Apocalyptic fight
Volmeryn knew that what he was looking for was not simply a powerful artifact, but a catalyst for events beyond his control.
Volmeryn: «We have to move forward, the Heart of Drakara is not going to be on its own.»
The other dragons had moved their heads silently, but a tension floated in the air. Grmmmh... A faint noise came from the mountains.
They knew that a fundamental change was underway, but none of them were yet ready to accept what that meant. Liaris had warned them. The Heart was not just an object of power. He was bound to the destiny of each dragon king.
Eirlys, (frowning): «What if we thought for two seconds before throwing ourselves into the snake's mouth? This mountain is not a playground. »
Volmeryn, without looking at her, said:«And since when are we the type to turn back?»
Lysandros (with a sneer): «haha... Since we started listening to Eirlys, perhaps. »
Whoooosh... The wind was blowing while they were still flying for several hours. Their path was guided by whispers from the mountains. Ssss... Ssss...
They knew they were approaching something much bigger than they had imagined.
The Heart of Drakara. This name still lingered in Volmeryn's mind. But as they progressed, another feeling grew in him, a worry he couldn't ignore. Thump... Thump... It was as if an invisible pulsation resounded in the air. The power of the Heart seemed immeasurable, but at what price?
They felt as if the mountains were closing in on them. Grmmmhhh... Volmeryn's heat, normally enough to warm its surroundings, seemed to be dominated by the coldness of this place. The other dragons, meanwhile, felt increasingly uncomfortable.
Volmeryn: «We are coming, the Heart is hiding in the depths of this Mountain. »
Nethrath: «We know nothing about the Heart. Neither its origin, nor its true power. And you, Volmeryn, are you sure you want to bear the blame? »
Volmeryn: «Fear has never protected anyone. If we don't act, others will seize this power. »
Arelon: «Hmph. Are you convinced that the Heart is yours, Volmeryn? I see a mountain, dangers, and a goal that risks destroying us all. I hope your confidence is worth more than a breath of flames.»Arelon spoke calmly, but his tone betrayed his skepticism.
Sepharon: «We are here because we believe in you, Volmeryn. Grraaaa. Don't forget that our lives rest in your hands. And I will not tolerate any of us backing down now. »
Eirlys: «Tsk. Let us move forward blindly, and we'll be just a pile of bones before we even see that famous Heart.»
Lysandros: «Hah! Then stay here, Eirlys. Some of us are willing to take risks. »
Nethrath: «Enough! Volmeryn has led us here. We will follow him, or we will perish together. »
They always moved cautiously. Cra... Cra... The sound of their footsteps echoed on the ground. Soon they arrived at a massive door forged in stone, a door engraved with symbols they had never seen in their entire lives.
Volmeryn: «There it is, the Heart of Drakara. I feel it.»
As he reached out to touch the door, a powerful, authoritative voice spoke:
"BOOM!" A rumbling shook the mountain.
«Who dares to challenge the guardians of Drakara?»
Clang... Clang... Every step of this figure resonated on the ground. He was a massive dragon, covered in black armor. An ancient dragon, low in the hierarchy of dragons compared to Volmeryn's group, who were dragon gods.
Volmeryn couldn't understand the situation: «huh..Another dragon?»
«I am the Soul Guardian of the Heart of the Drakara, I am one of those who have sworn to protect this power from anyone who dares to use it.»
Volmeryn said: «And I am the one who claims it.»
A silence settled between them. The other dragons would get into a fighting position with their eyes focused on the Guardian. Crack... Crack... Cracks appeared on the ground testifying to the tension
The Guardian: «You have no idea what you're getting, dragon. This power does not obey. He devours. Do you think you are the master? You are only a toy for forces far beyond you. »
Volmeryn: «I understand very well what I'm doing. And that power belongs to me. »
Guardian: «You dare to claim what cannot be owned? You think it will belong to you... but tell me, what will you offer in exchange? »
Volmeryn, with a wry smile: «I don't offer anything. I take what is rightfully mine. »
The Guardian: «Little fool. This right does not exist. Not here. »
BOOM! Without warning, he threw himself at Volmeryn with his body covered in dark magic. Zzzrrrhh... Vwooom! The air around them was charged with energy, and the impact of their attacks destroyed the surrounding mountains.
Clang! Crash! The two dragons collided in a burst of light and fire, their bodies colliding in a titanic fight.
The Guardian: «You are powerful, but predictable. You hit like a hurricane, without thinking about the damage you are doing to yourself. »
Fwoosh! Kaboom! The battle was intense. Volmeryn was a master of the elements, and every blow he threw made the entire planet tremble. Yet the Guardian seemed just as powerful, his every move imbued with unknown magic. Zzzzzt... Crack! An aura crackling around her body cut through the air.
The other dragon kings watched, fascinated by the power of the confrontation. Craaaaack. The stones shook under the intensity of the duel. Eirlys was preparing to intervene if necessary, but she knew that this was Volmeryn's. Their fate was played out here.
Lysandros: «Hmmph... He's strong, but the Guardian is more than just a fighter. He is the link between this world and this power. »
The Guardian: «Hahaha... Volmeryn, do you really think your raw power will be enough to defeat me? Then discover the limits of your arrogance. »
A BAM! By violently striking his feet on the ground, he activated a complex spell. Vrrrrrmmmm... The arena shook, and stone walls rose abruptly, enclosing Volmeryn in a moving labyrinth. Grgrgrgrgrgr... The walls moved with calculated precision, forming traps that closed with each misstep.
Volmeryn, confident, strained his eyes as he analyzed the changing environment. His sharp draconic senses activated, allowing him to spot the movements of stones and anticipate deadly traps.
However, the Guardian did not give him a break:
He recited an ancient incantation, «Tenebris Vincula!», and chains of shadow rose from the ground. Clang! Clang! They wrapped themselves around Volmeryn's limbs, tightening their grip with each movement.
Volmeryn, despite the chains and the oppressive labyrinth, began to study the rhythm of the fight. Clack... tock... The movement of the traps and the vibrations of the ground made the confrontation intense. He noticed that each incantation of the Guardian was accompanied by a brief moment of vulnerability.
Volmeryn: «Hah... He gets tired, even if he tries to hide it. »
Smiling arrogantly, Volmeryn decided to strike hard. BOOOOM. A colossal energy began to vibrate around him. He concentrated an abyssal power in the depths of his being, fed by the system that gave him instructions in his mind:
[Beep... Instruction received.]
[Infernal Nova – Dragon King's Cataclysmic Technique.]
[BZZZZT... Power in the process of accumulation...]
[Instruction: Concentrate an abyssal energy at the core of your being, formed by the perfect alignment of primordial flames and the primordial power of your draconic essence. This energy must be amplified by your unwavering will, fused with my directives. The intensity of the concentration will determine the extent of the devastation.]
Wooooom... The devastating energy intensified, and the primordial flames around Volmeryn crackled dangerously. Fshhhhh... KAABOOM! The air itself was about to tear itself apart.
With an apocalyptic roar, "RAAAARGH!", he unleashed the technique: Infernal Nova.
A multicolored explosion was coming out of his body, similar to a miniature supernova. BOOM! Then flames danced with destructive beauty, "Fwhoooosh, crackle!", reducing a large portion of the labyrinth to dust.
The system was still speaking in Volmeryn's mind as it delivered an analytical message:
[Bzzzzt!]
[Infernal Nova activated. The powerful technique uses an energy overload on a cosmic scale. Side effect: Level 6 gravitational field, gravitational disturbance affecting surrounding entities.]
[Duration of effect: 10 minutes. Be careful, prolonged use of this ability may cause energy instability in the user's body.]
Volmeryn, still smiling, felt an internal burn, but the adrenaline of the battle kept him from faltering. The technique had worked, and the destruction was total.
The use of this technique had created a gravitational field that deployed around him, throwing the Guardian backwards "WHAM!" and disrupting his concentration.
Taking advantage of this moment, Volmeryn jumped up, "THUD!", then launching a second technique: Pymistry of the Infernal Void.
Flames as black as night came out of her hands, "SHHHHHH!", so cold that they froze the space around them. The air became icy, "CRACK!", and a deadly aura consumed the life energy of everything she touched. The flames were heading towards the Guardian and temporarily encasing him in a dimension of eternal fire.
[Bzzzzt!]
[System: "Infernal Void Pyromancy Activated: A rare and feared technique born from the fusion of pyromancy and the laws of nothingness. The black flames generated by this technique are not only manifestations of heat, but living entities that devour any form of energy, even the soul itself. When they make contact with the target, they tear through space and open a breach to a parallel dimension, where fire is eternal and endless. A moment in this realm is equivalent to an eternity of suffering.]
"WHOOOOOSH, CRACKLE!"
[Effect: Increased spirit damage, permanent freeze effects on the enemy.]
But the tough Guardian had managed to break that trap with a desperate incantation that tore reality itself apart and allowed him to return to the arena.
Crack! A tear was torn through the air as the Guardian reappeared.
Weakened but determined, the Guardian revealed his trump card. He displayed an enchantment that absorbed all the surrounding light. Zzzzmmm... A dark wave spread, and the arena plunged into absolute darkness, where even the flames of Volmeryn seemed to be extinguished.
The Guardian's voice echoed in nothingness:
«In the shadows, only the strongest survive. I'm everywhere... and nowhere.»
Whoosh... It then set itself in motion with infinite speed, manifesting itself in movements so rapid that it became imperceptible and moved out of time. Each of his movements broke the laws of time and space. Fffssh... Fttt...
Volmeryn was starting to get disoriented. Bam! Bam! The Guardian's attacks struck him from all sides, knocking him against the invisible walls of the arena.
But he refused to give in to panic. By focusing his energy, he "read" the disturbances of the air around him, anticipating the Guardian's movements. Pfff... Pfff... His breathing became controlled, focused. Little by little, he regained his balance by dodging attacks with impressive precision.
Volmeryn showed that he was so familiar with the Guardian's future moves that he anticipated and commented on his actions before they happened:
Volmeryn: «So now you're going to jump to the left, and then try to attack me from behind...And there, you're going to fail again. »
Clang! An attempted attack by the Guardian would go into the void, as if the environment was deflecting its blows.
The Guardian, disoriented, realized that everything he did was perfectly predictable to his opponent, but he prepared to use an ultimate spell to crush Volmeryn. Vrrrmmm... An energetic vibration was in the arena.
However, Volmeryn had preceded him by modifying his action in the future with ease. He then channeled his energy into a new technique: the Flames of the Silent Apocalypse.
Fwooosh... An overwhelming heat filled the arena, even if the flames remained invisible to the naked eye. In an instant, silence fell, suppressing all sounds, even the Guardian's cries of pain.
The system gave him a notification in his mind:
[Ding! Technique used: Flames of the Silent Apocalypse – Supreme Technique of Incandescent Silence.]
[Vrrmmm... This unique technique is a forbidden art, forged in the depths of oblivion. The Flames of the Silent Apocalypse are visible only to those who master spiritual perception beyond human limits. Their heat can consume the soul as well as the body, burning without leaving any material trace. Once released, these flames suppress sounds and disturb the senses, plunging the environment into silent chaos where terror spreads without a scream. The victims of this flame will find themselves trapped in inarticulate agony, condemned to suffer without being able to call for help.]
[Warning: Using this technique requires absolute mastery of mental focus and relentless willpower, as it also threatens its user with the same deadly silence.]
Crack... Psshh... In a silence, the Flames of the Silent Apocalypse consumed everything, plunging the arena into a calm where only the aura of Volmeryn reigned.
The Guardian, trapped in this silent hell, began to burn from within. Fwoosh... These flames had a grip on time, slowing his movements as he desperately tried to withstand the unbearable heat rising to hundreds of millions of degrees.
Only Volmeryn's aura remained visible in the total darkness. Bzzzt... Crackle...
In a last ditch effort, the Guardian released his enchantment by making the arena visible again. Clang... Whoosh... The shadows dispersed abruptly, revealing a destroyed battlefield. It was slowly fading, affected by the flames of the silent apocalypse. Fssssh...
Craaaack! The door in front of Volmeryn shattered under the pressure of his power, revealing a passage that still led into the depths of the mountain where the Heart of Drakara awaited him.
Thoom... Thoom... The sound of footsteps echoed in the corridors. Volmeryn's quest had just reached a new stage, but a lingering warning was still present: "Shhhh... A whisper lingered in the air, reminding him that he was only at the beginning of a journey that would take him to forces he had never imagined.