The Emergence of a Stronger God Hunter
The night in Mythra hung dark and heavy, lit only by the faint stars and the gentle golden glow of the obsidian diamond sword in Lesendra's hand. In the basement of their hiding place, Lesendra and Seira sat facing each other, their hands clasped, speaking in soft whispers filled with pain and confessions.
"I don't know… if I can keep going, Seira," Lesendra whispered. "Sometimes I feel this power… will destroy me too."
Seira gazed at him deeply, her eyes gentle.
"You won't be alone, Lesendra. I'll stay here, with you, until the Dark Throne falls."
Lesendra took a long breath, lowering his eyes to the shimmering sword in his hands. The golden light trembled softly, as if responding to their words.
But suddenly, a deep voice echoed from the dark corridor outside the basement. The voice was low, heavy, like metal scraping against stone.
"Interesting… very interesting. A half-god human, and a traitor to the Throne, comforting each other amidst the ruins."
Seira tensed, her eyes widening.
"No… it's…"
Lesendra looked up, his eyes turning red, his hand gripping the sword tighter.
"They've found us."
From the darkness of the corridor emerged the figure of a stronger god hunter. Nearly twice the height of an ordinary man, his body was encased in layered black armor with gold carvings, his face hidden behind a demonic helmet with glowing red eyes. On his back rested a black trident spear, radiating a dark aura that seemed to wrap around the air itself.
"Little mortals," his voice echoed, shaking the walls.
"I am Kael'Var, an elite hunter of the Dark Throne. I'm not here to capture you… I'm here to end your story, here and now."
Lesendra stood up, though his body still trembled, the golden glow from his sword flickering.
"I won't surrender. If you want to destroy me, then come and try!"
Seira stood by his side, drawing her bow and nocking an arrow.
"Lesendra, we can't fight him alone. We have to hold out, find an opening!"
Kael'Var raised his spear and drove it into the ground, unleashing a wave of black energy that cracked the earth and sent debris flying. The air around them grew heavy, their breathing became labored, and Lesendra's sword flickered violently, its golden light merging with his right hand.
"I'll burn you all to ashes," Kael'Var hissed, his eyes glowing red.
Lesendra clenched his sword, standing tall even as his body trembled.
"If you want to burn, then I'll be the fire that burns back!"
Seira looked at Lesendra, her eyes glowing.
"We fight together, or we die together. Those are the only choices."
A loud crash sounded behind Kael'Var—elite god troops began to pour into the corridor, closing off their escape route. Seira and Lesendra exchanged a look, nodding in unison. In the midst of the encirclement, the golden light of Lesendra's sword remained steady, merging with his right hand, radiating an aura that made the air itself tremble.
A great battle was about to erupt.
"Little humans," Kael'Var hissed, his voice echoing ominously. "You're nothing compared to the power of the Dark Throne."
Lesendra gripped the obsidian diamond sword tightly, its golden light merging with his right hand. His eyes burned with fury and determination, even though his body was still weak and an open wound gaped at his shoulder.
"I may be small… but I'll be the fire that burns you all."
Seira stood beside him, drawing her bow with trembling hands.
"If we die, we die together. But we won't surrender without a fight!"
Kael'Var swung his spear, creating a wave of black energy that shattered the floor, sending stones flying. Lesendra leapt aside, his sword flaring brilliantly, creating a shield of golden light that held back Kael'Var's attack even as it knocked him off his feet. Seira's arrow struck a joint in Kael'Var's armor, causing him to stagger slightly.
"I'll tear you apart piece by piece," Kael'Var growled, leaping forward with his spear raised high.
Lesendra raised his sword, now glowing deep gold, focusing his mind. His breath was ragged, but his eyes shone with light. Golden currents began to flow from the sword throughout his body, merging with his right hand, forming glowing patterns on his skin. He tried to control the power, listening to its wild, vibrating flow.
But the energy was too vast, his body shook violently, his legs nearly buckling.
"No… not enough yet…" he muttered.
Kael'Var slammed his spear down toward Lesendra, unleashing a shockwave that shattered the ground, sending dust and rocks flying. Seira screamed, trying to pull Lesendra back, but Kael'Var was too fast. The spear was about to pierce Lesendra's body—when at the last moment, the golden light of the obsidian diamond sword flared brightly, enveloping Lesendra in a stable aura.
"I will not lose!" Lesendra shouted. With all his might, he slashed his sword, releasing a wave of golden energy that struck Kael'Var's spear, breaking its outer layer and forcing Kael'Var backward.
Seira ran to Lesendra's side, gasping for breath.
"You… you're starting to control it!"
Lesendra looked at her, his eyes gleaming gold.
"Not completely… but I'm beginning to hear it. This sword isn't just a weapon. It's a living current. And I have to merge with it."
Kael'Var snarled in rage, his eyes blazing.
"You're just making me more eager to kill you!" He stomped his foot, creating a wave of black energy that crushed the corridor walls, causing massive debris to fall.
Lesendra stood in front of Seira, raising his sword that now shone a brilliant gold, merging with his right hand, radiating a pulsing golden aura.
"Come on, Kael'Var! Try to destroy me!"
A brutal battle erupted. Lesendra's sword clashed with Kael'Var's spear, sending flashes of light and deafening booms that echoed through the underground. Seira fired arrows at Kael'Var's weak points, momentarily distracting him and giving Lesendra openings to strike.
But Kael'Var was too strong. Every blow cracked the floor and slammed into Lesendra's body with crushing force. Blood flowed, breath labored. The sword's glow flickered, signaling that its power was still not fully controlled. Lesendra staggered, his knees almost giving way, the sword trembling in his grip.
"You… will not win," Kael'Var muttered, raising his spear for the final strike.
Seira screamed,
"LESENDRA!"
In that moment, Lesendra heard a faint voice—not the voice of a god, not the voice of an enemy, but his own heart. The voice of his adoptive father, once telling him:
"True strength isn't just the power to destroy, but also the strength to endure."
Lesendra gripped his sword tighter. The golden light steadied, slowly radiating gently and brightly, merging perfectly with his right hand. He swung the sword with a motion that felt natural, not forced, creating a golden wave that pushed Kael'Var back, forcing him to retreat a few steps and brace his spear.
But before Lesendra could finish the attack, his body faltered. Exhaustion and wounds brought him to his knees, his breath ragged. The golden glow dimmed, though it still shimmered faintly from his hand and sword.
Seira quickly pulled him back, firing a smoke arrow to cover their retreat. Kael'Var stood amidst the rubble, his eyes glowing red, watching them slip away into a narrow corridor.
"Run along, little mortals," Kael'Var hissed.
"But I will find you again. And next time… there will be no place to run."
Behind the crumbling ruins, Lesendra and Seira panted, gravely wounded but still alive. The faint golden glow still pulsed from Lesendra's hand, signaling that this battle was only the beginning of a greater storm.