CH10 The Doomed Hero

The beast snarled, preparing to pounce again, when a sharp, commanding voice shattered the tension.

"Step aside, civilian! This is no place for someone like you!"

Ryo turned toward the voice, still holding his trusty stick like it was Excalibur. Standing at the edge of the clearing was a figure he thought he'd never see again.

sharp, resolute, and unnecessarily dramatic. His flowing, dark robes caught in the wind, glowing runes trailing down the fabric. His crescent-shaped blade gleamed, radiating golden energy, while his piercing golden eyes burned with that familiar intensity.

Ryo uttered the name "Kael Solaris...."

Kael didn't waste time waiting for a response. With a fluid leap, he landed between Ryo and the beast, holding his blade defensively. "Stay back. I'll handle this."

Ryo leaned against the cherry tree, trying not to laugh. "Wow. Straight to the heroic speech, huh? You always this formal, or is this a special occasion?"

Kael glanced over his shoulder, scowling. "Do you think this is a joke? That thing could have torn you to shreds."

Ryo shrugged, twirling his stick lazily. "Oh, totally. I was this close to being dinner. Lucky you showed up, huh?"

Kael turned back to the beast, muttering under his breath. "Insufferable idiot."

"Loud enough to hear you, buddy," Ryo called out, grinning.

Kael ignored him, focusing on the beast as it lunged. His movements were precise and deliberate, his blade dancing with golden light as he struck. Each slash left glowing marks across the creature's body, his strikes clearly landing with devastating force.

Despite himself, Ryo couldn't help but admire the skill on display. Kael Solaris—protector of the weak, champion of the light, and, as Ryo knew all too well, doomed hero.

"Still Mr. Perfect Form," Ryo muttered, watching Kael duck and counter with almost rehearsed precision. "If only you knew, man. If only you knew."

The fight ended quickly, Kael delivering a final, searing blow to the beast's neck. It let out a pained howl before collapsing to the ground. Kael straightened, breathing heavily, and turned to Ryo, his expression both exhausted and annoyed.

"You're lucky I was here," Kael said curtly.

"Oh, no doubt," Ryo replied, slow-clapping. "Without you, I might've actually had to do something. Tragic."

Kael sheathed his blade, his patience clearly wearing thin. "You're welcome, mortal."

Ryo arched an eyebrow. "Mortal? Oh, that's good. That's rich. Keep it coming, champ."

Kael frowned, clearly confused. "You think this is a game? That creature was a Khaedral Wyrm. One wrong move, and you'd be dead."

"Yeah, yeah. Big claws, scary teeth, I get it," Ryo said, waving him off. "But hey, I had a stick. And that thing? Didn't stand a chance."

Kael groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Why am I even wasting my time with you? Leave the village. There may be more of those things nearby."

Ryo tilted his head, studying Kael with an unreadable expression. "What's your name, anyway?"

Kael hesitated. "Kael Solaris."

Ryo let the name hang in the air, his smirk fading for a moment. "Kael Solaris," he repeated softly. "Figures."

Kael narrowed his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," Ryo said, his grin returning. "Just... you remind me of someone. A guy with potential. Bit of a buzzkill, but hey, nobody's perfect."

Kael's frown deepened. "You're an odd one. Stay out of my way."

"Sure thing, champ," Ryo said, giving a mock salute.

Kael turned back toward the forest, his blade ready, but Ryo's gaze lingered on him, memories flooding back. Memories of Kael's last stand.

Flashback

The battlefield was chaos, the skies alive with storms summoned by Valrik Stormshield, Thor's chosen champion. Lightning split the heavens, shattering the earth and reducing entire landscapes to ash. Kael stood alone against Valrik, his robes torn and bloodied, his once-pristine blade glowing faintly, its light dimming with each strike.

"You can't win this!" Valrik roared, his voice like rolling thunder. The massive warrior loomed over Kael, his Warhammer crackling with lightning. "You're a gnat standing against a hurricane!"

Kael didn't flinch. "If I fall, I fall fighting. That's more than you can say, puppet."

Valrik snarled and charged, his hammer crashing down with the force of a mountain. Kael dodged, countering with a strike aimed at Valrik's exposed flank. The blade connected, but the wound barely slowed the champion of Thor.

Ryo, watching from his spaceship, could still hear Kael's defiant cries, see the golden light of his blade flickering as he poured everything he had into the fight. Kael fought with precision, with conviction—but it wasn't enough.

Valrik's hammer came down one final time, shattering Kael's blade and sending him to his knees. Kael looked up, defiant to the end, as Valrik's lightning consumed him, leaving nothing behind but ash and a faint echo of his name on the wind.

Back in the present, Ryo's jaw tightened as the memory faded. "You didn't deserve that," he murmured under his breath.

Kael, oblivious, was already moving deeper into the forest.

"You had so much potential," Ryo muttered, his fingers sparking faintly with violet energy. "But this time... maybe things can be different."

Another growl echoed from the shadows. Kael tensed, his blade glowing once more.

Ryo twirled his stick, his grin returning. "Guess it's showtime again. Don't worry, Kael. I've got your back... whether you know it or not."