The air trembled as the red and black figure descended from the sky and then crashing into the ground where Theron had stood just moments before. The impact unleashed a powerful explosion. Fire erupting from the spot.
The flames raged for a few seconds and casting orange glow across the battlefield before finally dissipating, revealing a man clad in black and red scales now standing tall amidst the charred earth.
Erend stepped forward from the charred crater and moved toward Adrius and scanning the Archmage for any sign of serious injury.
"You alright?" Erend asked with concern laced his tone.
Adrius still catching his breath, but he managed a weary smile. "Yes… I'm okay. Don't worry about me," he replied, the corners of his mouth twitching upward into a smile. "Just running out of Magic."
Erend nodded with relief in his face. Lysander stood frozen beside Adrius, his eyes wide as he took in the newcomer that suddenly come to their battlefield. The sheer power radiating from Erend was so cleard like an overwhelming force that Lysander could feel in his bones. He'd never encountered anything before. Who was this man?
Adrius noticed the disbelief etched on Lysander's face and turned to him, gesturing toward Erend. "Lysander, meet my friend. Erend. He's a Dragonborn."
Lysander's jaw tightened, his confusion evident as he stammered, "Wh–what?"
Erend glanced at Lysander, offering a brief nod. "Hi. Nice to meet you," he said. "We don't have much time to chat, though."
"No," Adrius agreed, his eyes shifting toward Theron who now stood a distance away, his expression no longer one of arrogance but one of wary calculation. "I believe he's the second Harbinger, Erend... the Great Calamity has sent him to us. I called you because we think we can handle him on our own."
Erend's gaze followed Adrius's line of sight then locking onto Theron. The two men stared at each other across the battlefield, the tension between them thickening like a storm ready to break. Theron's dark amusement had been replaced by an intense serious expression as he gauged this new arrival.
For the first time, it seemed Theron recognized a true threat.
"Yeah. I think he is," Erend muttered while his gaze fixed on Theron. He could feel the immense power radiating from him. It was a dark, malevolent force that stirred his instincts after he killed the first harbinger who hiding under the ground.
Erend clenched his fists. He know that he need to act quickly before that man cause more harm. He couldn't hold back any longer. That second harbinger needed to die and quickly.
Fortunately, Eccar was still stationed in the Elf Palace, ensuring that the elves were safe for the moment. That allowed Erend to focus solely on the threat before him.
"What do you know from the fight with him?" Erend asked, his eyes never leaving Theron.
The battlefield was littered with destruction that he sure was the scars of a fierce battle fought between Adrius, Lysander, and the monstrous enemy.
Erend could tell from the wreckage that Adrius had faced Theron's fury head-on and if they had survived this long they must have learned something crucial.
Adrius wiped the blood from his lip then spoke. "He has a weakness to water spells... at least, at first. But now, I'm not sure. We hit him with everything we had and yet he managed to heal himself after taking heavy blows. His power is not his own.
It comes from the Great Calamity itself. He calls it the Great Power."
Erend clenched his jaw, a ripple of anxiety running through him. It could be worse than he thought. If Theron was drawing his strength from the Great Calamity itself, could it be that It will give him more power when he need it?
However, the first harbinger just dead under Eccar's claw so Erend didn't think so. Maybe the healing he did after receiving Adrius's attack earlier was his last chance given by the Great Calamity.
"Alright," Erend said. Despite the gravity of the situation he felt a surge of confidence. He knew what he had to do. That man may be powerful, but Erend had faced worse and come out alive.
"I'll handle it from here."
Without another word Erend dashed forward, his body a blur as he surged toward Theron with intention only to kill him. His scales glinted and his figure cutting through the debris.
Adrius exhaled in relief while watching Erend's swift charge. He had been right to call for him earlier. Without the Dragonborn this battle might have already been lost. Now, there was hope. No, they can win. He believe it when Erend arrived.
Theron braced himself as he faced Erend, his snarl twisting into something feral. A primal sound that echoed across the battlefield. His eyes burned with hatred and his body began to pulse with dark energy.
A crimson cloak of thick congealed blood formed once more around him. But now it looks stronger and swirling like a living armor. With a final guttural growl Theron dashed forward. He refusing to back down despite the power he felt radiating from Erend.
He would not run. He would meet this Dragonborn head-on, no matter the cost.
Erend kept moving with incredible speed. His expression unflinching. As Theron closed the distance Erend raised his hand and summoning a torrent of water from his Water Dragon skill.
The wave of liquid surged forward with terrifying force. Crashing into Theron and pushing him back. The impact was brutal, yet Theron remained undeterred. He roared in defiance. His legs bending before he leaped into the air, breaking free from the water's grip.
While in the air, Theron gathered his dark energy then created a black orb that swirling in his hand. With a sharp flick of his wrist he hurled the orb at Erend.
Erend reacted instantly. He dodged to the side, the black orb hurtling past him and crashing into the ground with a violent black mist explosion that definitely corrupted.
Without missing a beat, Erend retaliated. He launched another bullet of water at Theron. The water bullet struck him, slamming into Theron mid-air and forcing him to descend.