Adrius stood still while scanning the darkened forest around him. The atmosphere was thick with an unnatural energy and the shadows seeming to shift as if alive. He know that something was very wrong here.
His heart pounded in his chest as fear creeping up his spine. He had never felt anything like this in years. Despite his decades of experience the unease gnawed at him, a primal instinct warning him of the danger that had yet to come.
For a moment there was only silence. Then the soft rustle of leaves broke the stillness. His eyes narrowed, focusing on the direction of the sound. From the shadows, a figure began to emerge, stepping into the dim light that filtered through the dense canopy above.
The man wore a robe of deep crimson like the color of fresh blood. Its fabric shimmering slightly in the low light as if the blood that made his robe is moving.
As he came closer, Adrius's breath caught in his throat. The face that emerged from the shadows was one he had hoped never to see again. It is really him.
Theron.
The man who stood before him looked exactly as he had on the day of his execution, unchanged by the passage of time by some mysterious and dark power. His features were sharp, handsome, but also with an air of cruel arrogance. His eyes gleamed with intelligence and a smirk played on his lips as he looked at Adrius.
"Hello, Adrius my old friend," Theron said, his voice smooth, carrying an unsettling familiarity. "You've gotten old. How are you doing till now? I guess you still remember me."
Adrius felt his jaw tighten.
"Theron..." Adrius muttered.
"Yes. It's been a long time, hasn't it? But some things, it seems, never change."
"What have you done, Theron?" Adrius demanded. "How are you still alive?"
"A new world, Adrius. A world that will purge the weak and cleansed of the chains that bind it. The Great Power I now serve will reshape everything, and I will stand at its side as the architect of this new reality. It's not madness, Adrius, it's destiny."
Adrius tightened his grip on his staff, his resolve hardening. "If that's your destiny, Theron, then I'll do everything in my power to stop you."
Theron's smile faded, his expression turning cold and serious. "You've always been a stubborn one. But this time, you're standing against something far greater than you can imagine. Prepare yourself, old friend. Nobody can stop it."
With that, the air around Theron began to shimmer with dark energy, the shadows deepening and swirling around him as he prepared to unleash his power. Adrius knew this would be the battle of his life and he steeled himself. He can not run from him.
A sudden crackling sound filled the air, before Theron could react a powerful pillar of lightning shot through the darkened forest striking with the force of a spear hurled by immense power. The air sizzled and sparked as the lightning tore through the shadows, illuminating the forest in a blinding flash.
Adrius had known this. He had felt the familiar presence of Lysander moments before, sensed the gathering of his power as he prepared to strike. Now at the perfect moment Lysander had unleashed his attack.
The bolt of lightning slammed into Theron from his front, catching him completely off guard. The sheer force of the impact lifted Theron off the ground and make his body convulsing as the electricity coursed through him.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion followed as the lightning collided with Theron, sending shockwaves rippling through the forest.
The blast lit up the night, casting shadows as trees shook and leaves were torn from their branches. Adrius shielded his eyes from the intense brightness, feeling the heat and energy of the blast wash over him. The lightning dissipated few moments later, leaving behind a smoldering and charred ground where Theron had stood.
For a moment, there was only silence in the aftermath of the powerful attack.
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