The ancient whispers of the Void Devourer hung like a heavy storm cloud, casting a shadow over every inch of the two realms.
Kai and Linor, riding on the Guardian Dragon, traveled across the corners of both the Eros and Aurora continents, revealing the threat of the Void Devourer to the world. The High Elder's prophecy, the ancient texts in Ironhammer's book, and the savage whispers Kai had heard firsthand made all beings aware that the era of peace was not eternal. A war that could determine their survival was coming.
But there was no panic, no retreat. The beings of the two realms, having endured a century of conflict, understood the meaning of unity.
On the Eros Continent, steam factories worked day and night. Craftsmen abandoned their old weapon blueprints and began forging magical steam-powered armor—combining Elven defensive magic etched into alloy armor, Dwarven meteor-iron weapons, and Starcore energy to create gear that fused both technology's sharpness and magic's resilience. In the square of Everday City, human soldiers lined up in formation, learning precision aiming techniques from Elven archers and close combat skills from Dwarven blacksmiths. Their uniforms were soaked in sweat, but their eyes grew ever more determined.
In the forests of the Aurora Continent, similar scenes of intense preparation unfolded. Elves harvested millennium-old herbs to brew energy-restoring potions; Dwarves mined deep into the mountains, smelting magical metals capable of holding Starcore energy; even the magical beasts of the forest left their dens, volunteering to become the mounts of the Elves and Dwarves, offering their strength to protect the land they called home.
Around the Starcore altar, a massive magical steam barrier was slowly taking shape. This was the product of the combined wisdom of the two realms—human steam turbines provided constant power, Elven magic runes formed an indestructible shield, and Dwarven runes evenly distributed the Starcore energy throughout the barrier. Kai and Linor stood at the center, holding the meteor-iron wrench and enchanted sword, continuously adjusting the energy output frequency.
"We're just one step away," Kai wiped the sweat from his brow, staring at the gap at the top of the barrier. "We need the strength of all beings from both realms to pour their power into the barrier to fully activate its sealing power."
Linor nodded, her gaze drifting toward the horizon, where countless lights were gathering—those were the beings of both realms, carrying weapons and supplies, heading toward the Starcore altar.
Suddenly, the sky darkened. The once-blue sky was now covered by an eerie black mist. The mist was accompanied by a sharp, piercing wail, as though the spirits of the wronged were crying out. The ground began to tremble violently, and the Starcore fragments atop the altar flickered erratically, as if they were about to extinguish at any moment.
"The Void Devourer is waking!" Ironhammer's voice was urgent as he rushed to the altar's center, carrying his massive hammer. "It's tearing through the Starcore's seal!"
Kai looked up, his heart sinking as a massive shadow materialized within the black mist. It had no fixed shape, like a mass of twisted chaos, exuding an aura that devoured everything. The air dissipated wherever it passed, light was extinguished, and even the distant mountains were rapidly turning to nothingness.
"Is that... the Void Devourer?" Linor's voice trembled. She could feel her own magical energy being sucked away by the shadow.
The shadow slowly lowered its head, its blood-red eyes locking onto the Starcore altar. A terrifying force emanated from it, pulling the Starcore fragments toward it with violent intensity, as if they were about to be consumed.
"Damn it! It's trying to consume the Starcore!" Kai shouted, channeling all his Starcore energy into his meteor-iron wrench, hurling it toward the shadow. The wrench, glowing blue, shot through the black mist like a meteor, aiming directly at the core of the shadow.
The shadow let out a pained screech, and the sucking force weakened for a moment. But it was not injured. With a simple tremor, it sent the meteor-iron wrench flying away.
Kai's face grew grim. He realized that, with just the two of them, they had no hope of defeating this ancient beast.
Just then, a deafening cry echoed from the distance.
Countless human soldiers, piloting arcane steam-powered armor, charged toward the shadow. Elven archers, riding giant flying birds, shot enchanted arrows from above. Dwarven blacksmiths, wielding magical battle axes, formed an ironclad defense on the ground. Even the magical beasts of the forest roared, charging at the shadow.
"It's the reinforcements from both realms!" Linor cried out excitedly.
Kai looked at the determined faces and the hopeful eyes. A surge of warmth filled his heart. He knew they were not fighting alone.
Kai took a deep breath, raised his arm, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Brothers and sisters of both realms! Raise your weapons! Channel your power! For peace! For survival!"
The cry rang out like thunder, shaking the heavens.
Countless beams of light erupted from the beings of both realms, rushing toward the Starcore altar's barrier. As the light gathered, the gap at the top of the barrier slowly began to close.
The shadow seemed to sense the danger and let out an enraged screech. It opened its enormous mouth, unleashing a wave of black energy toward the barrier.