Interlude

As the spell finished, half of Azhrael's soul was transferred to the other world, merging into the prepared vessel for him. The remaining half, which was weakened by the strain of dividing, was sealed in within his tiny body, as his glowing eyes slowly closed.

But as his eyes shut, a vivid image burned into his mind—a memory that would perhaps haunt him forever.

Through his fading consciousness, he saw one of the assailants move behind his mother. In a single and swift motion, the blade was pierced through her chest, its cruel edge glinting with dripping crimson in the dim light.

Her body jerked, as blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, yet her firm gaze remained fixed on Azhreal.

Giving him a look, that was filled with unwavering love and quiet sorrow. As her son's eyes finally closed, his consciousness fading into darkness, as she gave him a soft, trembling smile.

"Cass, no—!" Xavian's voice filled with panic roared across the battlefield.

"It's alright," Cassandra said looking at him softly, her voice barely a whisper. Soon, her expression changed into calm and resolute.

Before anyone could react, from the shadows of her feet, a figure began to emerge. It was a being cloaked in purple and dark blue colour, its form seemingly made of rippling space itself.

The air around it, crackled with an oppressive energy as it took a physical shape—a tall, shadowy figure emerged, wielding a blade forged from the space itself.

The figure moved with a blinding speed, faster than the human eye could follow. In one swift motion, he slashed its blade, cutting right through the arm of the dark-robed man standing beside her.

The assailant let out a guttural roar of pain as his severed arm fell to the ground, blood pooling at their feet. However before the knight could do more, Cassandra's voice resounded.

"Take him and move," Cassandra ordered, her voice steady and firm, despite the pain in her chest.

The shadowy figure bowed its head in acknowledgment, as its void-like body rippled with energy. Then, without hesitation, it moved towards Azhrael's cradle, as he gently cradling the child within its shadowy arms.

Whirrr Whirrr

Soon, a portal of swirling darkness materialized before them, as the air around it hummed with a strange, otherworldly resonance. The figure stepped into the portal, carrying the cradle with utmost care, disappearing into the unknown.

Looking at them, Nathan and the others rushed forward, as they unleashed a barrage of attacks in desperation. Magic and weapons clashed against Xavian's ice walls, however he stood firm, erasing their every move with his overwhelming power.

"Damn it, Daaamn it!" Nathan shouted in frustration, as his face twisted with fury, when he saw the figure vanish with Azhrael. He slammed his fist against the frozen ground, sending cracks through the earth. "We can't let them escape! We must stop them".

The other assailants, still reeling from the blast of ice and the overwhelming presence of Xavian, hesitated for a moment. But they couldn't afford to falter. Thus, with renewed determination, they surged forward, as their weapons gleamed, and magic crackled in the air.

Lia, with a grimace on her face, raised her hands, as unleashed a barrage of collosal fireballs at Xavian, but he responded with a wall of ice, which immediately began to freeze her attacks mid-air.

Nathan, in his fury, charged forward,as his sword glowed with a fiery aura. He aimed straight for Xavian, but at the moment when his blade came close to Xavian. Xavian's frozen aura exploded outward, creating a shockwave that sent Nathan backward, skidding on his legs.

" Heh, told you, won't let you touch my son!" Xavian taunted, as his eyes glowed with a fierce determination. Soon, his body began to emit a dangerous level of mana, his core burning rapidly with an increased intensity.

Cassandra, who stood a few steps behind him, wasn't idle. Her hands were raised high, as her fingers danced in the air, weaving complex spells.

The very atmosphere around her began distorting, as she prepared something far more powerful that any of them wouldn't see coming.

"Xavian... It's time," Cassandra said softly, her voice strained but resolute.

Xavian turned to her, his eyes filled with understanding. Both of them, already knowing the consequences, had made the same decision.

Thus, at the same time, they both reached deep into their cores, pushing their mana reserves beyond the limits of their bodies. The pain the came was unimaginable as their energy skyrocketed, their bodies on the verge of bursting.

The very air trembled, as the earth beneath them groaned under the immense power. Then, in the next moment, both of them ignited their combined power resulting in a cataclysmic explosion.

Mana Core Overload.

Booooom!

What followed after was utter and pure destruction.

The colossal explosion resounded in the area, as a huge mushroom shaped cloud reached the sky. Followed by a massive shockwave that seemed to destroy everything that came in its path.

Under the blast, the ground shattered, trees uprooted and erased, every single living being in the surrounding thousand kilometres area was vaporized as if a candle had been blown off.

The mountains were shattered and erased. The blast wave was so powerful that it sent debris flying in every direction, as the air was filled with the deafening roar of the destructive force.

The enemies were burned and thrown back, as they were unable to withstand the sheer intensity of the blast.

As the blast came to a close. The battlefield or what was left of it was in ruins, a smoking crater formed where the blast had erupted, the air heavy with the aftermath of their sacrifice.

The Celestial Witch and The Frost King.

Their names which, when once spoken, sent waves of hope and morale through their allies, a beacon of strength in times of despair. And the very definition of terror in their enemies, that stood in front of them to face them.

On this day, the legend of the Frost King and the Celestial Witch had came to an end.

The battlefield boring the silent witness to the destruction they unleashed. The frozen wastelands, now cracked and charred, which stood as a testament to the sacrifice they had made.

The Frost King's unyielding strength, and the Celestial Witch's brilliant magic—together, they always had been unstoppable.

Yet even the strongest legends fall.

The Frost King and Celestial Witch had given their lives to protect what mattered most to them. For them, it was their child.

Their Son.

Azhreal.

A name that will become so big, that even so called gods will bow and crawl to him.