Confronting Malrik
The battlefield was a swirling tempest of fire and shadow, the clash of steel and the cries of wolves creating a grim symphony. At its center stood Malrik, his gaunt frame hunched yet unyielding, as though the chaos itself bent to his will. The Moon Amulet on his chest pulsed faintly, its glow a sickly contrast to the destruction around him.
Isla and Draven moved toward him through the wreckage, their steps synchronized as though their bond carried them forward. The weight of the battle pressed on them, but their resolve burned brighter.
Malrik turned to face them, his gray eyes gleaming with unholy satisfaction. His thin lips curled into a sneer, and he spread his arms wide, as if welcoming them into his dominion. “Ah, the noble Alpha and Luna,” he drawled, his voice laced with mockery. “Come to witness the ruin you’ve brought upon your precious pack?”
Draven stepped forward, his claws flexing, and his voice was a low growl, deadly and restrained. “No,” he said, the word carrying the weight of a storm. “We’ve come to end this.”
Malrik chuckled, a sound devoid of humor, and gestured to the battlefield around him. Wolves fought desperately, their howls and growls a constant reminder of the stakes. “You’re already too late,” he said smoothly. “Your sister screamed beautifully, Isla—such a tragic end for one so weak. And now, your pack crumbles under the weight of your arrogance.”
The mention of Seraphine struck Isla like a blade to the heart. Her silver eyes blazed with fury as she stepped forward, her magic crackling at her fingertips. “You’ll answer for her,” she said, her voice sharp and unyielding.
Malrik tilted his head, his thin frame trembling with amusement. “You?” he said, a cruel smile tugging at his lips. “You don’t have it in you, Isla. You’re too soft. Too fragile to do what’s necessary. Just like your sister.”
Draven’s snarl cut through the air as he surged forward, his claws slashing at the dark energy that surrounded Malrik. “You don’t speak her name!”
The impact of their clash was immediate and devastating. Draven’s raw strength met Malrik’s dark energy in a storm of light and shadow. Isla joined the fray, her connection to the Moon Goddess igniting her magic. Her light surged forward, searing through Malrik’s defenses like a blade of fire.
Malrik staggered, his smirk faltering as the combined force of Isla and Draven pushed him back. But his laughter returned, jagged and unhinged. “You think this will be enough?” he spat, his voice rising. “I am the true heir to the Moon Goddess’s power!”
Draven’s amber eyes burned as he struck again, his claws slashing through the darkness. “You’re nothing but a parasite!”
Isla’s silver light flared once more, her voice carrying over the battlefield. “For Seraphine. For my pack. For everything you’ve taken from us—you will fall, Malrik!”
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