The Corrupted Syndicate

It was as if a massive black ribbon, interwoven with bright violet hues, had coiled around the stone statues, momentarily ensnaring them in a captivating dance of illumination and darkness.

Matt initially thought the mesmerizing display was another surprise spell from Mavislin, but Zenos was quick to dismiss that notion.

His keen perception, enhanced by the eyes of the Chaos Dragon, revealed the truth: what he witnessed was not a ribbon or a mere stream of energy.

In the next heartbeat, the stone statues disintegrated into a shower of fragmented debris. Mavislin hovered above the duo, her wings unfurled majestically and her blade crackling with residual mana from her earlier onslaught.

Despite having unleashed a torrent of spells, the adrenaline coursing through her veins made her feel as though she could obliterate a mountain. A triumphant smile broke across her face as she pointed her blade at Lunaris, who seethed with fury.

"If I had allowed myself to be done in but such a weak punch, I wouldn't be a First Seat, would I? Come now, I know you aren't that naive, Lunaris. Or should I say; Iblianne?" taunted the dragoness.

"Don't you dare utter that name!" shouted Lunaris, swinging her sword recklessly at the flying girl, as if she was swatting a fly.

"They betrayed me... They forced me to fuse with her! Do you know how much pain I had to go through from them!" cried out the Commander as tears rolled down her cheek.

The rabbit, being the emotionally driven bunny he was, wanted to speak up but was halted again by the Viceroy.

"And that would justify the countless lives you and your creations took? Don't try to be a clown when you aren't in a circus," argued Mavislin.

"How dare you?! You know nothing about my plight! They stole the innocence from my eyes, the peace from my mind, and the light from my life. I lingered in darkness for so long that I became it, a shadow of my former self, molded by the absence of hope."

"I had no choice but to feed... That's why I-"

Mattheos felt his stomach twist at Lunaris's desperate attempts to argue with the dragoness, her wrongness painfully evident. In stark contrast, Zenos exuded an air of indifference, seemingly bored by the Commander's feeble attempts at spineless justification.

"Murder is murder and your excuse is pitiful, borderline infuriating to me. Those who have killed for desire have no right to live. You make me sick," spat the dragoness as the set of golden feathered wings blossomed from underneath her dragon ones. 

'You seem to have a way of meeting enemies that have similar backgrounds to me. Is there a recurring theme I'm not aware of?' asked Medusa, shaking her head in dismay.

'Ah... That's right. Your descent into madness earned you the title of Monster of the Shapeless Isle. Iblianne's desire to feed on souls pales in comparison to the bloodthirst you showed after devouring flesh,' replied Mavislin, sighing.

'However! You are not like that moonlit beast. You were able to understand the error of your ways and earn a place in the Seat of Valour. I can't say the same for that Lunaris.'

Medusa smiled faintly, her whispered thanks barely audible as she relinquished more of her power to Mavislin. The dragoness, with steady resolve, raised her katana high above her head.

In response, a colossal surge of black and purple light erupted from the blade, engulfing it entirely and casting a beacon of raw, unrestrained energy into the air, radiating with lethal intensity.

"Let's end this useless thing before us, shall we? I do desire a long and hot bath. Bunny boy, you are working with me. Zenos, I trust that you can pave the way for us?" called out the dragoness, glancing at the Viceroy.

Both males exchanged a brief glance and nodded, their resolve unwavering as Lunaris let out a furious bellow. Her rage was palpable, and she prepared to unleash her final assault.

With a defiant thrust of her ever-glowing blade toward the sky, diamond-like dust began to rise from the shimmering waters surrounding them.

The radiant particles swirled and danced in the air before converging on her sword, amplifying its brilliance as streams of ethereal energy gathered for a devastating strike.

"I hate getting my fur wet throughout this damned fight... Burn and flare! Run rampant and without constraint! Off you go, my little Spark!" commanded Mattheos as the familiar little flame popped out from his palm and hopped into the waters.

The entire shallow pool vaporized in an instant, the water hissing as it evaporated into the air. Lunaris cursed under her breath, recoiling as if the burning waters themselves had seared her. Matt wasted no time, calling out for his familiar to merge with his blade.