Battle Brews Everywhere

"Darian?" the old man asked with a hint of surprise on his face. "How… why are you here?"

"To kill you, of course," Darian answered. 

Jason was about to attack, but the old man stopped him. "Don't, he's too strong for you. I will deal with him. You deal with the emperor," he said.

Jason nodded and turned around.

"I should have expected you would come. You truly are desperate for my death, aren't you?" the old man frowned as he spoke.

"If you thought you could go on with this little world domination of yours without me intervening, then you must be quite stupid," Darian said.

"No, I knew you would do it. I was just prepared for your arrival," the old man said and immediately attacked Darian. 

A wave of Aether flowed out of him and towards Darian, but before it could enter Darian's body, Darian himself flooded his body with his own Aether and enforced it at the same time.