The Arrival

Zarathos's one eye burned with fury, glowing like an ember in the dim light of the battlefield. He turned his full attention to Kael, his mouth opening wide to reveal sharp, menacing teeth. From the depths of his throat emerged a crackling bolt of lightning. It surged forward, tearing through the air with a deafening roar and striking Kael with explosive force. The ground sizzled with raw energy as the lightning connected, sending Kael sprawling into the mud, his body convulsing in agony.

Kael's vision blurred, darkening at the edges. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest. He struggled to rise, his breaths coming in ragged, shallow gasps, his limbs trembling under the strain. The sheer power of Zarathos's attack was overwhelming, a relentless assault on his very being. As Kael fought to regain his footing, his eyes met Zarathos's. They gleamed with malevolent triumph, the primordial god's lips curling into a sneer.

"You are nothing but a thorn in my side, Kael," Zarathos hissed, his voice reverberating with the weight of ancient power. He opened his mouth, preparing to unleash another deadly strike. His one-eye burned with fury, embers reflecting in the carnage around him. He had lost his other eye due to the sacrifice he made to acquire the fragment. He lunged at Kael, but a sudden shift in the air chilled the very breath from the fallen warrior's lungs. A tremor ran through the earth, the metallic tang of ozone filling the air. Then, with a deafening crack, the sky itself seemed to split open.

A pillar of pure, celestial light erupted from the fissure, bathing the battlefield in an otherworldly glow. The light solidified, coalescing into a figure of awe-inspiring majesty.

Kael blinked through the haze, his heart pounding in his chest. As the dust began to settle, a figure emerged, bathed in a radiant celestial golden light that banished the surrounding darkness. His eyes, glowing like molten gold, cut through the gloom with piercing intensity. His hair, a striking brown streaked with lines of white, complemented his resplendent golden armor that shimmered with an inner light. In his hand, he held a gleaming sword, its blade alive with an ethereal glow. He stood tall, But it was his eyes that held the most profound power. Glowing orbs of molten gold, they seemed to see not just Zarathos, but through him, into the very fabric of existence.

Kael, momentarily blinded by the radiance, shielded his eyes with a groan. When his vision cleared, he saw his father kneeling beside him, his hand warm and strong on Kael's shoulder.

"Rise, son," Leor's voice rumbled, deep and powerful like the tolling of a distant bell. It wasn't just a sound; it was a presence, resonating deep within Kael's bones. He felt a surge of strength course through him, pushing back the fatigue and the lingering pain of Zarathos' attack.

"Father," Kael rasped, a wave of relief washing over him.

Leor's gaze softened, a flicker of concern passing through his golden eyes. "Rest, Kael," he commanded gently. "I'll take it from here."

Kael hesitated, his gaze drawn to Zarathos, who was struggling to rise shakily, his face contorted in a mask of rage and disbelief. "But-"

Leor's expression hardened. "You have fought valiantly, son. But this is a battle against a primodial god that now weilds a power greater than that of yours. You can't fight him alone." He stood, his gaze fixing on Zarathos. The very air crackled with anticipation.

Leor stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Zarathos, who had reverted to his humanoid form and was struggling to rise, his expression twisted with fury and pain. "You have brought destruction and chaos upon this realm, Zarathos," Leor declared, his voice resonating with an authority that shook the very foundations of the battlefield. "You have been a plague upon this realm, and it's time for you to return to your prison."

Zarathos's eyes widened in shock, his pride wounded as much as his body. "Leor, the guardian who defeated Xal'dar." he spat, venom dripping from his words. "I've heard tales of your conquest Demon King, but you guardians are no match for me. I have the power of the Fragment of Desolation."

With a commanding presence, Leor bellowed, "Demons, return to the demon realm!" The demons, recognizing their king's authority, obeyed instantly, retreating from the battlefield and vanishing into the shadows.

Leor raised his sword, the blade humming with power, casting a golden glow that illuminated the battlefield and with one swing, a shockwave was sent out it, destroying all Zarathos's humanoid army in an instant. "You will return to your prison. You seek to upset the balance of the realms, and that I cannot allow." Leor declared, his voice with a tinge of determination.

Zarathos's eye flickered with hatred, dark and malevolent. "You cannot stop me. No one can."

With a roar, Zarathos summoned his dark powers. Shadows coalesced around him, swirling like a storm of malevolence as he prepared to strike back. But Leor was faster. With a swift, fluid motion, he swung his sword, releasing a wave of golden energy that clashed with Zarathos's dark powers. The two forces collided in a brilliant explosion of light and shadow, casting wild, flickering patterns across the battlefield.

Kael, still recovering from the earlier attack, watched in awe as the two titans clashed. His father moved with a grace and precision that spoke of centuries of training, his every strike measured and powerful. Zarathos, driven by rage and desperation, fought back with equal ferocity, his dark power a tempest of chaos and destruction.

As the battle raged on, Meiza, Kyra, and Kron joined Kael, their faces set with determination. They knew that this confrontation was far from over and that their own strength would be needed to tip the scales.

"Kael," Meiza said softly, her hand resting on his shoulder, her touch grounding him. "Your father is here. This fight isn't just between them. Let us join in."

Kael nodded, his resolve hardening, his heart swelling with newfound courage. "I'm healing and gathering my strength. I intend to."

Kyra, her eyes never leaving the battle, whispered fiercely, "Let's give Zarathos the fight for his life."

Kron adjusted his gauntlets, the metallic clicks echoing in the tense air, a grim smile spreading across his face. " Let's give him hell."

As Leor and Zarathos continued their epic clash, their powers colliding with a ferocity that shook the battlefield, Kael and his companions readied themselves for the next phase of the battle. The fate of the realms hung in the balance, and they were determined to see it through to the end.