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The sterile laboratory hummed with tension as nine Elders gathered in a tight circle around a massive transparent containment tube. Within the glowing cylinder, suspended in a cradle of pulsing energy, lay a newborn human—his tiny form perfectly still, bathed in the otherworldly light.
Elder Sapphire, her weathered face etched with worry, leaned forward and whispered, "Is he alive?"
Elder Aster nodded slowly, his voice barely audible above the mechanical hum of the equipment. "It worked..."
They were gazing upon Silearza "Noira" Solara—the result of a desperate gambit born from the darkest hour of their clan's history.
Two weeks had passed since Archanos had successfully forged the 10th Jewel, and in that time, he had become an unstoppable force of destruction. The once-mighty Clan of Solara lay in ruins—approximately 80% of their mages had fallen before Archanos's overwhelming power. The survivors faced an impossible choice: submit to his power or find a way to stop him.
The Elders had chosen a third path—one that bordered on blasphemy.
Standing beside the containment tube was Draven Kalthorn, the most skilled medical mage in the clan's history. His hands still trembled slightly from the exhausting process of genetic manipulation and accelerated growth magic that had made this moment possible.
Elder Sapphire turned to him, her eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and dread. "Your work is remarkable, Draven. This child may be our only hope."
Draven had accomplished what many thought impossible—during one of Archanos's recent battles against clan forces, he had managed to secretly extract a substantial amount of the tyrant's blood without detection. Using that precious DNA, combined with his god-like Solara ability, they had grown a being with a singular purpose: to capture Archanos.
"How long until he's ready?" Elder Aciano asked, studying the peaceful face of the infant.
Draven adjusted the energy settings on the containment tube. "It should take approximately one week for him to fully mature into an adult male. After that transformation, he will remain at that physical age until death."
Elder Aciano raised an eyebrow in surprise. "A week? That's remarkably fast. What ability do you expect him to manifest?"
The medical mage's expression grew thoughtful. "His power should be called 'Noira'. Based on all our data analysis and Archanos's own abilities, it will be a combination of two distinct powers."
The nine Elders exchanged curious glances, hanging on his every word.
"First," Draven continued, "he should inherit the ability to see fragments of the future—a diluted version of Archanos's 'Fate' ability. Second, Silearza will develop his own unique power that we cannot predict. We'll simply have to wait and discover what emerges."
The mystery of 'Noira' settled over the group like a heavy cloak.
"We must maintain absolute secrecy for the next week," Draven warned. "Then, and only then, can we implement our plan against Archanos."
One Week Later
The laboratory buzzed with quiet anticipation as the fateful day arrived. Three weeks had now passed since Archanos unlocked the 10th Jewel, and his campaign of stopping the clan's conquest of taking over the 5 Universes had intensified. The Clan of Solara was virtually extinct—90% of their forces had been eliminated.
Silearza "Noira" Solara now stood fully grown, his adult form radiating a subtle but unmistakable power.
In the clan's great hall, Archanos faced the final resistance—the nine Elders themselves, the last bastion of organized opposition to his rule.
"There is no use," Archanos declared, his voice booming with divine authority as the 10th Jewel pulsed with energy at his chest. "With this power I hold, anything you use is useless."
The battle erupted with catastrophic force.
Elder Sapphire launched pillars of crystalline light, each one capable of piercing mountains. Archanos deflected them with casual gestures, the 10th Jewel's power making him virtually untouchable.
Elder Aciano summoned massive gravitational wells, trying to pin Archanos in place. Archanos simply stepped through them as if they were gentle breezes.
Three more Elders combined their elemental mastery—fire, ice, and lightning—creating a devastating triple helix of destruction. Archanos absorbed the attack entirely, converting their own power into fuel for his next strike.
The remaining Elders attempted psychic assaults, temporal distortions, and reality-warping techniques. Each attack failed against the 10th Jewel's anti-magic authority over existence itself.
As the Elders staggered from their failed assault, Archanos raised his hand, preparing to unleash an area attack that would obliterate them all.
Then he saw them.
Standing directly in his line of fire were two figures that made his heart stop—his young son Novachro and his beloved wife, their faces filled with terror and confusion.
"Why are you here?" Archanos gasped, immediately aborting his attack.
But before either figure could respond, searing pain exploded through his chest. He looked down to see a blade protruding from his heart—and standing behind him, wearing his own face, was Silearza.
As Archanos looked back up in shock, the figures of Novachro and his wife dissolved into dust and shadow. It had all been an illusion.
"NOW!" Elder Sapphire screamed.
All nine Elders rushed forward, their remaining power combining into a single desperate technique. Reality tore open before them, revealing a swirling vortex of temporal energy.
"Time Gap Portal!" they chanted in unison.
With his final glare fixed on Silearza—his own genetic duplicate—Archanos was pulled inexorably into the portal. The dimensional rift snapped shut behind him, leaving only silence and the lingering scent of ozone.
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