The ruined courtyard surrounding the royal palace had become almost unrecognizable beneath the destruction. Fires continued burning through shattered buildings, while thick smoke drifted across the crimson sky and partially obscured the blood-red moon above Arcadia. The bodies of the royal guards lay upon the red stained floors. Their final stand felt like a lifetime, but in reality it took only mere minutes. Amid the devastation, Zether stood several yards away from Valak. His expression was cold and unwavering as he watched the Orion of Chaos calmly face him.
Valak stood there before him looking out upon the flame-riddled city. He watched as blue lightning tore through the streets in a thunderous elegance. There was no visible fear in his expression, nor did he appear particularly concerned about the arrival of another Orion. Valak turned around to meet Zether's gaze. Neither warrior moved, it was like they were having a battle within their minds.
The sounds of battle continued throughout the surrounding city, but neither seemed interested in anything beyond the other. Finally, Valak broke the silence. His voice was surprisingly calm as he addressed the Orion standing before him.
"You know it isn't too late," he suggested to Zether.
Zether's fists tightened at his sides, but Valak continued before he could respond. "You've seen this universe for what it truly is. You've watched kingdoms suffer beneath the influence of gods. Watch people die while those in power pretend their system maintains peace."
Valak's expression became more serious as he continued explaining himself. "The universe doesn't need another ruler sitting above everyone else. It needs to be reshaped completely and we have the strength to accomplish what others never could."
Zether stared at him without responding. His eyes carried an anger that had been building since their last confrontation. Hearing those words come from Valak only confirmed what Zether had already known. Valak was too far gone and could not be saved.
"Join me," Valak said, extending his hand slightly. "Help me tear down everything that has failed and build something better in its place. You were created to protect this universe, but you've already seen that the system you're protecting is broken."
Valak took another step forward. "It's not too..."
He never finished his thought. Zether disappeared from where he had been standing. Zether crossed the distance between them before Valak could react. His fist slammed directly into Valak's face with tremendous force, sending him flying backward through the courtyard. Valak's body crashed through a stone wall, sending chunks of masonry and dust exploding outward as the impact shook the surrounding structures. Zether remained standing where he had been, his fist slowly lowering while fragments of stone continued falling around him. His expression remained completely emotionless as he stared toward the destroyed wall.
"This time," he said, his voice low and filled with determination, "I will kill you."
The rubble shifted moments later as Valak slowly emerged from the destruction. He wiped dust from his shoulder before touching the corner of his mouth. A thin trail of blood had made its way onto his hand. He stared at it for several seconds before raising his eyes toward Zether.
A smile slowly appeared across his face. "So that's how it's going to be."
The shadows surrounding Zether immediately began responding to his presence. Dark energy gathered around his body, spreading across the ground like living darkness before climbing upward and surrounding his form. The air became noticeably heavier as his power continued increasing. The remaining flames around the courtyard seemed to dim beneath the overwhelming darkness. Zether's eyes narrowed as the transformation began.
The shadows erupted violently behind him, forming enormous wings composed entirely of darkness. They stretched outward from his back before expanding across the ruined courtyard. Their edges constantly shifted as though they were alive. The pressure surrounding Zether continued increasing until the ground beneath his feet cracked under the force of his Ascension.
Valak watched the transformation without moving. His smile only grew wider. Zether slowly raised his head as his eyes locked directly onto Valak as the darkness continued swirling around his body. There was no hesitation left within him now, only the determination to finally end the battle that had followed them since their previous encounter. Valak simply stood before him, smiling as though he already knew exactly how this confrontation would end.
"Straight to ascension. At least one of you has the resolve to do what is necessary," Valak said with admiration.
Zether didn't even acknowledge Valak, instead the shadows began to consume the floor completely. Valak stood there and watched with an unfazed expression. The darkness surrounding Zether suddenly expanded across the courtyard. It spread over the shattered stone as though the shadows themselves had come alive. The remaining flames reflected against the blackened ground before gradually disappearing beneath the growing darkness. Zether remained completely still as the shadows continued gathering around him.
His Ascension had transformed the darkness into something far more dangerous. This was the true power of a Shadow Lord. Zether had full mastery over the darkness and this power would bend to his will. The shadows beneath his feet twisted violently before several monstrous figures slowly emerged from them, their bodies formed entirely from dense black energy.
One became several, several became dozens, until the courtyard surrounding Valak was filled with towering shadow monsters. Their bodies constantly shifted between solid forms and wisps of darkness. Their glowing eyes remained fixed upon Valak. They surrounded Valak from every direction, waiting for Zether's command. Valak looked around at the creatures before him and let out a quiet laugh. His expression showed no concern as he watched the monsters begin closing the distance.
"You really think these ghosts will stop me?" He chuckled.
The first creature lunged toward him with enough force to shatter the stone beneath its feet. Valak simply shifted his body aside, allowing the monster's claws to pass harmlessly beside him before driving his fist through its chest. The creature immediately exploded into black energy, scattering across the courtyard before disappearing completely. Another suddenly lunged towards him. Valak turned without looking and caught the creature's arm before twisting violently. Its entire body collapsed into darkness as he threw the remains aside, only for another shadow monster to immediately replace it. The creatures continued attacking from every direction, forcing Valak to move constantly as their numbers continued growing around him.
Zether watched without saying a word. The monsters weren't meant to defeat Valak individually. Their purpose was to overwhelm his senses, restrict his movements and create an opening that Zether could exploit. Every time Valak destroyed one, another emerged from the darkness and immediately replaced it. The pressure continued building. Valak destroyed another creature before a second slammed into him from the side, forcing him to slide several feet across the courtyard. He stopped himself before turning toward Zether, his expression becoming slightly more serious as another wave of shadows surrounded him.
"I'm bored of this," Valak said with distaste.
The shadows rushed forward together. However, Valak's aura suddenly erupted. Crimson energy exploded from his body, violently pushing against the incoming creatures as the pressure surrounding him intensified. The ground beneath his feet cracked apart while the flames throughout the courtyard bent away from his expanding aura. He slowly raised one hand, allowing the chaotic energy to gather around his body before releasing it in a tremendous burst.
The explosion consumed everything around him. Every shadow creature caught within the blast was instantly destroyed. Their bodies broke apart into black particles before being scattered across the ruined courtyard. The darkness covering the ground was ripped away, revealing the bloodstained stone beneath it as the massive wave of chaotic energy continued outward.
When the destruction finally subsided, Valak stood alone. He slowly lowered his arm and looked across the courtyard toward Zether.
"Was that supposed to impress me?" Valak questioned.
Zether didn't answer. For a brief moment, everything became still. The shadows did not move, the flames could be heard flickering. Then the shadows behind Valak moved. Before the Orion of Chaos could turn, Zether appeared directly behind him. He had used the remaining darkness to conceal his approach. His fist was already drawn back, surrounded by a dense layer of dark energy that twisted violently around his arm.
"Abyss Fang," Zether whispered.
Zether drove his fist forward with tremendous force. Valak reacted at the last possible moment, twisting his body and raising his forearm to intercept the attack. The punch slammed into his guard with an explosive impact that sent a shockwave through the courtyard, cracking the stone beneath both warriors. Valak's eyes widened as the force behind the strike was far greater than he had expected. Dark energy erupted from Zether's fist upon impact, overwhelming Valak's guard and launching him backward through the courtyard.
His body tore through several damaged structures before crashing violently into the remains of the palace wall, sending another cloud of dust and shattered stone into the air. Zether remained standing where the attack had landed, dark energy still flickering around his fist as he watched the rubble settle.
The dust had barely settled around the ruined palace before the ground beneath Zether's feet began to tremble. At first, the shaking was subtle, with loose stones shifting across the fractured courtyard. However, within moments, the tremors became strong enough to send cracks spreading through the stone beneath them. Zether immediately felt something in the distance, an immense presence that continued growing stronger with every passing second.
He had encountered powerful beings before, but this energy felt different from anything he had ever experienced. It wasn't simply the sheer amount of power that unsettled him. There was something fundamentally unnatural about its presence, something that caused even the shadows surrounding his body to react.
Zether slowly turned his attention toward the eastern district, his expression becoming increasingly serious as another violent tremor shook the courtyard. His instincts told him that whatever had caused the disturbance was a major threat. Valak noticed the change immediately and followed Zether's gaze toward the distant source of the energy. Rather than appearing concerned, Valak knew exactly what was occurring.
"Looks like you might have a problem here." Valak gestured.
Zether's eyes narrowed, but he didn't respond. Another pulse of energy traveled across the city. This time it was powerful enough to make the surrounding buildings groan beneath the pressure. For the first time since their confrontation had begun, Zether's attention was no longer completely focused on Valak. Something had changed in Arcadia and whatever was happening in the eastern district was powerful enough to demand his attention.
Across the burning city, the eastern district had become almost unrecognizable. The streets were buried beneath rubble, while fires continued consuming the remains of buildings that had already been damaged by the invasion. Yet the flames were beginning to disappear beneath an intense emerald glow that radiated from the center of the destruction. Pieces of stone lifted from the ground as the pressure surrounding the battlefield continued increasing and at its center stood Zavala.
The Demon King no longer resembled the warrior Andreia had fought only moments earlier. The dark blue hellfire that had once surrounded his body had completely vanished, replaced by unstable emerald Arcane energy that constantly flowed across his form. Crystal formations covered portions of his body while brilliant green veins pulsed beneath his skin. They carried unnatural energy throughout his body. His crimson hair moved gently within the energy surrounding him, while his eyes now burned with an intense emerald light that Andreia had never seen before.
Zavala slowly raised his head and looked directly toward Andreia. Despite the agony his body had endured during the transformation, a faint smile formed across his face as the Arcane energy continued radiating from him.
"How do you like my new power?" Zavala said with a grin.
Andreia remained silent as she carefully studied him. Her eyes followed the emerald energy moving throughout his body, attempting to understand what she was witnessing. The power was immense, but its strength wasn't what disturbed her most. Something about it felt fundamentally wrong, almost as though an outside force had been violently forced into the natural order of the universe.
This power doesn't feel natural.
Another surge of Arcane energy erupted from Zavala, causing the ground around him to fracture and sending pieces of stone into the air. Andreia could feel the pressure pushing against her cosmic energy and for the first time, she realized that the Arcane power wasn't simply overwhelming Zavala's body. It was beginning to interfere with the very energy surrounding him.
It doesn't feel right.
Andreia's expression became increasingly serious as she looked across the battlefield. She could sense something far more dangerous developing within Zavala, something that could eventually become impossible for either of them to control. If the Arcane energy continued growing unchecked, the consequences would extend far beyond Arcadia.
I have to end this quickly.
Golden light began gathering around Andreia's body as she prepared herself for what was coming. The radiance intensified around her until it wrapped around her form like divine armor, creating brilliant golden plates across her body while the surrounding darkness was pushed back by her growing presence. The transformation continued as two enormous wings of golden light emerged from her back. They spread outward and illuminate the ruined district with a powerful divine glow.
Andreia's feet pressed into the fractured ground as her Ascension fully awakened and the pressure of her cosmic energy collided with Zavala's Arcane presence. Time seemed to stop as neither warrior moved. Yet the space between them seemed to tremble beneath the opposing forces. Zavala stood surrounded by unstable emerald energy, while Andreia's golden aura burned brighter around her awakened form.
The gentle expression she had carried throughout their earlier confrontation was gone. Andreia now looked at Zavala with complete seriousness, understanding that whatever stood before her was no longer simply the Demon King she had intended to defeat. It was something neither of them fully understood. If she failed to stop it quickly, Andreia feared the consequences would reach far beyond Arcadia.
Andreia did not give Zavala another moment to gather his strength. The moment her Ascension settled around her, golden light erupted from her body. She launched herself forward with enough force to shatter the ground beneath her feet. Andreia crossed the distance between them at speeds beyond what the eye could perceive, moving faster than light itself. A streak of golden radiance was all that was left behind as she approached Zavala.
Neither the remaining demons nor the Arcadian soldiers could follow her movement. Even Zavala's emerald eyes struggled to track her approach as Andreia appeared directly in front of him. Her fist already pulled back and surrounded by concentrated cosmic light. She drove the punch directly into his face with tremendous force, sending a deafening shockwave through the eastern district as her attack connected.
Zavala's body was launched backward through the air, tearing through several layers of rubble before disappearing beneath a collapsing section of stone. Andreia remained suspended in the air, her golden wings stretching behind her as she watched the destruction settle around the impact site. Then, without warning, emerald energy erupted from within the rubble and spread outward across the battlefield.
The debris was thrown away as Zavala slowly emerged. He stood completely upright without any visible injury. The Arcane energy continued flowing around his body as though Andreia's attack had done nothing more than disturb the power surrounding him. Zavala calmly wiped a small piece of rubble from his shoulder before looking toward Andreia. Her expression changed immediately.
That attack had no effect.
Andreia's eyes narrowed as she studied him from above. She knew the force behind that punch should have been enough to seriously injure even an opponent of Zavala's strength, yet the Demon King remained completely unfazed.
There has to be a way to damage him.
Zavala suddenly began laughing. "Now it's my turn."
The sound echoed through the ruined district as emerald energy started gathering around the center of his chest. The Arcane power intensified rapidly, forming a concentrated glow around the crystal embedded within his body. Andreia immediately recognized the danger and moved before the energy could fully develop. Her wings erupted with golden light as she accelerated forward once again. This time she moved even faster than before. She didn't aim for Zavala's upper body, instead she dropped beneath his line of sight and struck directly at his legs. Andreia swept Zavala's legs out from beneath him with tremendous force.
Zavala's balance broke. His body began falling backward as Andreia rose above him, gathering an enormous amount of Light between her hands. The golden energy condensed into the shape of a massive sword suspended high above the battlefield, its radiant blade illuminating the surrounding ruins. Zavala looked upward as Andreia brought her hand downward.
The enormous cosmic sword came crashing toward him, striking his body with tremendous force and driving him straight into the ground. The impact erupted across the eastern district as stone shattered beneath him. A massive crater was left with golden light and emerald Arcane energy colliding violently at its center. Andreia remained above the crater, her wings spread wide as she stared down at Zavala.
Suddenly, Andreia felt something change. The pressure surrounding Zavala shifted without warning, and the cosmic energy flowing through her body reacted almost instinctively. Her eyes widened as she looked toward the crater below. She sensed an enormous surge of arcane energy building within the Demon King. Whatever was happening, it was far beyond the power he had displayed only moments earlier.
Across the city, Renku felt it too. He stood in the middle of one of Arcadia's burning streets, helping another group of survivors toward the waiting Angel while Ezekiel directed them aboard. Renku suddenly stopped as the atmosphere around him changed and the blue lightning flickering around his body became unstable. He slowly looked toward the eastern district. There was no doubt about it, that was where this pressure was coming from.
Without warning, a tremendous emerald glow erupted from the distance. A massive beam of arcane energy shot into the sky, tearing through the clouds and illuminating the entire city with an unnatural green light. The force of the eruption sent shockwaves through the streets, causing windows to shatter and damaged buildings to tremble. The beam continued rising higher into the heavens. Within the center of the enormous column of energy, a figure slowly began ascending. Zavala's body could be seen through the emerald storm as he continued rising above the ruined eastern district.
Arcane energy poured from his body in enormous quantities, spreading farther across the heavens until the entire sky above Arcadia began turning green. The clouds twisted violently around the massive column before the energy suddenly exploded outward, sending an enormous wave of emerald light across the sky. The entire atmosphere of Arcadia had now changed.
Renku stared upward in horror as the green light reflected across his eyes. The civilians around him began looking toward the sky as well, their expressions filled with fear and confusion. Renku knew he couldn't afford to stand there and watch, but the sheer scale of the energy made it difficult to look away.
Then a voice suddenly entered his mind.
"Renku."
His eyes widened as he immediately recognized the voice. He looked around instinctively, but there was nobody standing near him. The voice had not come from the streets or from the Angel. It had come directly into his mind.
"Aevor?"
"You can hear me," Aevor replied.
Renku looked back toward the enormous green column consuming the eastern district. "Do you know what's happening?"
There was a brief silence before Aevor answered. "Zavala has been corrupted by Arcane Energy."
Renku's expression hardened. "Arcane Energy?"
"This is not ordinary energy," Aevor explained. "The power within that crystal contains fragments of the original Fate Breaker's energy."
Renku's eyes widened as he continued watching Zavala's presence grow within the emerald storm. The revelation immediately made the strange energy surrounding Zavala make sense. However, it also created more questions about what the Demon King was becoming.
"The original Fate Breaker..." Renku whispered.
"Yes," Aevor answered. "And Zavala's body was never meant to contain something like this. The power is already beginning to overwhelm him."
Another surge of emerald energy erupted from Zavala, causing the entire sky above Arcadia to tremble beneath its force. Storm clouds formed as green lightning stuck from them. Renku could feel the pressure increase with each passing second. The realization that Zavala might lose control made his expression become increasingly serious.
"What happens if he loses control?" Renku asked.
"You must stop him before that happens." Aevor's voice became more serious. "If the Arcane Energy continues growing without restraint... Zavala could lose control completely and destroy everything around him. You cannot allow that to happen."
Renku clenched his fist as he looked toward the eastern district. His mission had been to save as many people as possible and there were still countless Arcadians trapped throughout the burning city. However, he now understood that Zavala represented a danger that could eventually consume everyone if he wasn't stopped. Renku turned toward Ezekiel, who was still helping survivors aboard the Angel.
"Ezekiel," he said.
Ezekiel looked toward him.
"Keep searching for survivors. Get them aboard the Angel and keep moving through the city. Don't stop until you've found everyone you can," Renku commanded.
Ezekiel looked toward the enormous emerald column rising over Arcadia before turning back toward Renku. "You're going after Zavala."
Renku nodded. "I have to help Andreia."
He looked toward the civilians boarding the Angel before turning back toward the eastern district. Blue lightning began gathering around his body, illuminating the surrounding street as his cosmic energy intensified.
"I'll leave the survivors to you," Renku said.
Ezekiel gave him a determined nod. "Then go."
Renku launched himself toward the eastern district. Blue lightning erupts around his body as he disappears into the burning streets. Behind him, Ezekiel continued guiding the survivors aboard the Angel while the evacuation continued throughout the city. Above Arcadia, the emerald sky continued spreading across the heavens.
Andreia didn't hesitate. The moment she saw Zavala rising through the emerald storm, her cosmic energy surged around her body as she prepared to attack once again. She raised both hands toward the sky and several golden rings of light began forming behind her. Each ring expanded outward before locking into position. This created a formation of radiant portals that surrounded Zavala from multiple directions. Without warning, the portals opened.
Hundreds of Divine Swords erupted from within them. Each blade is composed of concentrated cosmic energy and Light. They flooded toward Zavala in waves, filling the sky around him as the golden blades collided with the emerald arcane energy. The two energies violently clashed, creating enormous bursts of light that spread across the eastern district and illuminated the burning buildings below. The Divine Swords continued pouring toward him, but the arcane energy surrounding his body pushed against them with increasing force. Golden and emerald energy collided repeatedly. Each strike created shockwaves that tore through the surrounding rubble as Andreia continued forcing more power into the attack.
Andreia then decided to move once again. Her golden wings spread wide as she accelerated forward, flying directly into the storm of conflicting energies. She pushed through the Divine Swords and emerald energy surrounding Zavala. Andreia used her cosmic energy to force a path toward him. Her eyes remained locked onto the Demon King as she prepared to strike again. This time, however, Zavala was ready. His emerald eyes suddenly focused on her as she emerged from the energy surrounding him. His right hand moved with incredible speed, catching Andreia before she could complete her attack. His palm slammed directly into her body with enough force to send her flying backward.
Andreia's body tore through the air before crashing violently into the ground. The impact created a massive crater beneath her which sent dust and broken stone across the surrounding streets. Her golden wings flickered as she struggled to push herself upright and she immediately felt blood gathering in her mouth. She coughed and spat it onto the ground before looking up.
Zavala was already coming toward her. The Demon King moved through the dust with terrifying speed. Emerald arcane energy gathered around his right fist as he prepared to finish her off. Andreia tried to rise, but the impact had left her body momentarily weakened. Zavala's fist drew back.
Then blue lightning suddenly erupted between them. A figure appeared directly in front of Andreia, blocking Zavala's attack with his raised arm. The collision sent an immense shockwave through the battlefield. Within an instant, the blue energy erupted and sent Zavala backwards. Andreia stared upward through the settling dust. She immediately recognized the familiar blue cosmic energy surrounding the figure.
Renku stood between her and Zavala, his Ascension fully awakened as blue lightning continued flickering across his body. His expression was serious as he watched Zavala recover several yards away. Andreia slowly pushed herself up, still holding her injured side as she looked toward him.
"Renku..." she whispered.
Renku didn't take his eyes off Zavala. "You ready for round 2, Andreia?"
Across the battlefield, Zavala slowly lifted his head. The emerald energy surrounding his body intensified once again. Now, for the first time, the two Orions stood together against him.
Back in the ruined courtyard, Zether continued his assault without giving Valak any opportunity to recover. His shadow energy surged around his body as he moved from one attack to another. He struck with enough force to shatter the remaining structures surrounding them. Valak defended against each attack with surprising ease, blocking and evading the blows without ever releasing the full extent of his own power.
The longer the fight continued, the more frustrated Zether became. Every attack he threw seemed to be met with the same effortless defense. Valak continued looking at him as though he were waiting for something more. Zether suddenly pulled back from another exchange, his shadows swirling violently around his body as he stared at the Orion of Chaos.
"Take me seriously, Valak," Zether said, his voice filled with anger. "Or I'll end this right now."
Valak smiled. "You're still making demands."
Zether's expression hardened as Valak slowly straightened himself. There was something almost insulting about the calmness in his eyes, as though he had already decided that Zether wasn't worth giving his full attention.
"You still don't understand," Valak said. "You and the others will die here today."
Zether immediately surged forward again. His shadows erupted across the courtyard as he unleashed everything he had. He sent waves of dark energy toward Valak from multiple directions. Shadow creatures emerged from the ground while blades of condensed darkness formed around him. They attacked Valak from every possible angle. Zether moved between the attacks with incredible speed, striking whenever he saw an opening and refusing to give Valak any room to breathe. The courtyard disappeared beneath an overwhelming storm of shadows. However, Valak's expression suddenly changed.
The crimson aura surrounding his body suddenly intensified as he activated his Ascension. Valak's armor changed instantly, red cracks appeared over it with chaos energy flowing through it. His aura got heavier, but this time Zether could feel it had become stronger since their last encounter. Chaos energy erupted outward, tearing through the darkness surrounding him and forcing Zether's attacks apart. The shadow creatures were destroyed almost instantly while the condensed blades of darkness shattered against the overwhelming pressure of Valak's power.
Zether's eyes widened as Valak appeared directly in front of him. Valak's fist that was consumed by his red chaos energy struck Zether. The blow caught Zether across the body and sent him crashing through the courtyard. His shadow wings scattered dark energy as he struggled to regain control. He landed heavily against the broken stone and immediately pushed himself upright, only to find Valak already standing several yards away.
"You're wasting your energy," Valak said calmly. "None of this is going to change the outcome."
Zether glared at him, but Valak's expression remained completely serious now. "Save what you have left for the real threat outside."
Zether's anger momentarily disappeared. He felt it again, that enormous presence from the eastern district had grown even stronger. The pressure traveled through the city once more, causing the ground beneath them to tremble as emerald light reflected across the smoke-filled sky. Zether turned toward the east, his expression becoming increasingly concerned as he realized Renku and Andreia were now confronting whatever Zavala had become.
Valak watched him carefully. "You can feel it, can't you?"
Zether remained silent, refusing to acknowledge Valak's words. Valak took a slow step toward him, his crimson aura still burning around his body.
"Renku and Andreia are fighting something neither of them fully understands," he said. "If you stay here and continue fighting me, they may not survive."
Zether turned his eyes back toward Valak as he spat out blood.
Valak smiled. "So ask yourself something, Zether. How much longer are you willing to stand here while your allies bleed?"
The eastern district trembled again. Zether's fists tightened as he stared toward the distant emerald sky.
"If you don't go help them," Valak continued, "their blood will be on your hands."
For the first time since the battle began, Zether hesitated.
Renku and Andreia stood together. Their Ascension forms lit up the streets. Zavala stood there as the emerald energy continued to churn around him. Blue lightning flickered across Renku's body while golden cosmic energy radiated from Andreia. This created a sharp contrast against the unnatural green glow that consumed the eastern district. Neither of them needed to speak. After everything they had seen, they both understood that Zavala couldn't be given another opportunity to build his power. They looked at each other and immediately moved in perfect sync.
Renku rushed toward Zavala from the left while Andreia moved around his right side, forcing him to divide his attention between them. Renku extended his hand as blue cosmic energy gathered around his arm and several chains suddenly erupted forward. They twisted through the air before wrapping tightly around Zavala's body, locking his arms against his sides.
"Chains of Hope," Renku said.
The chains tightened around Zavala as blue lightning immediately began surging through them. The electricity traveled across his body in violent bursts, causing him to jerk against his restraints while Renku held the chains firmly. Andreia didn't waste the opening. She raised her hand and gathered a tremendous amount of golden cosmic energy before shaping it into a massive spear of Light. She drove the Heavenly Spear directly into Zavala.
The impact sent a powerful burst of golden energy across the battlefield as the spear struck him through the arcane energy surrounding his body. Zavala's expression twisted with anger and his scream echoed through the ruined streets. The emerald energy around him suddenly erupted with enough force to shake the ground beneath all three warriors. The Chains of Hope began cracking.
Zavala pulled his arms apart as the arcane energy forced itself through the restraints. The blue chains shattered one after another, breaking into fragments of cosmic energy before disappearing. Zavala immediately extended both hands toward the two Orions, and enormous streams of emerald arcane energy erupted from his palms.
Renku barely had enough time to react. He crossed his forearms in front of his body as the attack slammed into him. Andreia raised her own cosmic energy in the hopes to protect herself. The force behind the blast pushed both of them backward, their feet scraping across the ground as they struggled against the overwhelming pressure. Even after they managed to stop themselves, the arcane energy had left its mark.
Renku looked down at his forearms and saw dark green burns running across his armor. Andreia noticed similar marks across her own arms. They had blocked the attack, but Zavala's energy had still managed to get through their defenses. Renku's mind was racing with thoughts.
Aevor wasn't kidding. This power is a real problem.There has to be a way.
Zavala let out a scream that erupted out of pain. Both Orions looked toward him as his entire body suddenly began shaking. The emerald cracks covering his skin started spreading farther, growing larger as brilliant green light leaked from beneath his flesh. A sickening series of cracks echoed through the battlefield as his bones began to break under the pressure of the energy coursing through him. Zavala grabbed at his chest as another wave of arcane energy erupted from his body.
His flesh began tearing around the cracks, but the crystal embedded within him continued feeding more power into his body. The more his body broke down, the more violently the arcane energy surged through him. Zavala suddenly threw up an unusual amount of blood.
Renku stared at him, slowly realizing what was happening. "Andreia..."
She looked toward him without taking her eyes off Zavala.
"His body can't handle the power," Renku stated.
Another crack spread across Zavala's shoulder, followed by a burst of emerald energy that tore through the surrounding air. Renku watched carefully as Zavala struggled to remain standing and suddenly the answer became clear.
"This is our chance," Renku said. "We need to damage his body as much as we can."
Andreia looked at Zavala for another moment before nodding. "Then we don't give him another chance to recover."
The two Orions separated, moving into position on opposite sides of the battlefield as their cosmic energy began rising once again. Blue lightning erupted around Renku while Andreia's golden aura intensified, illuminating the destruction around them. Across the battlefield, Zavala slowly raised his head. His body was falling apart, but the emerald energy surrounding him only continued to grow.
The arcane crystal pulsed within his chest, feeding the impossible power through his broken body as his emerald eyes locked onto the two Orions. Renku tightened his fists, Andreia spread her golden wings and together, they prepared to attack again.
End of Chapter 24