As the forces of Cyrus’ throne world clashed against the dark tide, whirlpools formed, spiraling down into the depths of the enemy’s reality. These vortices, infused with the raw power of the ocean, began to pull apart the very essence of the opposing throne world. As they churned, they devoured the darkness, their swirling currents creating chaos within, dragging shadowy tendrils into the depths, where they would be transformed into nothingness.
With each and every individual strike against the dark throne world, the pressure mounted, causing rifts to open and reality to warp further. Cracks began to spiderweb across the landscape of the enemy’s domain, revealing glimpses of the radiant sea beyond. The very ground trembled as Cyrus’ throne world injected itself deeper, the waters bubbling up from the fractures, cascading down like waterfalls of light that washed away the remnants of despair.
As Cyrus channeled the full force of his throne world, an overwhelming wave surged forth—a tsunami of light and life that surged to engulf his opponent. This wave not only pushed against the darkness but actively sought to consume it, wrapping around the remnants of the opposing throne world like a lover embracing a lost soul. The dark reality began to buckle and fold under the might of Cyrus’ creation, the edges crumbling as the brilliance of the sea infiltrated every corner, transforming shadows into light.
In the aftermath of this overwhelming assault, Cyrus’ throne world stood victorious, the remnants of the enemy’s realm dissolving into the sparkling waters. The beauty of the marine life that once flourished within him now basked in the glow of their triumph, illuminating the remnants of darkness that lingered. What had once been a threatening abyss was now a vibrant oasis, teeming with life and energy, a testament to the strength and resilience of Cyrus’ spirit.
As the echoes of the battle faded, the water shimmered with a serene glow, embracing Cyrus and reinforcing his resolve. He had transformed not only his throne world but had established a new order where darkness could no longer reign, forever marking his victory over the shadows that sought to engulf him.
The man in front of Cyrus was gone, erased as though he’d never existed. In his place, a blank slate of darkness stretched endlessly, an expanse of pure black emptiness devoid of any trace of the battle that had just torn through realms. Cyrus took a steady breath, only to watch as the obsidian plane began to crack, slender lines spider-webbing across its surface. A faint glimmer appeared within each crack, small flecks of the world outside seeping through as the illusionary expanse started to shatter like fragile glass.
With a final, silent tremor, the plane crumbled away, revealing patches of the familiar, earthy tones of the forest beyond. Rays of sunlight filtered through the trees, casting scattered light over the forest floor, as fragments of the once-imposing throne world disintegrated and faded into nothingness. The vibrant life of the forest broke through in full, trees swaying gently in the breeze as though undisturbed by the battle that had raged just moments before.
The air was still, but exhaustion hit Cyrus like a tidal wave. His legs buckled, and he dropped to his knees, barely able to support his own weight. His breaths came in shallow, ragged gasps, every ounce of energy drained from his body. To his side, Athena collapsed as well, her hands pressed against the ground, teeth clenched as she struggled to stay conscious. Their bodies shook from the strain, muscles weak and aching, their minds heavy with fatigue.
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"Damn it…" Cyrus muttered under his breath, cursing the throbbing pain that rippled through him. Every part of his body seemed to scream in protest, and he forced himself to remain upright, fighting against the overwhelming urge to slip into unconsciousness. His vision blurred momentarily, but he gritted his teeth, holding onto the remnants of his willpower.
Beside him, Athena echoed his frustration, her voice barely a whisper. "Not… yet…" She gripped the earth beneath her, determination sparking in her exhausted gaze as they both clung to consciousness. In the gentle quiet of the forest, they were two figures worn to the edge, but their spirits held steady, resilient even in the face of utter depletion. Experience more content on Freewebnovel
As Cyrus and Athena knelt, struggling against the pull of exhaustion, a rustling stirred in the shadows around them. From the edge of the trees, figures emerged — Winter Deers, creatures draped in coats of silver-white fur, their antlers adorned with small, crystalline frost that gleamed under the pale forest light. They were ethereal in appearance, with eyes that glowed a haunting blue, as though capturing the chill of a midwinter night.
The deers moved forward with an unsettling grace, hooves pressing soundlessly against the forest floor. As they drew closer, their elegant heads tilted, watching Cyrus and Athena with an unnatural intensity. Then, without warning, their mouths began to open, stretching wider and wider, further than what should have been physically possible. Jaws unhinged to grotesque proportions, and their cheeks pulled taut, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth glistening like shards of ice. Each tooth was pointed and unnaturally long, layered in jagged lines that hinted at a carnivorous appetite hidden behind their otherwise tranquil facade.
A thin, dark tongue slithered out from within each gaping maw, flickering like a serpent’s as it tasted the air, moving with an eerie intelligence. The tongue curled and twisted, slipping over their sharp teeth and tasting the proximity of Cyrus and Athena, savoring the palpable scent of weakness radiating from them. The Winter Deers seemed less like forest guardians now, and more like creatures drawn to the scent of prey, their glacial beauty warped by the dark hunger lying just beneath the surface.
In an instant, a brilliant arc of light cleaved through the air, slicing cleanly across the Winter Deers and cutting them down before they could lunge. The creatures froze, a fleeting glimmer of surprise crossing their unearthly eyes before their forms split in two, collapsing into the forest floor. Standing in the aftermath of his strike, Sylus appeared with a calm, deadly presence, the light from his blade fading as he tossed a small vial in front of each of them.
Cyrus and Athena grabbed the potions, uncorking them without hesitation and drinking deeply, the warm, invigorating liquid chasing away the numbness and exhaustion gripping their bodies. Their breaths steadied, and strength began to return to their limbs, even as they glanced around, noticing shadows moving within the trees once more.
"Get back on your feet," Sylus commanded, his tone urgent but steady as his gaze scanned the encroaching line of Winter Deers surrounding them. They were undeterred by the fallen, their numbers multiplying as they gathered in the shadows.
Suddenly, a wave of crushing mental energy swept over them, a potent attack that bore down with an intensity as cold and unforgiving as a winter storm. The force pressed upon Cyrus and Athena, dragging at their minds, and filling them with a gnawing dread. Sylus, however, reacted in an instant. A pulse of aether exploded from him, filling the air with a blazing, golden light that dispersed the mental attack, washing over the Winter Deers with an intensity that made them falter.
The creatures shrank back, their wide, hungry eyes flickering with newfound fear. For the first time, their elegant forms trembled, recoiling from the fierce aetheric aura Sylus emitted. His power burned through the shadows, each flare pushing them further back, holding them at bay.
"My health isn’t the problem…" Cyrus grunted, using an aetheric sword to keep him standing upright. "It’s my mana. You didn’t happen to bring any mana potions, did you?"
"I don’t use mana so I have no use for one… but how did you use so much? I doubt you have a small mana core so how did you both end up draining so much of your mana?" Sylus questioned.
The Winter Deers didn’t give them a second to catch their breath. In one fluid motion, they surged forward from the shadows, their lithe, muscled forms gliding across the forest floor with unnatural speed. Their mouths gaped open, stretching impossibly wide, revealing rows upon rows of razor-sharp teeth glinting under the faint moonlight. Flickering tongues snaked out, tasting the air, almost as if savoring the fear radiating from their prey.
With a collective snarl, the Deers lunged in unison, their jaws snapping shut with eerie precision. Their sleek, icy-blue pelts shimmered as they darted between trees, evading even the faintest glimmer of Sylus’s aetheric aura. The air grew colder with their approach, thick with the scent of frost and decay, as they circled, relentless and calculating, each Deer seeking an opening to tear into them.
"Sylus… you’re gonna have to take the lead on this one. We’re both useless right now. We’re on the brink of mana poisoning so buy us some time," Cyrus grunted, Athena barely conscious as her eyes had a glazed look over them.