The Devourer's Dominion

Lorien exhaled, and the world shuddered.

Aetheron felt it—a ripple through space.

Not just the battlefield. Reality itself bent under the weight of Lorien's power.

The way he stood… the way his blade shimmered… everything had changed.

And then—

Silence.

No wind. No sound.

Just the weight of something unseen.

Aetheron's grip tightened. His Dominion flared, shadows curling around his body like living tendrils.

Lorien vanished.

Aetheron moved instantly—his instincts screamed, his body already twisting before the attack even came.

CLANG!

Their blades met. Sparks erupted.

Aetheron barely caught the strike—his arms shook from the impact.

Lorien's speed—

No. It wasn't speed.

Aetheron's eyes sharpened.

Lorien's sword wasn't faster.

It was cutting ahead of time itself.

Aetheron moved—but the blade had already arrived.

A shallow cut streaked across his cheek. Blood dripped.

Lorien didn't move like a person.

He moved like an inevitability.

Like the moment he decided to attack—it was already over.

Aetheron breathed slow.

He had fought monsters. He had fought tyrants.

But this…

This was different.

Lorien's blade flickered. His voice was calm. "You understand now."

Aetheron wiped the blood from his face, smirking. "Yeah."

He didn't like it.

But he understood.

Lorien's sword wasn't attacking him.

It was attacking the future version of him.

His Dominion couldn't react fast enough—because the cut already existed.

Aetheron exhaled. Alright.

Then he had to move—

Before the future arrived.

Lorien stepped.

Aetheron lunged.

Their blades collided midair.

BOOM!

The force shattered the ground beneath them. The battlefield cracked, debris rising into the air.

Lorien's eyes widened—just a fraction.

Aetheron's Dominion twisted.

His shadow blade curved, swallowing the space between them.

For a moment—just a moment—

Lorien's sword hesitated.

Aetheron struck.

Slash—!

A thin cut appeared on Lorien's arm.

Aetheron grinned. "Got you."

Lorien looked down at the wound. His fingers traced the blood.

Then—he smiled.

And Aetheron's stomach dropped.

Lorien exhaled.

"Now the real fight begins."

The next moment—

Everything disappeared.