Chapter 6 — The First Clash
The city lay silent beneath the Bloody Moon.
Ruined streets stretched for miles, abandoned after the chaos of the Eclipse Sovereign's return.
At the center of the empty district, two figures faced each other.
Raun Veyrath.
And Aren Solvayne.
Shadow against light.
The wind carried dust through broken buildings as the two men stood still, measuring each other.
Golden energy burned around Aren's body like a rising sun.
Across from him, darkness curled slowly around Raun like living smoke.
Aren spoke first.
"You saved my life once."
Raun's crimson eyes met his calmly.
"That man no longer exists."
The air between them grew heavy.
Without warning—
Aren moved.
Light exploded from his body as he launched forward, his fist blazing with solar energy.
The impact shattered the pavement where Raun had been standing.
But Raun was already gone.
He appeared behind Aren like a shadow detaching from the ground.
Dark energy surged from his hand, forming a blade of void-forged steel.
Aren spun instantly, blocking the strike with a burst of solar plasma.
The collision sent a shockwave ripping through the street.
Windows shattered across entire blocks.
The battle had begun.
Aren fought with everything he had.
Every strike carried the brilliance of the sun itself. Beams of light carved through buildings and scorched the sky.
Raun moved through the chaos with unnatural calm.
Darkness shaped itself into weapons in his hands—blades, spears, and shields formed from pure void energy.
Their powers clashed again and again.
Light against shadow.
Sun against eclipse.
Finally, Aren gathered his energy into one devastating attack.
He raised his hand toward the sky.
Golden light condensed above him, forming a blazing pillar that pierced the clouds.
"Judgment of Dawn."
The beam crashed downward toward Raun with enough force to split the earth.
For a moment—
The entire battlefield disappeared in blinding light.
When the brilliance faded, Raun stood at the center of the crater.
His coat was torn.
A thin line of blood marked the corner of his mouth.
But he was still standing.
Aren stared in disbelief.
Raun wiped the blood away calmly.
Then he turned and began walking away.
"Grow stronger," he said quietly.
Aren's fists trembled.
Raun glanced back once, his crimson eyes cold beneath the red moon.
"You are not ready to die."