Chapter 40: Light Against the Devourer
841 Words
The battlefield fell into an eerie silence.
Thousands of warriors stood frozen, their eyes fixed on the glowing figure standing at the center of the plains.
Aria.
The Moon-Bound.
Silver energy surrounded her like a living storm, swirling around her body and rising into the sky like beams of moonlight piercing the dark clouds.
Even the wind seemed to pause.
Across the battlefield, Dravoryx stared down at her with growing interest.
His massive wings stretched wide, casting an enormous shadow across the broken ground.
“So this is the power of the Moon-Bound,” he rumbled.
His golden eyes gleamed.
“I must admit… it’s impressive.”
Aria said nothing.
Her focus remained absolute.
The energy gathering around her hands grew brighter with every passing second.
Behind her, Lunaris and Thalor stood ready.
The guardians were wounded from the fierce clash, but their presence remained powerful and steady.
They had bought her time.
Now it was her turn.
Dravoryx slowly descended to the battlefield again.
His massive claws dug into the earth as he landed with a thunderous impact.
The ground cracked beneath his weight.
“Come then,” the Devourer growled.
“Show me what you’ve learned.”
Aria stepped forward.
Each step left faint glowing symbols on the ground beneath her feet.
Her voice was calm but powerful.
“You’ve destroyed villages.”
Another step.
“You’ve slaughtered innocent people.”
Another.
“You’ve brought war to this land.”
Her silver eyes locked onto his burning golden ones.
“It ends here.”
Dravoryx laughed.
The sound rolled across the battlefield like thunder.
“You speak as if you’ve already won.”
His wings spread wide again.
“Let me remind you who you’re facing.”
The Devourer inhaled deeply.
Dark fire began building inside his jaws once again.
The ground trembled as the energy gathered.
“Run while you still can,” Dravoryx warned.
Aria didn’t move.
Instead, she raised both hands toward the sky.
The silver energy around her exploded outward.
A massive beam of lunar light shot into the clouds above the battlefield.
The dark sky suddenly opened.
Moonlight poured through the clouds like a divine spotlight.
The entire battlefield glowed silver.
Lycan soldiers gasped in awe.
Even Magnus looked stunned from his position on the ridge.
“What is she doing…?” he muttered.
Lunaris stepped forward proudly.
The Moon answers her call.
Thalor’s deep voice echoed across the battlefield.
The balance awakens.
Aria lowered her hands slowly.
The silver energy now flowed around her like a glowing river.
Then she pointed toward Dravoryx.
“Now.”
Dravoryx unleashed his attack.
A massive wave of dark fire roared across the battlefield toward her.
But Aria didn’t retreat.
Instead, she thrust both hands forward.
The lunar energy surged outward.
Silver light and black fire collided in the center of the battlefield.
The explosion shook the plains.
For several seconds, neither force gave way.
Darkness and moonlight battled violently in the air.
Dravoryx growled as he pushed more power into the flames.
“Fall!”
But Aria stood firm.
Her power grew stronger with every passing moment.
The silver light began pushing the dark flames backward.
Dravoryx’s eyes widened.
“That’s impossible.”
The lunar energy surged forward.
The dark fire shattered apart like broken glass.
Before Dravoryx could react, the silver blast struck him directly.
The Devourer roared in pain as the energy exploded across his armored scales.
The impact sent the massive creature crashing backward across the battlefield.
Dust and debris filled the air.
When the smoke cleared, Dravoryx lay partially buried in the shattered ground.
For the first time since the war began…
The Devourer had been knocked down.
The Lycan army erupted in cheers.
Kael stared at the battlefield in disbelief.
“She did it…”
Magnus, however, did not celebrate.
His eyes remained fixed on the fallen creature.
Because he understood something the others didn’t.
Dravoryx wasn’t defeated yet.
A low rumbling sound suddenly echoed across the plains.
The ground trembled again.
From within the crater, Dravoryx began to rise.
His wings slowly unfolded again.
Parts of his scales were cracked and glowing from the lunar strike.
But his golden eyes still burned with terrifying power.
Then the Devourer began to laugh.
Slowly at first.
Then louder.
“Magnificent…”
He lifted his massive head toward the moonlit sky.
“Absolutely magnificent.”
Aria’s expression hardened.
“You’re finished.”
Dravoryx looked down at her again.
His grin returned.
“Oh no.”
His voice dropped into a dark whisper.
“This was only the first round.”
Suddenly, the sky behind him began to twist with dark energy.
A swirling vortex of shadow opened high above the battlefield.
Magnus stepped forward slowly, watching the sky with satisfaction.
“It’s time.”
Aria frowned.
“What is that?”
Dravoryx’s golden eyes gleamed.
“Reinforcements.”
From the swirling darkness above…
Massive shapes began emerging.
More creatures.
Ancient.
Terrifying.
And just like the Devourer.
The real war had only just begun.
- Writer
