The void of space was no safe place, especially with King-level Guardians whose threats were unpredictable. But before her thoughts could drift further, a figure suddenly appeared before her.
Lein stood tall, his aura radiating with undeniable power. His eyes locked onto Aurora, scrutinizing her as though searching for something. "You," he said in a flat yet intense tone, "do you know them?" The question startled Aurora. She tried to answer, but the words seemed frozen in her throat. Her body trembled, her gaze fixed on Lein's emotionless face.
Lein let out a long sigh, appearing slightly annoyed. "Hmph… this woman," he muttered, turning away from Aurora. His attention now shifted back to Kaelth and Hanes, who were at the height of their confrontation.
Kaelth, his body now fully covered in shimmering dragon scales, turned his gaze to Aurelius. "You, whose side are you on?" his voice echoed, laced with a subtle threat in every word. Aurelius' beautiful face displayed only a faint smile, but there was a spark of confidence in his eyes.
Without a word, Aurelius disappeared from where he stood. When he reappeared, his aura exploded like a wave of pure, holy light, enveloping the surroundings in energy that was both soothing and terrifying.
The light surrounding Aurelius was so pure it inspired awe. Even those watching from afar felt as though they were compelled to bow in reverence. Kaelth, his gaze sharp, gave a brief nod. "Thank you," he said flatly, before redirecting his attention toward Zkeron, the old man standing silently in the distance, exuding a dark aura like a thick mist.
Yet Zkeron remained unmoved. His cold stare merely returned Kaelth's gaze without any intent to intervene. "I hope you still care about the race behind you," Kaelth said, the threat clear in his tone. After confirming that no one else would interfere, Kaelth refocused entirely on Hanes. His gaze now burned with seething fury, ready to destroy.
A thunderous roar shook the battlefield, echoing like a storm across the area. The sound was so intimidating it made the air feel heavier. Amidst the rumbling, Kaelth's body was enveloped in dense blue energy. His hands transformed into sharp claws that glimmered brilliantly. With a powerful leap, he lunged at Hanes like a bloodthirsty beast.
Hanes was already prepared. With an elegant motion, he raised his hand, and a massive brush appeared out of thin air. The brush looked mystical, its tip glowing like golden ink. With smooth yet deliberate movements, Hanes began painting in the air. Each stroke of the brush formed glowing patterns, like ancient calligraphy imbued with profound meaning. "Advance," he said softly, almost a whisper.
The glowing patterns suddenly exploded, emitting a bright yellow energy that cut through the air toward Kaelth at high speed. However, Kaelth merely shifted his body slightly, dodging the attack effortlessly. "Too slow," he muttered, his voice dripping with confidence. He continued moving forward, closing the distance to Hanes.
Hanes' eyes remained calm. He resumed painting in the air, this time with more decisive movements. The pattern that formed resembled a great mountain, solid and majestic, as though it would summon the very peaks from the earth. "Go!" shouted Hanes, and the pattern floated forth, transforming into a massive mountain that emerged from the void. The mountain descended with a deafening roar, heading straight for Kaelth.
Yet Kaelth was unstoppable. With his glowing claws, now transformed into powerful fists, he surged forward. The enormous mountain collided with Kaelth with a force capable of obliterating anything in its path.
But instead of retreating, Kaelth punched through the mountain with his fist. Boom! A tremendous explosion shattered the mountain into shards of energy that scattered in all directions. "You want to claim my body? Nonsense!" Kaelth roared, his voice reverberating with rage.
Suddenly, Kaelth's advancing figure vanished. Like a shadow swallowed by darkness, his presence disappeared in an instant. Hanes continued to look forward, unaware of the danger approaching from behind. "Husband… behind you!" Lyra shouted from afar, raising her hands in panic, trying to warn him.
Kaelth reappeared behind Hanes with astonishing speed. His sharp claws, enveloped in a deadly blue dragon aura, were poised to strike. In a sweeping motion, he swung his claws downward, aiming for Hanes' neck with brutal force. Every movement exuded an inevitable death, ensuring Hanes' body would not remain intact.
Puff! Yet as Kaelth's claws struck, Hanes' body turned into a cloud of gray smoke, dissipating into the air. No flesh, no blood, only emptiness. "Damn it, escaped?!" Kaelth bellowed, his voice filled with frustration and fury. He felt as though he had been played, like a tiger losing its prey at the final moment.
In the distance, Hanes reappeared. His body remained shrouded in a calm aura, though it was clear he had just narrowly avoided death. His hands moved quickly, painting another pattern in the air.
This time, the pattern took the shape of a large net, glowing yellow with pulsating lines of energy. The net expanded, hovering above Kaelth, ready to ensnare him at any moment. Hanes smirked faintly, "Let's see who gets caught this time," he murmured softly.
Kaelth stood tall, his body exuding unshakable confidence. He showed no signs of wariness, as though the threats around him were nothing more than a gentle breeze. But then something strange began to happen.
His eyes changed, shifting from their normal color to glowing white that radiated an icy brilliance. His irises spun slowly, forming black patterns like living flames, as though his eyes were portals to primordial power.
Suddenly, powerful vibrations rippled through the air. The void surrounding the battlefield began to quake, producing a rumbling sound that shook the soul. The vibrations were so profound they reached Lein and the other observers in the distance.
They exchanged glances, their expressions alert. "The dragon's heartbeat?" Aurelius murmured, his voice tinged with disbelief. He had been observing from afar, but now it felt as though he was being drawn into the intensity of the battle.