Birth of the Ruler: The Emergence of the Primordial Race

Meanwhile, around the time Dunstan and Lumina emerged from the cave they had retreated into, a heavy silence loomed over the southern frontline. The atmosphere felt choked with tension, thick as unspoken fear, as the fog, made from pulverized bone dust, finally dissipated, no longer serving as the barrier between the celestial race and the primordial beasts.

Kal, Centric, and Seraphina stood resolute, their figures unmoving like ancient statues carved in the name of defiance, holding their ground as if their very existence hinged on it. Yet, beads of sweat gleamed upon their cheeks like dew upon a dying leaf, reflecting their uncertainty, their ignorance of what this monstrous wave would bring. Beneath their feet, the earth trembled ominously, and shards of debris from fractured earth bounced, dancing and flung skyward to the rhythm of the quakes, echoing like war drums that heralded the arrival of a yet-unseen catastrophe.

Behind them, their fellow comrades braced themselves, clustered around the last surviving vehicle, the Aether Glide. Vega and a few others sheltered inside, while the rest stood outside, vigilant, ready. The scent of metal and old training still clung to the air, but their expressions bore the truth: fear, raw and unpolished, traced across their faces like scars of doubt.

Above them soared Hung, wings spread wide, three angelic pairs of white brilliance like banners of hope in a gathering storm. His gaze never wavered from the distant horizon where the primordial beasts slowly began to show themselves, their monstrous silhouettes emerging through spiraling dust devils, each gust whispering like ghostly heralds of war, counting down the moments before chaos began.

As the first horrific heads of the beasts came into view, Hung's voice rang out, cutting through the thick air like a blade.

"All North Astro, listen," he began, his tone neither trembling nor forceful, but resolute, carved in truth.

"Yes, you may fear what stands before us. That fear is real. I feel it too, my body trembles beneath this armor, my breath catches like yours. But know this: encouraging fear is the same as welcoming defeat. Let it take root, and it will choke your will to survive."

He paused, his wings fluttering slightly, catching the wind as though stirring the hope of those below. Their jaws tightened, eyes steeled, few lips sealed in silent resolve. Some inhaled deeply, as if it might be their last breath of peace

"Facing these beasts is not a choice, it is a necessity. Individually, we are not enough. But together, bound by trust between the Astro teams, between superior and subordinate, we stand a chance. Harmony is our greatest weapon."

Then, louder, his voice rolling over them like a crashing tide.

"Are you ready to march forward?"

The tension snapped like a string pulled too tight. Those who had sealed their lips opened them with unshakable conviction, others filled their lungs with resolve, and in a single thunderous voice, they answered:

"Yes, sir!"

Hung's voice came again, grittier this time, like steel sharpening against bone.

"Then break their bones with your bones. Cut their flesh with your skin. Until the last of us stands."

"Yes, sir!" They roared, a cry that pushed back the fear clawing at their hearts.

"Attack!" Hung bellowed, and like a great beast released from its chains, they surged forward. Each footfall beat the ground like the pounding of war drums, the earth trembling beneath their fury as dust rose to greet them. They followed Behind their soaring commander, Hung, the celestial warriors surged like a tidal wave, crashing forward to meet the monstrous dawn.

Hung, leading the charge like a comet piercing the sky, closed the distance between himself and the advancing horde of primordial beasts. The flanks, sensing his approach, reacted with urgency, launching volleys of chaotic blasts, each brimming with a different hue of destructive energy. Yet Hung weaved through them with grace, his movements swift and fluid, like a bird darting through dense jungle foliage, unbothered by the chaos clawing at the air around him.

As he ascended above the flanks, his majestic wings spread wide like a divine tapestry unfurling against the dawn sky. From them, dozens of radiant feathers detached, cascading downward in a celestial storm, each glowing like a fragment of a falling star.

"Feathers of Revelation: Holy Plume Descent," he proclaimed, his voice echoing with the gravity of divine judgment.

Upon contact, each feather erupted into a burst of pure, searing light, holy detonations that bathed the terrain in brilliance. For a brief, blinding moment, the radiance outshone even the morning sun. Though the explosions inflicted no physical harm upon the beasts' flanks, the sudden flood of brilliance disoriented those in front, their vision blurred or swallowed by the light. Momentum crumbled. Formation shattered. Their once-unified charge dissolved into chaos as they scattered across the battlefield, groping for direction amid the luminous aftermath.

From the shadows of opportunity, Seraphina and Centric surged forward, cloaked in a torrent of immortal energy, an ethereal storm swirling around them. Kal remained still for a heartbeat longer, calculating his momen, then gradually followed behind. Then, as if guided by instinct, the two infiltrated the disorganized flank. But the beasts retaliated swiftly, unleashing a monstrous beam of energy that screamed across the battlefield like a divine retribution.

In a flicker, the mantle of energy surrounding Centric shifted to Kal. Without hesitation, Kal stepped into the path of destruction.

"Infernal Edge: Blazing Shield Formation," he intoned, his voice steady as the earth before an earthquake.

His blade responded with a feral roar, the flame side forged a swirling vortex of fire, while the heat side radiated a rippling thermal barrier. Together, the dual energies collided and merged into a formidable shield, a living wall of searing power that trembled with concentrated might. The incoming blast struck it head-on, only to be absorbed, dissipated, and ultimately nullified, as if the shield had swallowed its fury whole.

As the light faded, so too did the shield, revealing Kal standing amidst the residue of the clash. He gasped for breath, beads of sweat trickling down his brow like dew under a blazing sun. The energy that had cloaked him slipped away, returning to Centric.

Without pause, Centric and Seraphina leapt from Kal's rear, positioning themselves ahead.

"Take your time and join us," Centric said, flashing a calm, confident smile, his words a balm amid the storm.

And with that, they charged once more into the chaos, cleaving through the ranks of disoriented beasts, while above them, the galaxy watched in quiet reverence, its eternal gaze bearing witness to a battle destined to echo through time.

Back at the Northern Celestial Frontline, the demon with the shattered right horn began to dissolve, his body fragmenting into tendrils of dark energy that drifted upwards like smoke returning to the void. His form unraveled beneath the divine bow's radiant might, vanishing piece by piece into the vast expanse of Atmos, until nothing remained but silence, deep, swallowing silence that devoured every lingering sound as if the world itself held its breath.

"Rrrrr…" a guttural growl tore through the tension. The remaining four demons snarled in unison, their anger and hatred palpable, burning like a furnace behind their eyes as they glared at the celestials across from them.

"Don't think you've won!" spat the third demon, standing just beside the mutated celestial statue. From the folds of his garment, he withdrew a spherical pill, its dark sheen pulsing ominously as he brought it to his lips.

But before it could meet his mouth 'twang!' Lumina's arrow flashed like judgment, striking true. The arrow pierced his right hand, forcing him to drop the pill.

"Rarrr!" the twin-horned demon roared, clutching his dissolving hand as black smoke spilled from the wound like cursed steam. Before the moment could settle, chaos erupted.

The first twin-horned demon, the single-horned fiend, and the second twin-horned beast began to swell, their bodies bloating grotesquely like corrupted bladders of wrath. Boom! Boom! Boom! They exploded in quick succession, a trio of violent detonations that unleashed a wave of dark, sinister fog, thick as nightmares and cold enough to rake goosebumps down spines.

The air itself recoiled.

Dunstan and Lumina staggered slightly, their expressions tightening. Even their experienced comrades flinched as the oppressive chill clawed at their nerves.

"Graviton Ascendant Strike: Anti-Gravitational Surge!" Dunstan roared, his body igniting with gravitational energy. In a flash, he spiraled around his allies five times, each pass a blur of controlled force. A vortex formed, a twisting cyclone of energy and wind that pushed back against the malevolent fog, repelling it and redirecting its path away from them.

Minutes passed before the haze cleared like lifting a cursed veil.

From within the faded remnants of smoke, the third demon emerged again, still alive, cradling the same pill in his left hand.

"No…" Lumina's voice trembled. "They all exploded… just to buy him time…"

Realization dawned, but far too late.

Though none of them could fully understand the pill's mechanics, its dark aura, and the madness dancing in the demon's eyes, told them enough.

"Heh… HAHAHA! You bastards! Wait for you all in hell!" the demon cackled, triumph gleaming through his twisted grin. "Watch slowly… as your lives unravel in despair!"

He tossed the pill into his mouth.

"To perish is to serve!"

His body began to swell grotesquely, veins bulging like dark vines beneath his skin. His face puffed and contorted as if struggling to contain the curse within. Then, BOOM!

He detonated like a cursed bomb, the resulting sinister smoke surging outward in waves, swallowing the metal tree roots and stretching for meters in every direction.

Lumina and Dunstan froze, their shock painted across their faces. The attack… looked like it had failed.

"Hahaha!" the Astro comrades laughed behind them, letting out relieved sighs.

"He must've gone mad from the pain, got his hand shot, lost his mind."

Their voices grew light, careless, as hope returned like sunlight peeking through a storm. Some turned, already preparing to retreat.

That's when it came, the low, feral growl. Deep. Bold. Unmistakably alive.

They all turned sharply. From within the dense fog around the metal tree… a pair of crimson eyes emerged, Burning, Watching and Waiting.

A presence lurked behind them, hidden within the cursed smoke.

And this time, it wasn't a demon they'd faced before.