The Devourer's Dominion

Aetheron's breathing was heavy, his body screaming at him to stop. But he couldn't. Wouldn't.

Lorien stood across from him, blade steady, eyes locked on him like a predator watching wounded prey. The silver aura around him pulsed, each flicker sending chills down Aetheron's spine.

The last exchange proved something. Lorien wasn't untouchable. But every time Aetheron got close, he adapted. Learned. Countered.

This wasn't a battle against strength. It was a battle against a hunter.

Lorien exhaled. "You still have more to show me, don't you?"

Aetheron wiped the blood from his mouth. "You don't get tired of this 'teaching' act, huh?"

Lorien stepped forward.

Aetheron's instincts flared.

Here we go again.

Lorien vanished—no sound, no movement, just gone.

Aetheron reacted on reflex, throwing himself sideways.

Too slow.

Pain exploded in his ribs.

Lorien's blade grazed him, but even that was enough to send a burning shock through his body. He tumbled across the ground, rolling to his feet just in time to see Lorien's next strike coming.

He's relentless.

Aetheron twisted, shadows surging around him. His arm snapped forward—a spear of darkness shooting toward Lorien's chest.

Lorien slashed once.

The spear shattered.

But that was fine.

It was bait.

Aetheron was already moving, shifting behind Lorien, his fist coated in pure abyss. If he landed this—

Lorien's sword moved faster than sight.

Aetheron barely had time to block before—

CLANG!

The impact sent him skidding back, his arms numb from the force. His mind raced.

Lorien never used unnecessary movement. Every strike was a measured kill.

Then Aetheron noticed something—

Lorien's blade wasn't just infused with aura.

It was infused with something far worse.

Aetheron clenched his jaw. He had to force Lorien into a mistake. Something unpredictable.

He took a slow breath. Then—

He charged forward.

Lorien's eyes narrowed slightly. He stepped in—ready to intercept—

But this time, Aetheron didn't dodge.

He let Lorien's blade come at him.

Right before impact, Aetheron's body collapsed into shadows.

Lorien's sword sliced through empty air.

And then—

Aetheron reformed behind him.

Faster than before.

Faster than he thought possible.

His fist slammed into Lorien's side.

For the first time—Lorien stumbled.

The shockwave cracked the ground beneath them.

Aetheron's hand burned from the impact, but it was worth it. He pressed forward, throwing another strike—

Lorien caught his wrist.

His grip was like iron.

And then—

Aetheron felt something twist.

Lorien's aura flared.

Aetheron's vision blurred as an invisible force crashed into him, launching him backward like a ragdoll. He barely managed to land on his feet, his body aching all over.

Lorien rolled his shoulder, silver light crackling around him. "Good adjustment."

Aetheron spat blood. "I'm getting real sick of you shrugging off my hits."

Lorien actually exhaled. Almost like a chuckle.

Then his aura shifted.

And Aetheron felt it immediately.

This was different.

Before, Lorien was testing him. Now?

Now he was getting serious.

Aetheron braced himself.

Lorien raised his sword.

The entire battlefield shuddered.

Aetheron's heart pounded. He wasn't even sure what just happened, but everything in him screamed—

MOVE.

He blinked out of existence just as—

CRACK!

The ground where he stood split apart.

Aetheron reappeared several meters away—only for Lorien to already be in front of him.

Eyes glowing. Blade descending.

Aetheron's body moved on instinct. He twisted, dodging by the narrowest margin—

But his arm wasn't fast enough.

Lorien's sword sliced through his forearm.

Pain ripped through him.

Aetheron's back hit the ground. His vision swam.

He tried to push himself up—

But his right arm wouldn't move.

Blood dripped onto the dirt. His entire forearm was numb, the cut burning with that same unnatural energy.

Lorien stood over him, blade still crackling with power. His expression remained unreadable.

Aetheron's mind spun.

This isn't normal.

Lorien's strikes weren't just physical. They lingered.

Even his body's natural regeneration wasn't working properly.

Aetheron clenched his teeth. This fight was turning one-sided.

He had one last card to play.

Lorien tilted his head. "Can you still fight?"

Aetheron forced himself to smirk. "What, you getting bored?"

Lorien's aura pulsed—just once.

And Aetheron knew.

The next strike would end the fight.

Aetheron exhaled.

His left hand curled into a fist.

"Guess I'll stop playing nice."

And then—

His Dominion flared.

Shadows erupted from the battlefield, tendrils stretching toward the sky. The air itself shook as his presence expanded—

And for the first time—

Lorien paused.