Dust rolled across the valley floor.
The Stone Warden stood in the center of the destruction, its massive stone chest cracked where Kael's attack had struck. Fragments of rock slowly crumbled from the wound, falling to the ground with dull thuds.
But something was wrong.
The cracks were not healing.
Instead, dark smoke leaked from them like poison escaping from inside the creature.
Kael lowered his hand slowly.
"…Did I break it?"
Ryn shook his head.
"No."
The creature's glowing eyes suddenly burned brighter.
"Something else did."
The Stone Warden roared again, louder this time, its voice echoing across the valley like thunder rolling through a canyon.
Villagers continued fleeing toward the far side of Aetherfall Valley.
Kael clenched his fists.
"We need to finish this before it reaches them."
Ryn stepped forward.
"Yes."
The ground beneath his feet trembled as his power awakened again. Golden cracks spread across the earth like glowing veins.
The Warden suddenly lifted both arms.
Then slammed them into the ground.
BOOOOOOM.
The valley exploded.
Massive stone spikes burst upward from the earth in every direction.
Kael jumped backward.
"WOAH!"
A spike shot up where he had been standing just moments before.
Ryn raised his arm.
"Stone Guard!"
A curved wall of rock erupted from the ground beside them, blocking several incoming spikes.
Stone shattered everywhere.
Dust filled the air.
Kael peeked around the barrier.
"…It's getting stronger."
Ryn nodded.
"Because something is feeding it power."
High above the battlefield…
A lone figure stood at the edge of a cliff overlooking the valley.
A long dark cloak fluttered in the wind.
His face was hidden beneath a hood.
In his hand, a strange black crystal pulsed with dark energy.
The man smiled faintly.
"So the rumors were true."
His eyes glowed faintly beneath the hood.
"Storm and Stone… awakening at the same time."
Below him, the Stone Warden roared again.
The crystal in his hand pulsed brighter.
Black energy surged through the air like invisible strings.
The cracks across the Warden's body darkened.
The creature's power spiked violently.
Back on the battlefield—
Ryn felt it immediately.
"…There."
Kael looked confused.
"There what?"
Ryn pointed toward the distant cliff.
"Someone is controlling it."
Kael squinted into the distance.
"…You can see that far?"
"No."
"Then how do you know?"
"The earth tells me."
Kael blinked.
"…That sounds cool."
The Stone Warden suddenly charged again.
Its footsteps cracked the valley floor with each thunderous step.
Kael exhaled slowly.
"Alright…"
Wind began swirling around him again.
This time faster.
More controlled.
Electric sparks snapped across his arms.
He grinned.
"Let's see if I can do that again."
The creature swung its giant arm.
Kael moved instantly.
"Storm Step!"
WHOOSH.
His body dissolved into a streak of wind and lightning, reappearing several meters to the side.
The giant fist smashed into the ground where he had stood.
BOOM.
Ryn stomped his foot.
"Stone Break!"
The ground beneath the Warden cracked open violently.
A massive pillar of rock shot upward and struck the monster's jaw.
CRACK.
Stone fragments exploded into the air.
The creature staggered backward.
Kael saw his opening.
"Alright… here goes nothing."
He raised both hands.
Wind spiraled violently around him.
Lightning danced between his fingers.
The storm above roared louder, almost like it was responding to him.
Kael shouted.
"Storm Pulse!"
He fired the attack again.
But this time—
It was stronger.
A massive blast of wind and lightning exploded forward, slamming into the Warden's chest with explosive force.
BOOOOM.
Stone shattered across the battlefield.
The creature stumbled backward several steps.
Dust clouds swallowed the battlefield.
Kael landed lightly beside Ryn.
"…Okay that one felt way stronger."
Ryn nodded.
"You're learning quickly."
Kael smirked.
"I'm naturally talented."
The dust slowly cleared.
Both boys froze.
The Stone Warden was still standing.
But something had changed.
The cracks across its body had spread further.
And the dark energy pouring from them was now flowing directly toward the distant cliff.
Ryn's eyes narrowed.
"There."
Kael followed the direction.
High above them, the hooded figure stood watching.
Even from this distance, Kael could feel it.
That person was dangerous.
The man slowly lifted his hand.
The black crystal glowed brighter.
Dark energy surged.
The Stone Warden suddenly roared louder than ever before.
Then it began transforming.
Stone plates shifted across its body.
Its arms grew larger.
Sharper.
Deadlier.
Kael stared.
"…That's cheating."
Ryn nodded.
"Yes."
The monster took one enormous step forward.
The ground split open beneath its weight.
Kael rolled his shoulders.
"Alright."
Lightning surged across his arms again.
"Guess we'll just have to hit it harder."
Ryn stepped forward beside him.
The earth beneath them began glowing again.
Stone pillars slowly rose around the battlefield like ancient guardians awakening.
Storm.
Stone.
Both powers surged together.
Kael grinned.
"Round two."
High above them…
The cloaked man smiled again.
"Interesting."
His glowing eyes watched the boys carefully.
"Let's see how long you survive."
The black crystal pulsed once more.
And the real battle began.