14.

The battlefield was a frenzy of chaos and destruction as the Abyssal Guardian tore through the Shadow Realm's forces, its massive claws slicing through armor and stone as if they were nothing. The creature's roar echoed across the plains, shaking the very ground beneath them as it ripped through the enemy lines, leaving devastation in its wake. The Shadow Realm's soldiers scattered, many throwing down their weapons and fleeing in terror from the monstrous force that now dominated the battlefield.

Lucian stood at the heart of the battle, his eyes blazing with power as he commanded the Guardian with a mere thought. The connection between him and the creature was strong, the raw energy of the Abyss flowing through him and binding them together. For the first time since awakening as the Abyssal Lord, Lucian felt the full weight of his power—and it was intoxicating.

This is what it means to rule the Abyss, the voice of the Abyssal Lord whispered, satisfaction clear in its tone. This is the power that none can stand against. They will all bow before you.

Lucian didn't respond, his focus entirely on the battlefield. The Shadow Realm's forces were crumbling, their lines shattered by the Guardian's relentless assault. Victory was within his grasp, but he knew better than to let his guard down. The Shadow Realm had provoked this conflict, and they wouldn't surrender easily.

Tharok fought beside him, his battle-axe gleaming as he cleaved through enemy soldiers with brutal efficiency. The Warlord's grin was feral, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of battle. "They're breaking, my Lord! We have them!"

Lucian nodded, but his mind remained sharp. The battle wasn't over yet. Even as the Shadow Realm's forces faltered, he could sense something else—something darker, lurking just beyond the edges of the battlefield.

Seraphis appeared at his side, her movements swift and silent as always. Her cloak billowed behind her as she cut down a Shadow Realm soldier with a flick of her wrist, her dark eyes narrowing as she scanned the battlefield.

"My Lord," she said quietly, her voice barely audible over the din of battle. "There's something else. The Shadow Realm isn't finished."

Lucian's eyes flicked to Seraphis, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"

Seraphis gestured toward the distant horizon, where the clouds had begun to churn unnaturally. "There's something coming. A second wave, perhaps. But it's not just soldiers. I've sensed… something more."

Lucian's heart quickened as he followed her gaze. The skies beyond the battlefield were darkening, the clouds swirling in a way that was unnatural, as if something was twisting the very fabric of the sky. He could feel the energy in the air shift, a cold, malevolent force building on the horizon.

"The Celestials," Lucian muttered, his voice low.

Seraphis's eyes widened slightly. "You think they're involved?"

Lucian didn't answer immediately, but the weight in his chest told him that he was right. The Celestials had been watching, waiting for the right moment to intervene. The Shadow Realm's summoning of the Abyssal Guardian had likely triggered their attention. And now, they were coming.

"We need to end this quickly," Lucian said, his voice firm. "The longer we stay on this battlefield, the more vulnerable we are."

Seraphis nodded. "The Shadow Realm is already on the brink of collapse. If we press the attack now, we can break them before whatever's coming arrives."

Lucian's eyes narrowed as he weighed his options. He still had control of the Abyssal Guardian, but the strain of commanding such a powerful creature was beginning to wear on him. The connection to the Abyss was strong, but it was also volatile, and Lucian knew that the longer he maintained control, the greater the risk of losing himself to its power.

But he couldn't afford to hesitate now. The Celestials were coming, and if they arrived before he had secured victory, the entire battle could turn against him.

"Press the attack," Lucian ordered, his voice cold and resolute. "We break them now, before the Celestials intervene."

Tharok grinned savagely, eager for the command. "With pleasure, my Lord."

The Abyssal legions surged forward at Lucian's command, their dark banners fluttering in the wind as they charged the remnants of the Shadow Realm's forces. The soldiers of the Shadow Realm fought valiantly, but they were no match for the power of the Abyss. Lucian could see the fear in their eyes, the desperation as they realized that their strategy had failed.

The Abyssal Guardian, still under Lucian's control, continued its rampage, tearing through the enemy with terrifying speed and force. Every strike was devastating, every movement a testament to the sheer power of the Abyss. But as the battle raged on, Lucian could feel the strain growing within him. Controlling the Guardian was no easy task, and the toll it was taking on him was becoming harder to ignore.

His vision blurred for a moment, the connection between him and the Guardian flickering. Lucian's breath caught in his throat as he fought to maintain control, his hands tightening into fists as he forced the power of the Abyss to obey his will.

Do not falter, the voice of the Abyssal Lord hissed. You control the Abyss. It does not control you.

Lucian gritted his teeth, forcing the power to bend to his will once again. The Guardian responded, roaring in fury as it crushed another battalion of the Shadow Realm's forces beneath its massive claws. But the effort left Lucian reeling, his heart pounding in his chest as the weight of the Abyss pressed down on him.

Seraphis appeared at his side once more, her dark eyes studying him closely. "You're pushing too hard, my Lord. The Guardian is dangerous, even for you."

"I can handle it," Lucian replied through gritted teeth, though even he wasn't sure how much longer he could maintain control.

But there was no time to question it. The battle was reaching its peak, and he had to finish it before the Celestials arrived. He couldn't allow the Guardian to slip from his control now, not when victory was within his grasp.

The dark skies above them swirled ominously, and Lucian could feel the presence of the Celestials drawing closer. Their power was immense, far greater than anything he had ever encountered, and the thought of facing them in his current state was enough to make his blood run cold.

The Celestials come for you, the voice of the Abyssal Lord whispered. But they are not your true enemy. You will face them, and you will conquer them, or you will be destroyed.

Lucian's heart pounded in his chest as the weight of the Abyss pressed down on him, the raw power surging through his veins. He could feel the darkness building within him, threatening to overwhelm him if he let his guard down for even a moment.

But there was no turning back now. The battle with the Shadow Realm had to end, and it had to end quickly.

With a final command, Lucian sent the Abyssal Guardian forward, its massive form crashing into the heart of the enemy's remaining forces. The creature's roar echoed across the battlefield, shaking the earth as it tore through the Shadow Realm's soldiers with relentless fury.

The battle was over.

Lucian could feel the collapse of the Shadow Realm's army as their lines broke completely, their forces scattering in all directions as the Guardian decimated them. The victory was his, but even as the remnants of the enemy fled, Lucian's focus remained on the horizon.

The Celestials were coming. He could feel their presence growing stronger with every passing moment, their power like a cold, unyielding force pressing down on the battlefield.

And as Lucian stared into the swirling clouds above, he knew that the true battle was only just beginning.