The tension between Lokk and Lovigary reached a fever pitch, their auras clashing violently in the space between them, sending sparks of energy rippling outward. The air crackled with the anticipation of battle, and the other Harbingers and ancient beings gave them a wide berth, knowing this clash had been brewing for centuries.
Lokk, his eyes darkened with rage and resentment, stalked toward his brother with deliberate steps, each one heavier than the last. His muscles coiled like a predator ready to pounce, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. "Finally," he growled, his voice low and dangerous, "no more hiding behind your empire or your allies.
Just you and me, brother." His gaze locked onto Lovigary, unflinching, hungry for the confrontation that had been denied for too long.
Lovigary, in contrast, stood perfectly still, a smirk dancing across his lips as he watched Lokk approach. He exuded a calm, almost casual arrogance, as if he were above the brewing storm. His arms remained at his sides, his hands relaxed, but his eyes were sharp—an emperor assessing the battlefield before making his move.
"You've always been so eager to prove yourself," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "But we both know how this ends, don't we?"
Lokk's lip curled into a snarl, and without warning, he lunged at Lovigary, the ground beneath him splintering from the sheer force of his movement. His fist ignited with dark energy as he swung directly at Lovigary's face, the impact powerful enough to shatter mountains.
But Lovigary barely moved. He tilted his head to the side, the punch whistling past his ear by mere inches. His smile widened as he sidestepped Lokk's follow-up strike with a fluid grace, almost as if he were dancing around his brother's fury.
"Is this it, Lokk?" Lovigary mocked, his voice filled with amusement. "I expected more from you."
Lokk growled in frustration, his rage intensifying. He spun around, his foot sweeping toward Lovigary's midsection, but again, Lovigary was too fast, gliding backward just out of reach. The ground erupted where Lokk's kick landed, debris flying in every direction.
"Stop dodging and fight me!" Lokk roared, his voice echoing across the battlefield. His entire body tensed with the need for violence, his energy surging wildly around him. His aura burned dark and chaotic, like a wildfire raging out of control.
Lovigary's smirk faltered for a brief moment as he observed the raw, untamed power radiating from his brother. "Very well," he said, his voice losing some of its mocking edge. He raised his hand, and suddenly, the air around them thickened with power. "But don't say I didn't warn you."
With a flick of his wrist, Lovigary sent a wave of golden energy crashing toward Lokk. The attack moved like a tidal wave, shimmering with imperial might, as if Lovigary were commanding the very heavens to strike down his brother.
Lokk snarled in defiance and slammed his fists together, creating a shockwave that rippled outward, colliding with the golden energy. The two forces met in a violent explosion, the ground quaking beneath their feet. For a moment, neither brother gave an inch, their powers locked in a deadly stalemate.
But Lokk wasn't finished. With a roar of fury, he poured even more of his energy into the clash, his body glowing with dark, fiery light. His muscles bulged, veins pulsing with power as he forced Lovigary's attack back inch by inch. "You're not stronger than me anymore, brother!" he spat through gritted teeth, his eyes blazing with fury.
Lovigary's smirk vanished, replaced by a grim expression. He planted his feet firmly, his own power surging in response. "Strength isn't everything, Lokk," he said coldly, and with a sudden burst of speed, he disappeared from Lokk's sight.
The man beside her, Garrick, kept his gaze firmly on Saryna. His eyes were piercing, carrying the weight of both experience and command. "She hasn't answered my question yet," he said with a slight edge to his voice, ignoring the chaos beyond them. Then, after a brief pause, his expression hardened. "But since He gave us orders, we'll handle this ourselves. No matter who got here first."
Saryna's hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of her blade, her heart racing. She could feel the weight of their presence pressing down on her, like a storm waiting to break. The air seemed to crackle with tension as the horses shifted, their powerful muscles twitching under their riders, ready for whatever command would come next.
Hera tilted her head, a slight smirk dancing on her lips as her eyes flicked from the battlefield back to Saryna. "Don't worry," she said lightly, "we're not here to make enemies... we are here to end you all."
Saryna's jaw clenched. She could feel the silent threat beneath the surface of their words. These two weren't like the others she had faced—they were far more dangerous.
"First, we need to get rid of the other unwanted guests," Garrick said, his sharp gaze fixed on Lovigary and the others standing on the battlefield.
"Leave that to me," Hera replied calmly, her voice laced with confidence. She reached into her storage ring, producing a shimmering disc-like object that immediately drew everyone's attention.
Garrick's eyes widened in surprise, and even Saryna, who rarely showed her emotions, raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "How did she get her hands on that?" Garrick muttered to himself. He had only heard whispers about such an artifact, one capable of extraordinary control.
The disc in Hera's hand pulsed with a faint, ancient energy. It was a smooth, metallic object, engraved with intricate runes that seemed to swirl and shift as if alive. The item allowed its wielder to select any number of targets, no matter how powerful, and bind them within its grasp. Once confined, the chosen targets were rendered immobile, as though sealed in a different plane of existence.
It was a tool of absolute control, one that only the most dangerous of individuals had ever wielded.
Hera's calm demeanor remained as she raised the disc, her fingers moving in a precise motion across its surface. "You'll be sitting this one out," she murmured, directing the power of the disc at Lovigary and the six others.
In an instant, glowing tendrils of energy shot from the disc, snaking through the air toward their targets. Lovigary and his companions barely had a moment to react before the ethereal chains wrapped around them, freezing them in place. Their bodies were suspended mid-motion, as though time itself had come to a halt.
They were then pulled to the side of the battlefield, confined and unable to interfere.
Garrick's expression softened into a smirk. "Impressive," he muttered, casting a glance at Hera. She responded with a slight nod, her eyes still focused on the task at hand.
With the lesser threats now removed, Garrick and Hera turned their full attention to the Harbingers. The true battle was about to begin.
The Harbingers, towering and monstrous, radiated an aura of overwhelming power. Yet, Garrick felt an exhilaration rising within him. "Now that we're no longer distracted..." he said, his voice low and steady.
Hera simply smiled, the disc still pulsing with energy in her hand, as they prepared to face the Harbingers head-on.