The air was heavy, saturated with the stench of death and destruction. In the western half of Gaia, the vast wave of death and shadowy mist, unleashed by the destruction of the Helheim gate, was turning everything into desolation. Human cities were swallowed by the black fog like sandcastles dissolving in the waves. Once-vibrant elven forests withered, and their ancestral trees bent in a final breath of resistance. Vast plains, where orcs and ogres once reigned, became barren fields of gray dust. Even the dwarven fortresses, renowned for their impenetrable strength, fell—except for the village of Durin.
On the horizon, the sky burned in shades of crimson. The wings of the Red Fire Dragon cut through the heavens once more, a harbinger of imminent destruction. It flew over the fortress of Durin's village, its presence a mixture of terror and hope. With a single motion, its colossal wings covered the entire village, forming an unlikely barrier against the mist.
Meanwhile, in the heart of the Sylvan Forest, Midoki felt the approach of something overwhelming. He quickly turned to Aelion, his expression grave.
- Midoki: "Aelion, now! Raise the Protection of Gandhāra and activate the barrier. We have no time to lose!"
Aelion nodded, his eyes glowing with spiritual energy as his arms traced runes in the air.
- Aelion: "Gandhāra... rise!" — he proclaimed, his voice echoing through the forest.
The barrier shimmered under the pressure of the shadowy mist. Cracks began to form, but Aelion's secondary shields withstood the impact. The mist touched the barrier, its fury disintegrating plants and animals along the edges, but Gandhāra's Shields ensured none of the companions were harmed.
- Elyra: "Impressive as always, Aelion," — Elyra remarked, the relief in her voice masking the fear. — "But that was too close."
In Helheim
In the shadowy depths of Helheim, Lilya reflected on her solitary existence. Her body trembled under the corrosive energy around her, but her eyes remained steady.
- Lilya: "Millennia…" — she whispered, her voice echoing into the void. — "I've tried to escape this place. Every second here feels like a year lost, but my will has never broken."
Memories of her transformation into a fish and the moment Leviathan swallowed her returned in flashes. She clenched her fists, feeling the dark energy pulse around her. When Leviathan dove deeper, it was pulled into one of the rifts that led straight into Helheim, fleeing from the discomfort she caused.
Within the creature's entrails, she channeled all the power of her spiritual halberd in one final effort to break free.
- Lilya: "You may swallow me, but you will never contain me, cursed beast!" — Lilya roared.
The resulting explosion was catastrophic. Leviathan's body was destroyed from the inside out, blood splattering across the ground. When Lilya emerged, her halberd, now drenched in the Flood Beast's blood, pulsed with a new form and power: Abyssal Bastion, the True Halberd of Spirit.
Lucifer walked through the remains of Leviathan, his jaw clenched as his eyes scanned every piece.
- Lucifer: "Not even Flut Fluch's curse remains... fascinating. Who dared destroy one of the Titanic Beasts?" — he muttered, his voice low and dangerous.
He closed his eyes for a moment, sensing the lingering echoes of energy in the air. A sinister smile formed on his lips.
- Lucifer: "Whoever it was... will be just another relic crushed beneath my power."
Lucifer moved on, the aura of Behemoth's powers still radiating around him. His footsteps echoed like thunder in the emptiness of Helheim, and he knew the hunt had only just begun.
Back on the continent of Gaia, Midoki gathered his companions after the barrier had withstood the attack of the mist. He looked at them all, his expression stern.
- Midoki: "We must leave. The West is lost. Our fate now takes us to the other side of the world, where hope still lives."
- Elliot: "But what about Throk?" — Elliot asked, concern in his voice.
Midoki opened his hand, revealing a piece of parchment containing Throk's final words:
- Throk (scripture): "I am still but a faint flame, an echo of a strength that is no longer enough. My sun does not shine bright enough to protect the moon that guides you. What you saw of me... was not my true self."
Midoki closed his eyes for a moment, honoring Throk's choice.
- Midoki: "He will return when he's ready. For now, our focus must be saving the civilians of Lior and planning our final strike."
On the other continent, the legendary Minotaur's Labyrinth awaited the refugees of Lior. Belphegor studied the map carefully, his hands tracing the safest routes.
- Belphegor: "This place…" — he began, his voice hesitant. — "It's said that Íkarus, an ancestor of the angels, met his death here."
Elliot clenched his fists, gazing toward the horizon.
- Elliot: "Then I will do what he could not. I'll save these people and honor his memory."
Neptune placed a hand on Elliot's shoulder.
Elyra paused for a moment, her gentle expression carrying a shadow of melancholy. She turned to Midoki, her voice filled with a blend of nostalgia and concern:
- Elyra: "Hey, Midoki... do you think we could stop by my home? I want to see how things are before we go…"
Midoki, who had been quietly watching the dark horizon, turned to her with a look of understanding. A faint smile crossed his lips, and he nodded softly:
- Midoki: "Of course, Elyra. We can't ignore the roots that keep us grounded. We'll stop by, and together we'll face whatever we find... no matter what it is. You're not alone in this."
Elyra let out a breath of relief, but there was something in Midoki's eyes that showed he understood the depth of her request. It wasn't just a detour. It was a gesture of farewell—a bridge between the past and an uncertain future.
And so, the group set off, their hearts heavy with loss but determined to face whatever awaited them. Deep down, each of them knew that the balance of the world was unraveling, and their only hope lay in their unity and strength.