Unleashing the Storm

A silence fell over the battlefield.

Not the kind of silence that brought peace.

No—this was the kind that came before destruction.

Lucian knelt on the fractured ground, Selene in his arms.

She was barely conscious, her breathing shallow. Her dark lashes fluttered against her pale skin, her fingers weakly gripping his shirt.

Lucian's entire body trembled.

His mind screamed at him to stay calm, to think—to do anything except let the storm inside him take over.

But as he gazed down at Selene, as the reality of what had just happened sank into his bones…

Something inside him broke.

A deep, visceral growl built in his chest, growing into a snarl, then a roar so powerful it sent shockwaves rippling through the realm.

The air itself seemed to bend around him, twisting, warping—responding to the sheer force of his emotions.

Selene had been hurt.

And Vale was going to pay.

Vale's Miscalculation

Vale took a slow step back, his golden eyes narrowing.

Something was wrong.

Lucian wasn't just angry. He wasn't just powerful.

He was changing.

The silver of his eyes had vanished entirely, replaced by an inky darkness that swirled like a living shadow. His veins pulsed with energy that was neither fire nor ice—but something beyond both.

The magic in the air—it wasn't just Lucian's anymore.

Selene's blood still lingered on Vale's fingertips from when she had taken the blast for Lucian.

And in that moment, it clicked.

Lucian's power wasn't just his own.

Selene had awakened something inside him.

Vale clenched his jaw.

He had underestimated them.

Badly.

And now—he was about to suffer for it.

The Wrath of the Bond

Lucian rose to his feet, slowly.

Selene remained limp in his arms, but her warmth was still there, still pressing against him, grounding him in the only way possible.

His grip on her tightened.

He lifted his head, eyes locking onto Vale, his voice low, lethal.

"You're going to regret that."

Before Vale could react, Lucian moved.

Lightning-fast.

One second, he was standing still. The next—he had Vale by the throat.

The golden-haired ruler gasped, his eyes widening. He tried to teleport, to use his magic to escape—but it was too late.

Lucian's power had already wrapped around him, locking him in place.

The very air around them had turned to black fire and icy mist, swirling together in a chaotic storm that Vale couldn't control.

Lucian lifted him off the ground, his grip tightening.

"You thought you could take her from me," he whispered, his voice carrying a dangerous edge.

Vale's fingers clawed at Lucian's hand, his golden energy flaring as he tried to fight back.

But the moment he unleashed his power—

Lucian absorbed it.

Vale's breath hitched.

His own golden magic was being devoured.

Lucian wasn't just strong.

He was something else entirely now.

And that was when Vale realized—he had made a mistake.

A terrible, terrible mistake.

Selene's Awakening

Selene was only half-conscious, her body floating between darkness and light.

She felt warm.

Not from the pain—but from something deeper.

A force flowing through her veins, pulling at her very soul.

She could hear the distant sounds of battle—the crackle of fire, the clash of power—but beyond that, she could feel Lucian.

Not just his presence.

His emotions. His power. His rage.

She gasped, her chest rising as a wave of energy rushed through her.

And suddenly—

She saw.

Not with her eyes. Not with her body.

But with something greater.

The bond between her and Lucian wasn't just a bond anymore.

It was a pathway.

A direct link between their souls.

Selene's breath hitched.

Lucian wasn't in control.

He was losing himself.

And if she didn't stop him—

He might not come back.

The Descent into Chaos

Lucian tightened his grip on Vale.

His body was burning, freezing, unraveling.

But he didn't care.

All he could think about was Selene's pain.

He wanted to make Vale suffer. To rip him apart. To erase him from existence.

Power crackled around them, warping the very fabric of the golden realm.

The air thickened, becoming impossible to breathe. The ground beneath them split open, glowing with molten energy.

Lucian's power wasn't just consuming Vale.

It was consuming everything.

And then—

A soft hand touched his arm.

Lucian's entire body froze.

His head snapped down.

Selene.

Her fingers trembled against his skin, but her touch was real. Grounding.

She was awake.

And she was staring right at him.

"Lucian," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Let go."

His breath came ragged.

His fingers twitched.

But he couldn't.

Not yet.

"He hurt you," Lucian growled, his voice thick with fury. "He took you from me. He almost—" His voice broke. "I can't let that go, Selene. I won't."

Selene's eyes softened.

"You don't have to," she said. "But if you lose yourself now—then he wins."

Lucian's grip loosened.

The black fire and icy mist around them flickered.

Selene cupped his face, her fingers warm despite the pain she was in.

"You're stronger than this," she whispered. "Come back to me."

Lucian's breath shuddered.

And for the first time—he hesitated.

The darkness inside him wavered.

The fire dimmed.

And then—he let go.

Vale collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath, his body trembling from the force of Lucian's grip.

But Lucian didn't look at him anymore.

His entire focus was on Selene.

His hands cupped her face, his thumb brushing gently over her cheek.

"You're okay," he whispered. As if saying it aloud would make it true.

Selene nodded weakly.

"I am now."

Lucian let out a slow breath, his forehead resting against hers, their bond humming between them.

And in that moment—everything else disappeared.

The Aftermath

Vale wiped the blood from his lips, his golden eyes flickering between fear and fury.

He had lost.

Not just the battle—but control.

Lucian wasn't the same man who had entered his domain.

Selene wasn't the same woman who had been captured.

They had evolved.

And together…

They were unstoppable.

Vale clenched his fists, stepping backward as the walls of his realm began to collapse.

He had no choice.

For now—he had to retreat.

But this wasn't over.

Not yet.

With one final glance at them, he vanished.

And the golden realm fell.

End of Chapter Twenty-Nine