"You took everything from me," he snarled. "Now, I'll return the favor."

With a powerful leap, Marcus launched himself from the throne, his blade igniting with dark energy as he charged toward Adrian.

"And I'll receive you with pleasure."

Adrian readied himself, his chains whipping through the air as Marcus drew closer.

As the two clashed, their power exploding in a violent eruption of light and dark energy, the other goddesses continued their battle against the Shadow Court forces.

Hestia unleashed a torrent of blue flames, incinerating everything in her path. Lilith moved with blinding speed, her crimson whip tearing through the ranks. Ava summoned shields of golden energy, while Medea conjured pillars of black fire.

The Shadow Court soldiers tried to counterattack, but their assaults were blocked by the goddesses.

Despite their best efforts, the tide was turning.

But just when the goddesses seemed to gain the upper hand, Marcus and Adrian clashed, the resulting shockwave sending the goddesses tumbling back.

Their energy collided, creating a storm of darkness and light that tore through the chamber.

The ground shook, and the walls cracked, revealing fissures that stretched deeper into the complex.

It took a couple of seconds for them to regain their bearings.

Lilith was the first to speak, her voice shaky as she tried to make sense of what was happening. "That's... definitely the boss fight, isn't it?"

Hestia, her expression serious, nodded in confirmation. "It looks like we'll have to step in. We can't risk them destroying the entire base."

Eris scoffed. "I don't know, it looks like they're having fun."

"It's his fight, and ours," Hera replied firmly. "We need to keep the enemy occupied and make sure they can't interfere."

Ava shook her head, her eyes fixed on the duo circling themselves. "Are we just supposed to stand here and watch?"

"He's got this," Lilith said confidently, her eyes glowing crimson. "Trust my husband."

The air in the chamber grew tense as Marcus' dark aura spread. Adrian stood firm, hands gripping his blazing sword, his fiery chains dancing slowly in the air, the spear heads ready to strike.

"Do you have any idea how long I've waited for this moment?" Marcus growled.

Adrian cracked the bones in his neck. "How many times must we go through this?"

"Just saying. You look stronger though," he said mockingly, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "But strength alone won't be enough to save you."

Adrian's grip on his sword tightened. "You think you're the only one who's changed, Marcus?" His voice was calm, but his eyes burned with restrained fury. "Let's find out."

The chamber seemed to close in as Marcus raised his blade, the runes glowing brighter. Shadows writhed around him like living entities, their forms twisting and stretching unnaturally.

Adrian quickly assessed his opponent, his sharp eyes catching the slight shifts in Marcus's stance and the faint flickers of magic emanating from his armor.

"Get him!" Lilith yelled, breaking the tense silence.

With a sharp motion, Adrian lunged forward, his fiery chains shooting out toward Marcus. The chains collided with Marcus' shadowy barrier, dissipating the darkness with ease.

Marcus' blade flashed, sending a wave of dark energy toward Adrian.

Adrian countered with his sword, his flames clashing with the shadowy wave and causing an explosion of energy.

The resulting shockwave blew through the chamber, destroying everything in its path.

'First assessment done.' Adrian's eyes scanned Marcus. Before all these, Marcus was a mage, not a close-ranged combatant. Yet here he was, using a blade, something which could change the nature of the battle. 'He's been practicing, and not just with magic.'

Marcus wasn't just powerful, he was the best in the kingdom then though Adrian surpassed him in swordsmanship. But right now, it's obvious he's improved. And it didn't help that he had an advantage: the shadows.

Marcus's deep voice broke through Adrian's thoughts. "You've grown quiet, Adrian. Doubt already creeping in? Or are you simply trying to delay the inevitable?"

Adrian smirked, his chains snapping into the air like fiery serpents as he raised his blade in a battle stance. "I'm just deciding how I'm going to end this. Come on, Marcus, show me what you've got."

Marcus' grin widened.

He lunged, his blade arcing through the air with blinding speed. Adrian's chains whipped forward, intercepting the attack with a burst of sparks. The clash reverberated through the chamber, the force of it cracking the ground beneath their feet.

Adrian twisted, his chains coiling around Marcus's blade to redirect its momentum. Marcus countered, releasing a pulse of shadow energy that forced Adrian back.

The two warriors circled each other, their movements fluid and precise.

"You've learned a few tricks," Marcus remarked in an almost casual tone. "But you're still predictable, Adrian. I've fought by your side long enough to know your every move."

Adrian's fiery chains flared as he darted forward, striking at Marcus's exposed flank. "Don't get ahead of yourself. We're just getting started."

The two clashed, their blades a blur as they exchanged a series of swift, brutal attacks.

Marcus pressed the attack, his blade moving like a serpent, seeking Adrian's vitals.

Adrian's chains coiled around him, protecting his body from the incoming blows. He ducked, avoiding a slash that would have decapitated him, before rolling to the side, dodging a stab that would have impaled him.

"You're pretty nimble," Marcus commented, a hint of amusement in his voice. "But you're not the only one."

Marcus shifted into a lower stance, his blade arcing upward, the dark runes on it glowing menacingly.

Adrian recognized the move, a powerful strike that Marcus had learned from one of his travels. He braced himself, his chains extending and forming a shield in front of him.

Marcus' blade clashed against the fiery barrier, the impact causing an explosion of dark and light energy.

The ground shook, and the air crackled with energy as the two warriors struggled against each other.

Adrian's grip on his sword tightened as he pushed against the overwhelming force.

"Give it up, Adrian," Marcus snarled, his dark eyes filled with rage. "I know you, you can't win this."

"Then maybe it's time I showed you something new."

He thrust his hand forward, calling upon Kael's ability for the first time.

"Págos!" (Ice)

A burst of concentrated ice shot from Adrian's palm, forcing Marcus to dodge. The ice froze the ground where Marcus had stood the cold tendrils reaching out to ensnare him.

Marcus twisted, his blade slashing through the icy tendrils with ease.

"Interesting," he commented, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I didn't realize you had an affinity for ice magic."

Adrian shrugged, his chains dancing through the air as he readied himself for the next attack. "I'm full of surprises."

"Not bad," he admitted, his voice strained. "But it'll take more than that to defeat me."

Adrian's eyes narrowed. "Oh, we're just getting started."

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