Volume 7: The Battlefield of Two Realms
War drums thundered across the scorched plains outside the Obsidian Citadel. Demons lined the cliffs—wings unfurled, blades humming with magic. At the far edge, human battalions formed rigid ranks, shields raised, mages chanting spells that lit the sky blue.
Between the two armies stood Elias and Azeryn.
Azeryn's cape whipped like a dark banner, her eyes blazing with queenly fury. "This is your last chance," she called to the humans. "Turn back. This war will doom both realms."
The human commander rode forward astride a gleaming warhorse. Elias recognized him instantly.
"Commander Rydell…" Elias breathed. "My mentor."
Rydell's face twisted—not with joy, but disappointment edged with disgust. "Elias… I thought you dead. To see you standing beside the Demon Queen—This proves corruption runs deeper than we feared."
Elias stepped forward. "I was not corrupted. I was saved. Azeryn is not our enemy."
Rydell scoffed. "You speak like a traitor."
Spellcasters raised their staves. Tension snapped like a drawn bowstring.
Azeryn whispered to Elias without looking away from the enemy army. "If they attack first… I will not hold back."
Elias squeezed her hand. "Let me try one more time."
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The Spark of War
Elias took a deep breath and called out, "Humans! I am Elias Raith! I crossed realms by accident—yes—but I stand here of my own free will. The demons did not enslave me. They accepted me when I had nothing."
A murmur rippled through the human ranks.
But Rydell only raised his sword. "The boy is lost. Archmages—fire!"
A volley of blazing spells streaked through the sky toward Elias and Azeryn.
Azeryn's eyes widened. "Elias!"
Elias's marks ignited before she could intervene. Golden and crimson light surged around him, forming a shield that swallowed the incoming spells. The explosion lit the battlefield, but their figures remained standing, untouched.
Human soldiers recoiled in panic.
Demons roared in awe.
Azeryn stared at her husband with something close to fear—and something deeper than admiration. "Your power… it's growing beyond even my calculations."
Elias shook, breath trembling. "I don't know how I did that."
"You responded to instinct," Azeryn said. "To protect."
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A New Enemy Awakens
The ground suddenly cracked apart.
From the rift between the armies rose a shadowy figure cloaked in twisting darkness—neither demon nor human. Its voice echoed like a scream from the void.
"At last… both realms gathered in one place. Let the cleansing begin."
Azeryn stiffened. "No. It can't be—"
Elias grabbed her arm. "Azeryn, what is that thing?"
She swallowed hard.
"The Void Sovereign… destroyer of worlds."
And it had awakened.