An explosion echoed in the distance, shaking the ground beneath their feet. Alex, Aria, and EMI exchanged quick glances before sprinting toward the source of the blast. When they arrived, chaos greeted them: buildings reduced to rubble, the air thick with dust, and screams slicing through the scene. At the center of it all, a familiar figure reveled in the destruction.
Zarek, with his maniacal grin and eyes brimming with madness, held two bloodstained katanas, laughing as if the chaos was nothing more than a game.
"Look who showed up!" he shouted, dramatically raising his arms. "I was starting to get bored."
Before they could move to confront him, a shadow fell over them. From the debris emerged a hulking man, towering over everyone else on the battlefield. He wore partial armor covering his chest, arms, and knees, and his expression radiated dangerous excitement.
Without warning, the man lunged straight at EMI with a speed that barely anyone could track. EMI raised her shield of light just in time, but the impact hurled her back several meters, cracks forming in the ground where she landed.
The man returned to Zarek's side, crossing his arms as his smile widened. "This is going to be fun."
---
A deep, rumbling roar froze the group in place. Behind them, an enormous pink lion rose from the ground—three times the size of a normal lion. Its neck, front legs, and part of its tail were covered in black scales that shimmered ominously under the daylight.
Alex instinctively stepped back, his mind flashing to the moment this very lion had saved him during a solo mission. He remembered the immense power he had felt in its presence, and he couldn't help but tremble.
"Fate brings us together once more, little human," the lion said in a deep, weary voice.
Above them, floating gracefully on a black magical cloak, appeared a short man. His malicious laughter echoed eerily as he looked down on them from above.
"Welcome!" he declared theatrically. "I am the great master who will guide you to your doom. But before that, allow my allies to properly introduce themselves. It's only courteous… before heroes die."
The hulking man stepped forward, slamming his fist into the ground. "I am Garrosh, the Hammer of Destruction. And I can't wait to crush you."
Zarek scoffed with amusement. "You already know me—but just in case you forgot, I'm Zarek, the blade that will sever your lives from this world."
The lion spoke, its tired voice rumbling like thunder. "I am Azrath, the Guardian of the Night. No further introduction is needed."
The floating mage raised a hand, silencing his own laughter. "And I am Soranis, the architect of your defeat. This will be a duel—one on one. Each of you will face one of us. Oh, what a spectacle it will be!"
---
Zarek pointed at Alex with a mocking smile. "Honestly, I don't even get why my master wants this useless one alive. No magic, no strength… not even the sense to run away from this fight."
Alex felt his heartbeat quicken. Why would someone like Zarek care about him? And who was this mysterious master he kept referring to?
Before he could make sense of it, Zarek lunged at him, katanas raised.
---
An explosion of light and dust stopped Zarek's attack just inches from Alex. When the dust settled, standing in front of him was Serena—the woman they had saved earlier. Her expression was cold, and she held Zarek's katanas with a single hand.
Zarek stepped back, startled but still wearing his twisted grin. "You again? You really think you can stop me?"
"Stop you? You disgust me," Serena said with contempt. A brilliant aura flared from her hand, disintegrating Zarek's blades into dust.
Zarek clenched his jaw as his grin became more strained. "Interesting. This might actually be fun after all."
Serena turned to Alex, her expression softening. "I owed you for saving me. And… my sister asked me to help you."
Alex blinked in surprise. A faint smile appeared on his lips—the first in a long time. "Thanks, Serena. You came just in time."
---
Soranis clapped slowly from above, clearly entertained. "Now we're complete! This is going to be much more exciting."
Azrath roared, and Garrosh slammed his fists together. Zarek drew another sword from his belt, and Serena raised a magical shield in front of Alex.
The battle was about to begin, and the tension was thick in the air. Alex knew that—even though he lacked the strength and magical skills of the others—he had to find a way to make a difference.
"This is only the beginning," Soranis murmured with a wicked laugh.