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Eldoria's alarms wailed like dying comets — a sound meant to summon armies, but now it only summoned fear.
The sky split open above the realm, fire falling like rain made of hatred. The barrier that once protected this star-city flickered under the force of the breach — and then shattered completely.
Samuel stood at the shattered balcony of the Hall of Stars, void storm swirling behind his eyes.
Tristan pressed a hand to his side — fresh blood staining the stone — but he stayed on his feet, Orion clutched protectively behind him.
"Femi breached the star-ward. That shouldn't be possible," Tristan rasped.
Daniel exhaled sharply. "He's rewriting the rules. Cheating the universe."
Velyd gave him a quick, sideways smirk.
"Oh, look — the mortal finally understands cosmic warfare."
Daniel smirked back weakly.
"Thanks for the pep talk."
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The Enemy Descends
From the burning tear in the heavens poured Femi's army — an unholy convergence of:
• Shadowborn titans with molten eyes
• Rift-stalkers that fed on fear
• Astral knights bearing corrupted starfire
• Phantoms wearing the faces of the dead
Each one marked with Femi's crimson insignia — corruption spreading like a plague upon reality.
General Dracos' troops rallied — starblades gleaming — but it didn't matter.
They were outmatched.
Solene summoned a barrier of solar light over the Hall.
Kaelen took the sky — constellations twisting into weapons at his command.
Even with all that power…
Samuel felt the terror crawling under everything:
Femi planned this attack perfectly.
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Command of the Void
Samuel stretched out his arms — void ripping through space —
And froze the front wave of attackers in mid-air.
Cracked them like glass.
But more just pushed through the breach.
Void pulsed dangerously, whispering hunger into Samuel's skull.
Take more.
Take everything.
Daniel touched his arm — Celestial Pulse stabilizing the surge.
"Hey — breathe. Don't let it eat you."
Samuel nodded — grateful — but his gaze was already shifting:
Tristan.
The warlock was barely upright — still fighting through sheer will.
He summoned a pillar of stone that ripped through the ground, crushing a titan — before collapsing to one knee again.
Samuel rushed to him —
"I've got you—"
"I'm not porcelain," Tristan hissed.
"Focus on winning."
Even in agony — he was fierce.
Samuel's lips curved.
"Stubborn."
Tristan managed a broken grin.
"Copycat."
They stood — back to back — as another wave rushed.
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The Five Respond
Ignara unleashed a wall of fire hellish enough to scorch starlight itself.
Zephira called down a thunderstorm — lightning spearing enemies from the sky.
Nysara shaped a tidal surge from thin air — drowning shadow-creatures that weren't meant to drown.
Velyd whispered illusions — entire platoons turned on each other, maddened by false realities.
Samuel called out over the chaos:
"Protect the civilians — secure the palace corridors!"
The Four nodded — moving with synchronized lethal grace.
For the first time… The Five felt like a true army.
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Enter the Champions of Femi
A chilling ripple washed across the battlefield.
Three silhouettes dropped from the tear in the sky — their landings cracking the marble floor:
• Xe'Rath — a living paradox of metal and void, jaws unhinging with mechanical roars
• Mor'Kai — a spear-wielder wreathed in death-smoke; eyes void of empathy
• The Ash Prophet — a robed horror predicting every attack before it came
Xe'Rath locked onto Tristan — predatory.
Mor'Kai pointed his spear at Samuel — grinning.
Ash Prophet's voice rippled like insects crawling inside skulls:
"You have returned to fall, Void Prince."
Samuel stepped forward, Tristan beside him — despite his wound.
"My fall was your master's first mistake."
Mor'Kai lunged with a strike that fractured the realm's floor —
Samuel countered — void solidifying into a blade.
The collision shook Eldoria.
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Breaking Point
Tristan blocked Xe'Rath — but the creature's claws tore into his damaged side.
He gasped — collapsing fully this time.
"Tristan!" Samuel roared — void flaring wildly.
He teleported — catching his lover in his arms before the killing blow could fall.
Tristan's skin was cold. His breathing shallow.
The curse was winning.
Samuel's voice fractured:
"Stay with me. Stay here."
Tristan looked up — eyes glassy but stubborn.
"I promised I wouldn't fall before you."
He forced a bloody smile.
"And I don't break promises…"
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Femi's Arrival
The fire in the sky condensed — folding into a single figure.
He stepped from the flames like a king arriving late to his own coronation.
Femi.
Not a hint of fear. Only the kind of confidence that came from knowing the universe had already lost.
He raised his arms — mocking applause.
"Look at you, Samuel.
Playing hero with borrowed time."
Samuel stood tall — Tristan clinging to consciousness beside him.
"You're not winning this."
Femi smiled — slow and devastating.
"Samuel… I already have."
He snapped his fingers.
Every star in Eldoria screamed.
Every realm connected to the Hall trembled.
Samuel felt it — like a knife through his connection to the cosmos:
Femi had placed a curse on the star-network itself.
If Eldoria fell — entire systems would collapse into the void.
Trillions would die.
Daniel whispered, horrified:
"He's turning the realms into dominoes…"
Samuel's heart stopped.
This wasn't an invasion.
It was an execution.
Of the multiverse.
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The Line in the Stars
Femi's eyes sparkled with cruelty — directed only at Samuel.
"You refuse to become the apocalypse.
So I'll become it for you."
Samuel stepped forward — void shattering the ground under his feet.
Around him — every guard, every witch, every soul fighting on Eldoria — paused.
As if reality itself waited for his answer.
Samuel spoke softly — a promise carved into the cosmos:
"You want a war?
Fine."
Void ignited like a supernova — feathers of darkness forming wings behind him.
"You'll get a war."
His next words were a death sentence.
"I'm going to bury you."
Femi laughed — delighted.
"Try."
The clash that followed shook creation.
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