The battlefield was chaos.
Elyndor’s spirit construct loomed above them, a colossal amalgamation of fire and earth that radiated an oppressive heat. Its molten limbs swung with devastating force, carving trenches into the already-scorched ground. Shards of molten rock erupted with every impact, casting a fiery glow that illuminated the champions.
The air trembled with the weight of battle. Every clash echoed across the volcanic ravine, the heat warping the air into shimmering waves. Sylvia’s barrier pulsed with golden energy, holding firm against the fiery onslaught of Elyndor’s massive spirit construct. The construct, a grotesque fusion of molten rock and spectral energy, swung its molten fists with relentless fury, sending shockwaves through the ground.
"Hold it steady!" Sylvia’s voice cut through the chaos as her wings flared, radiant light reinforcing the barrier. Beads of sweat trickled down her face, but her gaze remained sharp and unyielding.
Kael darted around the construct like a wild predator, his claws glinting as he slashed at its limbs. Sparks erupted with each strike, but the molten surface resisted his attacks. "This thing’s tougher than you are, elf!" he snarled, his voice tinged with frustration.
Thrain was a whirlwind of molten fury, his hammer glowing with the earthy light of his Earthforge ability. Each swing of the massive weapon sent fiery shards flying, carving molten trenches into the ground. "Less talking, more hitting!" he barked, his voice a deep rumble as he deflected a blow from the construct’s molten arm.
James crouched behind a jagged rock, his hands fumbling through his satchel. His heart pounded in his chest, the enormity of the battle pressing down on him like a weight. "Where is it… where is it?" he muttered, his fingers brushing against cold metal. He pulled out a small, rune-etched cylinder, its faint hum giving him a shred of hope.
"James, if you’re doing something useful, now’s the time!" Thrain bellowed, narrowly avoiding a fiery tendril that erupted from the construct’s molten core.
"I’ve got it!" James yelled back, his voice shaky but determined. He stood, the device glowing faintly in his hand. His eyes scanned the construct’s massive frame, searching for a weak point. Then he saw it—a glowing cluster of molten energy at its chest, pulsing like a dying star. "The core! Aim for the core!"
"Brilliant observation, lad!" Thrain grunted, slamming his hammer into the ground and sending molten spikes surging toward the construct. "Now tell me how we get there without getting roasted!"
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Kael growled, leaping onto the construct’s arm and digging his claws into its molten surface. The heat seared his fur, but he held on, his muscles straining as he climbed toward the core. "I’ll make the opening!" he snarled, his voice raw with determination.
The construct roared, shaking violently to dislodge Kael. Sylvia expanded her barrier, catching a molten fist mid-swing and deflecting it with a burst of light. "Kael, move faster!" she shouted, her voice tinged with strain. "I can’t hold this thing forever!"
Kael reached the construct’s chest, his claws raking across the molten core. Sparks flew as he tore into its surface, exposing cracks in the glowing cluster. The construct howled, its molten body trembling as fiery tendrils lashed out in all directions.
"Now!" James shouted, hurling the device with all his strength. The rune-etched cylinder sailed through the air, its glow intensifying as it struck the core.
The explosion was blinding. A surge of arcane energy erupted from the core, sending molten shards flying in every direction. The construct staggered, its movements slowing as the light in its core dimmed.
+
Elyndor descended from the rocky outcropping, his staff glowing as he landed amidst the chaos. His golden eyes glimmered with a mix of disdain and resolve as he surveyed the battlefield. The cracks spreading across his construct’s body didn’t seem to faze him. If anything, he seemed…calm.
Kael leapt down from the construct’s chest, his claws still smoking from the heat. His gaze locked onto Elyndor, and a low growl rumbled in his throat. "You," he snarled, his voice dripping with venom. "You’re dead, elf."
Elyndor raised his staff, spectral figures swirling around him. "You don’t understand," he said, his voice measured but cold. "None of you do."
Kael charged, his claws glinting in the molten light. "Don’t you dare lecture me!" he roared, lunging at Elyndor with all his might.
The elf sidestepped with infuriating grace, his spirits forming a barrier that deflected Kael’s strike. "You think strength alone will win this battle?" Elyndor sneered. "How predictably beast-like."
Kael snarled, swinging again. This time, his claws raked across the barrier, shattering it with sheer force. Elyndor stumbled back, his calm façade faltering as Kael pressed the attack.
"Stop hiding behind your damned magic and fight me!" Kael growled, his claws slicing through another spirit.
Elyndor’s gaze hardened. "As you wish." He thrust his staff forward, and a torrent of spectral chains erupted from the ground, wrapping around Kael’s limbs. The beastman roared in frustration, straining against the bonds as the chains tightened.
Thrain stepped forward, his hammer glowing brightly. "Get your knife-eared tricks off him!" he bellowed, slamming his weapon into the ground. A wave of molten rock surged toward Elyndor, forcing him to release Kael as he leapt to safety.
"You’re persistent, I’ll give you that," Elyndor said, his voice sharp with irritation. "But persistence won’t save you."
+
James watched from the edge of the battlefield, his heart pounding as he took in the chaos. His mind raced, trying to find a way to turn the tide. The construct was faltering, but Elyndor’s spirits were relentless, their ethereal forms weaving through the battlefield with deadly precision.
"Think, James, think," he muttered, his eyes darting between his satchel and the construct’s weakening frame. Then it hit him—a wild, desperate idea that might just work.
"Sylvia!" he shouted, running toward her. "I need you to get me closer to the construct!"
Sylvia’s eyes widened, but she didn’t hesitate. She expanded her wings, creating a protective bubble of light around them. "You’d better know what you’re doing," she said, her tone both stern and hopeful.
"I never do," James admitted with a shaky grin.
The two of them charged forward, the barrier deflecting fiery tendrils and molten debris as they closed the distance. James clutched a small, rune-inscribed detonator in his hand, the device humming with barely-contained energy.
As they reached the construct, James hurled the device at its exposed core. The explosion that followed was deafening, a burst of light and heat that shook the ground beneath them. The construct let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing into a smoldering heap.
+
The battlefield fell silent, save for the crackling of molten rock. Elyndor stood amidst the wreckage, his chest heaving as he glared at the group. His calm demeanor was gone, replaced by raw fury.
"You think this is over?" he spat, his voice trembling with rage. "You think you’ve won?"
Kael stepped forward, his claws dripping with blood. "You’re done, elf. Give up."
Elyndor’s lips curled into a bitter smile. "You’re more naïve than I thought." He raised his staff, and the air around him grew heavy with power.
But something happened.
The ground trembled violently as the deafening roar echoed through the ash-laden sky, shaking loose shards of stone from the jagged cliffs above. The champions froze, their eyes darting toward the horizon as the air itself seemed to boil. Then came the beams—searing lances of energy cutting down from the heavens, each strike carving molten scars into the already scorched earth. Moments later, balls of fire rained down like hellish meteorites, every impact unleashing explosions of heat and ash.
BOOM!
"Shit!" James dove behind the remnants of Thrain’s stone wall, fumbling to shield his head as a fireball slammed into the ground nearby, spraying molten rock in all directions. "What the hell is this?!"
"I don’t know!" Sylvia shouted back, her wings glowing fiercely as she expanded her barrier to cover the group. The dome of golden light shimmered and cracked under the relentless assault. "But it’s trying to kill us, that’s for sure!"
Thrain gritted his teeth, his hammer blazing with earthen energy as he slammed it into the ground again. Another wall of jagged stone erupted before them, barely holding back the firestorm. "This ain’t natural!" he bellowed, his voice raw with strain. "The ground’s screaming, and the sky’s gone mad!"
Kael growled low in his throat, his claws flexing as his wild eyes scanned the chaos. "It’s coming from over there!" He pointed toward the horizon, where the beams originated—each one slicing the sky like a predator’s claw. "Wait, the elf-"
Just as the group turned to look where Elyndor should have been, another beam struck close, the impact ripping a chunk out of Thrain’s wall and sending the dwarf staggering. He grunted, wiping sweat and soot from his face as molten debris rained down. "Fuck that knife-eared bastard. Our main focus’s on how in the nine hells we’re going to survive this."
"If it gets much worse, we’re gonna be as-"
BOOM!
Another beam of destruction ripped through the air, slamming into the ground nearby and sending a plume of molten rock skyward. The shockwave knocked the group off their feet, the heat searing even through their protective runestones.
The ground exploded beneath them, a fireball striking directly against Thrain’s wall and shattering it completely. The dwarf roared in frustration, his hammer swinging wildly as he summoned another barrier to replace it. "We can’t hold out much longer!"
The sky above them blazed with relentless fury as the rain of fire intensified. Each beam carved deeper into the earth, and the air was thick with ash and smoke. Sylvia’s barrier flickered again, the golden light barely holding under the onslaught.
"Please, Heavenly Father," Sylvia prayed underneath the onslaught of fire, gritting her teeth. "Protect Us."