Darkness surrounded them for a brief moment.
Then, with a blinding flash of blue lightning, the heroes suddenly found themselves in a new place, a massive chamber lit by floating crystals, each pulsing with a harsh glow. The air crackled with static, and the walls themselves seemed alive with energy. Thunder rumbled beneath their feet, though there was no sky above.
At the center stood Varnex.
His tall figure was wearing a massive armour with glowing patterns. His hands sparked with bolts of lightning, and his eyes were cold , but not just angry, they were insulted. His gaze swept across the group.
"So," he said, his voice echoing through the chamber, "you've made it further than I expected."
His fingers twitched, and a deep, rumbling growl filled the chamber as the floor beneath them shifted. Magic circles formed under his feet, and from them rose claws of thunder that danced around him like living weapons.
"I don't know how you managed to defeat my commanders," Varnex growled, "but one thing is for sure…"
He raised his hand, and thunder roared louder.
"You won't beat me."
He raised both arms, and lightning burst from the ground. The real challenge had begun.
---
Darek, still gravely injured, was held up by Sera, who was kneeling beside him. She poured her healing magic into his wounds. Despite everything, she stayed strong.
"Hang in there," she whispered.
A few steps away, Vaela sat with her back against the wall, her bow resting beside her. Her right shoulder was wrapped in a sheet of ice to numb the pain. She couldn't lift her arm. All she could do now was watch and pray for the others to succeed.
Junith stood near them, her body aching from the toll of her fight against Ristella. She gripped her spear tightly but didn't move. She wasn't in shape to fight head-on. But she didn't need to. She watched everything, her sharp eyes planning, predicting, waiting to guide the others at the right time.
---
The front line charged in.
Kael was the first to strike, his katana lit with blackfire as he clashed with Varnex head-on. Sparks flew as steel met thunder. Kael's face was calm, focused, but behind it, he knew this wasn't going to be easy.
Right behind him, Cyrus rushed in, elements swirling around his hands. Fire and wind danced together as he sent waves of energy toward Varnex, trying to blind him, trying to open a path.
Adrian came from the left, his sword glowing faintly. His Future Sight had helped before, but Varnex was unpredictable. Still, Adrian didn't stop. He timed his attacks as best he could, always looking for even the smallest opening.
Lila slashed in with her flame-covered blade, her movements fast and sharp. She struck from behind Adrian, combining her attacks with his. Every blow they landed was met with a burst of thunder from Varnex, but they kept pushing.
Orin charged in with his long spear, his movements smooth and powerful. He focused on defense, covering others when needed, keeping the pressure on Varnex.
Doran swung his massive hammer, aiming for the ground beneath Varnex, trying to break his balance. His strikes were heavy, loud, and filled with raw force.
Nira danced around the battlefield, vines shooting from the ground to wrap around Varnex's arms, legs, even the floating thunder claws. She kept moving, kept growing new roots, even when wind and lightning tried to tear them apart.
Ruvan was fierce, fists glowing with energy, his body moving like a boulder crashing through a storm. He struck low, going for Varnex's legs, always pushing forward.
Drakar, still grounded from the damage to his wing, charged on foot. His axe burned with fire, and his body glowed with heat as he pushed into his Overheat Form, sweat pouring down his face as flames trailed behind every swing. His movements were powerful but heavy. He had trained in Avelya to fight on the ground, and now that training mattered.
Above and behind the group, Sylra floated lightly in the air, casting support spells and barriers. Every time someone was hit, she was there, weaving wind and light to protect and heal.
Zerik dashed between them all, using his circus tools — chains, hooks, juggling balls that exploded with magic. He distracted Varnex, attacked from odd angles, and pulled his friends out of danger more than once.
---
But Varnex was too strong.
Even as he was attacked from every side, he stood firm.
His thunderclaws lashed out in all directions, sending shockwaves across the ground. His body moved like lightning , fast, sudden, unpredictable. Every strike he took, he returned with twice the force.
They were tired.
Everyone had already fought battles just before this. Their bodies ached, their energy low. Varnex, on the other hand, had been waiting. Watching. Resting. He was fresh, and now he was angry.
"You think your friendship makes you strong?" he said, voice booming like a storm. "You're wrong."
He raised his hand and brought it down, a bolt of thunder struck the ground between Cyrus and Lila, sending them flying.
Kael blocked an incoming claw with his blade, but it broke the ground beneath him, forcing him to slide back.
Drakar charged again, axe burning red, but Varnex spun and struck him with his elbow, sending him crashing into the wall.
Adrian leapt to protect him, only to be caught in a net of electric chains that sparked and burned his arms. He gritted his teeth and broke free.
"Too slow," Varnex smirked.
Even with all their strength and teamwork, Varnex had the upper hand. His power, The Thunderclaw, wasn't just brute strength. It was precise, fast, and brutal.
But still…No one backed down.
Not Cyrus, whose elements still swirled around him as he stood again.
Not Kael, whose blade flickered, ready for another strike.
Not Ruvan, who pulled Drakar from the rubble and turned back to fight again.
Not Nira, whose vines grew even faster despite being cut again and again.
And not Junith, who from the back was watching it all, thinking hard. Her mind was piecing together the rhythm, the patterns.
They were being pushed to their limits. And that's exactly where they needed to be. Because the real challenge had begun. And they were still fighting