. As it drew closer, Kael saw them—hundreds of soldiers, their armor black, their eyes glowing red with darkness. Leading them was Julian, riding a massive shadow beast, his hands crackling with dark magic.
"Kael Voss!" Julian shouted, his voice echoing. "Surrender your blood, and I'll spare the others. Join me, and we'll rule the realm together."
Kael laughed. "Rule with a monster? Never. You're finished, Julian."
"Finished?" Julian sneered. "I have the Soul-Eating Lord's power. Your little alliance stands no chance."
He raised his hand, and the Dark Vanguard charged—soldiers yelling, mages casting dark spells, shadow beasts roaring.
"Fire!" Leah shouted.
Elven arrows flew, slicing through the air. Phoenix fire rained down from above, burning the dark soldiers. Griffins dive-bombed, clawing at shadow beasts.
Kael charged forward, flame sword swinging. He cut through a dark soldier, the merged fire purging the darkness from their body. Lira followed, healing injured warriors with her phoenix fire.
Julian spotted Kael and launched a bolt of dark magic. Kael raised his shield, but the magic hit hard, sending him stumbling back.
"Your flame is strong," Julian said, advancing. "But darkness always wins."
He summoned a shadowy sword, charging at Kael. The two clashed—flame against darkness, steel against shadow. Kael's sword burned bright, pushing back the darkness, but Julian's power was growing, fueled by the Soul-Eating Lord.
"Kael!" Leah shouted, firing an arrow at Julian.
Julian dodged, but the arrow grazed his arm. He roared, turning to Leah, and launched a dark spell. Gareth swooped down, blocking the spell with his wings, but the darkness burned, leaving a black mark on his feathers.
"Gareth!" Kael shouted.
He launched a wave of merged fire at Julian, hitting him square in the chest. Julian screamed, stumbling back, the darkness around him flickering.
"Retreat!" Julian shouted. "We'll be back—with the Soul-Eating Lord!"
The Dark Vanguard turned and ran, disappearing into the distance. The cliffs fell silent, except for the sound of warriors cheering and healers tending to the injured.
Kael let out a breath, dismissing his sword. Gareth landed beside him, wincing. Leah jumped off his back, checking his wound.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
Gareth nodded. "I'll be fine. The darkness is weak—for now."
The Griffin Elder stepped forward, its face grave. "That was just a test. Julian is growing stronger. The Soul-Eating Lord's seal is breaking. We have three days—at most—before he returns, with the Dark One fully freed."
Merlin nodded. "We need to strengthen the seal. The four bloodlines' magic, combined with Kael's merged flame, can do it. But we need to reach the Abyssal Rift first."
Kael looked at his friends—Leah, Lira, Gareth. They were tired, injured, but their eyes were full of resolve.
"Then we leave at dawn," he said. "We'll reach the Abyssal Rift. We'll strengthen the seal. We'll stop Julian and the Soul-Eating Lord."
The others nodded. The fire in Kael's veins burned bright, a beacon of hope in the fading light.
The final battle was approaching.
But they were united. They were strong.
And they would win.