(Written by Solomon Paul)

The air around Diane grew heavy. She could feel the overwhelming pressure radiating from Silver's body-an aura of power that sent shivers through the earth beneath her feet.

Diane (thinking):

"This guy is strong. I can't afford to hold back-not even for a second, or it'll cost me everything."

With a sharp breath, Diane's body pulsed with sinister magic. A thick black aura surged around her, and within seconds, the sky above darkened. Thunder rumbled. The ground split violently, causing quakes that spread to distant cities.

In one swift motion, she raised her hand and summoned a dark spell-a technique once used against Elizabeth.

Diane:

"Dark Slash!"

A wave of pure malevolent energy erupted from her palm, tearing through the sky like a scythe of death.

But Silver stood firm.

He gritted his teeth and threw up his strongest barrier yet-an 18-layered magic shield glowing with arcane inscriptions, encasing both him and the children. The Dark Slash struck the barrier with tremendous force, tearing through seventeen layers like paper. Only one remained.

Silver (exhaling):

"Ah... That was close. I almost lost my composure. Don't tell me that's all you've got."

Diane smirked, unbothered.

Diane:

"I'm just getting started... Come forth-Berserker!"

A dark portal opened behind her, crackling with chaotic energy. From within emerged a cursed blade known only to a few-Berserker, a demonic sword gifted to her by the Demon Lord himself. It defied time and space, manipulated chaos, and could tear through dimensions with a single strike. Its red crystal core glowed, pulsing like a heartbeat.

Diane:

"I hope you're ready, Silver. I won't hold back."

Both of them shot into the sky like twin comets. Silver's expression shifted the moment he laid eyes on the sword.

Silver:

"What... is wrong with that sword?"

Diane (grinning):

"Oh, you're about to find out."

With no more words, Silver unsheathed his own blade, and their duel began-a clash of titans high above the clouds. The sound of metal echoed like thunder. With every strike from Berserker, Silver's sword cracked. It was all he could do to parry and dodge. The demonic weapon was draining his magic faster than he could replenish it.

Finally, a devastating blow shattered his weapon completely and sent Silver crashing to the earth. He landed before the children, bruised and panting.

Silver (gasping):

"Go! It's too dangerous here. That sword... it's beyond anything I've faced. Amon-get them out of here. Safely!"

Amon:

"I'll do my best. You better not go dying on all of us."

Silver (smirking weakly):

"You can count on me."

Elioth:

"We can help!"

Silver:

"No-you'll only slow me down. Please... do me a favor and listen to Amon."

Elioth:

"Yes, sir."

With that, the children turned and sprinted toward the city, Amon guiding them with urgency.

Silver took one last breath and ascended into the sky once more using Flight Magic, his body battered but his resolve unbroken.

Diane hovered in the air, laughing coldly.

Diane:

"How touching. Sacrificing yourself for your little students. Where's all that pride of yours now?"

(She laughed maniacally.)

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

She swung Berserker once more. Silver narrowly dodged, but the sheer force of the missed strike ripped through the magical barrier surrounding the city.

Suddenly, the sky cracked open.

A rift between realities exploded into existence. Colors bled into each other. Space bent like liquid. From the breach, chaotic creatures poured into their world-some terrifying, others angelic. Good and evil, warriors and innocents, gods and monsters, adults and children-all spilled out into the sky and onto the earth.

The balance of their reality was breaking.

Chaos had arrived.

And this...

was just the beginning.

---

[TO BE CONTINUED IN CHAPTER TEN]