The Ravensteins were a warrior family through and through, and among their legacy and history were those who stood out—legends.
People who had performed such extraordinary feats that they earned nicknames to cement their place in history.
Just like the Three Titans of Sirius and others of their caliber, Rurik, Borya, and Tundra had also done something remarkable.
Triplets of Ruin.
This trio had done everything in life together. From the Raven camp to the academy to the military, there was no separating them. Because of this, they had fought countless battles side by side, developing a unique and collective fighting style that made them a true force to be reckoned with in combat.
Each of the triplets had distinct personalities that set them apart, but one thing always infuriated them: if anyone insulted one brother, all three would erupt.
Together, they were the last opponents anyone would want to face.
The ground quaked, the temperature in the area plummeted, and thunder rumbled.
"Are you insulting my brothers?" the triplets growled in unison, none of them willing to admit they had been the ones called old.
Their hunched backs straightened as they stood taller, their auras exploding outward in perfect synchrony, shaking the very ground beneath them.
Despite their age, the sheer power they unleashed dwarfed the threat in the sky, sending a shockwave that made even the grandmaster+ ranked members of the Obsidian Order pause.
"Be careful, idiot. Those three are the Triplets of Ruin. They're a bad matchup for you," Elysia warned, turning toward Gideon, who had a wide grin on his face, eager for battle.
"Do I look like I care?" Gideon responded, his aura already rising to match the triplets' release of power.
"You might not care, but we do. You're not the only one here, remember that. Cassandra, Vorak, and Gregor will handle them. We handle the rest."
Gideon frowned, finally turning toward Elysia. He hated being bossed around by her, but the looks from the other Obsidian Order heads made it clear he had no choice.
Cassandra, Vorak, and Gregor descended and landed on the ground, their auras suddenly clashing with the triplets'. The air became oppressive, gravity increasing by several folds.
Cassandra and Vorak moved back, leaving Gregor at the front.
Vorak, his pale, almost translucent skin gleaming in the low light, let out a low, chilling laugh. "So, these are the famous Triplets of Ruin," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "I expected more… but I suppose your skins will do nicely for my collection."
Vorak was tall and gaunt, with unnervingly smooth, pale skin that seemed almost transparent. His amber eyes glinted, and his long, greasy black hair hung limply down his back. His face was perpetually expressionless, save for a faint, eerie smile.
"Let's make this quick. I'm already tired of this."
Cassandra spoke next, her fingers grazing an artifact—a small black orb. Her icy blue eyes flicked over the triplets with disdain.
At the front, Gregor, a hulking giant of a man, remained silent, simply staring and waiting.
The tension in the air reached its peak as Anastasia, Freya, and Boman watched from the sidelines. They had extensive information on each branch of the Obsidian Order, and it was clear that all of them were powerful and unique in their own right.
The first woman, Cassandra, possessed a bloodline that granted her control over an invisible, psychic "web" that she could weave around her enemies.
This web connected her to those caught within it, allowing her to manipulate their actions, thoughts, and even emotions.
The second, Vorak, had a bloodline that allowed him to manipulate his own body, as well as the flesh of anyone he touched. He could shape-shift, altering his form to resemble anyone or anything he had touched, down to the smallest detail.
And lastly, Gregor. His bloodline granted him the ability to manipulate the density and composition of his body, turning his skin, muscles, and bones into living metal.
Suddenly, Cassandra's lips twisted into a smile as she activated her artifact. "Let them come, Vorak."
Vorak nodded, his fingers curling around a fleshy, round object at his hip.
With a flick of his wrist, the artifact pulsed before expanding, releasing a swarm of twisted, grotesque minions.
Each minion was covered in raw, open flesh, their skin grafted and molded into terrifying forms.
However, the most striking feature was that, despite their horrifying forms, each minion radiated the power of a grandmaster- rank.
Without hesitation, they surged forward—screaming and howling as they charged toward the Triplets.
Behind them, Cassandra channeled her mana into her artifact, its form expanding until hundreds of figures appeared in front of her.
Anastasia and the others who saw the figures widened their eyes. These figures also radiated grandmaster- rank auras, but that wasn't what caught their attention.
Many of the figures had pristine white hair—impossible to ignore. They were Ravensteins.
Their hollow eyes and bound bodies moved under Cassandra's Mind Web. With her eyes glowing intensely, she directed the minions forward in perfect formation. Their eyes were dead, their movements robotic.
As the army of minions advanced, Gregor slammed his fists together. His skin darkened, hardening into living metal. His bones creaked as his body transformed into a towering juggernaut of iron.
Vorak, still standing at the rear, suddenly spoke up. "Careful, Gregor. One of them is the perfect counter for you."
Gregor said nothing and simply nodded.
The sight of honorable Ravenstein warriors being used in such a grotesque manner was enough to make any Ravenstein lose their mind. The Triplets recognized many of the fallen Ravensteins due to their age, but rather than erupt in rage, they remained calm.
They uttered three words, cold, calm, and final:
"Rain of Ruin."
The moment the words left their lips, the entire battlefield shifted.
The sky, once clear, darkened with unnatural speed as thick, roiling storm clouds gathered, thunder rumbling across the heavens. The temperature plummeted instantly, ice forming on the ground at their feet.
A flash of blinding lightning tore across the sky, splitting the heavens with its brilliance. Rurik, his eyes glowing with crackling energy, raised his hand, calling the bolt down to strike the earth with a deafening explosion.
The force of the lightning strike scattered the first wave of minions like leaves in the wind, their flesh disintegrating in the storm.
But that was only the beginning.
Tundra moved next, his fingers curling as the temperature dropped even further. With a flick of his wrist, jagged spears of ice shot from the ground, piercing through the incoming abominations, freezing their twisted forms in place.
Ice crept across the battlefield, transforming it into a frozen wasteland, trapping Cassandra's mind-controlled soldiers in their tracks.
Then came Borya. He slammed his massive fists into the ground, and the earth itself obeyed his command.
The ground beneath Vorak's grotesque creations buckled and shattered, great chunks of stone erupting from the earth, crushing the minions under their weight.
Before the trio could react, drops of water began to fall from the sky as thunder rumbled. In the next second, the rain froze as Tundra manipulated it, turning each drop into sharp, electrified shards of ice.
The puppets—once terrifying—were shredded to pieces by the swirling storm of rain and lightning.
The once-formidable army of minions was being cut down with incredible speed.
Gregor quickly acted, charging forward at a speed that made the ground implode beneath his feet. But before Gregor could strike or advance far, the Triplets retaliated.
Borya slammed his fists into the ground, causing the earth to quake and splinter. Massive spikes of rock erupted from the ground, aiming to impale the giant as he barreled forward.
Gregor shattered the first few spikes with ease, but Rurik followed up with a barrage of lightning bolts that struck Gregor square in the chest, sending shockwaves through his metal form.
The giant stumbled but kept moving.
From the back, Cassandra narrowed her eyes and waved her hand, attempting to weave her Mind Web around the Triplets.
However, a palpable blue wave erupted from each of the Triplets, their sheer willpower instantly countering her bloodline's effects.
'Their will is too strong. We have to push them further for me to break through,' Cassandra spoke telepathically to Vorak, formulating a plan. Vorak nodded seriously.
He raised the fleshy round ball in his palm, and his eyes suddenly turned pitch-black as his aura exploded.
Large, throbbing veins appeared around the ball before Vorak tossed it high into the air, releasing multiple giant, grotesque monsters that radiated grandmaster+ rank power.
"No holding back."
Cassandra nodded and summoned her most powerful minions, each one also radiating grandmaster+ rank auras, engulfing the battlefield in their oppressive presence.
The battlefield shifted once more as the monstrous creatures and powerful minions rocketed toward the Triplets with incredible speed.
Meanwhile, Elysia and Gideon turned away from the devastating battle and landed on the ground across from Anastasia, Freya, Arya, and Boman.
"I guess it's better this way. At least now I get to kill his family," Gideon growled, the ground beneath his feet buckling as his muscles strained and grew in size. A large yellow beard began to form on his chin and spread across his face.
He fixed his gaze on Anastasia and Freya, but before he could launch forward, a figure stepped into his path, blocking his view.
"I'll handle him," a calm voice sounded as Boman stepped forward, slowly rolling up his tight suit sleeves around his thick arms.