Eternal Undying Chronicles

The dark hooves of the bicorn sent tremors through the ground, each step amplifying the tension as a wave of unease washed over Caden. There was no running—they had to fight.

The Reaper's eyes glowed ominously, and with that, a suffocating wave of fear hit them, spreading like an insidious black fog. His already foreboding presence seemed to darken the very air around him, the light from the sun dimming as if even the heavens recoiled at his approach.

A chill shot down Caden's spine, his heart pounding with fear. The only thing sparing them from the full effects of the Reaper's presence was the force field May had conjured, shimmering faintly around them.

"Stay focused!" Caden shouted, shaking off the fear gripping him.

Chris responded immediately, his hands raised as a sea of molten lava materialized out of thin air, swirling like a storm of liquid fire above the Reaper. The bicorn leaped with unnatural speed, but the molten rock slammed down, engulfing the Reaper in a fiery cascade.

Caden and Ping wasted no time. Caden's telekinesis surged as he extended his powers, lifting every building in the surrounding area.

They hovered for a brief moment, like titanic monoliths suspended in the air. Caden's arms shook as he directed them with immense effort, the sheer size of the structures pressing against his control.

With a sharp gesture, he unleashed his power, and the buildings came crashing down, one after another, their colossal forms descending like a barrage of meteors.

The sound of stone and metal ripping through the air was deafening, each impact sending shockwaves through the ground.

At the same time, Ping's turrets erupted with gunfire, a relentless hail of bullets ripping into the debris cloud. Hundreds of rounds pierced through the smoke, finding their target with deadly precision. The sound of rapid-fire gunshots filled the air, adding to the chaos as explosions followed, leaving nothing but carnage in their wake.

The world around them trembled, engulfed in dust and debris. The sheer weight of the destruction Caden had unleashed seemed insurmountable.

The ground quaked beneath their feet, and for a fleeting moment, it appeared as though they had won—surely, nothing could have survived the combined force of their assault.

Chris stood panting, his hands resting on his knees, sweat dripping down his brow.

"He didn't see that one coming," he muttered between gasps.

But Caden wasn't convinced. His eyes narrowed as he stared into the thick cloud of dust, the glow of lava still visible through the haze. Something wasn't right. His instincts screamed danger.

From within the dust cloud, the silhouette of the infernal steed emerged, still standing tall with its rider. Rubble floated around them, suspended midair, as if held in place by an unseen force.

The Reaper's sword pulsed with a sinister light, and the bicorn let out a bone-chilling roar, its voice like the growl of a demon.

Without warning, the steed and rider charged forward, the space around them warping as they teleported in a blur, bypassing the debris entirely. In an instant, they were upon them, the bicorn's hooves crushing the rubble beneath it, sending shockwaves with every step.

The creature's horns blazed with a violet glow as it obliterated chunks of debris in its path, the sound of shattering stone echoing in their ears. They barely had time to react.

"Brace yourselves!" Caden yelled.

The bicorn's horns glowed brighter, unleashing a powerful beam of violet energy. The force of the blast hit the barrier with a deafening roar, causing it to ripple violently. May groaned through their earpieces, struggling to maintain the shield as cracks spread across its surface.

With a furious bellow, the bicorn leaped high into the air, its eyes burning with rage as it soared toward them.

Caden frantically moved rubble in its path, but the Reaper's sword cleaved through everything in its way. Each swing of the blade was precise, effortless, as if the debris posed no challenge. With a flick of his wrist, the Reaper manipulated gravity itself, causing the rubble to freeze midair before it could touch him.

But Caden's relentless assault continued, the sheer number of projectiles overwhelming even the Reaper's control. The bicorn's hooves slammed down onto the barrier again, the force of the impact sending ripples through the shield as it rose higher into the sky.

"We're not done yet!" Ping shouted, his voice filled with determination. Together, he and Caden unleashed another barrage, bullets and rubble flying toward the dark rider and his steed in a furious storm.

The Reaper deflected the bullets with ease, his sword moving faster than the eye could track. The bicorn charged down once more, the Reaper's sword raised high, ready to deliver the final blow.

But Chris wasn't finished. With a strained grunt, he teleported the Reaper into the air, though the effort left him pale and trembling. The Reaper and his steed reappeared only a few meters away, having resisted part of the teleportation, their presence still menacing as ever.

The Reaper raised his hand, and with a gesture, the rubble surrounding them defied gravity, hurtling toward the barrier. Caden fought to seize control of the debris, but the Reaper's power was overwhelming.

The bicorn teleported once more, reappearing right beside the barrier. Its dark, menacing form seemed to signal the end.

Caden's heart sank. He knew if the Reaper's sword touched the barrier, it would slice through like paper. Their last line of defense was crumbling.

Desperation gripped him as the Reaper raised his sword. Caden tried to use his telekinesis to affect the weapon, but it was as if the sword existed outside the realm of his powers—untouchable.

With a flash, the Reaper's sword cut through the barrier, and it shattered like glass. The Reaper briefly glanced at his weapon before turning his cold, merciless gaze back to them.

Chris prepared to attack, but Caden grabbed him and Ping, pulling them back.

"Run inside! We move to phase two!" Caden ordered, his voice carrying the weight of urgency. They had no choice but to retreat—for now. Experience tales at empire

Ping's breath hitched as he fired his guns, each shot aimed squarely at the advancing Reaper.

"Keep him busy while we set up our welcome party!"

They sprinted through the rooftop door, the relentless firing from the automated turrets echoing in the distance, yet the bullets seemed to be swallowed by an unseen force just before they reached the Reaper. It was as if an invisible wall shielded him from harm.

The Reaper's eyes glowed a menacing violet, casting an eerie light as he dismissed the bicorn back into his shadow, his stride slow and purposeful as he approached the door.

Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Caden and the others rushed through the dim hallway, their hearts pounding in sync with the heavy thuds of their boots. They didn't have to run far before Christina appeared, her teleportation ability sweeping them to the large production room—a makeshift stronghold for their next line of defense.

The room was a flurry of activity. Espers with non-offensive abilities were on support, their grim expressions betraying the intensity of the situation. May stood pale but determined, her gaze burning with resolve. Chrona looked on edge, yet her stance was firm. Everyone knew what was at stake.

The entire building trembled violently as the Reaper made his entrance, blasting through the floors above. Dust and debris swirled in the air, and out of the chaos, he emerged—his ominous figure framed by destruction.

"Now!" Caden's voice cut through the tension, and May sprang into action. Her hands shot out, erecting a barrier around the Reaper, encasing him. But the containment was only the beginning.

"Light him up!" Caden ordered.

Without hesitation, Maya unleashed a torrent of flames, engulfing the Reaper in an inferno. Simultaneously, others hurled chunks of debris, metal, and concrete, everything they could muster.

John, the middle-aged man, absorbed the kinetic energy from his surroundings and unleashed it in a concentrated beam at the Reaper.

But the Reaper's movements were inhumanly fast. With a single swing of his sword, May's barrier shattered into countless shards. He dodged the flames and debris with terrifying grace, his acrobatics more akin to a deadly dance.

"Damn it, he's too fast!" Chris muttered, frustration coloring his voice as he shot a glance at Caden.

Caden could see the worry, but there was no time for doubt. "Do it!"

Chris gave a quick nod, gesturing toward Petra, who stood poised at the back. In a heartbeat, Petra appeared behind the Reaper. Before the Reaper could react, Petra touched him, and for a brief moment, both froze.

"Hold your fire!" Caden commanded, halting the assault.

Chrona's eyes widened in realization. She knew Petra's ability—[Mind Burst]—was now in play. The Reaper's most traumatic memories would resurface, trapping him in his own past.

The Reaper's body began to tremble, his head twitching erratically. Petra's face, however, twisted in horror as she connected with him. Then she screamed—a scream so filled with agony that it chilled the very air.

"It burns! It's hot! Make it stop! My head...ahhh!" Petra's screams echoed through the room as she fell to her knees, convulsing violently.

The Reaper, still trapped in the mental onslaught, began to laugh—a deep, guttural sound that grew louder and more unsettling.

"Hahaha!" His violet eyes flared with madness. "Is that all you've got?"

"What did he do to Petra?!" Chris shouted, his voice thick with panic.

"It's a mental attack!" Ping yelled, struggling to contain his own fear.

In a blur of movement, the Reaper shot forward. Before anyone could react, his fist connected with Chris's head, decapitating him instantly. Blood sprayed across the room as Chris's lifeless body collapsed, the sound of bone and flesh splitting reverberating through the air.

"You will all die!" the Reaper roared, his voice saturated with unhinged rage as he crushed Chris's body beneath his feet, grinding it into a pulp.

"My brother…you killed my brother!" Christina's voice cracked with grief, and in a flash of teleportation, she appeared beside the Reaper, her fury driving her into battle.

"Zagarath, I see you…face me!" the Reaper growled, grabbing Christina mid-teleport. With a sickening crunch, he slammed her into the ground, her skull shattering on impact. Blood and brain matter splattered the floor as her once bright eyes dimmed to nothing.

"No!" Caden's heart wrenched, but it was too late. Christina was gone.

The others surged forward in a desperate charge, their shouts of fury drowned out by the Reaper's maniacal laughter. His strength, amplified by his madness, turned the battlefield into a slaughterhouse. Maya screamed as the Reaper tore her arm off, her blood spraying in every direction.

"Hehehehe! Does it hurt, Zagarath? Now die!" the Reaper mocked, his voice twisted with glee.

Caden pulled Maya away with his telekinesis as Oliver rushed forward, his healing hands glowing golden.

"You're going to be okay, Maya. Stay with me," Oliver said, voice trembling as he tried to heal her.

The Reaper's gaze snapped to Oliver. "Bad boy, I don't like you. Okay, die." With a casual flick of his wrist, the Reaper's sword flew through the air, impaling Oliver's stomach.

"Oliver!" Caden's shout echoed, but the boy crumpled, blood pooling beneath him as his life drained away.

"Nooooo!" John's voice rang out in anguish. He charged the Reaper, absorbing the energy of the gravity around him. Clinging to the Reaper, John's body began to glow, prepared to explode and take the Reaper with him.

"Let's die together!"

"No.... just you" the reaper whispered.

"Old man, no!" Caden screamed, pushing the others out of range with his telekinesis as tears streamed down his face.

The explosion ripped through the building, darkening the sky with its force. May shielded the group, blood trickling from her nose as she strained to hold everything together.

Finally, the dust settled, and an eerie silence filled the room. Chrona held Petra as she tried to recover, but the weight of their losses crushed them all.

Caden collapsed to his knees, tears falling freely. "It's over...we won, but at what cost?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Suddenly, a sinister voice rose from the rubble. "Ahhh…that actually managed to destroy me."

They froze in disbelief as the Reaper's body regenerated from the shadows, his dark outfit reforming.

"I commend you… I was actually starting to forget I was immortal. Thank you for the reminder." His mocking laughter sent a fresh wave of terror through the survivors.

The nightmare wasn't over yet.