Elemental Blitz

20

Rael moved through the dark streets of Dreyholm, the city’s lanterns flickering in the night wind. The weight of Elowen’s words still clung to his mind, but he pushed them aside. There was no time to dwell on the Vael’Thor right now. Lukus Hun, the Azure Sky leader he was after, was close. The Shadow had already told him where the man was hiding: a fortified building near the city’s merchant quarter, surrounded by mercenaries and loyal Azure Sky soldiers.

Rael smirked. They thought their numbers would keep them safe.

As he walked, he could feel the presence of others—powerful ones—moving through the city. His hand twitched, ready for a fight. It wasn’t just Lukus waiting for him. More Grey Hawks, and with them, someone much more dangerous. The Shadow stirred, whispering in his mind.

They’re here for you. Magi from the War Academy. They think they’ll stop you this time.

Rael grinned, amused. “Let them try.”

He reached the edge of the merchant quarter, slipping into the shadows between two buildings. His senses stretched out, feeling the energy of the city. He caught the scent of magic in the air, but it was something familiar. His eyes narrowed.

The streets were quieter here, but Rael could still hear the hum of the city in the distance. As he turned a corner, he spotted Lukus Hun’s fortified hideout. Mercenaries patrolled the perimeter, weapons at the ready. Inside, he sensed the presence of several mages, their energy weaving through the building like a web.

Then he felt her.

A sharp, powerful presence moving toward him. He turned and saw her step out of the shadows. Tall, wrapped in the dark blue cloak of the Magi War Academy, with silver runes etched into her sleeves and chest plate. Her sharp, golden eyes locked onto him as she drew a slender longsword from her back.

“Rael Phaze,” she said, her voice steady but laced with authority. “You’ve made quite the mess.”

Rael raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms casually. “And who might you be?”

“I am Selene Varex,” she replied. “Instructor at the Magi War Academy. I’ve been sent to deal with you.” Her gaze hardened. “You’ve gone too far, and the Academy won’t stand by any longer.”

Rael chuckled. “Too far? I haven’t even gotten started, Selene.” He glanced past her, sensing the Grey Hawks lurking in the shadows behind her. “And you’ve brought friends. How sweet.”

She ignored his taunt, pointing her sword at him. “I’m giving you one chance to surrender. If you resist, we’ll bring you down—here and now.”

Rael sighed, rolling his shoulders as the prismatic energy of his magic flickered around him. “You should’ve listened to me before. I warned them. Let’s take this fight outside the city, away from the innocents. If you insist on doing this here… well, that’s on you.”

Selene’s eyes narrowed, but before she could respond, Lukus Hun’s soldiers burst from the nearby hideout, their weapons drawn and elemental magic crackling around them. Lukus himself stepped out from the entrance, his smug grin faltering when he saw Rael standing there.

“s**t,” Lukus muttered. “You were supposed to stop him, Varex!”

Selene glared at the Azure Sky leader. “Stay out of this, Hun.”

But Lukus wasn’t listening. He signaled his mages, and a barrage of fire and ice shot toward Rael. Selene’s Grey Hawks leapt into action, drawing their enchanted swords and preparing for battle.

Rael sighed, shaking his head. “So, working together I see. Good, you can die together.”

He raised his hand, and the air around him shimmered as the Elemental Blitz surged into existence. Massive constructs of fire, stone, and wind materialized beside him, their glowing eyes fixed on the enemies in front of him.

“Kill the mages,” Rael commanded, his voice cold. “Protect the innocent. Show these fools what real power looks like.”

The Elemental Blitz roared as they charged into the fray. The fire construct led the way, its massive claws igniting as it swiped through Lukus’s mercenaries, turning them to ash in an instant. A stone construct followed, crashing through the soldiers with a force that shook the ground beneath their feet.

Selene’s Grey Hawks moved to intercept, their enchanted weapons flashing in the light of Rael’s magic. The air filled with the sound of clashing steel and crackling energy as the battle erupted in the heart of Dreyholm.

Rael’s shadow-infused magic danced around him as he moved like a specter through the chaos. He dodged Selene’s first strike with ease, her longsword slicing through the air where he had stood moments before.

“You’ll have to do better than that,” Rael taunted, summoning a wall of wind to deflect another of her attacks.

Selene gritted her teeth, her sword glowing with arcane energy as she unleashed a barrage of strikes. Each one was precise and deadly, but Rael’s Prismatic Cognition allowed him to see the patterns of her magic before they even formed. He ducked, dodged, and countered with ease, his movements fluid and effortless.

“You’re fast,” Selene said through clenched teeth. “But you won’t win.”

Rael laughed, summoning a wave of shadow and lightning that forced Selene to leap back, her sword absorbing most of the energy. “You think this is about winning?”

He snapped his fingers, and one of his wind constructs surged forward, slamming into Selene’s Grey Hawks with enough force to send them crashing through the nearby market stalls.

Selene growled, unleashing a torrent of fire from her sword, but Rael countered with a shield of shadow, absorbing the flames before they could touch him.

“I told you,” Rael said, his voice icy. “Move this fight out of the city.”

But they didn’t listen.

Lukus, realizing his men were being cut down like wheat, finally made his move. He drew a pair of enchanted daggers and lunged at Rael from behind, his blades glowing with venomous energy.

Rael didn’t even turn. He snapped his fingers, and a stone lion appeared behind him, slamming into Lukus with enough force to send the Azure Sky leader crashing into the side of a nearby building.

“I’m not in the mood for games, Lukus,” Rael muttered, walking toward the crumpled form of the Azure Sky leader. “You should’ve run while you had the chance.”

Lukus groaned, struggling to his feet, but before he could react, Rael’s hand shot out, wrapping him in tendrils of shadow.

“Goodbye, Lukus,” Rael whispered, his voice colder than death.

The shadows tightened around Lukus, and the man’s screams echoed through the streets as Rael’s magic tore him apart. Blood splattered against the stone walls, and then… silence.

Selene watched in horror, but Rael barely glanced at her as he turned to face the remaining Grey Hawks. His Elemental Blitz surged forward, tearing through the last of them with ruthless efficiency.

The battle was over in minutes. The streets of Dreyholm were littered with the bodies of mercenaries, mages, and knights their blood staining the cobblestones. Rael stood in the center of it all, his magic crackling around him like a storm barely contained.

Selene, battered and bruised, glared at him from where she had fallen, her sword still in hand.

Rael met her gaze, his voice cold. “I told you to move the fight. This city didn’t have to suffer.”

“You’re a monster,” she spat.

Rael’s expression softened, but there was no kindness in his eyes. “No, Selene. I’m just better at this than you.”

He turned away from her, letting the last of his Elemental Blitz dissolve into the night. The Shadow whispered in his mind, satisfied with the c*****e.

“They’ll never stop coming for you,” Selene called after him, her voice shaking with rage. “The Kingdom won’t stop.”

Rael paused, glancing back over his shoulder. “Let them come. Oh, and…goodbye.”

He snaps his fingers and black flames ingulf her. He walks away as he screams fill the night.