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As Bjorn "Stormbreaker" Thorgard, Leonidas "Aegis" Phobos, and Maximus "The Titan" Valerius stepped out of Luminaris Hall, they were met with a scene of utter devastation. The streets of Stellara Prime, once bustling with life and vibrant energy, were now engulfed in chaos. Buildings burned with unnatural flames, and the air was filled with the screams of the innocent. Bodies of civilians lay scattered, blood pooling on the shimmering stone streets, while hundreds of First Generation Sentients continued their rampage, cutting down all who crossed their paths.
Leonidas was the first to speak, his voice low but urgent. “What are these things?”
Maximus scanned the carnage, his grip tightening on the hilt of his massive gladiatorial sword. “I’ve never seen anything like them before… But didn’t that civilian mention something about King Arion? I don’t sense his presence.”
Bjorn growled, his Thunderstrike Axe crackling faintly with electricity as he surveyed the destruction. “You’re right. I can’t sense him either.” His sharp eyes narrowed as he shifted his focus. “But I do sense someone else—that traitor Tenzin. And there’s another presence with him, stronger, but it’s definitely not Arion.”
Maximus crossed his arms, his expression grim. “What’s the plan?”
Bjorn spat on the ground, his voice hard with resolve. “We deal with these freaks first and save as many civilians as we can. Then we’ll handle Tenzin and that… other presence.”
Leonidas nodded, stepping forward with purpose as his body began to glow with a brilliant yellow aura. “Perfect. I’ll start us off.”
He slammed his spear into the ground, the force of the impact reverberating through the streets. “Phalanx Formation.”
In an instant, dozens upon dozens of Spectral Spartan Warriors began to materialize around him, their translucent forms shimmering with divine energy. Shields locked, spears poised, and voices unified in a ghostly battle cry, they formed an impenetrable wall of warfare.
Leonidas raised his spear high, his voice booming with authority. “Our objective is to save as many civilians as possible and defeat as many of these… mages as we can. WE WILL RAGE UNTIL THERE IS NO MORE BLOOD TO BE SHED!”
The Spectral Spartan Army surged forward, their shields gleaming and spears glinting under the flickering glow of the burning streets. The First Generation Sentients turned their attention to the phalanx, their eyes glowing with an unnatural, menacing light.
Three Spectral Spartans rushed a group of Sentients who were surrounding a mother and her child. Their spears moved in perfect unison, piercing through the Sentients’ defenses. One Spartan shifted his shield to protect the mother, creating an opening for her to escape. But just as he did, a Sentient wielding a fiery whip lashed out, severing the Spartan’s arm before setting his spectral form ablaze. The Spartan collapsed, dissipating into nothingness as his comrades pressed forward.
The mother wept with gratitude as another Spartan ushered her and her child toward safety. “Hurry!” he urged. “Find shelter and don’t look back!”
Further down the street, a trio of Sentients armed with jagged blades attempted to break through the phalanx. Their strikes were unnaturally fast, their movements erratic and unpredictable. The Spartans held their ground, their shields locked tightly together.
Leonidas joined the fray, his Aegis Shield glowing brightly as he blocked a synchronized attack from all three Sentients. He retaliated with a thrust of his Spear of Olympus, the divine energy coursing through it piercing a hole in one Sentient’s chest. The mage staggered but didn’t fall, its wounds starting to regenerate.
“They’re not going down easily,” Leonidas growled, his voice steady but frustrated.
Amid the chaos, a Spartan warrior found a group of civilians cornered by a towering Sentient whose body radiated poisonous fumes. The Spartan engaged the Sentient, keeping its attention on him while the civilians escaped.
But the Sentient adapted quickly, releasing a noxious cloud that disoriented the Spartan. As the mage struck him down, one of the fleeing civilians—a young man—turned back, rushing toward the Spartan with a dagger.
“NO!” the Spartan screamed, but it was too late. The civilian plunged the dagger into the Sentient’s side, creating an opening for the Spartan to deliver a final spear thrust. The Sentient retreated, but the young man succumbed to the poisonous fumes, collapsing to the ground.
“A Spartan stands tall… because of people like you,” the warrior whispered as the light in the civilian’s eyes faded.
In another part of the streets, Leonidas and six Spartans faced off against a group of Sentients wielding weapons that emitted beams of concentrated energy. The Sentients’ mobility made them difficult to pin down, but the Phalanx Formation adjusted seamlessly.
“Form up!” Leonidas roared, and the Spartans tightened their ranks, their shields absorbing the energy blasts. Using his Spartan War Cry, Leonidas inspired his warriors to charge forward, their movements coordinated and precise.
The Spartans managed to drive the Sentients back temporarily, but not without cost—two spectral warriors fell, their forms disintegrating under the relentless assault.
The Spectral Spartans fought valiantly, saving many civilians and creating openings for others to escape. But for every civilian saved, another fell. The First Generation Sentients adapted rapidly, exploiting weaknesses in the formation and regenerating from injuries that would have killed ordinary mages.
Leonidas gritted his teeth as he skewered another Sentient with his spear, the divine light of the weapon flickering but steadfast. “They just won’t die…” he muttered, his frustration mounting.
Bjorn and Maximus stood at the massive doors of Luminaris Hall, their eyes scanning the battlefield below. The streets of Stellara Prime were engulfed in destruction and chaos, the cries of civilians echoing through the night mixed with the relentless carnage caused by the First Generation Sentients.
Bjorn shifted slightly, his Thunderstrike Axe glowing faintly as lightning arced across its blade. “Leo can handle those abominations for now,” he said, his voice gravelly. “Let’s focus on locating that backstabbing traitor.”
Maximus nodded, but before either of them could move, the air around them shifted.
A sudden burst of energy rippled beside Maximus. The wind swirled violently as if something invisible was tearing through the atmosphere at blinding speed. Maximus turned his head slightly, and in the blink of an eye, Tenzin appeared directly beside him.
“Cosmic Palm!”
Without hesitation, Tenzin struck Maximus with immense force, his glowing palm radiating golden energy. The impact was instantaneous, sending Maximus hurtling backward through the air before crashing into a nearby building. The structure groaned under the strain, collapsing slightly as rubble fell around his body.
Bjorn’s aura erupted in response, an explosion of lightning crackling across the air as he roared: “FINALLY!”
Bjorn swung his Thunderstrike Axe with all his might, the weapon crackling with bolts of electricity as he aimed directly for Tenzin’s chest. But Tenzin moved swiftly, narrowly avoiding the strike with an effortless sidestep.
As Bjorn recovered, Tenzin closed the distance instantly, his fists glowing with golden light as he unleashed Infinite Fist.
To the untrained eye, it appeared as though Tenzin struck Bjorn once—but in reality, over 1000 punches landed in an instant, each one precise and devastating. The sheer force of the attack sent Bjorn crashing into the outside wall of Luminaris Hall, embedding him in the stone as smoke and rubble surrounded him.
For a moment, the battlefield fell quiet as the scene cleared—and then, Bjorn’s booming laugh rang out.
Bjorn stepped out of the rubble, his body glowing with a primal, electrified aura. His breathing grew heavier, his eyes sharp with unrelenting fury. “Berserker’s Rage!”
As he activated the ability, Bjorn tapped into the full Viking battle spirit, his strength and speed amplifying to terrifying levels. His movements grew faster, his strikes heavier, and his roaring energy filled the space with an aura so intense that even the Sentients paused momentarily. Tenzin then quickly told Bjorn, "Go tell Lila to surrender herself and the. "Seventh" Universe to King Arion."
Bjorn didn't care to respond as he lunged forward at Tenzin, swinging his Thunderstrike Axe with devastating force. The ground trembled slightly with every step he took, creating cracks in the land beneath him.
But Tenzin moved with fluid precision, activating Celestial Step.
Tenzin’s body shifted slightly, phasing out of the physical plane as Bjorn’s axe passed harmlessly through him. In his intangible form, Tenzin moved with light speed, disappearing and reappearing in an instant.
Bjorn snarled as his strikes continued to miss, each swing of his Thunderstrike Axe scattering lightning across the battlefield. The storm surrounding Bjorn intensified, his rage building with every failed attempt to land a hit.
Bjorn swung his axe downward, aiming to crush Tenzin with a devastating upward lightning arc. Tenzin vanished, reappearing above Bjorn before phasing back into the physical plane. Bjorn spun in place, creating a vortex of lightning energy with each strike of his axe, attempting to trap Tenzin in the swirling storm. Tenzin evaded effortlessly, moving like a ghost through the battlefield. Bjorn roared, charging forward at incredible speed, his berserker strength amplifying the force of his swings. But Tenzin avoided each attack with Celestial Step, his movements seamless and untouchable.
Tenzin finally grew tired of dodging. He moved directly in front of Bjorn, his fists glowing with golden, radiant energy. “Spirit Dragon Strike!”
With a single, devastating motion, Tenzin summoned the energy of the Spirit Dragon, channeling it through his body and releasing it in a cataclysmic wave. The massive strike tore through Bjorn’s defenses, creating a glowing dragon-shaped wave that knocked Bjorn backward before crashing into the ground.
Bjorn fell to his knee, his breathing heavy as blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
As Tenzin stepped forward, his fists radiating golden energy, he stood over Bjorn. “You could’ve just retreated inside and told Queen Lila. Now you’re going to die a worthless fighter.”
Tenzin raised his fist, preparing the finishing blow. But before he could strike, Maximus reappeared, leaping forward with a massive sword raised high.
Tenzin turned calmly, his golden aura flaring as he activated Cosmic Palm, sending an explosive burst of energy toward Maximus’s sword. The weapon was blasted out of his hand, clattering onto the ground as Maximus landed heavily.
Maximus charged forward with his fists raised, aiming to strike Tenzin—but Celestial Step rendered every punch useless, Tenzin effortlessly avoiding each attack with fluid movements.
Just like with Bjorn, Tenzin grew tired of the relentless combat. He exhaled sharply, activating Harmony of the Elements.
The natural elements around him shifted in response to his chi, and Maximus froze mid-motion as his body was encased in a massive block of ice. His form remained suspended within, his movements frozen and his breath visible against the chill.
Tenzin turned slowly, standing tall as his golden aura shimmered beneath the moonlight. He struck an imposing pose, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos raging around him.
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