Darkness Ascendant I

Lyra’s breath hitched as Aris loomed above her, the dark energy swirling around the ancient woman like a storm. Every inch of Lyra’s body ached from the impact of the blast, but she refused to give in to the pain. She tightened her grip on her blade, determination coursing through her veins. Aris might be powerful, but Lyra wouldn’t let her win—not when so much was at stake.

Aris tilted her head, her eyes narrowing as she studied Lyra. “You’re persistent, I’ll give you that,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain. “But persistence alone won’t save you.”

Lyra gritted her teeth, forcing herself to rise to her feet, even as her legs shook with the effort. “You’re wrong. We’ve come too far to lose now.”

Aris’s laughter was cold and hollow, sending shivers down Lyra’s spine. “Bravery doesn’t make you invincible, child. I’ve seen civilizations rise and fall, entire worlds crumble into dust. What makes you think you can stand against me?”

Thalor was at Lyra’s side in an instant, his sword glowing with a faint blue light. His presence was steadying, and the bond between them thrummed with renewed strength. “Because we’re not alone,” Thalor said, his voice calm but resolute. “And we don’t fight for power. We fight for something greater.”

Aris’s eyes flickered toward Thalor, her expression unreadable. “And what is that?” she asked, her tone mocking. “Hope? Love? Those are fleeting, fragile things.”

Lyra’s heart swelled with defiance. She could feel the bond between her and Thalor growing stronger, pulsing with a power that Aris could never understand. “They’re not fragile,” Lyra said, her voice steady. “They’re the reason we fight. They’re the reason we’ll win.”

For a moment, Aris said nothing, her gaze shifting between Lyra and Thalor as if she was weighing their words. Then, slowly, her lips curled into a sneer. “Foolish,” she muttered, her voice laced with contempt. “You think your bond can save you? You’re nothing but a fleeting spark in the vastness of the universe.”

Lyra’s grip tightened on her blade, her pulse quickening. “Maybe,” she said, her voice low but firm. “But even a spark can ignite something far greater.”

Aris’s eyes flashed with anger, and with a sudden, violent motion, she raised her hand. Dark energy surged from her fingertips, forming a dense wave of power that shot toward Lyra and Thalor like a tidal wave.

“Brace yourself!” Thalor shouted, stepping in front of Lyra as the wave of energy closed in.

Lyra’s heart pounded as she prepared for the impact, her mind racing. She could feel the immense power of the dark energy, like a crushing weight bearing down on her. But at the same time, she could feel Thalor’s presence, steady and unwavering, and the bond between them surged with a power she hadn’t fully understood until now.

Just as the wave of dark energy was about to hit, something inside Lyra clicked. She reached out with her mind, not to the dark energy, but to the bond between her and Thalor. She focused on the connection they shared, the way their energies intertwined, and in that moment, she realized something powerful: their bond wasn’t just emotional—it was a source of strength, a force that could stand against even the darkest of energies.

The wave of dark energy crashed into them, but instead of being overwhelmed, Lyra felt a surge of warmth and light. She closed her eyes, letting the bond between her and Thalor guide her, and together, they pushed back against the darkness.

The wave of energy slowed, then stopped altogether, its force dissipating as Lyra and Thalor’s combined power repelled it. Aris’s eyes widened in shock as the dark energy disintegrated into nothingness, leaving only the faint glow of Lyra and Thalor’s bond in its wake.

“How…?” Aris’s voice was a low, disbelieving whisper. For the first time, there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.

Lyra stepped forward, her chest heaving with the effort, but her gaze was fierce and unwavering. “You underestimate what people can do when they fight for something they believe in.”

Thalor stood beside her, his expression calm but determined. “This ends now, Aris. We’re taking the crystal, and you’re not going to stop us.”

For a moment, the air was still, the tension between them thick and heavy. Lyra could feel Aris’s power radiating from her, but she could also sense the cracks in her confidence. The ancient woman wasn’t invincible—she could be beaten.

But Aris wasn’t ready to give up so easily. Her expression twisted into a snarl, and with a furious scream, she unleashed another torrent of dark energy, this one even more powerful than before.

Lyra’s heart pounded as the darkness surged toward them, but she didn’t falter. She and Thalor moved as one, their bond pulsing with energy as they stood their ground. They had faced impossible odds before, and they had survived. This would be no different.

With a final, defiant cry, Lyra raised her blade, channeling the energy of their bond into the weapon. The sword glowed with a brilliant light, brighter than anything Lyra had ever seen, and as the dark energy closed in, she swung the blade with all her strength.

The light from the blade collided with the dark energy, and for a moment, there was nothing but blinding light and deafening noise. The ground shook beneath them, and Lyra felt the force of the collision ripple through her entire body.

But then, slowly, the light began to fade, and when Lyra opened her eyes, the darkness was gone. Aris stood frozen in place, her face pale and her eyes wide with disbelief.

Lyra’s chest heaved with exertion, but she kept her gaze fixed on Aris. “It’s over,” she said, her voice steady despite the exhaustion weighing her down.

Aris staggered backward, her hand clutching her chest as if the force of the blow had left her winded. Her once formidable aura of dark power was now fractured, weakened. She looked at Lyra and Thalor with something that resembled fear, but also a simmering rage.

“You think you’ve won,” Aris hissed, her voice dripping with malice. “But the core’s corruption still festers in this world. You’ve only delayed the inevitable.”

Before Lyra could respond, Aris’s form began to shimmer, her body dissolving into a cloud of dark mist. The remaining soldiers, twisted and silent, began to disintegrate as well, their forms unraveling into the same inky blackness. Within moments, Aris and her forces had vanished, leaving behind nothing but the eerie silence of the battlefield.

Lyra collapsed to her knees, her body trembling with exhaustion. The weight of everything they had just faced crashed down on her, and she could barely keep her eyes open. Thalor knelt beside her, his expression softening as he placed a steadying hand on her shoulder.

“You did it,” he said quietly, his voice filled with admiration. “We did it.”

Lyra nodded, though her thoughts were still spinning. Aris’s parting words echoed in her mind: You’ve only delayed the inevitable.

“I don’t think this is over,” Lyra said, her voice barely above a whisper. “The core’s corruption… it’s still out there.”

Thalor’s expression darkened, but he nodded in agreement. “You’re right. But we’ve weakened Aris. We’ll find a way to stop her for good.”

Lyra took a deep breath, her heart still racing from the battle. She glanced at Thalor, their bond still humming with energy, and despite the fear and uncertainty that lingered in her mind, she felt a flicker of hope.

“We’ll figure it out,” she said, her voice stronger now. “Together.”

Thalor smiled, a rare expression of warmth and reassurance. “Always.”

As they stood, the distant sound of footsteps reached their ears. Lyra’s body tensed, but when she turned toward the sound, she saw familiar faces emerging from the edge of the valley. A group of allies—survivors from the rebellion, others they had met on their journey—were making their way toward them.

One of them, a tall, wiry man with sharp eyes, raised a hand in greeting. “We heard the battle. Are you both all right?”

Lyra nodded, though her exhaustion was evident. “We’re alive. Aris is gone, for now.”

The man frowned, his gaze flicking to the empty battlefield. “For now?”

Lyra exchanged a glance with Thalor. “She’ll be back. The corruption is still out there. But we’ve weakened her. We have a chance.”

The man nodded grimly. “Then we’ll prepare. Whatever comes next, we’ll be ready.”

Lyra felt a surge of determination. They had survived this battle, but the war was far from over. Aris’s return was inevitable, and the corruption of the core still threatened to consume the world. But with Thalor by her side, and their bond growing stronger with every challenge they faced, Lyra knew they had the strength to fight.