The plaza was still smoking, water rippling from the shattered fountain, and the air thick with the scent of ozone. Thalos lay sprawled, battered, but not defeated. Lightning flickered around his hands, weak but dangerous, a last ember of his storm waiting to ignite.
Eryndor's aura still burned with brilliant white-blue energy, tendrils of lightning licking the air around him. He flexed his fingers, feeling the surge of his newly unlocked powers coursing through every nerve, every muscle. With a grin, he lifted a hand, sending a pulse of electricity outward that lit up the plaza like dawn breaking through storm clouds.
Kael's eyes followed him carefully. "Careful. He's still dangerous."
"Let him come," Eryndor said, voice low and electric. "I want to see what I can really do."
Thalos groaned, rising unsteadily. "You… think this ends with you? I am the storm!" He slammed his hands onto the ground. Cracks spread beneath him, and jagged streaks of lightning danced up from the stone, forming deadly spikes aimed at Eryndor.
Eryndor's eyes narrowed. He didn't hesitate. The air around him shivered as he twisted his body, dodging the first few strikes. Then, in a burst of speed that blurred him to the human eye, he closed the distance. His fists, crackling with electricity, collided with Thalos's ribs. Each strike sent a jolt of energy through the elder, disrupting his control of lightning.
Kael flanked Thalos simultaneously, delivering precise kicks and sweeping strikes that kept the elder off balance. It was a deadly dance: Eryndor and Kael weaving in perfect synchronization, alternating between offense and defense, forcing Thalos to constantly react, never attack.
Thalos screamed, lightning arcing wildly, trying to strike both of them at once. But Eryndor had unlocked a new layer of his abilities. He raised both hands, generating twin arcs of controlled lightning that shot toward the elder—not to strike, but to manipulate the storm around him. The spikes of energy bent and twisted, breaking apart before they could hit.
Kael's eyes flicked to Eryndor with a smirk. "Finally, you're experimenting."
Eryndor's grin widened. "I've got plenty more."
With a roar, Eryndor surged forward, his fists a blur, hitting pressure points, joints, and vital spots with a speed and precision that seemed impossible. Every punch not only inflicted damage but also disrupted the magical energy flowing through Thalos's body. Kael followed in perfect rhythm, using martial arts and magic to exploit the openings Eryndor created.
Thalos stumbled backward, every breath ragged. He lashed out with a bolt of lightning, aimed straight at Eryndor. But Eryndor shifted mid-strike, letting it graze his shoulder while absorbing a fraction of the energy into his body. Pain lanced through him, but it fueled the surge of power, lightning flaring brighter across his skin.
"Tempest reborn." Eryndor muttered, voice low, almost a growl.
Kael jumped in, spinning through the air and striking Thalos in tandem with Eryndor's assault. The two of them moved as one: a blur of fists, feet, and magic. Each strike was fluid, elegant, and devastating. Thalos tried to counter, swinging with brute force, but the duo's speed and coordination were overwhelming.
Finally, Eryndor landed a spinning kick that threw Thalos into the fountain, water exploding in all directions. Kael followed immediately with a precision strike that sent him sprawling, gasping for breath.
Eryndor stepped forward, lightning crackling violently across his arms. "You've had your fun, old man. Time to end this."
Thalos tried to rise, but his body betrayed him. The combination of raw martial skill, magic, and Eryndor's new tier of abilities had pushed him to the brink.
Kael's calm voice sliced through the chaos. "Stay down, or the storm will finish you."
Thalos glared, lightning still sparking weakly around him, but even his pride faltered. He knew—this wasn't just a fight. This was domination. And for the first time, he realized he had underestimated not one, but two forces capable of bending the storm itself.