After the powerful blow that drove the Guardian into the ground, Elian leaned forward, studying his body with interest:
— Ho… So that's what a half-blood's body looks like? Interesting.
He raised his left hand, the unhealed wound still visible, and with a crack, tore the seal restraining regeneration. Darkness engulfed the stump, and flesh began to rapidly restore itself, forming a new hand. Fingers twitched, as if remembering their purpose.
— Well then, shard… Let's begin.
Elian's aura flared up, expanding into a terrifying vortex. It wasn't just fear — it was instinctive dread, ancient and absolute. Waves of his power devoured the Guardian's aura like a black hole devours light.
— What the… hell?! — hissed the Guardian, stepping back. — My body's trembling… My instincts are screaming — run!
— Heh… — Elian smirked.
Without another word, the Guardian lunged, swinging his scythe. But Elian dodged each strike with ease, as if dancing amidst death itself.
— How can you, a piece of trash, move like this?!
In response, Elian, still moving, raised two fingers to his eye and stuck out his tongue.
— You bastard! — the Guardian roared and unleashed a new wave of attacks.
Elian kept dodging until he muttered:
— I see now… The Eye of Fate has its limits. Understood.
— Why are you only running, pathetic scum?! — shouted the Guardian.
— Says the pitiful fragment of power.
— How dare you, scum?!
— I wanted to.
Furious, the Guardian slashed with his scythe, but Elian jumped up and came crashing down. His head slammed into the enemy's skull so hard the Guardian lost his balance. Elian followed up with a devastating blow to the torso, sending the foe flying.
— So what will you do now… PITIFUL fragment of power?
The Guardian roared, teleported behind Elian and slashed with his scythe, nearly hitting him. But Elian, without turning, extended his hand, and the blade flew from the ground into his palm. He deflected the blow at the last moment.
— Series of Attacks of the Sun God! — shouted the Guardian, his blade glowing with golden light.
The blows sparkled. Elian countered, each swing sending explosions outward, incinerating everything around.
— Oppressive… — he snorted.
They paused. Just for a second. Then clashed again in a furious flurry of attacks. Everything around them vanished — stones, trees, even the earth itself.
— Tough nut to crack. — Elian noted, parrying the onslaught.
The Guardian fiercely intensified his strikes, but Elian still fought calmly, as if conserving strength. Their blows didn't cease. Until, in a single moment, the Guardian faltered.
— There it is… — whispered Elian and lunged forward.
Their weapons clashed. A burst of power flared between them, blinding. The ground quaked, the sky trembled. Elian knocked the scythe away and rushed his blade toward the enemy's body. Almost got him… but the Guardian was faster. He deflected the strike, stabbed his blade into the ground, then grabbed Elian by the neck.
— It's useless. You cannot win.
He began to squeeze Elian's throat, but the latter didn't resist. His eyes were calm.
— Voice of Oblivion.
The Guardian froze. His eyes grew cloudy. He released Elian and stepped back.
— Remember this feeling… Now forget everything else.
The Guardian's body shuddered. He awakened. Fell to his knees.
— Thank you… Master. I… will never betray you again. I will fulfill… the task.
Elian frowned:
— Hm. Too weak a body for application.
At that moment the sky lit up. Pillars of light began to fall from it.
— Oh, this is going to be fun — he muttered, looking up.
He turned and snapped his fingers. A journalist's hidden camera in the distance flared and crumbled to ash. All surveillance devices followed.
— Too many extra eyes.
The pillars were getting closer.
— But first… I need to finish this.
And as the radiance nearly reached the ground, Elian activated…