Ellie’s violet eyes flickered between Lady Audries, who lay unconscious, and Rendy, who worked tirelessly to heal her. Frustration was evident on Ellie’s face. She gritted her teeth, her knuckles white from how tightly she held her spear. The battlefield around her reeked of sweat, blood, and burning energy, but none of it mattered as much as the two figures standing before her.
Zya and Ande stood tall, their forms unwavering. The blue gems embedded in their foreheads pulsed with a sickening, rhythmic glow. Zya's laughter echoed through the labyrinth, an eerie, hollow sound that sent chills down Ellie’s spine.
Ellie’s heart pounded. “Rendy! How bad is she?”
“I don’t know!” Rendy’s voice was tense, his hands pressing against Lady Audries’ wound. “She’s stable, but she lost a lot of blood, and I can’t wake her up. The trance took too much out of her.” His fingers trembled slightly as he worked, frustration creeping into his voice. “Damn it... If only I had mastered stronger healing sacred arts, maybe I could bring her back faster.” He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “But like this... I don’t know if it’s enough.”
Ellie looked at Rendy, her expression sharp. "Focus on healing her," she said firmly, then turned her gaze toward Cassian. "Stay ready. Those things are plotting something more.”
Cassian moved closer, the ground beneath her trembling subtly as she channeled her power. She clenched her fists, feeling the weight of the earth respond to her will. "Then we have to hold them off. We can’t let her finish whatever she’s trying to do.”
Ande let out a wheezing chuckle. “It’s already too late,” he sneered. “You’re just standing in the way of something far greater than you can comprehend.”
Zya’s fingers curled around the Ring of Kismet. The once-pristine silver band darkened, tainted by the miasma seeping from the blue gem in her forehead. Tendrils of dark energy coiled around the ring, twisting and pulsating as if coming to life. The corruption spread, resonating with Ozymand’s core, causing the labyrinth itself to tremble violently.
A crackling sound filled the chamber as an ethereal, titanic dragon materialized from the ring’s energy. Its colossal form loomed above them, translucent yet radiating overwhelming power. The dragon’s maw opened wide, a deafening roar vibrating through the walls. Then, in a sudden burst of energy, it shot upward—its crimson essence piercing through Ozymand’s colossal body and streaking into the sky like a beacon of destruction.
Outside, Jun’de shielded his eyes as the red light exploded from Ozymand, carving through the stormy heavens. His gaze followed its trajectory, and his breath caught in his throat.
As the red light exploded, thousands of crimson threads filled the sky, weaving an intricate pattern that pointed toward the north. Jun'de closed his eyes as the brilliance momentarily overwhelmed his vision. His heart pounded in his chest, a strange, inexplicable dread settling in his gut.
"Mother Gaea, what is happening inside?" he murmured, his voice barely audible over the howling winds and crackling energy around him. The sky itself seemed to pulse with unnatural intensity, as if responding to some ancient force awakening within Ozymand.
Far beyond the battlefield, across the desolate plains and jagged mountains, two ancient figures stood in silence. Their massive, towering forms watched as the crimson light split the sky, illuminating the path before them. Their eyes gleamed with knowing anticipation: The way to Moraitus has been revealed. With slow, deliberate steps, the two began to move, following the direction shown by the Ring of Kismet.
With a guttural laugh, Midas leaped onto Atraxia’s massive back, his golden body glinting under the ominous crimson light. Atraxia, despite his massive whale-like form, lifted into the air with an eerie grace, his titanic wings unfurling from his sides. The air trembled as he soared, the winds bending to his will. Below, the earth quaked under the sheer force of his ascent, and the shadows of his colossal form stretched across the land. Together, they moved toward the sealed Moraitus, the sky itself pulsing with the weight of an ancient destiny unraveling.
——
The battle inside Ozymand grew more intense as Zya and Ande, two of Ozymand’s Seeds, unlocked the power of the Ring of Kismet. Their mission was complete: to find the clue of where Moraitus whereabout— with that Ozymand had entered the Pact of the Greater Titans Brotherhood. Ellie stood before them, she didn’t know the full extent of their plot, but she knew one thing: she had to protect those under her command.
With a sharp breath, she donned her diamond armor. The crystalline plates shimmered as they formed over her, molding seamlessly to her body. Without hesitation, she charged forward, aiming to knock the ring from Zya’s grasp.
Ande intercepted her, his remaining arm twisting into a bladed appendage. He slashed at her, but Cassian lunged forward, meeting the attack with a gauntlet of solid stone. The two clashed in a shockwave of force, the impact sending cracks through the labyrinth floor.
Ellie twisted her spear, striking low, forcing Ande back. Cassian followed up, slamming her foot into the ground. Spikes of earth erupted beneath him, forcing him further off balance.
For a moment, it seemed like they had the upper hand.
Then, Zya swallowed the ring once more and leaped onto Ande’s back. Their bodies convulsed violently, their forms melting into one another, their features twisting and fusing into a single, grotesque entity.
“We can’t let them merge!” Cassian shouted, driving her fist into the ground. Spikes of earth erupted beneath Ande, impaling its shifting form. It screeched, momentarily pinned, but the Zya seized the chance. With a guttural roar, it slammed into the first, their bodies convulsing as they began to fuse.
“No!” Ellie hurled her spear, aiming for the merging point, but it was too late. The resulting monstrosity towered over them, a pulsating abomination of fallen civilizations. Two rotating faces on its head grinned with eerie, knowing malice.
The fusion beast moved with unnatural speed. Cassian barely managed to summon a stone shield before a massive arm smashed into her, sending her skidding across the floor. Ellie twisted mid-air, landing just in time to parry a crushing blow with her spear. The impact sent cracks racing through the floor beneath them.
The labyrinth quaked with each exchanged blow, debris raining down like a storm of shattered history. The air thickened with dust and burning energy.
Outside, Jun’de fought his own desperate battle, his grip tightening around the fractured Dusty Dancer. Gargoyle-like monsters erupted from Ozymand’s colossal form, stone bodies descending upon him with unrelenting fury. He tried to summon the wind, but his ring’s damage made his power erratic—gusts formed, then sputtered, failing him at crucial moments. Each strike felled one beast, but their shattered remains reformed, their numbers overwhelming.
"Damn it!" Jun’de snarled, ducking as a massive claw swiped inches from his head. "Of all times for my ring to fail me!”
He spun, lashing out with a desperate arc of wind, but the attack flickered weakly before dissipating. One of the gargoyles lunged, its jagged maw snapping at his shoulder. Jun’de twisted at the last second, driving his knee into its chest. The creature barely staggered.
Another surged forward. He slammed his elbow into its face, but its stone body was unyielding. Pain shot through his arm. His breathing grew ragged.
"They just keep coming...!" He grit his teeth, swinging his spare baton in a last-ditch effort to carve space between himself and the swarm. The baton’s weak winds pushed them back, but only for a moment.
Jun’de sucked in a breath, planting his feet. "No more hesitation." If he couldn't rely on the wind, he'd rely on his fists. With a war cry, he surged forward, meeting the monsters head-on.
Inside, Ellie clenched her teeth. They were being overwhelmed. Then, her hand brushed against something tucked into her own belt—the talisman Cassian was supposed to give her. She had almost forgotten about it in the chaos of battle. The familiar texture sent a jolt through her memory.
——
****A flash of her academy days surged forward—Neil standing at the front of the classroom, his voice steady and firm as he introduced them to the Luminara Talisman, an ancient artifact capable of amplifying sacred art.
"This is not a tool to be used lightly," Neil had said, holding the talisman aloft. "It channels divine energy beyond normal capacity, allowing the wielder to invoke Heavenly Judgement—a powerful sacred art that binds foes in pillars of light before calling down a destructive celestial beam.”
He extended a hand, demonstrating. Runes shimmered in the air as he uttered the sacred chant:
"O light divine, break the chains of darkness! Pillars of sanctity, hold fast and bind! Let judgment descend—heaven’s fury, strike true!”
A radiant glow engulfed the room. Pillars of golden light erupted from the floor, locking an enchanted training dummy in place. Then, from above, a blinding column of energy crashed down, obliterating the target in a burst of pure celestial power.
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The students had watched in stunned silence. Ellie, in particular, had been awed—and overwhelmed. Back then, she had thought it was too much for her to handle. But now, she had no choice. ****
Ellie’s grip tightened around the talisman. She knew exactly what to do.
“Cassian! Grab Rendy and Lady Audries! We need to get out of here!”
Cassian hesitated but nodded. She rushed toward Rendy, pulling him up while lifting Lady Audries onto her shoulder.
Ellie raised her spear, her voice ringing with sacred intent as she chanted. Outside the labyrinth, Jun’de, locked in his own desperate battle, felt the shift—the awakening of an ancient power. His gaze snapped to the heavens, the sky churned violently, clouds igniting with golden streaks of light. His eyes widening as he recognized the forming celestial storm.
Realizing Ellie was invoking Heavenly Judgment, Jun’de reached into his pocket, fingers closing around another Luminara Talisman. Without hesitation, he affixed it to his baton, his grip tightening. Taking a deep breath, he hurled it toward the colossal titan, his voice raw yet unwavering as he echoed Ellie’s sacred words.
Inside the labyrinth, Ellie’s talisman flared with blinding brilliance. Her voice, resolute and commanding, rang through the chaos:
"O light divine, break the chains of darkness!
Pillars of sanctity, hold fast and bind!
Let judgment descend—heaven’s fury, strike true!”
Golden energy spiraled upward, merging with the heavens. Divine radiance pulsed across the battlefield, illuminating every corner of the labyrinth.
Outside, Jun’de felt the surge of power resonate through him. If Ellie could call upon the divine, so could he. With a deep inhale, he poured his remaining strength into the sacred art and raised his voice to meet hers, firm and unwavering:
"O light divine, break the chains of darkness!
Pillars of sanctity, hold fast and bind!
Let judgment descend—heaven’s fury, strike true!”
From within and without, their voices intertwined, two sacred arts converging into one. A radiant force surged through the battlefield as their combined power struck in unison—an unstoppable, divine reckoning.
The resonance of their combined chant shook the very foundation of the battlefield. Twin spirals of celestial energy intertwined, weaving a radiant tapestry of divine might. The sky split open, beams of pure sanctity cascading downward, striking their foes with righteous fury.
The titan’s movements ground to a halt, trapped in the unbreakable bind of light. The battlefield stood still for a breathless moment before the heavens answered their call—an incandescent column of sacred energy descended, engulfing their enemies in a blinding, purifying blaze. A final blinding beam of sacred energy tore through its core, opening an escape route.
As Ellie emerged from the crumbling battlefield, she clutched an unconscious Lady Audries in her arms. Cassian followed close behind, dragging a battered and barely conscious Rendy. They landed near Jun’de, whose breath was still heavy from battle. The colossal titan let out a final, agonized growl before its form shattered, breaking apart in cascading waves of divine light.
Jun’de exhaled and walked toward Ellie, flashing her a lopsided grin as he raised a thumbs-up.
“Not bad,” he said, teasingly. “Good job keeping up with me.”
Ellie, still catching her breath, let out a small chuckle and shook her head. “You wish,” she shot back before nodding in acknowledgment.
Jun’de turned his attention to his juniors—Cassian and Rendy—who had just collapsed onto their knees, exhaustion clear in their eyes. Without hesitation, he reached out and patted their heads, ruffling their sweat-drenched hair.
“You two deserve a promotion,” he quipped, glancing between them. “Maybe it’s time for me to retire and let you take over.” His tone was lighthearted, but there was an underlying admiration in his voice.
Rendy groaned, swatting his hand away. “Like hell we want your job.”
Cassian chuckled weakly, too exhausted to argue.
Their brief moment of relief was cut short. A sharp tremor ran through the battlefield as a low, guttural hum resonated in the air.
Jun’de’s grin faded. Something was wrong.
The colossal form of Ozymand began to crumble, dust and debris cascading like a dying monolith. Jun’de’s breath hitched—something was wrong.
From within the chaos, a malevolent presence slithered through the air, thick and oppressive.
Then—a blur of motion.
The Fusion Seed of Zya and Ande emerged, its form pulsating with unhinged energy. Unlike the titan’s shattered remains, it was untouched, an unrelenting force ready to strike.
Before Jun’de could react, it moved.
A streak of destruction, passing him in a blink—Then—impact. The creature slammed into Cassian and Rendy, its fist crushing the air between them. The sheer force sent them hurtling across the battlefield, their bodies crashing into the distant stone walls.
They didn’t get back up.
“Cassian! Rendy!” Ellie’s voice rang out, but there was no answer.
The Fusion Seed pulsed again, its presence growing heavier. Then, without hesitation, it lunged, a raw embodiment of devastation streaking toward Jun’de.
Jun’de braced himself, but before he could react, Ellie threw herself forward, her hands glowing with radiant energy. In an instant, a massive diamond-forged shield materialized between them, the crystalline surface shimmering as it took the full force of the attack. The impact sent cracks spiderwebbing across the barrier, but it held.
Jun’de glanced at Ellie, stunned by her quick reaction. “Not bad,” he muttered.
Ellie’s eyes never left the monstrous seed. “Focus.” The Fusion Seed reeled back, preparing to strike again. The battle wasn’t over yet.
——
The Fusion Seed let out an unearthly shriek, it charged forward, erratic and unpredictable. Ellie and Jun’de barely had time to react as a tendril of pure force lashed out toward them. Ellie leapt backward, forming a diamond barrier to intercept the attack, while Jun’de sidestepped, sand and wind swirling weakly around him.
Something was off. Jun’de’s broken ring made it harder to channel his power. His control over the wind was sluggish, and the sand beneath his feet, once his greatest asset, dragged instead of propelled. He tried to pivot, but the unstable currents yanked him in the wrong direction—straight into Ellie.
The two nearly collided, Ellie stumbling as she tried to regain her footing. “Damn it,” Jun’de cursed under his breath, frustration flashing across his face. The Fusion Seed seized the opportunity, striking again—fast. But Jun’de wasn’t out of tricks. Instead of fighting his faltering momentum, he leaned into it, using the erratic gusts to dodge in unexpected angles. His agility turned his instability into a decoy, forcing the Fusion Seed to constantly adjust.
Ellie saw what he was doing instantly. She didn’t need to hear it. Didn’t need to ask. They had fought together for so long that words were unnecessary.
Ellie struck from the front—diamond constructs manifesting mid-air, smashing into the seed’s outer shell, forcing it backward. Jun’de weaved through the chaos, his steps unsteady but calculated, his strikes relentless. He lashed out, embedding shards of hardened sand into the creature’s joints, disrupting its movement. He wasn’t aiming to damage—he was setting up Ellie for the next strike. And she understood.
She followed his lead seamlessly, striking when he faked, attacking when he feinted. The two delivered blow after blow, forcing the creature to reel back, unable to gain footing. But the battle was taking its toll.
Ellie’s breath came in sharp gasps, each movement sending pain searing through her limbs. Jun’de wasn’t faring any better—his legs wobbled, his grip on Dusty Dancer tightening in desperation. The battlefield around them was in ruins, but the Fusion Seed showed no signs of slowing.
Instead, it pressed harder.
A barrage of attacks rained down, forcing the two into a corner, the relentless assault tearing through their defenses. Ellie barely managed to conjure another diamond shield, but cracks webbed across its surface as each impact shattered its integrity. Jun’de tried to counter, lashing out with bursts of wind, but his control wavered—his ring was faltering.
The Fusion Seed’s energy flared violently, its core pulsating with a terrifying glow. Then, it reared back, its form tensing, gathering power.
Ellie’s eyes widened. “It’s charging,” she breathed.
Jun’de grimaced. “Mother Gaea—”
The creature’s jaws unhinged, a blinding blue light swelling within its throat.—A devastation beam.
Ellie’s mind raced. If that thing fired at full power—they wouldn’t survive. With her last shred of strength, Ellie slammed her hands together, summoning another diamond barrier between them and the impending blast. Her shoulder throbbed—one of the earlier beams had pierced through, leaving a deep, burning wound. She gritted her teeth, refusing to falter.
She turned to Jun’de. “Stay behind me!”
Jun’de snarled. “Like hell I’m letting you take this alone!”
Without waiting for her reply, he thrust his hand forward, pouring every last ounce of his power into Dusty Dancer.
The wind howled, swirling into a desperate vortex. His control was slipping, but he didn’t care—if he could redirect the beam, even a little…
The Fusion Seed unleashed its attack.
The world exploded in blue light.
Ellie braced as the blast slammed into her shield, the sheer force driving her backward. Jun’de’s winds whipped violently, but even with their combined efforts, the attack was too strong—the diamond barrier cracked, fractures spreading like veins of doom.
They were about to give in.
And then—A raindrop fell.
Then another.
And another.
The air shifted, the scent of fresh rain washing over them.
A memory flashed through their minds—Hans, standing beside them in battle, his calm voice cutting through the storm.
"You can do it, I know you can.” His confident grin, the trust in his eyes. "You both are the best in the kingdom. I trust you.” Ellie’s eyes widened, her heart pounding. Jun’de felt it too. A pulse—a connection deeper than words. Their rings glowed. Their heartbeats aligned.
The rain intensified, mixing with the dust and debris around them. The ground trembled as their magic synchronized, a force beyond anything they had ever conjured before.
Together, they roared. ”UNISON MAGIC—DIAMOND TEMPEST!”
Ellie’s diamond shards shattered into a swirling maelstrom, merging with Jun’de’s powerful winds. What was once a controlled storm now became a hurricane of destruction, the raindrops turning razor-sharp within the raging vortex.
The Fusion Seed had no chance to escape.
The tornado struck with devastating force, tearing through its body. A deafening scream. A final burst of light. And then—silence.
The battlefield settled, the wind and rain dying down.
Jun’de and Ellie collapsed to their knees, bodies aching, breaths shallow. They had nothing left to give. A metallic clink echoed in the distance. The Ring of Kismet rolled from the remnants of the creature.
“We… we did it,” Ellie panted, offering a weak but triumphant smile. But before relief could set in—the air changed. A new figure emerged from the settling dust.
It looked nearly identical to the Fusion Seed, yet…different. Its form was smoother, more refined. A massive, gleaming blue gem pulsed in the center of its abdomen. Without a word, the entity reached out, pulling the remaining fragments of the Fusion Seed into itself. The moment the last remnant was absorbed, it turned its head toward them and the ring not far from him.
Ellie’s muscles tensed. She conjured a diamond spear—too late.
The entity barely acknowledged them. Its gaze flickered toward the Ring of Kismet, already lying amidst the debris, but it made no move to reclaim it. As if it no longer held any purpose.
Then, without another glance, it sank into the earth, vanishing without a trace.
Silence.
Ellie swayed, then collapsed. Jun’de barely caught her in time, lowering her gently to the ground. His own body trembled, barely holding on. His hand drifted to his ring—Dusty Dancer. The gem was completely shattered. Broken beyond repair.
Jun’de stared at the fractured remains of his most trusted artifact. He had pushed it to the limit—and now, it was gone. He let out a small, breathless chuckle. “…Dusty Dancer had a good fight.” And then, the battlefield faded into silence.
