Lucien descended slowly onto the surface of a planet so vast it could contain the full scale of their powers without even blinking. Mountains the size of continents jutted from oceans larger than small universes. Atmospheres layered in shifting hues of color and energy swirled above, responding faintly to the presence of beings who could reshape worlds with casual thought.
Kaelith landed beside him, folding his arms with a smirk. "Heh… I like this place. Finally somewhere big enough to fight without worrying about, you know… destroying everything."
Lucien's wings spread, casting shadows over continents that didn't exist in the usual multiverse map. "I wouldn't call it fighting yet," he said lazily. "Testing, yes. Watching. Evaluating. I might throw a few sparks. Nothing more."
The Strongest Beings
The others arrived, each unique in appearance and aura:
Vryndor, a humanoid with silver eyes that flickered like dying stars, wielding gravity as if it were clay, and radiating cold, precise menace. Selithra, elegant and calm, her body encased in shifting crystalline armor, able to manipulate energy at a molecular scale. Ornath, brutish yet agile, shadow tendrils stretching from his body, capable of instant teleportation and manipulation of probability.
Each took a wide stance, forming a triangular formation around Lucien and Kaelith. The air itself vibrated with tension, each presence palpable.
Altherion hovered above, calm as ever, watching the potential chaos with a faint smile. "Remember, controlled power. Base forms. Do not erase the planet… or the multiverse will not forgive you."
Vryndor stepped forward, his voice echoing across the colossal plains. "Lucien Dreamveil. Let us see if you truly merit your title."
Lucien smirked, hovering slightly above the ground. "Test me? Alright… but try not to hurt yourselves." His tone carried the faint arrogance that had crushed so many armies and outer gods alike.
Kaelith chuckled, placing a hand on Lucien's shoulder. "Base forms, remember. No going all out. This is going to be fun."
The first clash was subtle but intense. Vryndor bent gravity around a boulder the size of a moon and hurled it casually. Lucien smiled faintly and flicked a finger; the boulder's path curved harmlessly into the sky, orbiting the planet instead of smashing into them. "Not bad."
Selithra manipulated energy streams, weaving them into bladed constructs. Lucien's wings shifted, catching light and dispersing them effortlessly, creating a cascade of colors that reflected across the landscape. "Elegant," he said. "But predictable."
Ornath teleported in a flurry, probability distorting as he tried to land strikes. Lucien caught one shadow-tentacle in a single hand and twisted it gently, letting Ornath topple harmlessly to his feet. "You're lucky I'm feeling generous today," Lucien teased, voice carrying a casual humor that belied his absolute control.
Kaelith, floating nearby, laughed. "You always have to make it look easy, don't you?"
Lucien grinned, adjusting his wings. "It is easy, Kaelith. Just… try to enjoy yourselves. This is a playground for powers. Base forms, remember?"
Vryndor straightened, silver eyes narrowing. "You are arrogant… but not without reason."
Selithra tilted her head, crystalline armor reflecting Lucien's wings. "You are… fascinating. Different from anything we've encountered."
Lucien smirked wider, turning to hover just above the tallest mountain. "Good. That's what I like to hear. Now… let's see who's worth my attention."
With the rules clear—controlled power, base forms—the battlefield shifted. Mountains bent slightly under gravitational manipulations, rivers froze and flowed backwards under probability manipulations, and streams of energy collided in spectacular light shows across the plains.
Lucien laughed softly, wings flaring as he moved from point to point, testing reactions. Kaelith mirrored him, both of them teasing, dodging, and countering with perfectly choreographed movements.
The other three focused on the same—testing limits, observing Lucien's style, and refining their own. Despite the intensity, it was almost a dance: explosive, visually stunning, and utterly cinematic.