The earth shuddered under the massive boots of the Soul Knight Commander. Towering over all others, his jagged armor glowed with fractured soul energy. His voice echoed like ancient thunder.
"You carry a stolen power, boy. I will carve it from your bones."
Kaelion took one shaky breath. "Try."
With a roar, the commander charged, his axe swinging in a heavy arc. Kaelion leapt back just in time, the blade crushing stone and earth where he had stood. The shockwave sent a blast of dust and rock into the air.
Kaelion countered, slamming his hand into the ground. Jagged spikes of stone erupted—but the commander shattered them with a single swing. Kaelion barely blocked the follow-up strike, forming a quick rock shield, which cracked instantly.
"He's way stronger than the others…" Kaelion thought, gritting his teeth. "But I've trained. I won't lose."
Meanwhile: Sylene in the Storm
Above the battlefield, Sylene hurled lightning into swarms of Soul Archers and magic-wielding enemies. She danced on currents of wind, dodging arrows and fireballs. Below her, some of the allied fighters were falling back.
She swooped low and raised her hands. "You're not dying today!" A surge of wind lifted allies to safety while another shock of thunder scattered advancing Soul Knights.
But her power wasn't limitless. Her breathing grew heavy. Still, she glanced toward Kaelion, who was locked in battle. "He needs more time. I'll hold them off."
Raik staggered through the chaos, short on mana. "I've only got two more long-range jumps in me," he muttered.
He spotted a group of Soul Archers lining up a volley aimed directly at Kaelion. Without hesitation, he blinked in front of them, dropped a smoke crystal, and teleported three feet to the side—bamf!
The archers fired into smoke and missed.
Raik grinned, panting. "Still got it…"
The commander's axe came down again—Kaelion raised both hands, calling up a dome of rock. The axe cracked through it, knocking Kaelion back into a boulder. He hit hard, groaning.
"You are not worthy of that stone," the commander growled.
Kaelion wiped blood from his lip. "I don't care about 'worthy'… I care about protecting people. And if this power can help me do that—then I'll use every last bit of it."
He slammed his fists together. The ground rumbled. A massive stone arm burst from the earth and struck the commander, sending him skidding back. Kaelion leapt forward, launching himself with an earth platform, his fists glowing.
The commander caught Kaelion midair—but Kaelion stomped the air platform again, launching a final stone spike into the commander's chest, blasting him back.
The Soul Knight Commander knelt, cracks running through his armor. Green energy leaked from his chest. He stared at Kaelion.
"This... is not over."
He vanished in a burst of soul flame—teleported away by a mage.
Kaelion collapsed to his knees, gasping. Around him, the battlefield was still raging.
Sylene landed beside him. "You okay?"
Kaelion stood slowly. "No... but I'm not done yet."