Chapter 61 — The War Has BegunThe sky was calm. But hearts were restless.
At the center of the City of Heroes, Inavy, Darius, sat in a meeting room within the main headquarters of the Guild of Thousand Lights. The atmosphere was tense.
— "Lorien… Darius and I fought one of Tyrus's top men," Inavy said, breaking the silence.
Darius nodded in agreement, arms crossed.
— "He was insane. Way stronger than we expected. We won, but… he didn't die. He retreated." He added, looking at Lorien with a serious expression.— "If Inavy hadn't been there, I wouldn't have made it."
Lorien remained standing, eyes closed, as if weighing every word. Then he spoke:
— "So they're stronger than we thought…"
Inavy looked out the window, the afternoon light reflecting in his now more intense eyes. His voice was steady:
— "Yeah… and I believe they've grown even stronger. I felt something strange… as if the Primordial Aura was being twisted, somewhere far from Earth. Tyrus is advancing…"
Lorien looked at him directly, surprised.
— "I felt something like that too… a distant echo. As if an ancient power was awakening."
Silence hovered for a few seconds. Rose stared at the table. The tension was nearly tangible.
— "It doesn't matter," Lorien said, raising his head.— "We have to act. Now. Stay alert, until—"
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
The entire building shook.
The sky split open.
Millions of portals suddenly appeared across the horizon, in the sky, in the streets. Monsters, shadow beasts, grotesque titans, and abominations began pouring out from all directions.
Absolute chaos.
One of the beasts crashed into the building, smashing through walls and hurling debris everywhere.
Lorien activated his aura — the Divine Light blazing like a collapsing sun.
— "Damn…" he muttered.— "He really is good at surprise attacks."
Inside Inavy's mind, Nion's voice echoed like a calm thunder:
— "He's a born war strategist, Inavy. You let your guard down… and now he'll show no mercy. But you have everything you need to stop him. As you said yourself: break past your limits."
Inavy smiled, eyes glowing:
— "Yes!"
Lorien was already moving, forming a light field to contain the first wave of attack.
— "Inavy, Darius! Head to the northern sector of the city. Protect the civilians. I'll stay here."He turned with a determined gaze.— "Tyrus is mine."
Darius hesitated:
— "But bro… you alone…"
Lorien smiled with conviction.
— "Don't worry.— I WILL win."
Inavy placed a hand on Darius's shoulder:
— "Focus, Darius. And trust your brother."
In the northern sector, Ron, Rose, and Diana were already battling monsters, leading squads of heroes and soldiers.
By the time Inavy and Darius arrived, the sky was filled with distorted energy, and distant explosions echoed across the city.
But the real focus was now on the city center.
There, amidst rubble and flickering lights… he appeared.
Tyrus.
As if emerging from the very darkness, cloaked in living shadows and holding the Spear of Fate, his red eyes locked onto the man waiting for him.
— "Well, well… if it isn't Valtier. Or should I say… the bearer of Divine Light."
Lorien hovered above the wreckage, cloaked in a golden mantle of light, eyes calm, celestial blade in hand.
— "And if it isn't the man of Ruin himself.— Today, you'll understand why I became the number one pillar of this world."
Tyrus laughed.
— "Number one? Don't make me laugh.— Today, you'll fall once more, bearer of the Light.— And by my hands… again."
Lorien raised his sword. The divine aura surged, cracking the air around him.
— "We'll see… if this time,you can extinguish the sun."