The battlefield pulsed with the weight of colliding forces—light and darkness warring for dominance. The ground beneath Kai's feet cracked as golden energy surged through him, his sword humming with raw power. Beside him, Solis stood firm, his armor gleaming despite the wounds he bore. Lyra's magic wove between them, reinforcing their bodies, keeping them standing in the face of overwhelming destruction.
Opposite them, Veyrin stood unmoved, his abyssal beast growing larger, its form a monstrous mass of writhing shadows and crimson lightning. He spread his arms wide, as if welcoming them. "Come," he said, his voice a whisper laced with arrogance. "Let's end this farce."
Kai exchanged a glance with Solis. No words were needed. They had one goal: bring Veyrin down, no matter the cost.
Then, they moved.
Solis struck first. Golden chains erupted from the air, shooting toward Veyrin like celestial spears. They coiled around his limbs, locking onto his armor, their divine energy burning through his defenses.
Kai followed, his blade igniting as he leaped forward, using the chains as footholds. He twisted in midair, bringing his sword down in a strike meant to cleave through Veyrin's very core.
Veyrin reacted at the last possible second. His shadow tendrils surged up to block, but Kai's blade burned through them, severing the abyssal limbs like paper.
For the first time, Veyrin's expression shifted—surprise flickered in his crimson eyes.
Then, the attack landed.
A brilliant explosion of light erupted as Kai's blade connected, sending Veyrin hurtling backward. His body crashed into the ground, skidding across the battlefield, tearing through stone and earth. The abyssal beast behind him let out a guttural roar, staggering from the impact.
Kai landed, his breathing ragged. He tightened his grip on his sword. "He's not done yet."
As if in response, the shadows around Veyrin convulsed, retreating into him like a living force. Then, slowly, he rose to his feet. His armor was cracked. His breathing was heavier. But his eyes—those crimson eyes—burned brighter than ever.
Veyrin exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "You…" He ran a hand over his lips, wiping away a trail of blackened blood. "You actually hurt me."
The abyssal energy around him boiled.
"Impressive," he admitted. Then, his smile returned—sharp, deadly. "But I wonder… Can you survive this?"
The air collapsed.
Darkness surged outward in a violent, chaotic wave. The abyssal beast screeched, its body twisting unnaturally, merging further with Veyrin. His form shifted—his armor deepened to pure black, his silhouette stretching, his presence becoming something almost inhuman.
The battlefield itself began to decay under his power.
Solis cursed under his breath. "He's merging with the abyss completely."
Lyra's hands trembled as she reinforced the protective barrier around them. "If he completes that transformation… we might not be able to stop him."
Kai clenched his jaw. The artifact inside him pulsed urgently, sensing the threat. He had to act now.
He turned to Solis and Lyra. "Cover me. I'll end this in one strike."
Solis hesitated, then nodded. "Make it count."
Lyra exhaled sharply. "Be careful."
Then, as Veyrin's transformation neared completion, Kai closed his eyes.
Focus.
The energy of the artifact surged within him, more potent than ever before. The golden dragon coiled tighter, its form shrinking—not weakening, but concentrating its power. Kai could feel every heartbeat, every breath, every ounce of strength he had left.
And in that moment, he knew.
This was his last chance.
His eyes snapped open.
A golden halo formed above his head, the dragon's energy fusing directly into his sword. The blade elongated, its light no longer just golden, but tinged with ethereal blue—the true manifestation of the artifact's power.
Veyrin let out a deep, guttural laugh. "What is this, your final stand?" His voice was deeper now, distorted. "How tragic."
Kai didn't respond.
He launched forward.
Everything blurred. The battlefield. The sounds of war. Even time itself seemed to slow as Kai became a streak of pure, concentrated light.
Veyrin moved to counter, his abyssal blade rising—
Too slow.
Kai was already there.
His sword plunged forward, piercing through Veyrin's chest.
For a single, frozen second, nothing happened.
Then—
Light erupted.
A massive shockwave tore through the battlefield, engulfing everything in golden-blue radiance. Veyrin's abyssal beast howled, its form unraveling, its very essence disintegrating under the divine force. The darkness shrieked, unable to withstand the pure energy tearing through it.
Veyrin's crimson eyes widened. "This… impossible…"
His voice faded as his body cracked apart, light consuming him from the inside out.
Then, with one final pulse, he vanished.
Silence followed.
Kai stood amidst the ruin, his sword still glowing faintly, his body trembling. The artifact's energy was fading, withdrawing back into him.
It was over.
Veyrin was gone.
The war against the abyss… had ended.
Kai staggered, exhaustion crashing into him all at once. Before he could collapse, Solis was there, catching him by the arm.
"You did it," Solis said, his voice filled with something between disbelief and relief. "You actually did it."
Lyra rushed to his side, eyes shining with emotion. "Kai…"
He gave a tired smile. "Told you… we'd win."
Then, finally, he let the exhaustion take him.
The world faded to black.