THE BLACKTHORN CODEX
Episode 44 — Selerion: Awakening of the Sorcerers
November 17, 1945 — 7:15 AM
> The world of Selerion looked like a living hell, but merging with Borax and mastering their new powers gave them a glimmer of hope: to resist the shadow, the Guardian, and the sorcerers, while searching for a way to escape this abyssal disaster.
Clarisse and Leander floated in the black waters of Selerion, surrounded by the sinuous silhouettes of the abyssal sorcerers. These were not mere fighters: each sorcerer seemed to merge with the ocean, their bodies undulating like living seaweed, and their eyes glowed in multiple colors according to the powers they invoked.
"We must observe before we attack," Borax murmured, present in their minds and their fusion, amplifying their perception.
The sorcerers surrounded the couple, their hands tracing symbols in the water that transformed into waves of pure energy. Each seemed specialized:
The first sorcerer created tornadoes of water mixed with fire, burning everything around and freezing the surface of the ocean to trap his enemies.
The second manipulated underwater lightning, transforming the water into an electrical network to electrocute from a distance.
A third sorcerer could divide himself into several translucent forms, attacking simultaneously from several directions.
The fight broke out. Clarisse and Léandre used their fusion with Borax:
Clarisse unleashed jets of liquid fire, forming incandescent columns that pierced the creatures.
Leander, flying through the water, combined lightning and teleportation, striking the sorcerers and disappearing, only to reappear behind them.
Together, they were able to create underwater volcanic shields, absorbing certain attacks and turning them against their enemies.
Each movement was choreographed like a deadly dance, where luminous powers danced in the black water, temporarily illuminating the sorcerers' twisted forms.
A more powerful sorcerer emerged from the depths, manipulating the water pressure and current in an attempt to crush them. Clarisse merged with Borax, fusing their mental and physical energy to rise higher and project a mental wave that disoriented the enemy. Leander added a swirling jet of ice, slicing through the creature and shattering its multiple illusions.
"We're beginning to understand their techniques..." Leander said, panting. — "Yes... but each sorcerer has a unique style, and the ocean amplifies their powers," Clarisse replied.
As the fight intensified, Borax made their minds feel the need to read Selerion's flow: each sorcerer used not only physical and elemental attacks, but also psychic ones, seeking to manipulate their deepest fears.
One sorcerer projected visions of past losses, using the mind to paralyze them.
Another created duplicates of Léandre and Clarisse, seeking to sow confusion.
For each attack, Clarisse and Léandre combined their elemental Superpowers, transforming the battle into an artistic spectacle: explosions of fire and ice, lightning snaking through the darkness, volcanic columns rising from the ocean floor, and precise appearances/disappearances to dodge each blow.
Despite the violence of the fight, they began to learn the sorcerers' movements and weaknesses. Each encounter showed them possible strategies and the most dangerous powers to watch out for.
The Codex floated above them, pulsing with each explosion and burst of energy, as if recording every movement in preparation for the next test.
"If we understand their rhythm and their essence," Borax murmured, "we have a chance to survive and prepare a way to return to our time."
The fight temporarily ended, the sorcerers stepping back to watch, intrigued by Clarisse and Leander's newfound mastery. But everyone knew this was only the beginning of a series of clashes. Selerion would not be easily overpowered.
The Codex, now shining like a beacon in the abyssal darkness, pointed a direction to deeper ruins, where the most powerful sorcerers awaited and Selerion's true essence could be revealed to them.