Page 62 of Trial By Fire

But as Aric’s hand closed around Malekith’s throat, he knew it was over. Malekith’s skin was hot and slick with sweat, hispulse thundering beneath Aric’s palm. Malekith’s eyes locked with his, and for a brief, fleeting moment, Aric saw something raw and unguarded in them. Something that made his breath catch in his throat, and his grip waver for just an instant.

Malekith’s smile widened, the look in his eyes daring Aric to follow through.

Aric’s hold on Malekith’s throat crumbled to nothing as he stumbled back, his heart pounding in his ears. “I can’t,” he said, all but sinking to his knees. “I won’t become like you.”

Malekith straightened, his hand coming up to his throat as he coughed, his skin already knitting back together. “A shame,” he said, his tone as cold as Aric’s skin was burned. “You might have survived a little longer.”

Before Aric could respond, a thunderous roar shattered the air, silencing the crowd and freezing both combatants in place. Aric’s heart leapt into his throat as he looked up to see Sovereign Zaxos rising to his feet on the viewing platform, his molten gold eyes blazing with fury.

“I tire of this treachery!” Zaxos bellowed, his voice reverberating through the arena. “Kill them both!”

In an instant, the world erupted into chaos. The air crackled with conflicting energies as demon guards and bloodthirsty spectators alike surged forward, their own magic flaring to life. Spells began to fly from all directions, a storm of deadly intent converging on the arena floor.

Aric’s mind reeled, struggling to process the sudden shift. One moment, he’d been locked in an intricate dance with Malekith, and the next, they were facing annihilation. He felt a presence at his back and turned to find Malekith there, their shoulders pressed together as they faced the oncoming horde.

“Well,” Malekith said, his voice tight with tension, “this wasn’t quite how I imagined our dance ending.”

Aric’s throat was dry, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs. “Any brilliant ideas?” he asked, his eyes darting from one threat to the next as he tried to gauge which would reach them first.

A humorless chuckle escaped Malekith’s lips. “Stay alive?”

With that, the world exploded into a maelstrom of magic and violence. Aric’s hands moved of their own accord, weaving spells faster than he’d ever managed before. Golden fire poured from his fingertips, meeting the first wave of attacks head-on. He felt Malekith’s magic surge behind him, shadows lashing out to ensnare their assailants.

Aric’s mind raced, trying to formulate a plan even as he fought for his life. They were outnumbered, outgunned, and trapped in an arena with no easy escape. The raw power emanating from Sovereign Zaxos was suffocating, a constant reminder of the impossible odds they faced.

Malekith’s mind was already racing with possibilities, his tactical instincts honed sharp in the face of danger. “Combine your fire with my shadows,” he shouted over the din of battle, his voice barely rising above the howl of the flames and the shouts of their enemies. “Weave them together, a shield, not a wall.”

Aric’s eyes widened in understanding, and he nodded, his movements syncing with Malekith’s as they worked in tandem. With a word of power, Aric summoned a wall of flames, while Malekith wove his shadows through them, the two elements merging and blending at their command. The resulting vortex of golden fire and inky darkness created a temporary shield against the onslaught of attacks that were raining down on them from all sides.

“Keep it moving.” Malekith poured more of his magic into the shield. “Don’t let them get a lock on it.”

Aric’s magic was threatening to unravel as he strained to hold the shield together. He forced himself to focus, to drawon the reserves of magic that he knew were still untapped. The shield swirled and shifted in response to his will, the flames and shadows dancing in a hypnotic pattern that defied logic.

The demons and spectators pressed in around them, their attacks relentless, but the shield held, their blended torrent of magic consuming everything that came too close. Malekith guided Aric’s movements with a steady hand on his back, his presence a grounding force in the chaos. They moved as one, anticipating each other’s needs and responding to the ebb and flow of the battle around them.

But even with Malekith’s guidance, Aric knew they couldn’t hold out forever. The demons vastly outnumbered them, and Sovereign Zaxos’s power loomed over the arena like a storm cloud. They needed a way out, an opening that would allow them to escape the trap that had been set for them.

Aric’s muscles burned with exertion as he maintained the swirling shield of fire and shadow. His eyes darted to Malekith, whose face was a mask of intense concentration. Suddenly, Malekith’s gaze sharpened, focusing on a point in the distance.

“When I give the signal, run for that corner,” Malekith said, his voice low and urgent. He jerked his chin toward the eastern edge of the arena. “Don’t hesitate, don’t look back. Understand?”

Aric’s heart leapt into his throat. He nodded, unable to form words as the implications of Malekith’s plan crashed over him. This was it – their one chance at escape.

Malekith took a deep breath, his chest expanding as he gathered his power. The air around him seemed to thicken, darkness coalescing into writhing tendrils that danced at his fingertips. Aric felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, his skin prickling with the raw energy Malekith was channeling.

With a guttural cry that sent shivers down Aric’s spine, Malekith released the spell. A wave of impenetrable darkness swept across the arena, extinguishing every light and plungingthe world into an inky void. Aric’s breath caught in his throat as the blackness engulfed him, cutting off all sight and sound.

“Now!” Malekith’s shout pierced through the darkness, jolting Aric into action. For a heartbeat, he hesitated, torn between the promise of escape and the thought of leaving Malekith behind. But before he could voice his doubts, Malekith’s hand found him in the darkness, shoving him roughly towards their planned exit.

“Go!” Malekith roared, his voice already turning away, preparing to face the oncoming horde.

Aric’s heart clenched, but he forced his feet to move. He sprinted towards the eastern corner of the arena, the sounds of Malekith’s fierce battle echoing behind him. The clash of magic and Malekith’s defiant cries spurred him on, each step carrying him further from the man who had become far more than just his captor.

As he neared the weak point in the barrier, Aric’s newly acquired demon magic thrummed beneath his skin. He could sense the structure of the magical field, its intricate weave of power now visible to his enhanced perception. Without breaking stride, he gathered his magic, weaving together strands of his golden fire with the shadow techniques Malekith had taught him.

The barrier loomed before him, an invisible wall of pure energy. Aric didn’t slow down. Instead, he thrust his hands forward, channeling every ounce of power he could muster. Golden flames erupted from his fingertips, intertwining with tendrils of inky darkness. The conflicting energies writhed and twisted together, forming a lance of raw magical force that struck the barrier head-on.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a sound like shattering glass, a hole tore open in the magical field. Aric felt the backlash of power wash over him, nearly knocking him offhis feet. But he pushed through, his determination fueled by the desperate need to escape and the ache of leaving Malekith behind.

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