ACROSS THE DEPTHS OF THE UNIVERSE

*THE DARK LORD*

***AUTHOR'S POV***

Tharollin forced himself to steady his breath, his body trembling as he summoned every ounce of his willpower. He straightened up, eyes narrowing at Zelerious. He may be powerful, but he’s not the god he once was, Tharollin reminded himself, clenching his fists.

Zelerious, seeing this display of false confidence, smirked—a slow, dangerous curve of his lips that sent a shiver through the room. Without breaking eye contact, he carefully placed Valeria on the bed, his movements gentle and deliberate. His glowing eyes never left Tharollin, as if daring him to make the next move.

"You think I’m weakened?" Zelerious taunted, stepping closer to Tharollin, his voice dripping with menace. "You think I’ve lost my strength? The curse may have taken parts of me, but the darkness never truly leaves."

Tharollin swallowed, his body betraying the fear that still gripped him. He could feel Zelerious's raw power seeping into the room, filling every corner with an oppressive energy. Yet he couldn’t back down now. He had come too far.

"I’ve bested you once, Zelerious," Tharollin growled, forcing confidence into his voice, though his hands shook slightly. "You aren’t what you once were. The curse has stripped you of what made you invincible. And now, you’re nothing but a shadow of the dark lord you once were."

Zelerious chuckled darkly, his black veins pulsing with each breath he took. He stood tall, his presence overwhelming. "Then come, Tharollin. Face me. Let’s see if you can stand against this ‘shadow.’"

The challenge was clear. Zelerious was daring him, practically inviting Tharollin to test the limits of his power. Tharollin’s jaw clenched as he gathered the last of his courage, preparing for what could very well be his last stand.

Tharollin didn’t hesitate. With a burst of energy, he conjured his sword, dark steel gleaming in the low light of the chamber. He lunged toward Zelerious, his speed faster than the eye could follow, aiming for his chest with a strike meant to end things swiftly.

But Zelerious was ready.

With a flick of his wrist, Zelerious summoned Dashker, his dark energy-filled sword, and effortlessly blocked Tharollin’s attack. The clash of steel echoed like thunder, sending shockwaves through the air. Tharollin pushed harder, sparks flying as his blade pressed against Zelerious’s, but Zelerious held firm, his smirk never faltering.

“Is this all you have, Tharollin?” Zelerious taunted, his eyes glowing an ominous red.

Tharollin snarled, stepping back before slashing toward Zelerious’s side. Zelerious parried the blow with ease, his movements almost lazy, as if he were toying with his opponent. But Tharollin wasn’t finished. He swung again and again, each strike more desperate, trying to find a weakness.

Zelerious deflected every attack, his own sword whistling through the air with deadly precision. He moved like a predator, each motion calculated, biding his time.

Tharollin, sweat dripping from his brow, finally managed to land a glancing blow on Zelerious’s arm, the sharp edge of his sword cutting into flesh. Zelerious’s smirk faltered for a split second, his eyes flashing with fury.

“You’ll pay for that,” Zelerious growled, the darkness within him flaring.

He surged forward with terrifying speed, Dashker slashing through the air. Tharollin barely had time to react, raising his sword just in time to block. The force of the impact sent him staggering backward, his arms vibrating with the power behind Zelerious’s strike.

Zelerious advanced relentlessly, his attacks coming faster, more vicious. Each swing of Dashker was like a storm, and Tharollin was forced onto the defensive, blocking and dodging as best he could. But Zelerious’s dark energy was too overwhelming. His power was growing with every passing second.

In a final, crushing blow, Zelerious’s sword knocked Tharollin’s weapon from his hand, sending it clattering to the ground. Before Tharollin could react, Zelerious was upon him, his hand wrapping around Tharollin’s throat, lifting him effortlessly into the air.

“I warned you,” Zelerious hissed, his voice low and deadly. “You should’ve never come between me and my queen.”

With a powerful shove, Zelerious slammed Tharollin into the ground, his grip unrelenting. The dark energy surrounding him crackled and pulsed, filling the air with a suffocating weight.

Tharollin gasped for breath, his vision blurring as Zelerious’s grip tightened.

Zelerious’s eyes glowed brighter, filled with rage. “You will know true fear, Tharollin. You will know what it means to cross me.”

The room darkened as Zelerious’s aura consumed the space, and Tharollin knew he was facing the wrath of the darkest lord the realms had ever known.

Tharollin’s sword had barely left his hand when it sliced through Zelerious’s arm, and for a moment, the room stood still. The cut wasn’t deep, but it was enough to draw blood—and enough to make both men freeze.

Zelerious hissed in pain, but before he could retaliate, something unexpected happened. Across the room, Valeria groaned softly, her weakened body stirring on the bed. Blood began to seep from her arm, mirroring the wound on Zelerious’s arm.

Tharollin’s eyes widened in shock. “What...?”

Zelerious looked down at his arm, then at Valeria, and a terrifying realization settled over him. “No...” he whispered. His dark red eyes flickered with confusion and rage as he stumbled back, staring at the cut on Valeria’s arm. They were linked—connected by a bond that went deeper than he had imagined.

Tharollin, too, looked stunned, though a wicked grin soon crept across his face. “So... you’re not just tied to her heart, but to her life,” he sneered. “Every wound you take, she takes too.”

Zelerious growled, the sound vibrating through the room. His protective instincts flared up, more intense than ever before. He knew Tharollin wouldn’t hesitate to use this new discovery to hurt Valeria—and by extension, him.

But more than that, the sight of her bleeding because of him sent a surge of anger and guilt through Zelerious. His dark aura flared again, swirling violently around him, making the air crackle with energy. The ground trembled under his feet.

“You’ve gone too far, Tharollin,” Zelerious spat, his voice dangerously low, every word laced with venom. “If you so much as touch her again... I will tear you apart.”

Tharollin, despite his grin, took a cautious step back. He wasn’t a fool. Zelerious’s power might not be at its peak, but the ferocity in his eyes said that even wounded, he was more dangerous than ever.

“I don’t need to touch her,” Tharollin retorted smugly, glancing at the blood on Valeria’s arm. “Your love for her is your weakness, Zelerious. You’ll destroy yourself just to protect her.”

Zelerious bared his teeth, his rage barely contained, but his eyes flicked to Valeria. He could sense her pain through their bond—her shallow breathing, the weakness in her body.

In that moment, he knew he had to make a choice: risk further harming Valeria by continuing the fight or find a way to end this without hurting her more. His blood boiled with anger, but he forced himself to breathe, to focus.

“This isn’t over,” Zelerious growled, his eyes narrowing dangerously at Tharollin. “But you’ll regret the day you tried to come between me and my queen.”

With that, Zelerious summoned Dashker back into his hand and, in a flash of dark energy, prepared to transport Valeria away. Tharollin could only watch as Zelerious vanished, taking her with him, leaving nothing but the echo of his threat and a faint trail of dark energy behind.

Tharollin clenched his fists, his yellow eyes dark with fury.