ar''s gaze shifted to the four avatars standing behind Thalrok and Krevak. Their expressions were infuriatingly calm as though they were spectators at a show rather than warriors in a battle. It was as if they thought him not that worthy of their effort together to fight him at once and that indifference lit a fresh fire of rage within him.


    "Are you enjoying the show?" he growled sarcastically. "You think I''m not worth your time? Fine. I''ll make sure you regret it."


    Meanwhile, Thalrok and Krevak reignited their mes. Their golden and crimson fires surged and wrapped around their bodies like living armor, their intensity growing with each passing second. It was as though their previous defeat had only fueled their determination.


    "Why do you two have the same power but just different colors? Looks like your gods aren''t all that creative, huh?" ar sneered, his tone mocking as he observed the simrity between their abilities.


    The jab struck a nerve and suddenly Thalrok''s mes red more violently, his face twisting in rage. "You shut your filthy mouth, lizard!" he roared. "Don''t you dare speak of our gods like that!"


    With a burst of speed, Thalrokunched himself at ar with his fists zing with blood red fire. ar smirked and met him head-on. ar feel tha his own power swelling within him.


    Something in this environment was amplifying his energy. It was a foreign sensation that made his power feel sharper and wilder. He didn''t like the feeling. It was intrusive like an unwee hand guiding his strength but for now, he would use it to teach these bastards some lesson.


    Their fists collided mid-air, the red fire shing against scale. The impact sent a shockwave ripping through the battlefield, scattering sand and debris in every direction. Before Thalrok could recover, ar''s hands moved with blinding speed as he summoning massive stone pirs that erupted from the ground and encased the him in a jagged prison.


    Thalrok snarled, his mes trying to melt the stone as fast as possible but ar was already make his next move. With a surge of speed, ar closed the distance and unleashed a flurry of punches.


    His fists mmed into the stone cage, each blow driving deeper and sending cracks rippling through the prison and Thalrok''s defenses.


    Before ar could deliver more attack though, a golden blur shot toward him. Krevak appeared from behind him with his golden mes coalescing into a de that arced toward ar''s back.


    Instinctively, ar twisted his body and raised an earthen shield, the molten de shattering it upon impact but leaving ar unscathed.


    "You''ll have to try harder than that," ar growled.


    Krevak''s eyes narrowed, and he pulled back, his mes growing even brighter.


    Thalrok shattered his stone prison with an explosive roar, his crimson mes zing fiercely once more.


    "You''ll pay for that!" he spat in anger.


    The two avatars nked ar, their mes swirling in tandem as they prepared a coordinated assault. But ar remained undaunted. He stomped the ground, sending a tremor through the battlefield that caused fissures to spider out in all directions. The earth rose and twisted at hismand, forming walls and spikes to block and counter the iing attacks.


    The four avatars in the back still didn''t move. They exchanged quiet nces, their postures rxed, yet their eyes betrayed a flicker of anticipation.


    "Do you still think I''m not worth fighting together?" ar said loudly to them. "Fine. Stay there. I''ll deal with you after I''m done with these two!"


    ---


    Meanwhile, Erend remained crouched on the hill while looking on the battlefield below. A small smile tugged at his lips as he watched the avatars underestimating ar''s strength. Despite their advantage in numbers, they chose to hold back and allowing ar to defeat them one blow at a time.


    ar hadn''t even used his full power yet, but Erend could tell his friend was beginning to tap into it. The raw, unyielding energy radiating from ar was unmistakable. Something is enhancing his armor cause he can see that ar''s armor is shimmering with like that wasn''t there before.


    Erend leaned back slightly, taking a moment to assess his surroundings. The strange energy that filled this ce was bing more noticeable. It resonated deep within him and also amplifying his own power in ways he''d never experienced before. The feeling was alien but also feels familiar as if it was awakening something dormant in his essence.


    "I guess this really is thend of the Dragonborn," he muttered under his breath. He had never felt anything remotely simr to this energy anywhere else.


    There was so much to look for about this ce, about its energy, connection to the Dragonborn, and whaty behind the ominous ck door at the heart of it all.


    But before he could go into those mysteries, there was the immediate threat of the avatars to deal with. Their refusal to join the fight frustrated him. He was eager to see what powers they wielded. But if they wouldn''te to attack ar, he wouldn''t waste time waiting.


    Suddenly, a notification from the System materialized before him again.


    [Main Quest Updated!]


    [Main Quest: Go inside the door.]


    Erend blinked, his eyes narrowing and focused on the message. The ck door was clearly important right now. If the System itself had marked it as his target then whatever was behind it was crucial to him and maybe to ar as well.


    His gaze shifted back to ar who was now facing Thalrok and Krevak in their burning forms and then to the four avatars still standing idle.


    "I''ll need to move soon,"


    Erend thought, clenching his fists.


    ---


    Thalrok and Krevakunched themselves at ar again, their mes zing brighter as they attacked. For a few tense seconds, they exchanged blows with ar and their fire shing against his earth Magic. The giant Dragon bones trembled under the weight of their fight, but then, without warning,


    ar''s aura red.


    SWOOOOSH!


    A burst of energy erupted from him, his strength and speed surging to an entirely new level. Before Thalrok or Krevak could react, ar moved with blinding speed. His hands shot out like vipers and grabbing their faces in an powerful grip.


    "I think I''m done with you," ar growled.


    With a feral roar, he mmed their heads into the ground with such force that the earth cracked and trembled. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield, the vibrations strong enough to knock some cracking bones loose from the surrounding skeleton.


    The sudden change in ar''s power drew the attention of the four avatars who previously just watching from the distance. For the first time their calm expressions faltered. Even the ck-coated figure who had remained indifferent until now narrowed his eyes with visible concern.


    ar didn''t stop. With terrifying speed, he began pummeling Thalrok and Krevak, his fists striking them with terrible force. Each blownded with a sickening crunch that driving their head deeper into the ground. The two avatars of god who once so confident in their strength could do nothing but endure the assault because of ar''s speed whilending it, their mes flickering weakly as their bodies grew bloodied and battered.


    "Still think I''m not worth it?!" ar snarled with anger while keep punching them.


    It was then that the ck-coated man stepped forward slightly and said with calm butmanding voice.


    "This is enough. We need to go."


    The other three start to move to help them. But before they could take more than a few steps, a powerful gust of wind swept over the battlefield. The air grew heavy with another aura of Dragonborn, and a shadow loomed over the avatars.


    Erendnded in front of them while cracking the ground beneath his feet. His Dragon Scales shimmered with a fiery red and ck aura, the colors swirling around him. The energy radiating from him was overwhelming that it made even the four avatars hesitate.


    Shock was clear on their faces. Erend''s gaze swept over them, his expression cold. He took a single step forward, the aura around him ring dangerously.


    A smirk spreading across his face. The red and ck scales shimmering across his body made his presence more menacing. His gaze locked onto the four avatars.


    "Another Dragonborn?!" gasped the emerald-coated woman, her eyes wide with shock.


    The other three avatars exchanged quick nces, their concern was very clear. They hadn''t anticipated encountering another Dragonborn, let alone one who exuded such overwhelming power. A flicker of uncertainty crossed even the ck-coated man''s face that before always look t.


    "What is going on?" the silver-coated woman murmured.


    From behind, ar''s voice cut through the charged atmosphere.


    "Erend!" he shouted. "Where the fuck have you been?"


    Erend nced over his shoulder.


    "I''ve been watching you, of course. Thought you could handle them on your own." He paused, letting the sarcasm sink in. "But it seems you''ve still got a lot to learn."


    ar snorted, clearly annoyed, and with a casual flick of his arms he throw Thalrok and Krevak away. They mmed into the remains of a massive Dragon''s skeleton and crumpled into a heap.


    "Yeah?" ar shot back, brushing the dust from his arms. "I was just starting to get serious. Let''s see how


    you


    do with them."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Erend chuckled softly, turning back to the four avatars.


    "Shall we begin?" Erend said "Because I don''t have time to waste on you all. I''ve got somewhere to be."


    He raised a hand and pointed behind them toward the ominous ck door in the distance.


    "I need to get to that door," Erend continued. His tone was casual, but his aura red, the red and ck energy swirling around him like a living storm. "So if you want to stop me, now''s your chance."


    ---