As Kaelan and Thorne approached the clearing where he had left the others, the air grew thick with tension. Faint flashes of light pierced through the trees, accompanied by the sounds of battle—clashing steel and furious roars.
Kaelan broke into a sprint, with Thorne close behind. When they reached the clearing, they were met with a horrifying sight.
Elara, Kain,draven,liora and Eira were locked in a desperate battle against Zephyros, God of the Tempest. The deity hovered above them, his storm-forged form wreathed in lightning and swirling winds. His every movement unleashed a surge of destructive energy, sending the group reeling.
Kain was thrown against a tree by a powerful gust, his blade clattering to the ground as he struggled to stand. Eira's attempts to channel her magic were cut short by a bolt of lightning that struck dangerously close to her, forcing her to dive for cover. Elara, her starlight shield cracked and flickering, stood defiant but clearly outmatched.Iiora sent herself being a warrior was charging on against the raged god, keeping zephyros from gaining distance with them while draven though an exceptionally skilled fighter can only use poisons, lightning gauntlets and not magic like the rest who has long range attacking abilities.He knew he would need an open range to poison the god alongside his gauntlets and that's if poisons itself can damage a god.
"You dare challenge me?" Zephyros boomed, his voice echoing like thunder. "You are but insects before the fury of the storm!"
Kaelan's eyes widened in rage as he spotted Orin on the ground, writhing in pain, probably the first person that was ambushed. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, gripping his scythe."Papa".
"Kaelan, wait!" Thorne shouted, grabbing his shoulder. "That's Zephyros—one of the strongest gods. You can't take him head-on!"
Kaelan shrugged off Thorne's hand, his shadowy aura flaring dangerously. "I don't care who he is. He's hurting them."
"Think this through!" Thorne warned, but it was too late.
Kaelan charged into the fray, his scythe blazing with Soulfire. He zoomed on elara's shield as he propelled himself head on into the air,appearing behind Zephyros in a swirl of darkness and wind.
"You'll pay for this!" Kaelan roared, swinging his scythe with all his might.
Zephyros turned just in time, catching the scythe with his storm-forged hands. The impact sent a shockwave through the clearing, the sheer force of it knocking Thorne and the others off their feet.
"You dare strike a god and that fire it is you the cursed one" Zephyros snarled, his golden eyes narrowing as he quickly let go of the scythe as the blaze wasn't ordinary.
Kaelan gritted his teeth, pushing against the god's strength. "I won't let you hurt them!"
Zephyros sneered, his free hand summoning a gale that sent Kaelan flying backward. "You are bold, but boldness without strength is folly!"
Kaelan hit the ground hard, but he rolled to his feet, his scythe already raised for another attack. Zephyros unleashed a flurry of wind blades, disrupting some of the attack and taking the rest head on, he still charged, closing the distance with blinding speed.
This time, Kaelan's scythe found its mark, slashing across Zephyros's shoulder. The god staggered slightly, more in surprise than pain as a ripple of blood zeeped out his shoulder.
"Did I just....bleed?"Zephyros said to himself as he mixed his anger with excitement." Finally,an insect pose a challenge"He stretched out his arm as if accepting the challenge then locked his eyes of rage on kaelan who was trying to regain his stamina.
"You... you think your mortal weapon can harm me? Without your inner powers you're nothing but an insect,a weakling depending on his weapon." Zephyros growled, his form crackling with renewed fury.
Thorne, having recovered, charged into the fray, his hammer glowing with earthen energy. "He's not alone!"
Together, Kaelan and Thorne fought against the tempest god, their combined efforts forcing Zephyros to take them more seriously. But even their teamwork struggled against the might of the tempest who took the challenge on another level,others not able to keeping up with their slashes around the outgrown whirlwind.
Kaelan and Thorne fought valiantly against Zephyros, their coordination pushing the tempest god harder than he had anticipated. The clash of elemental forces—Soulfire and earth against wind and storm—lit up the clearing like a divine battleground. Yet, despite their efforts, the storm proved unrelenting.
Zephyros raised his hands, summoning a swirling vortex that ripped through the battlefield. "You've amused me, mortals, but it ends here!"
Kaelan dashed forward, his determination allowing him to slip past the raging winds. His scythe struck again, grazing Zephyros's armor and drawing a faint trail of golden ichor.
Zephyros snarled. "Enough!"
With a swipe of his gauntlet, a bolt of lightning surged from the heavens, aimed directly at Kaelan. He raised his scythe to block, but the sheer force of the strike hurled him backward. As he crashed into the ground, the chain holding his necklace—an heirloom he had always worn but barely questioned—snapped.
The moment the necklace broke, the air around Kaelan shifted. A pulse of energy erupted from him, sending shockwaves through the clearing. His body was consumed by Soulfire, the ethereal flames burning with a heat that defied nature.
"No...." Orin said faintly as the others were helping him recover faster.
"What between heaven and earth".The surprised kain said in awe.
Rising to his feet,he was no longer the Kaelan they knew. The Soulfire engulfed him entirely, his eyes now glowing with an intense, otherworldly light and his smile wild like a child would taste sweetness.His humanity seemed lost, replaced by an overwhelming desire to destroy as his grip on his scythe hardened; blazing the more.
Zephyros narrowed his eyes. "So,that is your true form huh. Come then, monster. Show me the depths of your rage!"
Kaelan didn't respond with words. He moved with a speed and ferocity that defied logic, clashing with Zephyros in a storm of fire and wind. Each swing of his scythe sent arcs of Soulfire that scorched the very air, countered only by the tempest god's winds.
The clearing became a maelstrom of chaos. Trees ignited in flames and were simultaneously torn apart by Zephyros's gales. The others—Elara, Kain, Eira, and Thorne—could only watch in horror from the edges of the battlefield.
"We have to do something!" Thorne shouted, his voice barely audible over the raging elements.
"We can't!" Kain yelled back. "If we get any closer, we'll be killed!"
Elara stood frozen, her heart sinking as she watched Kaelan consumed by the very power that defined him. Tears welled in her eyes. "This isn't him," she whispered. "He's losing himself…"
As the battle raged, the ground beneath them trembled. From the shadows of the forest, another presence emerged—a calm yet commanding aura that cut through the chaos.
It was Sylphira, Goddess of Nature, her emerald eyes glowing with serene power. Her voice was soft yet resonant, carrying through the storm.
"Enough, children," Sylphira said, raising her hands.
Vines and roots burst from the ground, weaving through the flames and winds to restrain both combatants. Kaelan struggled violently, the Soulfire burning away the vines almost as quickly as they grew.
Sylphira stepped closer, her expression pained as she observed Kaelan's rage. "You burn with the fury of your bloodline, cursed one. But this path leads only to ruin."
She turned her attention to Zephyros. "And you, Tempest King, have done enough. Do not let your pride bring further harm to this world."
Zephyros hesitated, his storm beginning to subside. "He struck first," he said, though his tone lacked its usual arrogance.
Sylphira's gaze hardened. "Your duty is balance, not carnage. Leave now, or face my wrath."
With a growl, Zephyros dissolved into the winds, his form disappearing as the storm began to calm.
As Zephyros departed, Sylphira focused her energy on Kaelan. Her vines, reinforced with divine energy, finally subdued him. She placed a hand on his forehead, her touch cooling the flames. Slowly, the Soulfire began to recede, and Kaelan collapsed, unconscious.
Elara rushed forward, kneeling beside him. "Kaelan…" she murmured, brushing his hair back. Her hands trembled as she tried to heal his wounds.
Sylphira knelt beside her, her expression softening. "He is strong, but his strength is untamed. If left unchecked, it will consume him."
Thorne stepped forward, his hammer resting on his shoulder. "Who are you to interfere, goddess?
Sylphira smiled faintly. "I am Sylphira, keeper of life and balance,one of the few immune to his soulfire.Your friend's power is a danger not only to himself but to all of us. For now, he rests, but the trials ahead will test whether he can control the storm within."
Sylphira rose as her gaze meet Orin's. "He will need guidance, Guardian. Will you see to it that he finds his path?"
Orin nodded. "Always."
The aftermath of Kaelan's eruption left the clearing scorched and lifeless. The trees surrounding the battlefield were blackened husks, the ground was cracked and steaming, and the air was heavy with the scent of burnt earth. Kaelan lay unconscious, his body still faintly glowing with the remnants of Soulfire.
Elara sat beside him, her hands trembling as she pressed them against his chest, her Lunar Healing struggling to mend the damage. Every time her magic touched his skin, it was met with resistance, as though his body wasn't ready to accept her aid.
"He's burning from the inside," Elara whispered, her voice cracking. "I can't reach him…"
Orin knelt beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "He will recover, but not quickly. His power has taken a toll on his body—and his spirit."
Thorne stood nearby, his hammer resting on the ground as he watched the scene unfold. His usually stoic face was marked with unease. "What the hell was that?" he asked, his voice low. "I've never seen power like that before."
Sylphira remained at the edge of the group, her emerald eyes scanning the destruction. "It is the curse of his bloodline," she said softly. "The Soulfire is a force unlike any other—a gift and a burden. If left unchecked, it will consume him and everything around him."
Kain frowned, arms crossed. "Then why does he even have it? Why would the gods allow something so dangerous to exist?"
Sylphira glanced at Kain, her expression unreadable. "The gods did not 'allow' it. They tried to destroy it, to erase his lineage from existence. He is the last of his kind, a remnant of a power they feared. Perhaps they were right to fear it."
Elara shot her a glare, her voice fierce despite her exhaustion. "Kaelan is kind, brave, and more human than any of you give him credit for. Don't reduce him to a curse."
Sylphira inclined her head. "Perhaps you are right. But the danger remains. His path will be fraught with trials, and you must be prepared to face the consequences of his power."