The King’s laughter rang out, cold and sharp, as their blades locked.
“You’re nothing but a shadow of what you could’ve been,” he taunted, his voice calm even as Eryon pushed against him with every ounce of his strength.
Eryon snarled, breaking the lock and lunging forward. His claws raked across the King’s dark armor, sparks flying as they met resistance.
“And you’re just a monster who’s going to die today,” he spat, his voice filled with venom.
The King sidestepped smoothly, his blade flashing as it swung toward Eryon’s side. Eryon twisted, narrowly avoiding the strike, and retaliated with a savage kick that forced the King back a step.
The ground beneath them cracked, each movement carrying the weight of their power.
Their battle was brutal, each strike tearing through the battlefield. The King’s sword pulsed with dark energy, its swings leaving trails of crackling magic in the air.
Eryon’s attacks were raw and relentless, his claws and fangs gleaming as he pressed forward with unrelenting fury.
The surrounding warriors kept their distance, the sheer force of the duel making the ground quake.
Cassian growled low in his throat, his hands clenched into fists as he stood ready, though he knew better than to interfere.
Lyra gripped her weapon tightly, her knuckles white as she watched the fight, her heart pounding in her chest.
Eryon lunged again, his claws striking the King’s shoulder. The armor gave way, shards of black metal scattering across the ground.
The King hissed, his crimson eyes flaring as he swung his blade in a wide arc. The force of the strike caught Eryon’s chest, sending him skidding back across the bloodied earth.
The King stalked forward, his smile returning as he twirled his blade in one hand.
“You’ve grown, I’ll give you that,” he said, his tone almost conversational. “But this is the limit of your power. You’re no match for me.”
Eryon rose to his feet, blood dripping from the fresh wound on his chest. His amber eyes burned brighter as he bared his fangs, his voice a low growl.
“We’ll see about that.”