Noctis’s voice rang out, sharp and accusing as he took a step forward, eyes blazing with defiance. “What have you done to him?” he demanded, his fists clenched. Shadows curled around him, coiling into an aura of deep, pulsing purple—a shade even darker and more volatile than the light Mundan had summoned.Mundan’s gaze shifted to Noctis, his expression as unreadable as ever. But before the tension could boil over, Jeremy raised a hand, his voice calm, almost serene. “Noctis. Relax. I’m fine.”Noctis faltered, his anger simmering down into confusion. “But… your eyes… your whole look…” He gestured vaguely, struggling to understand the emptiness that had replaced Jeremy’s once-fiery resolve.Jeremy’s lips quirked into a small, enigmatic smile. “That? I just encountered true power.” He straightened, his voice steady and resolute. “Now, let’s join them.”Noctis’s eyes narrowed in wary disbelief. “Huh?' He paused, clearly reluctant, before nodding. “Fine. But you’d better keep me in the lo
Kade’s face was drained of color, his breaths quick and shallow as he hunched over, trying to steady himself. He and the others had narrowly escaped the wrath of the sea god, the taste of death fresh on their tongues. The memory of that raw power, crashing around them in relentless waves, still rattled in their minds like a fever dream.“What the hell?!” Kade finally spat, his voice shaky as he clutched his sides, panting. “There’s no way we’re surviving here. This place is a death trap!”Mary shot him a sharp look, which only made him scoff in disbelief. “What?” Kaade snapped, defensive. “Am I lying, or just pointing out the obvious?” He folded his arms, turning away in frustration, muttering curses under his breath.Mary sighed, trying to steady her own frayed nerves as her gaze drifted into the eerie, mist-laden landscape around them. Her mind raced with uncertainty. “So... what do we do now?” she murmured, the question barely above a whisper, as if afraid to speak it too loudly.
Jabel and Helena’s group staggered forward, breaths heavy and limbs sore, as they reached the entrance of a looming cave. The flickering shadows danced on the rugged rock, echoing the blazing heat that had nearly devoured them. The fire god’s fierce assault was fresh in their minds, the feeling of intense heat still lingering on their skin, a reminder of how narrowly they had escaped. Each of them bore scars and torn garments from the battle, soot smudged across their faces like war paint.Helena couldn’t shake the vision of those eyes—two dark voids in the fire god’s inhuman face, cold despite the flames, and that cruel, slithering smile. She felt her pulse quicken just thinking about it, and she instinctively looked to Jabel, who stood nearby, his large frame silhouetted against the dying light. For all his usual strength and confidence, Helena noticed his hand trembling slightly, his jaw set in an expression she’d rarely seen—fear.“If not for Pinky…”
The icy expanse crackled beneath their feet as Noctis faced off with Iron, his gaze sharp and determined. Frost watched from his throne of glimmering ice, a bemused smile on his lips. He knew well enough to respect Noctis’s abilities, but he couldn’t resist the chance to test them.Iron, towering and silent, raised his arm, materializing a massive club of solid ice in his hand. Each crystalline detail glistened in the cold light, edges sharpened to deadly points. Across from him, Noctis unsheathed his dagger, its dark blade gleaming with menace.“This is it,” Noctis thought, steeling himself. He knew the terms of the duel—no powers, no enhanced strength, just raw, primal combat. He couldn’t unleash his aura, nor could he rely on his energy manipulation. It was simply strength against strength, blade against club.But even under those rules, Iron’s icy composition gave him a near-unbreakable durability. His strength was practically elemental, fused into his
Noctis’s grin hadn’t fully formed before a blizzard of icy shards surged violently toward his face. He raised his arm instinctively, but the sharp-edged frost bit into his skin, leaving trails of crimson along his knuckles. Wincing, he gripped his dagger, maneuvering it to deflect the relentless barrage. Each clash of metal against ice sent reverberations through his arm, his muscles screaming with each impact."His range… it’s insane," Noctis thought, gritting his teeth as he sidestepped the icy shards, trying to regain his focus. He blinked through the haze of frost, struggling to steady his breathing."Things would be so much easier if I could just use my powers." But even as frustration flared, he squashed it down. The thrill of a challenge stirred something fierce inside him, and he welcomed it.Before he could even recover fully, Brass closed in on him, each massive step cracking the ice beneath his feet. With towering limbs transforming like liquid steel into weapons of destruc
The air crackled with tension as Noctis and Brass circled each other, their eyes locked in fierce determination. Without warning, both warriors charged, each propelled by unrelenting strength. The sound of impact reverberated through the icy ground as their fists collided in a brutal punch to each other’s midsections. Noctis felt the sickening pressure as Brass’s fist dug into his gut, the force behind it almost knocking the breath from his lungs. Pain bloomed like fire across his abdomen, and for a moment, he fought the urge to retch. Brass, too, staggered from the blow, his icy form splintering where Noctis’s fist had made contact. Another jagged crack ran across his midsection, shards of ice falling to the ground. Yet he merely narrowed his glowing eyes, ignoring the fractures. Both warriors stepped back, a flicker of mutual respect passing between them even as they sized each other up, breathing heavily. As they steadied themselves, a transformation began to take hold in both f
Jeremy’s fists clenched as he muttered, “I’m ready.” The words left his lips reluctantly, his eyes reflecting uncertainty. This wasn’t what he’d wanted—yet here he stood, compelled forward with no other choice.A silence followed, stretching long enough that he began to wonder if he’d even been heard. Then, out of the ethereal stillness, Mundan materialized, his expression unreadable as he approached. Without a word, he placed a firm hand on Jeremy’s shoulder, and the world around them shifted.In an instant, they were transported. The landscape was like nothing Jeremy had seen before, an expanse of pure white that stretched endlessly in every direction. The air felt charged, as if it held secrets woven into the very fabric of reality. They were alone in the vast, colorless void.Mundan’s voice broke the silence, his tone solemn. “You have chosen the right path, son. Welcome to the Celestial Realm. From this moment forward, you are one of us.”Jer
Six months had passed since Jeremy’s departure to the Celestial Realm, and Earth stood on the verge of chaos. Without his leadership, the Dark Horses Guild and those he’d left behind faced a relentless barrage of threats. The Netherworld’s forces had unleashed a wave of destruction, the freaks and abominations flooding the mortal realm, bringing terror and bloodshed to the innocent. In the shadows, Burke—predicting the moves against him—remained elusive, shrouded in secrecy and defending himself with elite fighters and vicious beasts.James Detroit bore the weight of protecting both Jeremy’s guild and, more importantly, his family. He had shouldered these burdens, gathering allies where he could, including a recent alliance with the Dark Horses Guild. As Jeremy’s absence became more widely known, the attacks grew more desperate, coordinated with vicious precision. Soren, a prominent force from the Netherworld, had become their primary threat, and his incursions le