The battlefield erupted into chaos as steel clashed against steel, and the roars of war drowned out any coherent sound. Flames and magic lit the sky, a testament to the power of the sorcerers and warriors locked in battle. Davin and Mira dashed between the enemy lines, ducking and weaving past soldiers, their sights set on the monstrous dragon circling overhead.
"That thing won't stop unless we bring it down," Davin said breathlessly, scanning the horizon for an opening.
Mira nodded, her grip tightening on her twin blades. "And we have to reach the sorcerer too. How are we going to do both?"
Before Davin could respond, the dragon let out a deafening roar and swooped down, its massive wings sending gusts of wind strong enough to knock soldiers off their feet. Its fiery breath scorched the ground, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
"First, we make sure it stops breathing fire," Davin muttered, his mind racing.
Mira’s eyes narrowed. "I’ll keep it distracted. You take the shot."
He turned to her, alarmed. "Mira, that’s insane! That thing will tear you apart!"
Her lips curled into a smirk, though her eyes were serious. "Not if I’m fast enough." Without waiting for a reply, she dashed forward, her movements swift and precise.
Davin watched her go, heart pounding. His instincts screamed at him to follow, to fight beside her, but he knew she was right. She was the fastest, the most agile, and if anyone could keep the dragon occupied long enough for him to make a move, it was her.
Mira sprinted across the battlefield, dodging swipes from enemy soldiers as she headed straight for the dragon. As the beast descended for another attack, she jumped onto a nearby pile of rubble and hurled herself toward it, slashing at its flank with her blades.
The dragon roared in pain, whipping its massive tail toward her. Mira twisted in the air, narrowly avoiding the deadly strike. She landed with a roll, her heart racing, but she didn't stop. She was back on her feet in an instant, already preparing for her next attack.
Davin, seeing his opening, raised his hand and summoned his magic. His fingertips glowed with a dark, ethereal energy as he whispered an incantation under his breath. A spear of shadow formed in his hand, swirling with the power granted to him by the gods.
"Come on," he muttered to himself. "This has to work."
Mira slashed at the dragon again, this time aiming for its eyes. The beast reared back, blinded for just a moment, and that was all Davin needed. He hurled the shadow spear with all his strength, watching as it sailed through the air and struck the dragon squarely in the chest.
The impact was immediate. The dragon let out a roar of agony as the shadow magic spread through its body, its wings faltering. It began to fall, crashing into the ground with a thunderous boom that shook the earth.
Mira barely had time to leap out of the way, landing just as the beast's massive form hit the ground. She glanced back at Davin, panting but grinning. "Told you I could distract it."
Davin ran over, his heart still racing. "You’re insane. Absolutely insane."
"Yeah, but it worked." She glanced at the fallen dragon, its body twitching as it struggled to rise. "It’s not dead yet, though."
Davin frowned. "No, but it’s out of the sky. We’ve got to move now before it recovers." He glanced toward the enemy’s command post, where the sorcerer was likely coordinating the assault. "The real target is still ahead."
Mira wiped the sweat from her brow and nodded. "Lead the way."
As they advanced, the sounds of battle raged on around them. Their allies fought bravely, holding back the overwhelming tide of enemies. In the midst of the chaos, Davin could see Marcus and Lisa fighting side by side, their weapons flashing in the dim light. They were holding their ground, but barely.
"We have to hurry," Davin muttered as they made their way toward the command center. "They won’t last much longer."
The enemy soldiers began to close in on them, sensing their intent. Davin raised his hand, summoning a barrier of shadow that erupted from the ground, forcing the enemies back. But they were relentless, pushing forward, desperate to cut off his and Mira’s approach.
Mira glanced at him, her expression grim. "We need to break through. Now."
Davin gritted his teeth, pushing his magic to its limits. He sent a wave of dark energy crashing into the enemy line, sending soldiers flying. "Go!" he shouted. "I’ll cover you!"
Mira didn’t hesitate. She dashed forward, her blades flashing as she cut through the remaining enemies. Davin followed close behind, his magic carving a path through the chaos.
As they reached the command post, a figure emerged from the shadows—a tall man in dark robes, his eyes glowing with malevolent power. The sorcerer.
"So, you’ve come," the sorcerer said, his voice cold and smooth. "The fools who think they can stand against me."
Davin stepped forward, his sword drawn. "You’re the one leading this army. This ends now."
The sorcerer chuckled darkly, raising a hand. "You think you can stop me? You have no idea what you’re dealing with."
Mira, standing beside Davin, tensed. "We’ve faced worse than you."
"Have you?" the sorcerer sneered, his eyes flickering with dark magic. "Let’s see if your gods can save you now."
With a flick of his wrist, the ground beneath them erupted, dark tendrils of magic surging toward them. Davin reacted instantly, raising a shield of shadow to block the attack, but the force of it nearly knocked him off his feet.
"He's stronger than I thought," Davin muttered through gritted teeth, struggling to hold the shield.
Mira dashed forward, her blades cutting through the tendrils as she closed the distance between them and the sorcerer. "Then we hit him hard and fast!"
The sorcerer smirked, summoning more magic. "Pathetic."
Before Mira could strike, a massive burst of dark energy exploded from the sorcerer, sending her flying backward. She hit the ground hard, gasping for breath.
"Mira!" Davin shouted, his heart lurching.
The sorcerer’s laughter echoed through the battlefield. "You’re nothing compared to me. You’ll die here like the rest of your pitiful army."
Davin’s eyes blazed with fury. He stepped forward, his body glowing with the power granted to him by the gods. "You have no idea what you're up against."
With a roar, he unleashed all the magic he had been holding back, the ground around him shattering as waves of shadow and light erupted from his body, surging toward the sorcerer.
The sorcerer's smug expression faltered for just a moment as he raised his hands to defend himself. But Davin’s attack was relentless, pushing him back, overwhelming him.
"You... you can't...!" the sorcerer hissed, his voice strained as the power crushed down on him.
"I can," Davin growled, stepping closer. "And I will."
With one final surge of energy, Davin's magic slammed into the sorcerer, shattering his defenses and sending him crashing to the ground.
For a moment, there was silence. Then the sorcerer groaned, trying to rise.
Mira staggered to her feet, clutching her side but smiling grimly. "Looks like you’re not as invincible as you thought."
Davin stood over the fallen sorcerer, his sword raised. "It’s over."
The sorcerer looked up at him, his eyes filled with hatred. "You think this is the end? This is only the beginning."
Davin’s expression hardened. "Then we’ll be ready."
With one swift motion, he brought his sword down, ending the sorcerer’s life.
The battlefield fell silent, the enemy forces retreating as their leader fell. But even as the victory settled over them, Davin couldn’t shake the sorcerer’s final words.