The Devourer's Dominion

The wave of darkness swallowed Aetheron whole. It wasn't just an attack—it was a force, a presence that crushed the air, drowning out light and sound. He felt himself falling, spiraling through a void that had no bottom, no walls, no sense of direction.

Then—impact.

Aetheron hit solid ground, the force sending cracks through the surface beneath him. Dust and debris scattered into the air. The world around him shifted, revealing a twisted landscape. Jagged black stone, shifting mist, and a sky that pulsed with eerie crimson light.

Aetheron pushed himself up, his breathing steady. He was alone.

No Lyara. No Veyrin.

Just him.

His eyes scanned the endless ruins ahead. It felt wrong, like the space itself was warping, shifting between reality and something far worse. He could hear whispers—distant, broken voices echoing through the empty air.

Then came the footsteps.

Soft, deliberate, measured.

Aetheron turned sharply.

The masked figure from before stood a few feet away, their robes flowing unnaturally, as if they weren't bound by the laws of this world.

"You're quick to adapt," the figure said, their voice smooth but hollow. "Good. You'll need that."

Aetheron's hand twitched, Dominion flaring instinctively. "Where are my allies?"

The figure tilted their head slightly. "They are safe. For now. But this is not about them."

Aetheron narrowed his eyes. "Then what is this about?"

The figure stepped forward, each movement fluid, like a shadow sliding across the ground. "This is about what you are… and what you must become."

Aetheron clenched his fists. "Enough riddles."

The figure's voice remained calm. "You think you understand your power. But you don't. Not yet."

Aetheron's Dominion pulsed, the energy within him responding to the challenge. "Then show me."

The figure smiled behind the mask. "As you wish."

And then they moved.

The Battle Begins

The air ripped as the masked figure vanished, reappearing in a blink. Aetheron barely had time to react before a blade of pure darkness slashed toward him. He twisted his body, avoiding the strike by inches, but the sheer force sent a shockwave through the air.

He countered instantly—his Dominion flaring as he launched a blast of searing crimson energy. The masked figure raised a single hand, absorbing the attack like it was nothing.

Too fast.

Too strong.

Aetheron's mind sharpened. No hesitation.

He lunged, closing the gap with terrifying speed. His fist crackled with raw power as he aimed a devastating blow at the figure's chest—

Only to hit empty air.

The masked figure had already shifted behind him. Aetheron barely turned before a surge of black energy slammed into his side, launching him across the battlefield. He crashed into a jagged stone pillar, shattering it on impact.

Pain flared through his body, but he didn't stop.

Before the dust could settle, he shot forward again, Dominion burning brighter. He wasn't holding back this time.

Their clash was like a storm—blades of energy colliding, the ground beneath them fracturing with every impact. Aetheron's attacks grew fiercer, each strike faster, sharper, pushing his limits. But no matter how much power he unleashed, the masked figure remained a step ahead.

Calm. Effortless. Like they knew his every move before he made it.

And then—

Aetheron saw it.

For a brief moment, as their attacks collided, he caught a flicker of something behind the mask.

A glimmer of recognition.

The realization sent a pulse of uncertainty through him. Who is this person?

But before he could think, the figure's hand shot out, fingers closing around his throat.

The next second, the world flipped upside down as Aetheron was slammed into the ground with earth-shattering force. The impact sent cracks spiderwebbing outward, the very ground groaning under the force.

Aetheron gasped, pain shooting through his body. But more than that—he felt something else.

The figure wasn't just attacking him.

They were testing him.

Teaching him.

Pushing him to the edge.

"You are powerful," the figure said, releasing him. "But power alone is not enough."

Aetheron staggered back to his feet, his breathing heavy. His Dominion still surged within him, but it wasn't enough. Not against this.

The figure slowly raised a hand, and the entire landscape shifted. The ruins trembled, and from the shadows, something massive began to emerge.

Aetheron's eyes widened.

A creature unlike anything he had ever seen.

Twisted, monstrous, its form constantly shifting between shapes, like it was struggling to maintain a single form. It let out a sound—a guttural, distorted growl that sent chills down his spine.

The masked figure's voice was calm. "You must learn to face what lies beyond."

Aetheron didn't hesitate.

No thinking. No fear.

He charged.

Unleashing Dominion

The creature lunged, its form stretching unnaturally, claws reaching out with impossible speed. Aetheron dodged, barely slipping past its attack before countering with a concentrated blast of Dominion energy.

The attack struck dead center, but instead of exploding, the creature absorbed it.

Aetheron's eyes narrowed.

So that's how it was.

This wasn't just a mindless monster. It was something worse—something that adapted.

The creature lunged again, and this time Aetheron met it head-on. His Dominion flared brighter, and as their attacks collided, he let his power flow freely.

Not just raw force.

Precision.

He focused, weaving his energy in ways he hadn't before. Instead of overpowering the creature, he redirected its own energy back at it. The moment their attacks met, Aetheron twisted his power, wrapping around the creature's energy and crushing it inward.

A pulse of destruction rippled through the air.

The creature howled as its own power turned against it, its body unraveling in a violent explosion of energy.

And just like that—

It was gone.

Aetheron exhaled, lowering his hand. The masked figure remained still, watching him with those unreadable eyes.

Finally, they spoke.

"You are beginning to understand."

Aetheron looked at them, his expression unreadable. "Who are you?"

The figure was silent for a long moment. Then—

A whisper, barely audible.

"The one who walked before you."

And with that, they vanished into the shadows, leaving Aetheron standing in the ruins, the echoes of their battle still hanging in the air.

Alone again.

But something had changed.

Something important.

He wasn't just fighting anymore.

He was being prepared.