chapter 12

I pushed my brothers as they fell into the depths of the rift. I gave them a smile and, with my right hand, pointed to my face with my thumb.

—"Is this the last time I'll see them…? No, it can't end like this. I'll see them again… yes… I'll see them again. I just have to win this fight. It doesn't matter if I have to face both of them at the same time… I, Iko, will win," I told myself, trying to keep my resolve.

Before I could look away from the rift, I noticed that both men were watching me… laughing uncontrollably. It was hard to understand what they were saying between bursts of laughter.

—"Hey, hey… did you just kill your brothers? Hahaha! Humans really are a strange race!" —Draekon laughed.

—"You're right. I never thought they'd go that far," —Thalor replied with a wicked smile.

I didn't answer. I just stared at them coldly, gripping my sword tightly. I knew this fight was mine. I couldn't lose… or let my emotions cloud my judgment.

—"Special Ability: Three-Headed Water Serpent!" —I shouted with all my strength.

I was ready to give it everything I had. Even if my ability only lasted two minutes, I had to make every second count to try and defeat them.

Three magic circles appeared above me, and from them emerged three serpent-like heads made of water, ready to serve as both shield and weapon.

—"So you can activate special abilities too? Now that's new. I didn't know humans could use magic, much less… abilities like that," —Draekon said, surprised.

Wasting no time, he rushed at me with his summoned sword. I didn't know how much longer he could keep it active, since more than two minutes had already passed since he invoked it.

His attacks were fast, but thanks to my ability, the water heads protected me like moving walls and counterattacked fiercely, forcing Draekon to retreat.

I was so focused on him that I completely forgot about Thalor. When I realized he was no longer where he had been, I started looking around frantically… but I couldn't find him.

Until a whisper came from behind me:

—"If you were looking for me… I've always been right behind you. Turning your back on me… that was your biggest mistake."

I felt a slash across my back… but it wasn't my flesh that was cut. One of the serpent heads had intercepted the blow just in time, nearly biting Thalor's right arm.

Thalor managed to block it with his sword, barely dodging the attack.

—"Tch… these little servants of yours are starting to annoy me.

I didn't want to use my ability, but I don't want to stay in this damn place any longer either…

Special Ability: Ten Chains!"

From his back, ten black chains erupted, each tipped with a shining short sword blade.

This is getting bad… I have to strike before it gets worse.

I sent the serpent heads lunging at Thalor, while I focused entirely on Draekon.

I knew I was at a disadvantage. Even though I was keeping Thalor busy with my ability, I only had about thirty seconds left before it wore off.

But I couldn't give up. I had to keep attacking… no matter the cost.

Then, I heard a sudden sound… like flesh being torn apart.

I didn't understand where it came from. I hadn't struck Draekon…

I looked down at my body, confused.

And then I saw it.

Ten swords had pierced through me.

My whole body had been impaled… and one of them had gone straight through my heart.

I didn't feel pain. My body no longer responded like before, yet somehow, my arms were still moving, still clinging to my sword.

With the last of my strength, I commanded one of the serpent heads to bite Draekon… and another to bite Thalor.

Then I fell.

The world blurred. I couldn't hear anything. My vision faded.

But I knew one thing:

If the heads had bitten them, then the poison was already in their blood.

They wouldn't show symptoms… but in three days, they would die.

The poison from those serpents was slow… but it devoured from within, as if it were consuming their souls.

I smiled.

I closed my eyes… knowing I had done everything I could…

For them.