Evanyar hovered effortlessly in the open sky, his body suspended by magic alone. Ēborisk circled below, wary and tense, while the wind howled past them. The ground seemed distant and unimportant; only Varaug, the Shade, and the coming clash mattered.
Before initiating the fight, Evanyar focused inward. The final seal—the one restraining the natural flow of power between his body and his mana—still held him back. Flight via magic was a tremendous drain, and any prolonged battle would exhaust him before he could strike.
He spoke softly in the language of intent:
"Lokið síðasta læsingin… (Release the final seal)."
Immediately, a surge of energy coursed through him. His body thrummed with raw power, every nerve and muscle subtly attuned to the flow of magic. The telekinetic field sustaining his flight strengthened, responding effortlessly to his thoughts. Ēborisk sensed the shift instantly.
"Partner… your presence… it's different. Stronger. Your mana… it's regenerating faster than you can use it!"
"Exactly," Evanyar replied. "This seal restrained my body as the primary conduit of power. In Alagaësia, the body is the anchor of all magic. By releasing it, my regeneration now outpaces my expenditure, allowing me to sustain telekinetic flight and spellcasting simultaneously."
Varaug, hovering a short distance away, tilted his head and studied him, the faint shimmer of magic radiating from Evanyar's form catching his attention.
"Huh… unusual," the Shade murmured. "Your aura… it's changed. I can sense your reserves, your flow of power—it's different. Have you… unbound yourself?"
Evanyar's eyes glinted with calm certainty. "I have. That final seal restrained both my mana and my body's ability to feed it. No longer. Every movement, every spell, every moment of flight now replenishes me faster than I consume."
Varaug's expression darkened, a mix of wariness and fascination.
"I expected restraint… yet now you radiate freedom. This… will be interesting," the Shade said, his voice carrying tension.
Evanyar nodded and focused on the fight ahead. Every motion in the air, every subtle shift of his floating form, was effortless. His telekinetic flight no longer taxed him; his magic reserves replenished in real time, faster than any spell he might cast.
"This fight begins now," Evanyar said, voice steady, eyes fixed on Varaug. "And I will not falter."
With that, he surged forward, propelled entirely by magic, leaving the wind behind. Ēborisk circled in synchrony, a shadowy complement to his Rider's telekinetic movements. Above the clouds, in the open sky, the final battle was about to unfold—with Evanyar fully released, unstoppable, and ready to confront the newborn Shade.
Evanyar surged forward, propelled purely by magic. The telekinetic field around him shimmered like a translucent shield, every movement smooth and precise. The air seemed to part for him, responding to the pulse of his mana. Ēborisk followed close below, his eyes locked on Varaug, ready to intercept.
Varaug's form blurred as he launched himself forward, his shade energy crackling violently. He struck with a speed that could rival a Dragon's dive, but Evanyar met him midair, blades drawn, every strike telekinetically precise.
"Impressive…" Varaug said, deflecting a blow with an energy slash. "Your movement… your control… it's unlike anything I've felt before!"
Evanyar smiled faintly, releasing a controlled burst of telekinetic energy. The force shoved Varaug back, but instead of using brute strength, Evanyar let the energy flow through his body, regenerating every joule as quickly as it left him.
"The last seal…" Varaug muttered, realization dawning. "You're not just stronger… you regenerate while fighting! You've unbound your body as a conduit!"
Evanyar's eyes glinted. "Exactly. Telekinetic flight alone consumes vast amounts of energy. Now, my body feeds my mana faster than I expend it. Every strike, every dodge, only strengthens me."
Varaug's attacks intensified, striking with bursts of shadowed power. Each one would have overwhelmed any ordinary Rider, but Evanyar's enhanced reflexes and floating form allowed him to evade or absorb the blows, countering instantly with precise strikes.
"You're fast… more than fast," Varaug said, twisting midair to avoid a sudden telekinetic thrust. "But can you withstand this?"
He unleashed a wave of concentrated shadow energy, aiming to crush Evanyar's telekinetic field entirely. The shockwave rolled toward him like a storm.
Evanyar's focus sharpened. With a thought, his field expanded, his magical energy reinforcing the surrounding air. The wave hit, colliding with his aura, but instead of draining him, the impact fed back into his regenerative cycle. He pushed forward, gliding effortlessly through the dissipating energy, the telekinetic currents propelling him toward Varaug.
"Your turn," Evanyar said, his voice calm, almost playful.
Varaug lunged, but every strike met a calculated counter. Evanyar's blades didn't just cut—they redirected the force of Varaug's attacks back toward him, not to harm, but to test the Shade's adaptability. Varaug snarled, realizing this was no ordinary opponent; every movement Evanyar made was powered, healed, and enhanced in real-time.
Above them, the clouds swirled violently as the two forces clashed midair. Magic flared, leaving trails of light and shadow across the sky. Evanyar twisted, spun, and surged, feeling every joule of mana coursing through him—not as a limit, but as an inexhaustible resource.
"You've trained for this?" Varaug demanded, panting mid-flight.
"More than you can imagine," Evanyar replied. "And it's only the beginning."
With a sudden burst, Evanyar telekinetically thrust forward, slashing across Varaug's defenses with two blades simultaneously. The Shade barely blocked, staggering from the force—but Evanyar didn't relent. Every movement was a dance of mana and body synergy, his floating form a weapon in itself.
Varaug's eyes widened. For the first time, he felt uncertainty. Even with his immense shade power, Evanyar's regenerative flow and telekinetic flight made him unpredictable, nearly unstoppable.
"So this is what unbound power feels like…" Varaug muttered, circling to regroup. "I'll have to match it or perish!"
Evanyar hovered, sensing the Shade preparing another strike. This battle was far from over—but one thing was clear: with the final seal released, his body and mana were now in perfect harmony, allowing him to sustain flight, counter, and attack in ways even Varaug hadn't anticipated.
Evanyar hovered midair, blades gleaming as the telekinetic currents around him hummed with raw energy. The final seal was released, and instantly his mana regeneration skyrocketed. Every movement, every swing of his swords, every telekinetic adjustment of his flight drew more power than it expended.
Ēborisk (thinking): Partner… the seal release didn't just increase strength. His mana is refilling faster than he uses it. Flight alone consumes enormous energy—and he's practically invincible in the sky now.
Varaug, the newborn Shade, circled warily, sensing the sudden surge.
Varaug: "Your… power… it's changed! How are you so fast, so resilient?"
Evanyar: "The body is the main focus of power in Alagaësia. Free it, and energy flows as quickly as you can use it."
From their vantage point a mile below, Eragon and Arya watched, awe etched across their faces.
Eragon: "He's flying entirely by magic, and look… his energy isn't dropping at all. That final seal… it's insane!"
Arya: "Every strike, every dodge—it's like he's feeding on the air itself. I've never seen anything like this."
Ēborisk hovered alongside them, scanning the battle.
Ēborisk: Careful… even Varaug is fast, but the seal gives partner perfect regeneration. He's unstoppable in this fight if he keeps his focus.
Varaug lunged, shadowed arms striking at Evanyar with crushing force. Evanyar twirled midair, the telekinetic field around him absorbing and redirecting the blows, each contact fueling his regeneration further.
Evanyar: Flight burns enormous energy, but with this final seal released, I barely even feel the strain. Every strike I take or give returns to me tenfold.
Varaug's eyes widened, sensing the change.
Varaug: "You… your strength! Your endurance! What have you done?"
Evanyar: "Released what should never have been sealed. You'll see firsthand."
Eragon whispered to Arya, his voice tense:
Eragon: "He's… untouchable up there. His regenerative speed alone makes him more dangerous than anything we've ever faced."
Arya: "We need to stay back. One wrong move and even we'd be outmatched."
Ēborisk's mental voice added a warning.
Ēborisk: This isn't just raw strength. It's strategy, regeneration, and telekinetic flight combined. He's the first Rider to reach this level in a millennia.
Varaug circled faster, attempting to overwhelm Evanyar with a barrage of shadow strikes. Evanyar telekinetically propelled himself upward, spinning in a flawless arc that deflected the attacks. Every collision fed his power, every move replenished his mana almost instantaneously.
Evanyar: "You wanted a fight… now you have one. Every strike you throw only strengthens me. You cannot touch what flows as freely as life itself."
Eragon and Arya leaned forward, the wind whipping past them.
Eragon: "He's… literally untouchable in the air. His regeneration plus telekinetic flight… it's beyond anything I've imagined."
Arya: "And that's without his partner even fighting beside him. I can't even calculate the odds if we joined in."
Ēborisk's tone was serious:
Ēborisk: This is why he released the final seal. Without it, the telekinetic flight alone would drain him too fast. Now… he can fight Varaug all day if needed.
Varaug, struggling to adapt, let out a low growl of frustration.
Varaug: "Impossible… I am supposed to be a force of ultimate power! Yet… you regenerate faster than I can strike!"
Evanyar's telekinetic aura rippled around him, blades poised, every movement flowing perfectly with his exponential energy regeneration.
Evanyar: "Let's begin, Varaug. The sky is mine, and here, I am limitless."
With that, the battle proper was set to begin—airborne, telekinetic, and with Evanyar at the height of his newfound, unsealed power.
Evanyar hovered high above the shattered tower, telekinetic currents thrumming around him. Every last seal had been released, and the full extent of his power coursed through him. Mana regenerated faster than it could be expended, telekinetic flight no longer a drain but a conduit. His body, mind, and magic flowed as one, each movement sharpening, each strike an unstoppable force.
Ēborisk (thinking): Partner… his energy is untouchable. That final seal release… it's not just strength. Flight alone would have exhausted him before—but now? He could fight Varaug all day.
Varaug hovered before him, a shadow of writhing darkness, its multiple souls fused into a single, terrifying Shade. It lunged with tentacle-like appendages, the very air twisting under its malevolent presence.
Varaug: "You… your power… it's changed! How have you reached such heights?"
Evanyar: "I freed what should never have been sealed. Watch and learn."
Without hesitation, the battle erupted. Varaug struck, swinging with overwhelming force, but every attack that met Evanyar's telekinetic shields only fueled his regeneration. Muscles bulging, aura blazing, Evanyar deflected, countered, and moved with preternatural speed.
Eragon (observing): "He's… untouchable. Every strike Varaug throws only makes him stronger. That seal… it's insane."
Arya: "Look at the flow of energy… he's not even breaking a sweat, and he's flying entirely by magic. His regeneration is ridiculous."
Ēborisk added his thoughts mentally:
Ēborisk: He's not just faster or stronger; his mind, body, and magic are perfectly aligned. Varaug has never fought anyone like him before. Focus, partner.
Varaug twisted midair, trying a barrage of shadow blades. Evanyar spun, each telekinetic movement precise, absorbing the force of impact into his own energy. Every swing of his swords, every motion in the air replenished the mana spent.
Evanyar: "Flight drains enormous energy—but I've made it my conduit. Each strike, each dodge… my power flows back to me tenfold. You cannot outlast me, Varaug."
Varaug's expression twisted in disbelief.
Varaug: "Impossible… my power… my essence… I am supposed to be invincible! Yet you regenerate faster than I can even strike!"
Evanyar surged forward with telekinetic acceleration, striking at Varaug with blinding speed. Shadow tendrils tore through the air, but the Rider was everywhere at once, every strike and parry a perfectly balanced dance of force and replenishment.
Eragon (thinking): He's… he's beyond anything we've faced. Even with Saphira and I together, we couldn't touch him like this.
Arya: We'd be collateral if we got in his way. His precision and power… it's terrifying.
Ēborisk's mental voice guided Evanyar subtly:
Ēborisk: Keep the center of gravity constant. Your telekinetic flight allows perfect control. Exploit his overreach—he'll miscalculate.
Varaug, frustrated, attempted a desperate strike, fusing multiple souls' power into one massive surge. The air tore with a deafening roar as the attack barreled toward Evanyar.
Evanyar: This is it… time to end it.
He telekinetically braced himself, absorbing the full brunt of the strike while releasing a simultaneous counterwave. The collision of forces exploded outward, telekinetic winds flattening the battlefield below. Varaug screeched as energy was siphoned from him, his Shade body destabilizing under the influx of raw, unrelenting power.
Varaug: "No… this cannot be… I am the ultimate Shade!"
Evanyar: "Not today. You were born from desperation and death—but I am the first Rider. Power flows through me, and I control it."
With a final surge of telekinetic force, Evanyar slammed Varaug down, compressing his shadow form with invisible crushing energy. The Shade shrieked as it disintegrated into wisps of darkness, each fragment absorbed and neutralized by Evanyar's unparalleled control.
Eragon: "He… he just ended it. Every strike… every attack… nothing hit him. And that Shade… it's gone."
Arya: "He's the first Rider in a millennia to actually achieve this. That power… it's like watching a god fight."
Ēborisk exhaled mentally, pride and relief mixing in his thoughts:
Ēborisk: He did it… the Seal release, the regeneration, the control over telekinetic flight… he's perfected it. The battlefield is silent, and the threat is ended.
Evanyar floated midair, chest heaving, blades shimmering with residual energy. The sky was calm again, the echoes of the final battle fading into silence. He looked to the horizon, sensing the faint hum of the world's magic stabilizing.
Evanyar: "The first threat is gone… but there will always be more. I must remain vigilant. For the Riders, for the Dragons, for Alagaësia."
Eragon and Arya landed carefully, approaching with awe and respect.
Eragon: "Evanyar… that was… unbelievable. You didn't even break a sweat."
Arya: "And you controlled everything, telekinesis, regeneration, combat… perfectly. How do we ever train to that level?"
Ēborisk: One step at a time. Today, he set the standard. Tomorrow… we prepare for whatever comes next.
The battle was over—but a new era had begun. The Riders, led by Evanyar, had proven that Alagaësia's greatest threats could be faced… if wielded with wisdom, strength, and unity.
---
This is probably the end. I just wanted to finish the story first y'all. I enjoy writing but I enjoy reading more. I discovered ChatGPT & have "wrote" several books for my own pleasure but they've gone on too long for me to bother scrolling all the way back up to try & copy paste them for everyone else. I see why some people don't like ChatGPT here as it repeats itself, but I still enjoy it for personal use. Anyway, that's the closing fight & I MIGHT come back & clean it up myself but don't hold your breath.