Page 28 of Sundered By Fate

But still the anomaly resisted him, its power swelling and pulsing like a heartbeat.

Aric pushed himself harder, desperate to contain it before it was too late.

The anomaly began to shrink under Aric's onslaught, its writhing tendrils retreating into a rapidly shrinking core. Aric maintained his focus, sweat beading on his brow as he pushed the limits of his newfound abilities. Tension shivered in the air, and the ground trembling beneath him as the vortex fought back with all its might.

Aric would not relent. He poured everything he had into the spell, weaving together strands of magic and raw power in an intricate dance.

Finally, with a shuddering roar, the anomaly collapsed in on itself, leaving behind a shimmering, sealed barrier—contained, but not destroyed. The magical storm dissipated, leaving only a strange calm in its wake.

Exhausted but exhilarated, Aric lowered his hands, golden wisps of energy still clinging to his skin. He'd done it—he'd contained the anomaly, bought Thornhaven precious time.

But his moment of triumph was short-lived. The demon lord roared in fury and charged toward Aric. The ground shook with each step of the monstrous being, its eyes burning with otherworldly malevolence.

"Aric!" Davin's voice was a distant cry. "Get out of there!"

But Aric was frozen, his body numb from the force of the magical assault. He could only watch as the demon bore down on him, its massive fists raised high.

Aric raised his hands, instinctively forming a shield of golden power. The demon lord's massive claw crashed against it, the impact reverberating through his bones and sending him sliding backward.

But the shield held.

A wild, feral laugh bubbled up from Aric's chest as he marveled at the strength coursing through him. The golden energy that had felt so fragile before was now a roaring inferno, searing away the last vestiges of doubt and fear.

With renewed resolve, Aric stood his ground as the demon drew back for another strike. The golden energy surged through him once more, crackling around his fingertips as he readied himself for the next attack.

The demon lord roared, its voice a guttural howl that echoed off the stone walls. It swung its clawed hand down at Aric, but he sidestepped, his movements enhanced by the magical energy flowing through him.

With a flick of his wrist, Aric sent a bolt of golden light arcing toward the demon lord. The spell struck the demon in the chest, sending it reeling back with a pained screech. But it recovered quickly, and with a savage roar, it charged at him once more.

Aric dodged and weaved, his body moving with preternatural speed as he countered the demon's brutal attacks. He conjured shields of golden energy to deflect its strikes, then retaliated with blasts of light that seared through the demon's dark flesh.

Around them, the town square was ravaged by their conflict. Trees were uprooted and torn apart by errant spells; cobblestones shattered as the demon's massive fists pounded against them.

But Aric couldn't afford to worry about the destruction; all that mattered was stopping this creature before it turned its savagery on Thornhaven itself.

As the fight wore on, Aric noticed golden wisps forming behind his back, almost like ethereal wings. The sight both awed and unnerved him, making him wonder about the true nature of this power. But there was no time to ponder; he needed to act.

With a thought, he willed the magic to propel him upward, launching himself into the air. The demon lord's fists pounded the ground where he'd been standing a moment before, sending shockwaves through the earth.

But Aric was already soaring above it, his mind racing as he tried to plan his next move.

The demon lord glared up at him with fury in its eyes, its massive frame hulking with muscle and darkness. But now that Aric was in the air, he could see the weak spots in its armor—a seam between its thick neck and the shoulder plates; a vulnerable gap in its back where bone protruded through flesh.

With a snarl, the demon lord unleashed a torrent of dark magic, sending waves of black energy pulsing out from it in all directions. Aric crossed his arms before him, and his golden wings folded around him, forming a protective cocoon.

The dark energy crashed against his shield like a tidal wave, but the golden light held strong. Aric's teeth ground together as he focused all his strength and willpower into maintaining the barrier.

When the barrage finally ceased, Aric unfolded his wings and glared down at the demon. His aura burned brighter than ever, and the fire in his eyes was a reflection of the golden flame that raged within him.

Aric tightened his control on his magic to wrangle it into one final, devastating attack. Golden energy coalesced around his hands, forming a brilliant sphere of pure magical force.

"Enough," Aric growled, and the word reverberated with power, echoing across the battlefield.

With a cry of exertion, he hurled the sphere at the demon. The impact was catastrophic, engulfing the demon in golden light. It shrieked in agony, its monstrous form twisting and writhing as the magic seared through it.

The demon lord's form disintegrated, breaking into motes of dark energy that quickly dissipated into the night. The remaining demons, witnessing the destruction of their leader, turned and fled in terror, their once-unified assault now a chaotic rout.

Aric stood alone on the battlefield, his golden aura slowly fading. The strength that had filled him only moments beforenow left him feeling drained and hollowed out. But a fierce sense of triumph burned in his chest, the knowledge that he'd protected Thornhaven, at least for now.

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