13.

The ground trembled beneath Lucian's feet, a low, deep rumble that sent shivers through the ranks of the Abyssal legions. The soldiers shifted nervously, their hands tightening on their weapons as they glanced toward the ridge where the scouts had reported the presence of the creature. Even the most battle-hardened among them could feel the dark energy building in the air, a palpable weight pressing down on them like an invisible hand.

Lucian's mind raced as he processed the scout's words. An Abyssal creature, summoned by the Shadow Realm. This wasn't just a threat—it was a declaration of war on a level he hadn't anticipated. The Abyssal beasts were forces of raw destruction, untamable by all but the most powerful of sorcerers. If the Shadow Realm had summoned such a creature, it meant they were playing a far more dangerous game than Lucian had realized.

The Abyss bends to your will, the voice of the Abyssal Lord whispered in his mind, more insistent than ever. You are its master. Take control, or be destroyed.

Lucian's eyes narrowed as he pushed the voice aside. He couldn't afford to let the Abyss consume him—not now. He needed clarity, focus, and strength if he was going to face what was coming. The power of the Abyss was vast, but it came with a price, and he wasn't willing to pay that price unless absolutely necessary.

Tharok approached, his massive battle-axe slung over his shoulder, his expression grim. "My Lord, the men are uneasy. Whatever that thing is, it's causing fear to spread through the ranks."

Lucian met Tharok's gaze, his voice calm despite the tension in the air. "Fear is the enemy's weapon. We won't let it control us."

Tharok grunted in agreement, though Lucian could see the flicker of uncertainty in the Warlord's eyes. Tharok was a man of action, but even he understood the gravity of what they were about to face.

Suddenly, a deep, guttural roar echoed from beyond the ridge, shaking the very earth beneath them. The sound was primal, raw, and filled with an ancient fury that sent a chill down Lucian's spine. The soldiers nearest to the front line faltered, their eyes wide with fear as the roar reverberated through the valley.

Lucian turned to Mal'Gorath, who had been standing silently beside him, his eyes glowing faintly beneath his hood. The sorcerer's expression was unreadable, but Lucian could sense the tension in him as well.

"What are we dealing with?" Lucian asked, his voice low.

Mal'Gorath's eyes flicked toward the ridge, his voice barely more than a whisper. "An Abyssal Guardian, my Lord. A creature born of the deepest, most ancient part of the Abyss. It is bound only by the will of the one who summoned it."

Lucian's jaw tightened. He had heard of the Abyssal Guardians, though they were more legend than reality. They were said to be the living embodiment of the Abyss's destructive power, capable of laying waste to entire realms if unleashed. If the Shadow Realm had somehow summoned one, it meant they were far more desperate—or far more reckless—than he had realized.

"Can you stop it?" Lucian asked, his gaze hard.

Mal'Gorath hesitated, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. "I can try to contain it, but the creature's will is tied to the Abyss itself. If it senses your presence, it may respond to you. But controlling it is… dangerous. If we fail, it could turn against us."

Lucian's thoughts churned. The Abyssal Guardian was a wild card, a force of chaos that could tip the scales in either direction. But there was no time for caution. The Shadow Realm had unleashed this beast to break them, and if Lucian didn't act, it would tear through his forces like a storm.

"I won't fail," Lucian said, his voice resolute. "Prepare the legions. We'll strike first, before they have a chance to use it against us."

Tharok's grin returned, his excitement clear. "Finally, some real action. We'll bring it down, one way or another."

Lucian nodded, but his mind remained focused on the larger picture. This wasn't just about defeating the Shadow Realm's army—it was about controlling the Abyssal Guardian before it could wreak havoc on his forces. The creature was tied to the Abyss, and Lucian knew that if he didn't take control of it, it could spiral out of control.

As Tharok moved to rally the troops, Lucian turned to Mal'Gorath, his voice low and commanding. "We need to approach carefully. If the creature senses me, I may be able to bend it to my will. But if we push too hard, it could turn against us."

Mal'Gorath's eyes glowed faintly as he nodded. "I will support you, my Lord. But know this—controlling an Abyssal Guardian is no small feat. It will test your strength, and the consequences of failure could be catastrophic."

Lucian didn't need the warning. He was well aware of the risks, but there was no other choice. The Abyssal Guardian had to be contained, or the battle would be lost before it even began.

The roar came again, louder this time, and Lucian could feel the ground quaking beneath his feet as the creature drew closer. He steeled himself, focusing his mind on the power of the Abyss that surged within him, feeling it rise like a dark wave ready to be unleashed. The Guardian was bound to the Abyss, just as he was. And if there was any chance of controlling it, Lucian knew he had to draw on that connection.

With a deep breath, Lucian signaled for his forces to move. The legions surged forward, their dark banners snapping in the wind as they advanced toward the ridge. The Shadow Realm's forces were waiting, their ranks bristling with anticipation, but Lucian's focus was on the creature that lurked beyond them, its presence growing stronger with every passing moment.

The first clash of steel rang out as the armies met, the sound of battle echoing across the plains. Lucian moved through the chaos with precision, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon where the Guardian waited. He could feel the pull of the Abyss in the air, a dark, malevolent energy that seemed to coil around him like a serpent.

And then, from the shadows beyond the ridge, the Guardian emerged.

It was massive, easily the size of a castle, its hulking form shrouded in dark, swirling mist. Its eyes burned with an unnatural light, and its maw opened wide as it let out another bone-shaking roar. The ground trembled beneath its weight, and the soldiers closest to it faltered, their resolve wavering in the face of such a monstrous presence.

Lucian felt the power of the Abyss surge within him as he locked eyes with the creature. He could sense its connection to the Abyss, the ancient force that bound them both. The Guardian was a manifestation of that same power, a creature of pure destruction, but it was also bound by the will of the one who commanded it.

It answers to the Abyss, the voice of the Abyssal Lord whispered in Lucian's mind. And the Abyss answers to you.

Lucian's heart pounded in his chest as he stepped forward, his eyes blazing with crimson light. He could feel the pull of the Guardian, its raw power thrumming in the air between them. This was the moment of truth. Either he would take control of the creature and turn it against the Shadow Realm—or it would destroy them all.

Raising his hand, Lucian called on the power of the Abyss, feeling it surge through him like a torrent. The shadows around him deepened, twisting and writhing as they responded to his will. The Guardian paused, its massive form trembling as it sensed the power in Lucian's command.

"Kneel," Lucian commanded, his voice echoing with the authority of the Abyss itself.

For a moment, the Guardian hesitated, its eyes narrowing as if considering whether to obey or attack. The air grew thick with tension, the battle raging around them seeming to slow as the creature's massive form loomed over Lucian.

And then, slowly, the Guardian lowered its head.

Lucian's breath caught in his chest as the creature knelt before him, its eyes still glowing with that strange, otherworldly light, but its posture unmistakably submissive. He had done it—he had taken control of the Abyssal Guardian.

Tharok, who had been battling nearby, paused long enough to see the creature's submission, a wide grin spreading across his face. "I never doubted you, my Lord."

Lucian barely registered the Warlord's words. His mind was focused entirely on the connection he had forged with the Guardian, the raw power that now surged between them. The creature was his to command, and with it, he could turn the tide of the battle.

"Unleash it on the Shadow Realm," Lucian said, his voice steady but filled with dark purpose.

With a single thought, Lucian sent the Guardian forward, its massive form crashing into the ranks of the Shadow Realm's forces with devastating force. The enemy soldiers scattered in terror as the creature tore through their lines, its power unstoppable.

The battle had shifted, and with the Abyssal Guardian at his command, Lucian knew that victory was within his grasp.