The Devourer's Dominion

The Enforcer straightened, brushing off the dust like Aetheron's hit had been nothing more than an inconvenience.

His laughter was gone now.

Instead, he grinned.

"A glimpse," he murmured. "That's all I needed."

Then—he vanished.

Aetheron's instincts screamed.

He barely twisted in time as the Enforcer's blade tore through the space he had been standing in.

A shockwave exploded outward, the ground splitting like cracked glass.

Too fast.

The moment Aetheron dodged, the Enforcer was already on him again.

An Unfair Fight

Aetheron blocked, but it wasn't enough.

The sheer force behind the Enforcer's strikes sent him staggering with every clash. His arms felt like they were breaking apart.

He couldn't keep up.

Not like this.

Juno lunged in, her spear glowing with energy. "Like hell I'm letting you fight alone!"

The Enforcer caught her spear with one hand.

Then he slammed her into the ground.

Hard.

Juno gasped, coughing blood.

Aetheron's eyes widened.

Kyren and Aria moved next. A coordinated attack.

Rael flanked from behind, blade humming with power.

The Enforcer disappeared.

For a split second, no one saw him.

Then—

Kyren flew back, his blades shattered.

Aria's barrier cracked.

Rael's sword stopped mid-swing—blocked by a single gauntleted finger.

The Enforcer's voice was calm. "Is this all the Sovereign's remnants can offer?"

Rael's expression didn't change, but his eyes flickered with something unreadable.

Aetheron had seen enough.

Awakening the Hunger

The mark pulsed again.

Louder. Stronger.

Aetheron could feel it pulling.

It wanted to be fed.

And right now—he was done holding back.

He let the power surge.

His body burned from the inside out, but he didn't care.

If this was the game the Enforcer wanted—

He was about to get it.

Aetheron vs The Enforcer – Round Two

The world slowed.

Aetheron could see everything.

The Enforcer's breathing. The way his weight shifted. The exact moment he'd move.

So this… was the mark's true power.

The Enforcer's blade descended.

Aetheron caught it with one hand.

The impact sent shockwaves through the air, trees bending under the force.

The Enforcer's grin widened.

"Now we're talking."

He pulled back—but Aetheron didn't let go.

Instead—

He pulled him in.

A punch slammed into the Enforcer's stomach, cracking his armor.

The Enforcer staggered.

Aetheron didn't stop.

A knee to the ribs. A roundhouse kick to the head. Each strike landing faster than the last.

The Enforcer raised his arm to block—

Aetheron grabbed it.

Then he twisted.

A sickening crack filled the air.

The Enforcer… laughed.

"Good," he said.

Then—his broken arm reset itself.

And the air… changed.

The Shift in Power

Aetheron barely reacted before something crashed into his chest.

He flew back, hitting the ground hard. His ribs screamed in protest.

The Enforcer flexed his hand, rolling his shoulders. "You're learning fast."

Then his grin turned sharp.

"But not fast enough."

He blurred.

Aetheron couldn't react.

Pain exploded through his body as he was sent through the ground, leaving a crater in his wake.

His vision swam.

His body wasn't moving.

The Enforcer landed beside him, pressing a boot to his chest.

"Your body can't handle it, can it?"

Aetheron gritted his teeth.

He refused to lose.

But his body… was shutting down.

The mark wanted more, but he wasn't sure he could control it.

And the Enforcer knew.

"You're at the edge," the man said, tilting his head. "Do you let the power take you? Or do you fall here?"

His blade rose.

Aetheron's heartbeat thundered in his ears.

Move.

Move.

MOVE.

A New Presence

Then—

A massive wave of force slammed into the battlefield.

The Enforcer was forced back.

Aetheron coughed, pushing himself up.

A new figure stood at the edge of the crater.

Dark robes. A presence that made the very air shudder.

The Enforcer's eyes narrowed.

"So," he murmured, voice almost amused. "You finally decided to step in."

Aetheron's vision swayed, but he focused.

Who…?

The newcomer spoke, their voice like a whisper through the void.

"The Sovereign's game has only just begun."

Then—

Everything went black.