The Dark Lord's presence filled the room like a suffocating fog, his shadowy figure looming over the Guardians. His red eyes glowed with malice, his armor pulsating with dark energy.
"You're fools to think you can stand against me," he sneered, raising a hand as black tendrils of magic snaked through the air.
Zane stepped forward, the Blade of Eternity humming in his grip. His calm, steady voice cut through the tension. "You've underestimated us."
Without another word, the battle erupted.
The Opening Assault
Leo surged forward first, fire roaring from his hands. "Think you're tough? Let's see you handle this!" He hurled a barrage of fireballs, each one lighting up the chamber.
The Dark Lord swiped his hand, the flames dissipating as if they were nothing more than a breeze. "Pathetic."
But Leo's attack was a distraction. Skye followed, her wings slicing through the air as she summoned a whirlwind that tore through the room. The winds buffeted the Dark Lord, forcing him to step back.
Jasmine capitalized on the opening, summoning a torrent of water that surged toward him. The liquid struck the Dark Lord's armor, sizzling and steaming as it ate away at the dark energy.
"Clever," he said, his tone laced with disdain. "But not enough."
With a wave of his hand, the water froze mid-air and shattered into shards, each one flying back toward the Guardians.
Coordinated Efforts
"Cover!" Bruce shouted, raising a wall of stone to shield them from the attack. The shards embedded themselves in the rock, the sound echoing like gunfire.
"Keep him off balance!" Calypso called out, her cosmic staff glowing as she unleashed a wave of starlight. The energy hit the Dark Lord, causing him to falter slightly.
Zane saw his opportunity. Time slowed around him as he dashed forward, the Blade of Eternity aimed at the Dark Lord's core. The dark figure reacted faster than expected, parrying with a blade of shadow that materialized in his hand.
"Impressive," the Dark Lord said, his eyes narrowing. "But you're out of your depth."
Zane gritted his teeth, the clash of their blades sending ripples through the room. "You don't know what I'm capable of."
Turning the Tide
The Guardians worked in perfect synchronization, their attacks weaving together like a deadly dance. Leo's fire and Skye's wind combined into a blazing tornado that scorched the room. Jasmine manipulated the water in the air, turning it into sharp projectiles that rained down on the Dark Lord.
Bruce used the terrain to their advantage, creating barriers and platforms that allowed his teammates to move freely. Meanwhile, Calypso channeled cosmic energy into a protective aura around the group, shielding them from the Dark Lord's counterattacks.
Despite their efforts, the Dark Lord seemed almost untouchable. Each attack they landed barely made a dent in his armor of darkness.
"We're not doing enough damage!" Skye shouted, her voice tinged with frustration.
Zane's eyes glinted with determination. "Then we need to hit harder."
A Desperate Gambit
Calypso stepped forward, her staff glowing brighter than ever. "I can open a rift to destabilize his energy. But I'll need time—and cover."
"You'll get it," Bruce said, stepping in front of her as a wall of earth rose to shield them both.
The others redoubled their efforts, creating a storm of elemental chaos around the Dark Lord. Zane moved like a blur, his sword clashing against the shadow blade in a series of rapid strikes.
"You think you can defeat me?" the Dark Lord growled, his voice reverberating through the chamber. "I am eternal!"
"Not for long," Calypso muttered, her eyes blazing with starlight.
The room began to vibrate as a cosmic rift opened behind the Dark Lord, its pull destabilizing the dark energy around him.
The Dark Lord's Wrath
Realizing the threat, the Dark Lord unleashed a wave of energy that sent the Guardians flying. Calypso collapsed to her knees, the strain of maintaining the rift evident on her face.
"We have to keep him away from her!" Jasmine shouted, standing protectively in front of Calypso.
Zane, bruised but undeterred, stepped forward again. "He's not getting past me."
The Blade of Eternity glowed brighter than ever as Zane charged, time bending around him. He struck at the Dark Lord with precision and fury, each blow weakening the armor of darkness.
The Dark Lord snarled, his movements growing more erratic as the rift's pull intensified.
