The Clash of the Powers

The sky blazed with the spectral glow of the enemy ship, casting a menacing shadow over the city. The air vibrated with an electric tension as the soldiers in abysmal black armour slowly descended, forming a menacing line facing the adventurers.

Erd squinted as he stared at the masked stranger, whose energy blade pulsed with a scarlet glow. The individual hadn't moved yet, but his simple gaze was enough to impose a suffocating pressure on the entire battlefield.

"You're more interesting than I expected..." declared the Primordial Hunter, his metallic voice echoing in the air.

Erd tightened his grip on his newly formed bow. The power emanating from this being left no doubt: a head-on fight was likely to be dangerous, even for him.

So he decided to change strategy.

- Dune... Zalgaroth... I need you now.

He didn't need to speak aloud. His thought travelled through the sub-dimension like an invisible wave, immediately reaching his allies.

A rift of light opened behind him.

The air was torn apart, giving way to a slender figure with silver hair: Dune. Her deep blue eyes shone with a determined gleam, and a blade of shadow was born in her hand.

Beside her, an overwhelming presence materialised. Zalgaroth, imposing in his infernal armour, spread his demonic wings and shook the ground as he landed.

"At last, a fight worthy of the name," growled the Demon Duke, a toothy grin on his face.

The masked stranger watched the new arrivals with a certain curiosity.

"Interesting... so this is your hidden kingdom?"

There was a tense silence. Then, without warning, the enemy attacked.

The attack was so sudden that it left no room for hesitation. The Primordial Hunter brandished his energy blade, and space itself seemed to twist around his weapon. In a fraction of a second, he found himself face to face with Erd, ready to strike with an air-shattering cross-shot.

But Erd had anticipated.

- Sanctuary.

A wall of pure light sprang up between them, absorbing the attack before it could reach him. The impact resounded like a thunderous roar, and invisible cracks spread across the space around them.

Dune took advantage of this moment to act. With a fluid movement, she melted into the shadows and reappeared behind the enemy, her shadow blade aimed at his back.

- Devouring darkness.

A black vortex formed around the Hunter, sucking in the surrounding energy and threatening to engulf him. But instead of retreating, the enemy reacted with inhuman speed. He swung round and blocked the attack with one hand, as if anticipating Dune's every move.

"Pathetic.

A shock of energy threw her backwards, but before she could hit the ground, a huge clawed hand caught her.

Zalgaroth.

The demon laughed gravely.

"He's tougher than I thought. I'm going to enjoy this."

Without waiting, he raised an arm, and a sphere of black flames formed above him.

- Abyssal Inferno.

The sphere exploded in a shower of infernal meteors, crashing around the Hunter and raising a wave of destruction.

The enemy finally retreated, but without showing the slightest sign of fear.

Erd, who had been watching until now, made a decision. He bent his bow, loading an arrow of pure energy.

- Dune, Zalgaroth... let's neutralise him now.

The battle had barely begun.

The sky was ablaze with the black flames of Zalgaroth, and the air vibrated with the power of the Abyssal Inferno. Erd squinted. The enemy was still standing, unharmed, its aura as oppressive as ever.

The Primordial Hunter advanced slowly through the flames, his armour illuminated by the burning embers.

- A demon, a shadow manipulator and a divine archer... Is that all?

Erd didn't wait any longer. He bent his bow, and a blinding glow lit up the space.

- Golden Arrow of the Shining Meteor.

The arrow flew at a speed impossible for the naked eye to follow, tracing a golden line through the atmosphere. The Hunter reacted instantly, raising his energy blade to counter. The impact was cataclysmic. A shock of energy exploded in all directions, cracking the ground and sending out a wave of force that pushed the adventurers around.

Dune took advantage of the chaos to reappear just a few centimetres from the Hunter, a dagger woven of shadows in his hand.

- Mark of the Void.

She struck, aiming for a chink in the armour, but her attack was met with nothing but emptiness.

The enemy had already moved.

- You're sorely lacking in speed.

In a heartbeat, he was behind her. A lightning kick sent her flying across the battlefield, smashing into a wall with brutal force.

Zalgaroth growled.

- He's getting on my nerves.

With a gesture, he conjured up a huge halberd covered in dark flames.

- Erd, how much longer?

The archer didn't answer immediately. He held out a hand towards Lila, who had stayed behind to watch the fight.

- Lila. Activate Celestial Catalyst.

The young woman nodded and touched the bow. Instantly, the weapon began to glow with a bluish-white light, fusing its essence with the surrounding magic.

- Thirty seconds," Erd announced.

Zalgaroth cracked the knuckles of his claws and lunged at the Hunter, ready to hold him back.

The countdown had begun.

The ground shook under the impact of Zalgaroth's abyssal flames as he engaged the Primordial Hunter. The air around him distorted under the intensity of his demonic aura.

Dune, though thrown earlier, reappeared in a flash, her silhouette melting into the shadows. She positioned herself opposite Zalgaroth, ready to strike as soon as the enemy dropped their guard.

The Hunter swept his sword of energy around him, creating a shockwave that forced his opponents back slightly.

- Do you really think you can stop me with that?

A flash of light suddenly illuminated the area. Erd had just released another arrow of pure energy.

The Hunter raised his weapon to block, but this time the power of the projectile forced him back.

- Hmpf... This attack was different.

He briefly dropped to one knee.

Zalgaroth took advantage of this moment to pounce. His halberd came down with infernal power. The impact caused an explosion of black flames, throwing debris in all directions.

A heavy silence followed the explosion.

Dune and Zalgaroth stared at the rubble, ready to strike back.

But a shadow emerged from the rubble at terrifying speed.

The Hunter was not only unharmed... his armour shone with a new glow.

- I admit you're more resistant than I expected.

He raised his arm, and a sphere of dark energy began to form in the palm of his hand.

- But the game ends here.

The attack seemed so dense that it threatened to disintegrate everything in its vicinity.

Dune and Zalgaroth prepared to dodge.

But before the attack was released...

- Now.

Erd's voice rang out with icy assurance.

A beam of light split the sky.

Erd's bow, now activated by the Celestial Catalyst, radiated divine energy.

- Stellar Arrow of Judgement.

The arrow materialised, more massive than any he'd used before. It seemed to absorb the surrounding light, condensing a devastating force.

Erd unleashed his shot.

The trajectory was perfect.

The Fighter, although ultra-fast, was unable to dodge completely.

The impact was apocalyptic.

A column of light rose into the sky, piercing the clouds and blinding all those who looked in its direction.

The ground cracked under the pressure of the energy released.

Dune and Zalgaroth were thrown backwards by the shockwave.

When the light faded...

A staggering figure was still standing.

The badly wounded Primordial Hunter was staring at Erd with an indecipherable expression.

- ... Interesting.

Then, in a flash of black light, he disappeared.

The fight was over... for now.

Erd lowered his bow, his breath still quick.

Dune and Zalgaroth returned to his side.

- He'll be back," breathed Dune.

Erd nodded.

- Next time... we'll be waiting for him.

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