Dialogue at the Edge of the Abyss and the Mysterious Explosion
Night hung heavy over Mythra, thick and oppressive. Lesendra and Seira sat atop a large boulder on the edge of the Bone Labyrinth's rocky slope. The blue glow from the distant Dark Throne cast long shadows behind them. The obsidian diamond sword stood tall beside Lesendra, his golden hand still emitting a faint, slow-dancing light.
Seira looked at him, breaking the silence with a soft voice. "Lesendra… have you ever thought that this power might not be a blessing, but a curse?"
Lesendra let out a long sigh, his eyes gazing blankly toward the Dark Throne tower. "I think about it every day. Ever since I killed the Devourer God, I've always wondered... am I really different from them?"
Seira moved closer, sitting beside him. "Then why do you keep going? If you're afraid of becoming like them, why do you keep holding onto this sword?"
Lesendra clenched his golden hand. "Because if I give up, who else will fight them? If everyone just bows their heads, who will break these chains?" He looked deep into Seira's eyes. "Being afraid doesn't mean I stop. I'm afraid because I want to stay human."
Seira was silent for a moment, gazing up at the sky lit only by the faint glow of the Dark Throne. "You talk like a hero, but I know you're not the kind who likes being called that."
Lesendra gave a thin smile. "A hero? No. I'm just a man sick of seeing this world stolen."
Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed from the direction of Mythra city. The ground shook violently, the tremors reaching them where they sat. Black clouds in Mythra's sky lit up red, bursts of fire and dust rising from behind the towering buildings.
Lesendra and Seira immediately stood, their eyes wide. "What was that?!" Seira shouted.
Lesendra stared toward the city, his eyes blazing. "That's… not just a sign. That's a declaration of war."
A second explosion rocked the night, followed by flames rising above the city's silhouette. Drone-gods and black-clad soldiers began to fill the skies over Mythra, encircling the burning lower districts. Seira looked at Lesendra with fear. "They're attacking the city. They know we're here!"
Lesendra gripped the obsidian diamond sword tightly, its blue and gold light shining brighter. His golden hand flared back to life, reflecting the fire engulfing Mythra. "We can't just stand by. This isn't just about the Dark Throne. This is about saving the city from destruction."
Seira nodded, her eyes shining. "Then let's go down there... and burn them all."
Lesendra drew his sword, and the two of them leapt from the boulder, running toward the narrow path leading to the city of Mythra now ablaze in chaos. Their steps were firm, their eyes filled with unbreakable resolve. In the sky, the shadows of the gods danced among the smoke and flames.
The war had just begun.
---
The Burning City of Mythra
The skies of Mythra were filled with thick black smoke, orange flashes from the roaring fires, and the shadows of black-armored god-soldiers descending from the sky. They carried massive swords, spears, and shields, raining down from above.
In the narrow streets, the people of Mythra scattered in terror. Some tried to resist with wooden spears and old axes, but were swiftly cut down by elite soldiers advancing in tight formations. A small child was nearly crushed by a god-soldier, but Lesendra leapt in, blocking the soldier's spear with his golden hand and shattering it. He lifted the child and handed him to a trembling woman.
"Run! Protect yourselves!" Lesendra shouted.
Seira stood beside him, swiftly drawing a small bow and firing precise arrows at the advancing soldiers. "Lesendra! Use the sword!" she called out.
Lesendra gripped the obsidian diamond sword, its bright blue light flaring. He swung it at the approaching god-soldiers, but the sword vibrated wildly, unleashing uncontrolled waves of blue energy. The blast shattered nearby walls, sent dust and debris flying, and nearly struck the hiding civilians.
"Watch out!" Seira shouted, pulling Lesendra back.
Lesendra gritted his teeth, glaring at the trembling sword in his hand. "This sword... it's too strong. I can't control it."
The waves of blue energy continued to pulse from the blade, cracking the ground, toppling stone pillars, even breaking the street into massive craters. God-soldiers pressed in, trying to exploit the chaos, attacking from all sides. Lesendra struggled to wield the sword, but its erratic energy made his swings miss wildly, causing random destruction.
Seira fought back with her bow and daggers, but the enemy's numbers were overwhelming. Lesendra finally resorted to using his golden hand alone, smashing enemies as they came, but they kept advancing.
"Lesendra!" Seira shouted, "We have to retreat! You're not ready to control the sword!"
Lesendra looked at the burning city, at the people fleeing, at the merciless god-soldiers. His hand gripping the sword trembled, his eyes reddening with fury. "I can't retreat... I have to fight…"
But a long spear pierced his shoulder, forcing him to his knees as blood poured out. A god-soldier advanced, raising his sword to decapitate him.
Seira screamed, leaping to slash the soldier with her dagger, saving Lesendra at the last second. She dragged his wounded body into a narrow alley. "You must survive! This isn't the time for a foolish death!"
Lesendra coughed blood, the obsidian diamond sword falling from his grasp with a sharp clang. Its glow dimmed, but it continued to pulse faintly.
Beyond the smoke and flames, the shadows of the great gods loomed over Mythra, their glowing eyes watching from above. The war had begun.
---
A Moment to Regroup
Explosions still echoed in the distance as Lesendra and Seira navigated the narrow alleys, finally reaching the ruins of an old factory on the city's edge. The place was dark, dusty, but provided a hiding spot from the god-soldiers scouring the city.
Lesendra lay in the corner of the factory, his breath ragged, blood dripping from his wounds. Seira quickly dressed his injuries with cloth and simple herbs. "You need to rest," she whispered, her voice filled with concern.
Lesendra gazed at her, his face pale but his crimson eyes still burning. "I can't keep going like this. If I can't control the sword… we'll lose before we even reach the Dark Throne." He looked at the obsidian diamond sword resting beside him, its faint blue light shimmering like a held breath.
---
Training Amidst the Ruins
After a night's rest, Lesendra rose slowly, despite his injuries. In the quiet factory yard beneath Mythra's dark sky, he stood with the sword in hand. The night breeze stirred gently, carrying the scent of metal and dust.
Seira stood at a distance, watching anxiously. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" she asked.
Lesendra's gaze was resolute. "If I don't train now, I'll always be a burden. I have to master this. I must become stronger."
He raised the obsidian diamond sword, feeling the pulse of wild blue energy coursing through his body. The sword vibrated, releasing waves of energy that sent dust swirling into the air. Lesendra swung it slowly, trying to balance its power with his movements. But each swing released wild bursts of blue light, cracking the ground.
He was thrown back, falling to his knees, gasping. "Damn... still too wild," he muttered. But he rose again, gripping the sword with both hands, focusing his mind. His golden hand began to glow faintly, its light merging with the sword's blue energy, calming its tremors.
Lesendra took a deep breath, closing his eyes, envisioning the sword's movement flowing with his body. He began swinging it in slow, controlled arcs, letting the energy flow along the lines of each swing instead of forcing it. The blue waves of energy became more directed, slicing the air cleanly instead of wildly.
Seira's eyes widened. "He's... beginning to control it," she whispered.
Lesendra swung the sword in a full circle, creating a vortex of blue energy that split the air. His golden hand shimmered, merging with the sword's light to form a stable stream of power. But his body trembled, his legs shook, and he nearly collapsed.
"No... I'm not strong enough yet," he murmured, forcing himself to stay upright.
Seira stepped closer, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're doing much better. But don't burn out your strength. This is only the beginning."
Lesendra gazed toward the distant Dark Throne, still casting a faint blue glow over Mythra's sky. "I'll keep training... until I can master this sword. Only then can I destroy them all."