Aftermath

"The presence of this beast... it's more ominous than Namior's."

Zarek's thoughts churned as he gripped his sword tighter.

"A summoned creature?... To summon something like this... just how much power does that man have?"

A fleeting image of Kairo crossed his mind, sharpening his resolve.

Without hesitation, Zarek and Lazarus launched toward each other, their movements so fast they became blurs. The instant they collided, a deafening boom ripped through the air, unleashing powerful shockwaves. The force shattered every glass panel in the surrounding skyscrapers, raining shards onto the streets below.

Zarek's sword met Lazarus's beak with a grinding screech, sparks flying as metal scraped against the creature's impenetrable bone. The collision was ferocious, but neither showed any sign of backing down.