It was nightfall, and a heavy downpour swallowed the entire valley. Rain covered the land, shadows turned into something darker, more dangerous. Two brothers stood motionless, staring each other down as the storm closed in around them. Both readied themselves for the first strike.
With a snap of his fingers, a flash of lightning tore through the sky, the battle had begun...
King Voltan struck first. His attack wasn't meant to kill; it was a display of superiority. Visko drew back, concern flashing across his face as he realized his brother's power far surpassed his own—but he ignored it. Victory mattered more than sacrifice.
Visko unleashed his signature ability, Shadow Manipulation this power allowed the user to control any shadow, even their own. A wicked smirk curved his lips as he played a trump card. He drew in the shadows of his army, turning them into soldiers that surged toward Voltan.
It looked hopeless for Voltan—but a single flash of lightning incinerated a third of the shadow soldiers in an instant. Visko pressed on, summoning more shadows, but the more he attacked, the wider the gap between them became.
As a last resort, Visko combined two skill arts, one from the Shadow Clan and one from the Thunder Clan. Shadows cleared, and now the fight was even—blow for blow, strike for strike. Both brothers refused to yield; every hit landed with deadly precision.
But Visko refused to accept a stalemate. He seized Voltan's shadow, trying to strangle him. As the shadow constricted, he rained brutal, escalating blows, each strike stronger than the last. Above them, the storm had swallowed the sky. Black clouds churned violently, thunder roared, and lightning crackled across the valley, amplifying the darkness and the dread.
Visko's eyes widened as he saw Voltan charging with lightning. Voltan smiled, his voice cutting through the storm:
"THUNDERSTORM!"
A blinding bolt struck him, detonating across the battlefield with an ear-splitting roar. Light engulfed everything within a fifty to eighty meter radius, tearing through shadows and scattering debris. When the light and dust clouds faded, Voltan stood unscathed.
The Shadow Clan trembled. The sheer force of the attack had made one thing clear—they could not defeat him.
Sweat ran down Visko's body, terror overflowing in him. Why did I do this? Why are we here? We can't win... it's too late... we didn't plan this right... His thoughts spun in panic.He sensed shadows closing in, it was the king's guards but two more lingered in the tower ahead of him, moving deliberately. Heart pounding, Visko teleported inside, temporarily escaping Voltan and the guards. Inside, his eyes fell on Voltan's wife and infant son. A cruel grin spread across his face.
Seconds later, the tower wall exploded outward. Voltan broke through, eyes widening in horror at the sight of his wife lying lifeless on the ground. Tears streamed down his face as he rushed to her side. Visko raised his blade, but Voltan's heightened instincts stopped the attack. Visko tried to teleport away but Voltan's charge held him fast. Desperation flared. Using Voltan's own shadow, Visko formed a sharp-edged object aimed at the child.
Voltan reacted instantly, grabbing his son into his arms. Relief and terror collided in that heartbeat.
And in that split second... Visko delivered a critical blow on Voltan.