The legendry battle II

The original Twelve Round Knights and the League of Arcana worked tirelessly alongside the Elemental Heroes under the guidance of the Sage of Time. Although the Elemental Heroes could not directly damage the four generals, they weakened the abyssal demonic energies that sustained them. Meanwhile, the knights and warriors, wielding the powers of Holy Light and Darkus, fought bravely to hold their ground against the generals. Despite their efforts, they were barely managing to keep up with their demonic foes. Even the Sage of Time was losing strength, for the price of peering into the future was his very lifespan. His immense resolve to sacrifice his life force inspired everyone to honor his efforts by fighting tirelessly.

One day, when the Sage was severely weakened and exhausted from using his life force, he realized his time was almost up. The only way to win the long war was to pass on his powers and use the last of his remaining life force for a final, surprise attack. He attempted to harness the essence of time magic to slow the demon generals and accelerate time for the heroes. Calling upon his disciples, the Sage asked who among them would sacrifice their lifespan for the world they loved. All were willing, though reluctant, for they knew this would mean losing their beloved teacher.

Seeing their hesitation, the Sage chose the disciple who displayed the greatest loyalty and compassion to be his successor. With a heavy heart, the Sage passed on his power, leaving behind only vestiges of his former strength. With the last of his energy, the Sage cast a powerful spell, slowing time for the demon generals and granting the heroes the critical edge they needed.

With this newfound advantage, the heroes finally overcame the demonic generals, their long and relentless fight culminating in victory. As the generals' abyssal energies faltered, weakened by the Sage's time magic and the continuous efforts of the Elemental Heroes, they could no longer withstand the combined onslaught of the Twelve Round Knights, the League of Arcana, and the human forces. Each general, once towering symbols of fear, fell one by one. However, as the ground battle ended, the struggle in the sky between Durahazaad, the Dragon King, and Azdorath, the Demonic Emperor, continued with unimaginable fury.

Their clash shook the heavens and tore at the fabric of reality. Durahazaad, empowered by the Phoenix's essence and shielded by the Leviathan's abyssal authority, fought valiantly, but the battle took its toll. Every strike from Azdorath seemed to sap Durahazaad's strength, as the abyssal corruption clung to him, gradually draining his power. Yet Durahazaad fought on, determined not to let the future of Duterra fall to ruin.

Once the generals were vanquished, the Twelve Round Knights, the League of Arcana, and the Elemental Masters rushed to aid Durahazaad. Their combined presence bolstered the Dragon King's strength, allowing them to fight back against Azdorath's overwhelming power. Together, they managed to subdue the Demonic Emperor, delivering a fatal blow that shattered his physical form. For a brief moment, it seemed like victory was theirs.

But as Azdorath's form began to dissolve into the abyss, he let out a sinister laugh, his voice echoing across the battlefield. "You may have destroyed this body," Azdorath sneered, "but I will return. My resurrection is inevitable. And when I rise again, it will be with power beyond your imagination. This world will be mine once more."

With those ominous words, Azdorath's form disintegrated, his essence scattering into the void but not entirely destroyed. His dark promise lingered, a reminder that while they had won this battle, humanity would need to prepare for the future. The Demonic Emperor would return, casting a long shadow over Duterra's future.

However, even with Azdorath defeated, the toll on Durahazaad and his allies was immense. Durahazaad, though triumphant, had sustained grievous injuries. The abyssal corruption had seeped deep into his essence, and wielding the Phoenix's flames and Leviathan's protection had left him severely weakened. His once unstoppable draconic force was now barely enough to keep him standing.

The Leviathan, too, was exhausted, having poured much of its energy into shielding Durahazaad. It retreated to the depths of the earth to recover, never to be heard from again. The Phoenix, symbol of rebirth, had used all of its power to heal Durahazaad during the fight. Its flames flickered weakly as it disappeared into the sky, its fate left to the winds of time.

As Durahazaad lay wounded, Azdorath's final words echoed in his mind. "Did you wonder how I could wound the Phoenix and steal the Leviathan's abyssal energy, Dragon King?" Azdorath had whispered during their battle. "I, too, have gained the ability to peer through time—just like you once could. And I've left a gift for you. I would love to see your anguish, but alas, I cannot. I hope the next Dragon King will be as strong as you."

The Demonic Emperor was finally defeated, and the remaining demons were eradicated, their remains cleansed by the Holy Light. Yet, the weight of Azdorath's words hung heavy on Durahazaad's heart. His ability to see through time was part of his draconic force, but the injuries he had sustained severed his connection to the flow of time. His foresight, once clear, was now clouded.

The Dragon King knew his time was coming to an end. Dragons lived for centuries, Durahazaad who was already very ancient even by his species' standards, would have long since entered eternal slumber if not for the humans evoking the elemental tombstones to fight the Demonic Emperor. Gravely injured and with his foresight lost, he understood that the battles ahead would be difficult, but he had faith in humanity's ability to endure and adapt.

The next Dragon King would need decades to awaken and inherit the draconic force. As was tradition, before entering eternal slumber, Durahazaad would create an egg from his life force. This egg would take decades to hatch, and during that time, the elemental dragons would leave their domains to guard the egg with their lives, awaiting the new Dragon King's birth.

If Durahazaad died without leaving a successor, the primal draconic force would manifest a new dragon somewhere in Duterra. However, this dragon would grow without realizing its true potential, taking centuries to fully wield the draconic force. Durahazaad suspected that Azdorath had learned of this succession cycle and had left behind a plan.

Despite the looming threat of Azdorath's return, Durahazaad remained resolute. The heroes, the Twelve Round Knights, the League of Arcana, and the Elemental Masters had proven themselves worthy allies, and they would continue the fight until his successor emerged. He would entrust the guardianship of the egg to these humans who were direct successor to the sage of time, the human he once shared his knowledge and authority with.

As the remnants of the demonic army fled and the dust of battle settled, the people of Duterra rejoiced. Peace, long sought after, had finally returned. Yet the heroes knew this was not the end. Azdorath's defeat was not permanent, and his eventual resurrection loomed over their future. But for now, they had earned a reprieve, and the world could begin to heal.

Durahazaad would retreat to recover and prepare his successor, while the heroes of Duterra prepared for the challenges to come. In this moment of victory, they had proven that even against overwhelming darkness, they could stand united. And when the Demonic Emperor rose again, they would be ready.