The sky cracked apart, splitting like glass as Kaelen and Avarion collided.
Golden divine energy and black flames erupted in all directions, tearing through the battlefield with the force of a thousand storms.
Kaelen gritted his teeth, blocking Avarion's massive burning greatsword with his bare hands. The sheer weight of the attack made his bones creak, his muscles screaming from the force.
But he held his ground.
For a moment.
Then—
BOOM!
Avarion twisted his blade, sending a shockwave that sent Kaelen flying through mountains, shattering stone and earth as he tumbled.
Lyria, Thorne, and Umbra rushed forward, weapons drawn.
Avarion didn't even turn to look at them.
With a flick of his wrist, a pulse of energy knocked all three of them off their feet, slamming them into the ground.
"You really suck at teamwork, you know that?" Kaelen coughed as he rose from the rubble, wiping blood from his lips.
Avarion glared down at him, his expression unreadable.
"I AM WRATH."
His power swelled, the ground melting beneath his feet as his flames turned white-hot.
"I DO NOT REQUIRE ALLIES."
Kaelen flexed his fingers, feeling the divine energy in his veins flicker.
He was already at his limit.
Avarion was unscathed.
This… this was bad.
But then he heard Lyria's voice.
"We fight together, Kaelen."
He turned, seeing her standing again, her bow shimmering with celestial energy.
Thorne rose beside her, his blade burning with dragonfire.
Umbra emerged from the shadows, daggers coated in void magic.
Kaelen smirked.
"Alright, then."
He cracked his neck.
"Let's finish this."
Phase One: Overwhelming Force
Kaelen rushed forward, summoning a golden spear of pure light, thrusting it toward Avarion's chest.
Avarion dodged effortlessly, twisting in the air—
Lyria's arrow struck his shoulder.
Avarion barely flinched, but it distracted him just long enough for Thorne to swing his flaming sword at his back.
Avarion blocked it with his bare hand, his skin not even burning.
But then—
Umbra appeared behind him, his daggers sinking deep into Avarion's ribs.
For the first time, Avarion staggered.
Kaelen saw his chance.
He summoned a second spear, spun in the air—
And drove it into Avarion's chest.
BOOOOOOOOM!
The shockwave from the impact sent flames and golden light exploding outward, shaking the heavens.
For a moment, Avarion was forced back, his body cracking like stone.
Kaelen breathed heavily.
"Did we get him?"
But then—
Avarion laughed.
"IMPRESSIVE."
Kaelen's heart sank.
Avarion's body reformed instantly, the cracks in his skin vanishing as if they had never been there.
"But NOT ENOUGH."
Phase Two: Wrath Reigns Supreme
Avarion raised his hand—
And the sky turned black.
A pillar of pure destruction erupted from the heavens, striking the battlefield like the judgment of the gods.
Kaelen barely had time to react before the ground beneath him disintegrated.
Lyria screamed as she was blasted backward, her bow flying from her hands.
Thorne roared in pain, his armor melting from the sheer heat.
Umbra was nowhere to be seen.
Kaelen tried to move—
But Avarion was already in front of him.
And before he could react—
Avarion's sword plunged into Kaelen's chest.
Phase Three: Death's Door
Kaelen's vision blurred as pain flooded his entire body.
He could feel the corrupting flames spreading through him, eating away at his very soul.
His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, Avarion's sword still lodged in his chest.
"YOU FOUGHT WELL, GOD-KING."
Kaelen gasped, trying to breathe.
Everything was fading.
Avarion's voice was distant.
"BUT YOU WERE NEVER MY EQUAL."
Kaelen's fingers twitched, trying to summon his power.
Nothing.
His golden light was gone.
Was this… it?
Was this how it ended?
No.
No, he refused to die here.
But…
He was too weak.
Then—
He felt a hand on his shoulder.
Kaelen barely managed to turn his head—
And saw Thorne, barely standing, pressing his hand against Kaelen's wound.
His dragonfire burned away Avarion's corruption, stabilizing Kaelen's body.
Lyria, her eyes filled with tears, lifted her bow with trembling hands.
Umbra, bloodied and weak, rose from the shadows, his daggers glowing with the last of his energy.
Kaelen choked back a laugh.
His friends were still here.
Still fighting.
Even though they had no chance.
And that was when he understood.
Phase Four: God-King's Last Stand
Kaelen's aura erupted back to life, golden light blazing as his power returned stronger than ever.
Avarion narrowed his eyes.
"…IMPOSSIBLE."
Kaelen stood, the wound in his chest closing instantly.
"No." He clenched his fists. "Not impossible."
He looked at his friends—Lyria, Thorne, Umbra.
Then back at Avarion.
"You said Wrath is the destruction of hope."
His golden aura burned brighter.
"But what happens when hope refuses to die?"
Avarion snarled and raised his blade—
Kaelen moved faster than light.
He punched Avarion in the chest, sending him flying through mountains.
Avarion barely had time to recover before Lyria's arrows rained down, piercing his wings.
Thorne slashed through the flames, his sword clashing against Avarion's.
Umbra appeared behind Avarion, driving his daggers into his back once more.
Avarion roared in fury.
Kaelen appeared in front of him again—
And unleashed his strongest attack.
A spear of pure golden divinity formed in his hands—
And he drove it straight through Avarion's heart.
Final Phase: Wrath's End
Avarion's body froze.
His flames flickered.
For the first time—true fear flashed across his face.
"…NO."
Kaelen gripped the spear tighter, twisting it as golden energy erupted from within Avarion's chest.
Avarion screamed as his form began to break apart.
"This…" He gasped. "THIS CANNOT BE—"
Kaelen's eyes hardened.
"It's over."
And with a final burst of divine energy—
Avarion shattered into dust.
The Aftermath
Kaelen staggered, barely able to stand.
His vision was blurry, his body weak.
But…
They had won.
Lyria rushed forward, catching him before he fell.
Thorne and Umbra collapsed beside him, laughing weakly.
They had done it.
Avarion—the God of Wrath—was gone.
And Kaelen…
Kaelen was still alive.
He exhaled, looking up at the sky.
The war was finally over.
Or so he thought.
TO BE CONTINUED…?