Arcane Bonds

Eden’s heart pounded in her chest as the sound of the slow, deliberate clapping echoed through the silence that had gripped the arena. Her head snapped toward the source of the applause, and her eyes widened in shock and confusion. High above, on the floating tribune where the announcer had once stood, now hung lifeless, a man clad entirely in black appeared. His figure was imposing, wrapped in darkness, and a nefarious smile twisted across his face. A jagged scar slashed from his forehead to his chin, distorting his already cruel features as he stared down at the scene below with amusement.

Behind him, looming like a shadow of doom, stood a massive colossus—towering at least 2.5 meters tall. Even with the heavy black coat the figure wore, there was no mistaking the raw power and overwhelming presence that radiated from him. Muscles bulged beneath the fabric. His very existence seemed like a threat in itself.

Eden's breath caught as the scarred man slowly raised his wand to the sky. The twisted length of wood emitted a sickly green glow, and as he muttered an incantation, the very air pulsed with malevolent energy. Above him, a massive magic circle formed in the sky, dark and ominous, its intricate lines twisting like serpents. The crowd began to murmur in fear, some stepping back, while others stood frozen in terror. The circle pulsed once, twice, and then with a thunderous crack, a massive portal tore open in the sky.

Through this hellish rift emerged hundreds—no, thousands—of mages, riding grotesque demonic beasts, each with the body of a bat and the head of a lizard. Their wings flapped ominously, casting dark shadows over the arena as they descended from the portal. Chaos erupted in the stands as the crowd screamed in panic, scrambling for safety.

But the true horror was yet to come. From the center of the portal emerged a creature unlike any other—massive and terrifying. Its body was covered in jagged black scales, eyes burning with an infernal red glow, and its grotesque form was an embodiment of pure malice. The beast's wings spread wide, blotting out the sky above, and it let out a deafening roar that shook the very foundations of the capital.

The peaceful atmosphere of the capital shattered the moment the demonic beasts descended from the portal. The roars of the monstrous creatures echoed across the city, their cries filled with a nightmarish resonance that sent waves of terror rippling through the streets.

Riding atop this nightmarish creature was another figure clad in black, even more fearsome than the first. His coat billowed in the wind, and he carried a wand that resembled a long skeletal finger, twisted and unnatural. His presence was suffocating, an aura of death and despair enveloping him as his demonic mount circled the sky above the capital.

In the stadium, where moments before the crowd had been captivated by the intense battle between Eden and Valen, the energy shifted in an instant. Screams erupted from the stands as the enormous black portal in the sky crackled with ominous energy, spewing forth a horde of black-clad mages and hideous demonic beasts. The creatures poured out like a plague, their grotesque forms soaring on leathery wings, casting dark shadows over the once-bright arena.

People scrambled from their seats, knocking each other down in their frantic rush to escape. "Run! Run for your lives!" one voice cried, soon drowned out by the cacophony of thousands of panicked citizens trying to flee. Parents clutched their children, dragging them through the aisles as the beasts dove toward the crowd, talons gleaming and fangs bared. A bat-like creature swooped down, snatching a man from the crowd, his terrified scream lingering even after he disappeared into the dark sky.

Above the stadium, the black mages, riding on their foul, lizard-headed bats, surveyed the carnage with wicked grins. Spells of dark energy rained down from the sky, crashing into the stadium's walls and sending chunks of stone tumbling into the crowds below.

Beyond the stadium, the city itself fell into disarray. In the capital’s grand square, citizens screamed as monstrous creatures swooped low, toppling market stalls and scattering merchants. The bells of the city’s towers rang out in desperate alarm, but even the clang of iron could not drown out the dread that spread like wildfire.

In every direction, people fled, their eyes wide with terror as the dark mages began their onslaught, setting fire to the streets and summoning creatures that clawed their way up from the shadows themselves. Families were separated in the panic, children crying out for their parents amidst the throngs of bodies pushing through the streets.

A young woman stumbled in the chaos, only to be caught by a stranger who pulled her up just as a demonic creature smashed into the ground where she had fallen. She screamed in terror as the creature, all claws and twisted limbs, snarled and lashed out at those nearby. The stranger threw up a magical shield, barely protecting them both before shouting for her to run. She obeyed, disappearing into the panicked mass of people fleeing the city center.

The palace guards tried to rally themselves at the city’s gates, setting up defensive lines, but the sheer number of dark mages overwhelmed them. Black lightning crackled through the air, striking down soldiers where they stood, their bodies left twitching in the streets as their comrades scattered.

Those who could fight cast desperate spells, but the dark mages were prepared. A towering figure, clad in black robes and riding a massive demonic beast, hovered above the city walls, casting wide spells that sucked the very mana from the air, draining the strength of the defenders. His wand, long and skeletal, crackled with dark energy, and wherever his gaze fell, destruction followed.

As the chaos unfolded, the great demon grotesque form blotted out the sun, wings spread wide and eyes burning like twin suns of malevolence. Its roar sent shockwaves through the city, shattering windows and causing buildings to tremble. The very ground seemed to shake beneath its presence. Panic turned to outright terror as citizens realized there was nowhere to hide from such a beast.

People trampled over one another in a desperate attempt to escape, their only goal now survival as the sky above them filled with the sight of more demonic creatures descending like a plague. The orderly streets of the capital, once symbols of its prosperity, were now filled with overturned carts, bodies, and the sound of distant, growing destruction.

Eden, gasping for breath, felt her legs tremble beneath her. The scarred man lowered his wand, a satisfied grin spreading across his face as he surveyed the terror he had unleashed. He gestured lazily toward the battlefield, his voice carrying a twisted mockery.

Mira scanned the chaos unfolding around her, her gaze locking onto the scarred man standing menacingly above the arena. Her eyes narrowed as memories surfaced, her heart pounding. Then, without hesitation, she stepped onto the rail of the balcony. “Protect your sister, Eve,” she commanded, her voice firm. Then, without waiting for a response, she leapt from the tower.

In mere seconds, with a powerful, resounding impact, Mira landed in the arena, her presence commanding attention. She appeared between her injured daughter, Eden, and the unconscious Valen. Without missing a beat, she raised her wand, and a green magic circle bloomed beneath both Valen and Eden. Valen’s wounds rapidly healed, though he remained unconscious, while Eden’s injuries began to close so swiftly that one could see the healing with the naked eye. Mira flicked her wand again, and a cloud of blue mana enveloped Eden, revitalizing her.

"Go find your sisters, Eden, and leave the arena. This is no place for a child to mess around," Mira ordered, her voice firm but filled with urgency. "Head to the special chamber in the estate—this is a real emergency. Take care of them please."

Eden, reluctant but obedient, glanced at her mother’s serious expression, knowing the gravity of the situation. She nodded and began to retreat, but not before casting one last worried look at Mira.

As Mira stood alone, with her daughters' safety in mind, Mira shifted her focus. As she began chanting, her clothing transformed into a pristine white battle suit, her sword gleaming as she unsheathed it. Her eyes burned with fury as she pointed her blade at the scarred man, who now watched with a twisted smile.

“How can you still be alive?” Mira shouted, disbelief and fury etched into her features. “I killed you with my own hands!”

The man, arms crossed, hugged himself as if savoring the tension in the air. His nefarious grin widened, showing a glimpse of madness. “Oh, Mira—how delightful to see you again. Or should I say… Adeline Sylvara?” he taunted. “It’s been so long since we last crossed paths. Back then, you were younger, fiercer, with a different name and a different life. You thought you killed me, didn’t you? But the Dark Sect of Noctis saved me from death.” He gestured to himself theatrically. “Now here I am. “After the Dark Sect saved me, you disappeared. We thought you were dead. Imagine my surprise when I heard rumors of an immortal mercenary in Drakhelm, a woman known as Mira. Then, she marries the famed Light Marshal and becomes part of the nobility. But do they know the truth? Do they know that you're the lost princess of Sylvara? The one who fought against the Noxious Sects of Noctara and stood in the Great War?”

The scarred man chuckled darkly, eyes gleaming with amusement. “Did you ever tell your daughter here about our history? About how I was the one who slaughtered those pretty little girls in Verdantia before you cut me down?” He cast his gaze toward Eden. “Did you know, child, that your mother was the one who killed me? A Sylvaran princess—quite the liar, isn’t she?”

Mira’s face hardened as his words dug into the past she had long left behind. Her grip tightened around her sword, muscles flexing with tension. “Don’t you dare speak about the past i left behind, i'm no longer a Sylvaran princess, you foul, psychopath murderer,” she spat, her fury barely contained.

Mira’s eyes flared in rage, and with a flex of her powerful muscles, she hurled her sword at him. Mira's sword moved with blinding speed, cutting through the air with a sonic boom. The scarred man had anticipated it, his magical barrier appearing just in time. But to his shock, the force of the sword shattered it, the blade’s tip stopping just short of his face.

Before he could react, Mira was upon him, appearing in a blur behind her sword, ready to deliver a final, devastating blow. But he just smiled at her then a great shadow loomed behind Mira. She noticed the colossus, the scarred man’s massive puppet, appearing from thin air. She had only seconds to flip away and block the colossus’s second strike, his enormous fist sending her flying across the arena. She landed gracefully, but her heart raced with fury.

The colossus moved first, lunging forward with a suddenness that belied its massive size. Its fists came down in rapid succession, powerful strikes precise, controlled, and devastating. Mira sidestepped the first blow, her feet barely touching the ground before she moved again, dodging the follow-up strike with a graceful twist of her body.

But the colossus was relentless. It pressed forward, throwing a combination of punches that forced Mira on the defensive. Each punch from the colossus landed with enough force to shatter stone, and Mira could feel the pressure building with every narrowly dodged attack. The arena echoed with the sound of its fists crashing into the ground where she had just been, sending tremors through the earth.

The colossus moved with a distinct fighting style, one that caught Mira’s attention immediately. Her mind raced, analyzing each movement, the precision and grace hidden beneath the puppet’s hulking frame. There was something hauntingly familiar about the way it fought, but the colossus’ face remained concealed beneath a black hood, making it impossible to confirm her suspicions.

Determined, Mira surged forward. With a swift strike, she sent the colossal figure flying across the arena. As the puppet soared through the air, Mira followed up with a lethal strike, aiming to decapitate her foe mid-flight. The colossus barely managed to dodge her attack, but her blade ripped through the hood, tearing it in half.

When she landed on the platform again, she froze.

The hood fell away, revealing the dead, emotionless face of someone she knew all too well—someone who had been her mentor in the army, her comrade in the brutal wars of Sylvara.

Her heart lurched. A flood of memories surfaced, paralyzing her for a brief moment. The man before her had taught her how to develop in the army, about strategy, she even healed him multiple times in the brutal war of Sylvara and Noctara. And now, he was nothing more than a mindless puppet, controlled by the twisted magic of the scarred man.

The scarred man's cruel laughter filled the arena, echoing in her ears. “Ah, you recognize him,” the scarred man purred. “Your old friend and mentor, General of Sylvara. I believe you fought side by side once, didn’t you? Now he’s one of my finest puppets. Isn’t it beautiful? Death Puppeteer magic, one of the most dangerous dark element arts in history, and now your dear comrade serves me for eternity.” His voice dripped with mockery, feeding off Mira's visible distress. “Isn’t it a touching reunion?”

Mira gritted her teeth, rage and sorrow warring within her. She tried to recover, but the shock of seeing her former mentor in this state slowed her reactions.

"eliminate the girl." The scarred man commanded, his eyes gleaming with sadistic glee.

The colossus turned its empty gaze toward Eden, who stood at the edge of the arena, eyes wide with fear and confusion. Mira snapped back to reality, her maternal instincts kicking in. "No!" she screamed, pushing off the ground to intercept.

But the shock had slowed her, and she knew she wouldn't reach Eden in time.

Just then, a torrent of flames erupted between Eden and the advancing colossus. Magnus Draymore and his wife appeared in a burst of fiery magic. With a swift motion, Magnus brandished his wand, casting fiery chains that coiled around the colossus, binding it in place. His wife followed with a powerful fire orb, launching it at the puppet and sending it hurtling hundreds of meters away.

The woman moved swiftly to Valen's side, lifting her unconscious son gently. She glanced at Eden, her expression stern but not unkind. "Leave now, child. This is no longer your fight," she commanded before disappearing with Valen in a swirl of flames.

Magnus turned to Mira, his gaze intense yet filled with a grudging respect. "Pull yourself together, Mira," he said firmly. "Thank you for healing my son. Now we're even."

Mira nodded, swallowing her grief as she refocused on the enemy before them. Mira tightened her grip on her sword. “This time it's personal, Malachar Draven, this time no one will save you.” Her eyes burned with renewed determination.

Malachar's laughter echoed once more. "How touching!

Both of them turned to face the now known as Malachar Draven and his puppet, preparing for the inevitable battle. Malachar laughed again, clapping his hands with wicked delight. “Oh, this is getting good. Let’s see if you two can stop me, Mira. Let’s see if you can survive.”