DUNMEER

Rose Temple

Without warning Kragalta takes a deep breath. A dense, destructive black smoke pours from his body and envelops him completely. A sharp snap follows.

"Dunmeer!", calls Kragalta out powerfully.

Around them a realm of deep, endless darkness forms instantly. Lucil remains calm, breathing steadily.

"Dunmeer…" he murmurs while his long hair suddenly begins to glow.

He raises his hand and begins chanting in a quiet, resolute voice.

"My blood is the beginning—
Petals forming from it—
A flower blossoms—
And the rose builds—"

His voice rises - loud, powerful and terrifying.

"BLOOD BREAK!"

Lucil's veins begin to glow intensely, pulsing with radiant light. His amulets shine ominously and thick smoke rises from his body which effortlessly represses the surrounding dark mist.

"What… is that?" instinctively Kragalta steps back, his voice filled with shock and disbelief.

The black fog focuses more and more on Lucil's figure - yet nothing happens.

"No, then this has to hold!" Kragalta growls in determination.
"Dunmeer – Onyxia!"

From absolute darkness Kragalta forms a sword, black and almost invisible like the night itself. In a flash he appears behind Lucil, ready to drive the blade deep into his body but Lucil's reflexes are faster - a precise, powerful left hook crashes into Kragalta's stomach sending him flying several meters through the air with unimaginable force.

Kragalta catches his breath with difficulty, looking around frantically and searching in desperation for his opponent. Suddenly he glances upward - just in time to realise Lucil's devastating dropkick.

Kragalta reacts reflexively, raises his arms defensively and blocks the attack.

"Dunmeer – Infinitum Abyss!" he shouts in that exact moment.

The black mist instantly envelops Lucil like living chains and flings him violently to the hard ground. Countless deep-black, violet-tinged chains wrap tightly around Lucil's body, pinning him to the ground.

Kragalta sees his opportunity. Regaining his composure he steps back viciously while breathing heavily and sweat becomes visible on his face.

"Dunmeer – REINFINITUM BEHEMOTH!" he speaks again with a sinister grin.

The monstrous creature reappears again ready to crush Lucil once and for all. It lunges brutally forward in an unstoppable manner straight towards Lucil who remains bound by the dark chains.

Lucil calls out resolute but calm.

"LuSilfer!"

"Pointless!" returns Kragalta mocking him triumphantly.

The Behemoth crashes into Lucil while the chains grow longer. An endless charge from the Behemoth. Slowly its horns begin to pierce into Lucil.

"Kragalta - I thought I'd have to trigger it later." Lucil says in a cool, almost bored voice with all his calm and confidence.

Kragalta stops abruptly and the unease overtakes him.

"You're bluffing!" he snaps. "This domain devours everything."

The dark chains around Lucil tighten further, an ominous cracking sound fills the air and draws ever closer to his body. Yet instead of panic Lucil calmly spreads his arms wide.

A massive explosion shatters the air, the dark chains are violently blown apart in all directions. Before Kragalta can react Lucil strikes the charging Behemoth with indescribable force and hurls it with ruthless power straight into Kragalta who is swept away just by the sheer impact as well.

Casually Lucil cracks his knuckles as he begins to walk toward his enemy.

"You've beaten so many." Lucil says coldly. "But didn't you notice something?"

Only now does Kragalta notice the truly terrifying presence of Lucil.

"It has just begun. So don't play all your cards too soon - or it'll end faster than you think." warns Lucil.

Lucil raises one hand, presses it together and makes a targeted throwing motion toward Kragalta.

Kragalta with exhausted and tense breathing. Suddenly a single drop of blood appears beside him.

Lucil speaks calmly and with certainty.

"Rose Arise – Step 2 – Switch."

Immediately the drop of blood blossoms into a magnificent rose but in the same moment the flower teleports to Lucil's previous position - while Lucil appears right beside Kragalta, already in the middle of a powerful strike.

Kragalta can barely react Lucil's fist strikes his cheek with deafening force. The impact echoes through the air with a grinding, snapping crack like the lash of a whip.The shadow mage is hurled back several meters by the force, stumbling helplessly.

Kragalta's jaw now dislocated hanging loose; he coughs blood but instead of red liquid more rose petals pour from his mouth.

Lucil lifts his hand casually and speaks mercyless as he snaps his fingers:

"Detonate!"

Violent explosions suddenly erupt from Kragalta's mouth expanding the bleeding wounds which quickly transform into rose petals. Each new rose again detonates creating a destructive chain reaction without mercy.

Lucil's and Kragalta's eyes mett. In that brief moment Kragalta sees true fear in Lucil's merciless, cold eyes.

A scream filled with fear and despair escapes him as the unstoppable chain reaction consumes his body.

Kragalta calls out desperately into the darkness:

"Behemoth!"

But as he turns to face his creature he realizes with horror that it doesn't respond - something is wrong.

"Did you just really realize it now? It's been one-on-one for a while already." Lucil's cold voice speaks calmly from behind him.

Only a blood-soaked rose remains at his position before he silently vanishes into the darkness.

Explosions continue ripping through Kragalta's body. Each detonation pushing him further toward the edge of despair. Suddenly he hears Lucil whisper quietly.

"Rose Switch."

At that moment, Lucil appears directly beside Kragalta whose body is soaked in cold sweat from fear and pain.

Lucil's voice gets deep and threatening.

"It's time to break this domain."

Kragalta breathes shallowly and fearfully as Lucil holds something out to him - heavy, hairy, disturbingly familiar. Hesitantly he looks down and his eyes widen in pure horror.

Lucil's eyes glow with icy light as Kragalta realizes what he's holding:

It is the severed head of his Behemoth, lifeless eyes now replaced by white roses. Its monstrous body pouring countless white rose petals behind Lucil.

Lucil speaks with cold clarity.

"Destiny Rose – Base Zero."

In that instant the petals rise and spiral high into the air, exploding in a massive, thunderous cascade. The detonations echo endlessly while striking the dark domain without mercy until, finally, a great rift tears open. The illusion shatters and they are back in the original temple.

Kragalta drops his Behemoth's heavy head to the ground staggering. As he backs away trembling, the creature behind Lucil disintegrates completely into a storm of endless rose petals.

Overwhelmed by despair Kragalta draws his dark blade with trembling hands. In Lucil he now sees his death - only now does he understand the true, monstrous power of his opponent.

Lucil looks at him indifferently, asking coldly.

"What are you still fighting for? Your potential avatar is already dead."

Suddenly tears pour from Kragalta's eyes. Memories flood him: An image of a small, innocent creature that once rested safely in his arms. The pain turns into pure, unrestrained hatred.

"HE WAS MY BEST FRIEND! YOU DID - ! NO! AARGH!!" screams Kragalta in grief and fury.

Lucil cuts him off sharply and coldly.

"Those who are ready to kill, should always be ready to die."

Kragalta breathes heavily, staring deep into Lucil's relentless eyes and cries out in desperation.

"DUNMEER – ABSOLUTION!"

Lucil responds without emotion.

"So, you're willing to sacrifice everything. Good -"

His gaze narrows and he continues, now with grave seriousness.

"Then I'll take you seriously and introduce myself officially -"

Slowly he raises his left hand and pulls the rose pendant, carving a deep cut into it. Blood drips heavily onto the Ground and transforms into swirling rose petals that steadily and ominously form into a blade. A majestic crimson-red sword slowly takes shape from his own blood.

He raises the weapon resolutely in his right hand. Kragalta watches silently as the pain suddenly eases - the destructive explosions stop on his body.

Lucil's voice now rings out solemn and ominous:

"People call me Lucil, the Rose Mage with the Rose Dragon. But I'm also known as - ####."

Kragalta shudders deeply, cold chills run through him. Lucil's presence suddenly becomes almost like a merciless executioner. In a final moment of clarity he removes his fedora with respect and bows deeply before Lucil.

"The living myth..."

Kragalta's emotions boil over. One last glance falls upon the mortal remains of his beloved Behemoth - pain, fury and boundless grief tear him about. Then his eyes shift back to Lucil, filled with hatred and at the same time deep admiration for his power.

Despite everything he bravely faces his final challenge. With iron determination, he holds back his emotions to fully focus on his final decisive spell.

"As a mage - don't hold back" Kragalta demands in cold bitterness.

His voice doesn't tremble as he grips his shadowy blade tightly. Dark clouds gather menacingly around him, the space thickens and the atmosphere grows heavy and ominous.

Lucil raises his crimson-red sword, approaching with calm, unwavering steps. With every bit forward a menacing red mist follows him and his eyes shine with a sinister, fearsome glow.

Their eyes meet again - Kragalta shrouded in excruciating black mist now standing face to face with the most powerful rose mage Lucil.

Then in a single heartbeat - a devastating collision.