Two of them

The three captains gathered in the center of the bustling town square. Clara stood with arms crossed, scanning the area impatiently. "Where are Toron and Elesta?" she asked.

Cyrus's expression darkened. "Elesta… she's dead. She fell while fighting Lucifer."

A heavy silence followed his words. Rufus lowered his gaze and muttered, "That's tragic news."

Clara's fists clenched. "I can't imagine how the Celestial King will react to this. Losing one of the strongest among us…"

Before she could finish, two figures emerged from the shadows. Moloch, with his piercing gaze and imposing armor, stood next to the sly and serpent-like Serpant. Both radiated a sinister aura as they stepped forward.

"Well, well," Moloch sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "The captains are all gathered here. Makes things easier for us."

Clara smirked, unfazed. "You're two, and we're three. And just so you know, I'm ranked in the top three. You don't stand a chance."

Moloch chuckled and twirled his blade lazily. "Oh? If you're so confident, land a single strike on me."

Before Rufus could respond, his sharp voice cutting through the tension, "Clara, don't rush—"

But Clara had already surged forward, her blade glowing with fierce energy. "I'll finish this quickly!" she declared, slashing toward Moloch with incredible speed.

Moloch's grin widened. With a casual motion, he thrust his sword into a swirling portal that appeared before him. Clara's eyes widened in shock as a blade suddenly emerged from a portal behind her, piercing her stomach. She gasped, stumbling backward.

"That was easy," Moloch taunted, pulling his blade free.

Clara gritted her teeth, blood dripping from her wound, but instead of faltering, she laughed. "This is nothing." Gripping the blade, she yanked it out and tossed it aside. Her wounds began to close before their eyes.

Moloch stepped back, momentarily startled. "Impressive… a strong healing factor. But that won't help you if you're immobilized."

Before Clara could react, Serpant moved with lightning speed, his chains shimmering with ominous energy. In an instant, four glowing chains wrapped tightly around Clara, binding her arms and legs.

"You're not fighting anymore," Serpant sneered. "Just watch as we handle the rest."

Rufus and Cyrus exchanged a determined look. Rufus cracked his knuckles and smirked. "Ready, brother?"

Cyrus unsheathed his twin blades, his eyes blazing with resolve. "I'm ready, brother."

The battle was about to begin.

Cyrus and Rufus charged forward, their movements synchronized like two parts of a deadly machine. Their strikes were swift and precise, but as the fight progressed, an unsettling realization began to creep into their minds.

"They're… stronger than we thought," Cyrus muttered under his breath, deflecting a strike from Moloch's blade with difficulty.

Rufus gritted his teeth, narrowly dodging Serpant's chains as they lashed toward him. "No kidding. It feels like their power is leagues beyond ours."

Moloch smirked, his confidence radiating with every calculated movement. "What's the matter, captains? Feeling outmatched already?" His tone was mocking, his steps unhurried as he blocked and countered every attack with ease. "Let's end this quickly, shall we?"

Before Cyrus or Rufus could react, Moloch raised both hands, summoning two dark swords that hovered ominously in the air. Without warning, he plunged them into swirling portals, the energy rippling ominously through the battlefield.

Cyrus and Rufus tensed, sensing the danger too late. In the blink of an eye, the swords reappeared through portals behind them, striking true. Both captains cried out in pain as the blades tore through their armor, sending them crashing to the ground.

Cyrus clutched his side, blood seeping through his fingers as he struggled to push himself up. Rufus groaned, his strength fading as he glanced at his brother with desperation in his eyes.

Moloch approached them slowly, savoring the moment. "This is the end of your era," he declared, his voice dripping with triumph. "The mighty captains, brought to their knees."

Clara, bound by Serpant's chains, could do nothing but watch. For once, she had no witty retort, no defiant words to throw back at her enemies. Her heart sank as she saw her comrades fall, and a flicker of doubt crossed her face.

"Cyrus… Rufus…" she whispered, her voice trembling as the weight of the moment bore down on her.

Moloch's grin widened as he raised his blade for the final blow, his dark energy radiating like a storm. "Any last words?" he mocked, savoring his victory.

The battlefield grew silent, the air thick with tension and despair.