A Clean Slate

'How did His Highness—'

Keith groaned from time to time with pain and numbness that coursed through his body simultaneously. 

He was no different from a cripple. Most of his bones crushed to smithereens while his vital organs went into a rupture, now making him cough more than a mouthful of blood.

A little more, and he was steps away, knocking on death's doors.

His eyes now shut, and out of helplessness, he pondered how Athan became stronger by a hundred folds.

A pang of sudden guilt wallowed him when he remembered how Mystique helped him overcome his limits, even defending her against the supposed archnemesis.

But things went to reverse so quickly, yet he immediately regretted his decision how he took it too far.

'I deserved it.'

Even now, Nathan clicked his tongue and let out a roar, "Help him!"

"Yes!" Dusk and Dawn hollered in unison, dashing towards Keith.