----Chapter 35----
The void inside the cave was absolute, yet it breathed around Rubal like a living thing. Shadows twisted and stretched, whispering doubts and fears that clawed at his mind.
The faint orb of light that hovered around him flickered, trembling, but pulled him forward as if urging him onward.
In a distant corner, he saw a slumped figure, humanoid yet distorted by shadow: Iblis, the God of the Void, trapped in endless isolation.
The sobs that echoed from the figure cut through the oppressive silence, raw and timeless, carrying the weight of millennia.
Rubal's chest tightened, and memories erupted unbidden: the ship caught in the storm, the screams of men drowned by waves, his father clinging to the deck one last time before being swallowed by the sea.
Fire and smoke consumed the ship, leaving nothing but grief and rage behind. Astares had saved him, sparing what he cherished most and yet that same presence had caused his loss.
The bitter irony ignited something unexpected in Rubal: forgiveness, tempered with an unyielding resolve.
"I can help you," Rubal said, voice trembling but firm. "Even gods deserve freedom… even you."
Iblis lifted hollow eyes, deep wells of sorrow and madness staring back. "I cannot. These chains… they bind me. Alone. Always. Time is meaningless here. Eternity is my torment."
Rubal stepped closer, hands grasping the chains that hummed with forbidden, ancient magic. Pain lanced through him, fire biting into his flesh, yet he held fast.
"Why… why are you doing this for me?"
Iblis whispered, voice quivering like wind over blackened stone.
"I… I don't know," Rubal admitted, teeth gritted. "But we will never know unless we try. Together."
As Rubal poured his strength into the chains, memories of his father flared before him: the man's desperate eyes, the crash of the waves, the roar of the storm.
Anger and sorrow surged, twisting into resolve. He realized that the same determination that had once driven him to survive now drove him to save Iblis.
"Human… you are mad," Iblis said, trembling. "Do you understand what you risk? Your body… your soul… you could be consumed by this magic!"
"I don't care!" Rubal shouted, muscles burning, veins alight with pain. "I will not let you suffer alone any longer!"
The chains screamed, ancient energy lashing outward, resisting their combined will. The god's tears fell like molten silver, his voice raw with despair and hope.
Rubal felt every ounce of the god's centuries of solitude as though it were his own, his heart breaking for the being trapped for eternity.
Together, mortal and god strained. Light and shadow clashed, the void quivering under their combined power. With a final deafening crack, the chains shattered, rifts opening in the darkness as centuries of imprisonment unraveled.
Rubal collapsed, gasping, every muscle screaming, while Iblis rose towering, fragile, and free.
The void's oppressive weight lifted. Time outside had flowed differently. When Rubal stepped into the moonlight, he barely recognized the reflection staring back at him. Years of void time had changed him.
His hair flowed long and black, the black circle marking replaced by a radiant black sun tattoo. His eyes held the depth of one who had touched eternity, felt sorrow and hope entwined, and returned, bearing the weight of both.
And right before he knew it, he was already outside the cave standing as he gazed upon the clear night sky.
Before him, Brooke stumbled through the forest, carrying the wounded Bob and Bruce. The moment their eyes met, recognition struck. "Rubal," she breathed, tears streaking her dirt-streaked face.
He ran to her side. "Brooke, you are alive!" Relief washed through him, his voice choked with emotion. "I found the way. Iblis is free, and you are still alive because of Astares' blessing."
Brooke's sobs subsided, replaced by a fragile smile. "You saved me?"
"No," Rubal said, shaking his head. "She did. I only made sure I could find you. We have to help them now. They are not safe."
The forest trembled in the distance. Chaos ripped through the village. Faetalis' roar carried across the trees as the clash of steel and screams of combat reached their ears. Rubal's gaze hardened. "Then let us move. We cannot waste a second."
Meanwhile, the battlefield stretched across the village. Firelight flickered against collapsing walls and twisted timbers. Smoke coiled through the air, carrying the acrid stench of burning wood and blood.
Shadows danced across shattered cobblestones. The cries of terrified villagers echoed through the night.
Faetalis stood at the edge of the square, her battleaxe steady. She scanned the chaos, noting the devastation wrought by the invading forces. In the distance, a figure moved with terrifying precision: Gobura.
Each step he took left ruin in its wake. Massive trees splintered under the weight of his swing. Walls shattered as his blades cut a swath toward her.
A sudden, massive explosion tore through the square, sending smoke and debris high into the air. Faetalis braced herself as the shockwave rattled the ground. Flames licked at the remnants of the village, but her eyes never left Gobura.
He grinned, eyes alight with savage anticipation. "Is that all you've got? Why are you running away from me?" His voice carried across the burning village, dripping with mockery and bloodlust.
Faetalis took a deep breath, centering herself. Her mission was clear: protect the villagers, minimize casualties, and lure this monstrous force away from the heart of the village.
With each step backward, she measured her approach, drawing Gobura further from the burning homes and frightened civilians.
The wind whistled through broken timbers and charred trees, carrying the echo of clashing steel and distant cries. Faetalis tightened her grip on her axe, a silent promise in her gaze.
Gobura's eyes locked on hers, his grin widening, unaware that every step forward played right into her strategy.
With a thunderous roar, he charged. Trees cracked and splintered under the sheer force of his attack. The ground trembled beneath his weight. Faetalis inhaled sharply, muscles coiling, ready to meet him head-on.
The world seemed to pause. Smoke, fire, and the echoes of destruction swirled around them as the distance between predator and prey closed.
Their weapons met in a clash of raw power and skill, sending sparks flying into the night. The village held its breath, and the battle began in earnest.
Not long from the square, the forest floor trembled violently, sending shards of stone and splintered roots flying. From the shadowed canopy, a massive, sabertooth-like creature launched itself into the clearing.
It's black and red fur shimmered with heat, the burning tip of its long tail flicking through the air. Flames licked its forehead, casting ominous shadows across the trees as it landed with a thunderous impact.
Norton crouched atop a broken tree trunk, smirking as he summoned a monstrous shadow beast. It lunged toward Enix with claws tearing through the underbrush, aiming to pin him against the forest floor.
At the last second, Dreadfang Roc sprang from the canopy, leaping from tree to tree with terrifying agility.
His massive paws landed with crushing force, scattering rocks and debris, intercepting the shadow beast before it could strike. His glowing red eyes locked on the threat, teeth bared, tail ablaze, as the forest seemed to quake under his power.
Enix rolled to the side, breath caught in his throat. "Roc!" he gasped, watching as the monstrous guardian landed the full force of his might on the creature.
The shadow beast screeched, staggering under Roc's assault, as the forest shook and debris rained down around them. Norton's eyes widened, realizing his strike had been stopped at the last possible moment.
Roc's claws raked, teeth snapped, and tail whipped fire and fury, leaving the outcome uncertain.
The danger was immediate. Enix's life hung in the balance. And then, with a final, explosive leap, Roc struck between Norton and Enix.
"But in the flicker of flame and fury, Norton only smiled. His final card… still waiting to be played."