11. The Celestial Threat Revealed

Lucian stood at the head of his army, the cold wind of the Abyss whipping around him as the dawn light crept across the horizon. The Abyssal legions, dark and imposing, stretched out before him, a force of shadow and steel prepared to crush the enemies of the Abyss. The soldiers stood silent and motionless, their armor gleaming dully in the dim light, their eyes burning with the same hunger for battle that had been growing within Lucian since the Shadow Realm's treachery.

Tharok stood at his side, a towering presence clad in blackened steel, his massive battle-axe strapped across his back. The Warlord's anticipation was palpable, his crimson eyes scanning the horizon as if daring the enemy to show themselves. Seraphis had not yet returned from the northern outpost, and Lucian could only hope that she had survived the ambush.

Behind him, Mal'Gorath stood silently, his dark robes billowing in the wind, his glowing eyes fixed on the distance. The sorcerer had made no mention of the ancient power since their last conversation, but Lucian could sense the lingering tension in him. The war was escalating quickly, and every decision, every action, felt like a gamble with forces beyond their understanding.

"Do you sense them?" Lucian asked quietly, his gaze locked on the far horizon.

Mal'Gorath nodded slowly, his voice barely a whisper. "Yes, my Lord. The Shadow Realm is gathering their forces. They will be here soon."

Lucian clenched his fists at his sides, feeling the power of the Abyss swirl around him, feeding on his anger, his anticipation. He had prepared for this moment, had mobilized the full strength of the Abyssal Domain. Now, it was time to see if that strength was enough.

"Tharok," Lucian said, turning to his Warlord. "I want scouts deployed. I need to know the exact size of their force before they arrive."

Tharok nodded sharply. "It will be done." With that, he barked a command to the captains behind him, and within moments, a group of scouts was moving swiftly toward the front lines.

Lucian watched them go, his mind racing. He knew the Shadow Realm wouldn't come unprepared. They had initiated this conflict, and they would bring everything they had to ensure the Abyssal Domain fell. But Lucian had no intention of letting that happen.

As the scouts disappeared into the distance, Lucian's thoughts drifted to the larger threat looming over all of them—the celestial force that had haunted his dreams since the moment he had awoken as the Abyssal Lord. The vision he had received weeks ago, of a powerful entity that sought to obliterate the Abyss and all the realms connected to it, had shaken him to his core. He hadn't yet spoken of it to anyone, not even to Tharok or Mal'Gorath, but he knew that the war with the Shadow Realm was only part of the larger conflict to come.

The Celestials are coming, the voice of the Abyssal Lord whispered, as if reading his thoughts. They have always been watching, waiting for the Abyss to falter. When they strike, it will not be like any war you have fought before.

Lucian's hands tightened into fists. The Celestials—beings of unimaginable power, whose influence spanned across the Infinite Realms. He had felt their presence in his vision, a force so vast and cold that it made the armies of the realms seem insignificant by comparison. If the Celestials truly intended to intervene, it could spell disaster not just for the Abyss, but for all the realms.

He knew the Abyssal Lord had fought the Celestials in the past, but those memories were fractured, distant. What he did know was that they were relentless, and their goal was not conquest—it was annihilation. They had no interest in ruling realms, only in erasing them from existence.

"Something's troubling you," Mal'Gorath said quietly, his voice cutting through Lucian's thoughts.

Lucian glanced at the sorcerer, surprised by the observation. Mal'Gorath's eyes glowed faintly, and for a moment, Lucian wondered if the sorcerer could sense the deeper conflict brewing inside him.

"Something far worse than the Shadow Realm is coming," Lucian said finally, his voice low. "I've seen it."

Mal'Gorath's expression didn't change, but Lucian could sense the tension in the air between them. "The Celestials?"

Lucian nodded, his jaw tightening. "I don't know when or how, but they're watching. And when they decide to strike, it will be unlike anything we've ever faced."

Mal'Gorath was silent for a moment, his gaze thoughtful. "The Celestials are a force beyond even the Abyss, my Lord. If they come for us, we will need more than armies to stop them."

"I know," Lucian replied, his voice grim. "That's why I need you to continue your research into the ancient power you mentioned. We might need it sooner than we thought."

The sorcerer nodded, his expression darkening. "I will do as you command, but I must warn you again—the power we seek to unlock is volatile. If we lose control of it, the consequences could be dire."

Lucian didn't hesitate. "We have no choice. The Celestials won't give us the luxury of caution."

Mal'Gorath bowed his head in acknowledgment, but Lucian could see the weight of the decision pressing on him. The ancient power they sought to harness was dangerous, perhaps even more dangerous than the Celestials themselves, but Lucian knew they would need every advantage they could find if they were to survive the coming storm.

As the sorcerer left to resume his preparations, Lucian remained on the balcony, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The war with the Shadow Realm would be bloody, but it was a battle he could win with strategy and strength. The Celestials, however, were another matter entirely.

You must be prepared to sacrifice everything, the voice of the Abyssal Lord whispered again. When they come, you will either rise or fall. There will be no in-between.

Lucian closed his eyes, feeling the weight of the Abyss pressing down on him. He could sense the war brewing, not just between realms, but between the forces of light and darkness, chaos and order. The Infinite Realms were on the edge of something far greater than they realized.

And when the time came, Lucian would either lead them to victory—or watch everything burn.