An explosion thundered in the distance, shaking the ground beneath their feet. Alex, Aria, and EMI exchanged a quick glance 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 tearing through the scene. At the center of it all, a familiar figure reveled in the destruction.
Zarek, wearing his maniacal grin and eyes overflowing with madness, held two bloodstained katanas, laughing as if the chaos were nothing more than a game.
"Look who showed up!" he shouted, raising his arms dramatically. "I was getting bored."
Before they could move to confront him, a shadow fell over them. From among the debris emerged a massive man, towering over everyone on the battlefield. He wore partial armor covering his chest, arms, and knees, and his expression radiated a dangerous excitement.
Without warning, the man lunged straight at EMI with a speed barely anyone could track. EMI raised her light shield just in time, but the impact sent her flying several meters back, cracks forming in the ground where she landed.
The man returned to Zarek's side, crossing his arms as his grin widened.
"This is going to be fun."
---
A deep, rumbling roar froze the group in place. Behind them, a gigantic pink lion rose from the ground—three times larger than a normal lion. Its neck, front legs, and part of its tail were covered in black scales that gleamed ominously in the daylight.
Alex instinctively stepped back, his mind recalling the moment when that very lion had saved him during a solo mission. He remembered the overwhelming power he had felt in its presence and couldn't help but tremble.
"Fate binds us once more, little human," the lion said in a deep, weary voice.
Above them, floating gracefully atop a black magical cloak, a short man appeared. His malevolent laughter echoed eerily as he observed them from above.
"Welcome!" he declared theatrically. "I am the grand master who will guide you to your doom. But first, allow my allies to properly introduce themselves. It's only polite… before the heroes die."
The massive 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 in case you've forgotten, I am Zarek—the blade that will reap your lives from this world."
The lion spoke, his tired voice booming like thunder.
"I am Azrath, the Guardian of the Night. No further introduction is necessary."
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 understand why my master wants this useless thing alive. No magic, no strength… not even the sense to run from this fight."
Alex felt his heart pound faster. Why would someone like Zarek care about him? And who was this mysterious master he always spoke of?
Before he could process it, Zarek lunged at him, katanas raised.
---
A burst of light and dust stopped Zarek's attack mere 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, though his twisted smile remained.
"And who are you? Do you really think you can stop me?"
"Stop you? You disgust me," Serena said with contempt. A brilliant aura erupted from her hand, disintegrating Zarek's blades into dust.
Zarek clenched his jaw as his smile grew strained.
"Interesting. This might actually be fun."
Serena turned toward Alex, her expression softening.
"I owed you one 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.
"Thank you, Serena. You arrived just in time."
---
Soranis applauded slowly from above, clearly entertained.
"Now we're complete! This just became much more exciting."
Azrath roared, Garrosh cracked his fists, 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 hung thick in the air. Alex knew that, even without the strength or magical abilities of the others, he had to find a way to make a difference.
"This is only the beginning," Soranis murmured with a perverse laugh.