Ends with Us

When Leonel entered the cave, he tried to sense anyone, but he couldn't feel anything. Even Aiden's presence was absent. He also couldn't sense Liam, who might have been hiding his presence. Only ten presences were clear, all from his knights. That was their plan, anyway—to make Nysander believe he was the only one here with his knights, just like before.

Leonel walked to the west side of the cave and entered the narrow passageway. Upon reaching the other side, he immediately saw scattered Ghouls. Since they weren't his target, he swiftly maneuvered through another part of the cave, slipping through a tighter passage without the Ghouls noticing him. He had been stealthy his whole life.

Once he exited the right tunnel, he saw a tall creature, who he realized belatedly was Nysander himself. Nysander was summoning Ghouls, forming a red circle with his hands, from which the Ghouls emerged one by one.

Nysander was in the midst of summoning another Ghoul when Leonel stepped out of his hiding spot. "Nysander," he called.

The Ravager halted and turned to face the source of the voice.

"Well, what is the Dirty Blood boy doing here?" Nysander sneered.

Leonel clenched his teeth.

Nysander chuckled, shaking his head as he walked deliberately towards Leonel. "You should go home, kid," he said in a rough tone. "You're just wasting your time."

Leonel hissed. "Well, this Dirty Blood boy you're underestimating is none other than the one who poisoned you in the first place."

Nysander's face darkened, his delight gone. He was pissed, as he should be.

"You're too full of yourself, thinking you've defeated me. You were just a lucky bastard that time. Not this time, or anymore. Do you think you can fight someone like me? I am a Ravager—a premium type of my kind," Nysander roared.

Leonel drew his sword and assumed an offensive stance, warming his other hand with flames. "Let's see if that bullshit has an advantage against a Dirty Blood Fae…" he smirked to irk Nysander more.

"So, you dare challenge me?" Nysander seemed furious as he roared and transformed into his Demonic Form. He tripled in size, doubled in height, and his skin turned gray. His horns lengthened and twisted, almost reaching the high ceiling of the cavern.

The Ravager launched at him, each footstep shaking the ground. Using his heavy fist, he attacked Leonel. But Leonel managed to defend himself with a flaming shield that diffused upon impact.

Nysander kept attacking aggressively, leaving Leonel no chance to fight back. Leonel was in defense mode, stepping back with each hit, trying his best not to get killed.

"Where's your honor now, Fae?" The Ravager slashed Leonel's chest with its sharp claw.

Leonel immediately drew back before it could pierce his heart. 

"You're nothing compared to us."

The Ravager followed him again before he could even think of a plan.

"You lack power," added the Ravager with another attack, this time targeting his vulnerable feet. Leonel was growing tired from dodging and running, and his arms ached from Nysander's relentless attacks.

But just a few more steps!

Leonel used his blazing sword and sliced it into the Ravager's arms. The Ravager dodged, but Leonel quickly redirected his sword, landing a hit on the Ravager's waist. "Want a Ghostfire Venom for a second time?" Leonel grinned.

The wound made the Ravager furious and more aggressive. "You lack experience, kid," Nysander groaned. "You're just a child trying to be a man."

The Ravager was on his tail now, trying to corner Leonel while attacking ruthlessly.

Nysander cornered him once they reached lower ground. "This is your end, boy…"

The Ravager gripped one of Leonel's arms tightly and crushed his bones. Leonel tried to use his other hand to strike with his sword, but Nysander had already broken his wrist. The bones cracked, and Leonel groaned in pain.

Leonel shouted so loud that his throat felt like it was on fire. "Who the heck suggested that the signal should be a scream again?" he thought.

The Ravager laughed, about to smash Leonel's head against the cave wall with his clasped arms, when Liam suddenly appeared out of thin air.

"They heard the signal after all," Leonel sighed as he collapsed to the ground, panting.

"Nysander…"

The Ravager glanced at Liam and finally abandoned Leonel.

The Ravager attacked Liam, who stood mightily on higher ground. From his position, Leonel couldn't see what was happening, but he could feel his strength waning. He struggled to stay conscious to witness the fight.

When the Ravager fell beside Leonel, he saw that Nysander had reverted to his original form, no longer in his Demonic Form. Leonel smiled. The poison seemed to be working.

Liam immediately attacked the Ravager while Leonel attempted to stand.

Their plan to defeat Nysander relied on the assumption that the Ghostfire Venom was no longer in his system. Nysander was strong, but his true power lay in his Demonic Form. To stand a chance, they needed to prevent him from shifting into that form. Leonel was the bait, acting defeated to lure Nysander towards the scattered spikes of the Searing Cactus.

Leonel had placed the spikes on higher ground near the tunnel, where Nysander would cross. It was also part of the plan for Leonel to suffer a broken arm, making his act convincing.

Leonel felt the pain from his wounds and broken bones beginning to regenerate, but it still felt like hell. Overwhelmed by the pain, he soon lost consciousness.

Leonel woke to the sound of metal clashing and grunts filling the air. The cave began to heat up, forcing him to open his heavy, weary eyes. He felt dizzy and lightheaded, tending to his throbbing head as he assessed his surroundings. His gaze fell on his once-broken arm, now healed and functioning as good as new.

Realizing he had been out for a few hours, memories flooded his mind. His weary eyes searched for the Ravager and found him still engaged in a fierce battle with Liam. They fought a few meters away, both showing signs of exhaustion. Their clothes were torn, their bodies covered in wounds and bruises, and they were sweating profusely, panting heavily.

Liam dodged Nysander's latest attack and seized the opportunity to strike back. The cave seemed on the brink of collapse from their chaotic, relentless battle. Leonel could now see the cave walls pockmarked with small and large holes, resembling a beehive.

Liam threw his sword, which Nysander managed to avoid, but he wasn't fast enough to dodge Liam's fireballs. Leonel rarely saw Liam use his fire element, but when he did, it was clear that his fire was unique among the Fire Fae. As King Helios' grandson, his fire didn't just burn—it destroyed.

The scorching flames engulfed Nysander, making the Ravager scream in agony. Liam extended his hands and summoned water from afar. Only then did Leonel notice the little streams of water flowing towards them.

Leonel tried to stand, but although his wounds had healed, his strength hadn't fully returned. He sat weakly on a nearby stone, watching as Liam conjured a sword from the river's water.

Liam attacked again, raining down water swords on Nysander and following up with fireballs, alternating between the two. Nysander dodged most of the attacks but was trapped when one of Liam's swords buried deep into his foot. This was the opportunity Liam needed.

Liam took to the air, using his fire mid-flight. His movements were fast, precise, and graceful. He conjured a dragon made of fire, roaring as if it had its own life, illuminating the entire cave with its blazing flames.

"This is for Aggie and Aiden!" Liam shouted, releasing his Dragon Fire. His eyes blazed with immense fury.

Nysander pulled his foot free and turned left to avoid the fire, but the Dragon Fire seemed to chase him no matter where he went. It finally caught up and smashed into Nysander's back, exploding upon impact.

Nysander's body burned as if made of fragile wood. Despite the pain, he continued to move, trying to escape. Liam attacked once more, using his water swords to wound the Ravager.

One sword penetrated Nysander's stomach, followed by another, and another, until Nysander finally stopped moving, groaning, and breathing altogether.

Nysander's charred body fell to the ground just as Liam landed heavily with a thud.

Although weakened, Leonel limped his way to Nysander. The Ravager was no longer breathing, his lips parted, eyes wide open, horns shattered, and skin peeling off.

To ensure it was truly over, Leonel took out a small dagger and cut off Nysander's head. He then went to Liam, putting an arm around his shoulder to help him stand.

"Finally," Leonel said as Liam breathed heavily against him. "It ends with us."