System Unlocked: Drakonis' End

Nightshade materialized beside Vasquez, his brows furrowed in concern. The flickering torch in Vasquez' hands danced across Nightshade's face, accentuating the worry etched on his face.

Vasquez' gaze met Nightshade's, his eyes filled with questions, "What's wrong?"

Nightshade jaw clenched, his voice barely above a whisper as he fought back the thought of loosing his sister again, "Claire, she was attacked," his eyes narrowed, anger gleaming within.

Vasquez' expression turned stern and cold, the Uravis he knows never felt emotions, other than shock, amusement, rage, annoyance or excitement, not fear and sadness.

"Let's go then," he uttered and placed his hand Nightshade's shoulder, totally forgetting about the weapons he wanted to gather from the dead sorcerers.

They vanished, without another word, leaving behind the city is smoldering ruins. The sharp smell of smoke and burning meat, lingered in the air, a reminder of the destruction and what the Void Serpent was up against.

Nightshade and Vasquez appeared at the campsite, the sun was already settling and the fire burning from the bonfire Vasquez created to warm Elyria up was slowly giving the forest light.

Nightshade's gaze settled on Elyria's unconscious body, she had a shirt, that he recognized to be Claire's, and it exposed her thighs that had a new clean wrap of bandage around them.

He sighed, relieved she was alright, but Claire's situation was what worried him the most, "Where's Claire?" he demanded, his voice urgent but holding authority as the sound startled the few around the fire.

Vasquez pointed towards the woods, the same direction of the river from earlier, "Seraphina took her there to wash up, she was bleeding badly," he replied, oddly calm.

With a swift move, he switched to Drakonis, his green eyes darkened. He hurried through the forest, his boots hitting the ground, leaves crunching beneath his feet as he ran.

He was close to loosing it, if anything he was running Insane. He could imagine Claire lifeless in his arms. Another loss he would not let slide for any reason.

As the forest opened up, the river showed up, and he saw two figures by the bank. Seraphina stood, holding his sword in her hand, with blood dripping from it and Claire sat, with her back against the wall.

Blood dripping slowly from her nose with her few shallow cuts on her face and deeper ones on her body, her chest rose and fell rapidly, with pain covering her cheerful face.

"Claire!" Uravis shouted and hurried over to her side, he went on his knees immediately beside her and ran his eyes all over her. Calculating how bad it was.

But Claire raised her hand to his head with a weak smile on her face, her green eyes were pale due to the loss of blood, as well as her skin, but she still had that cheerful gleam in them.

Without hesitating, he switched to Arcanis and held her hands with his, he transferred every single energy in his body to her, watching impatiently as her wounds closed up.

"Uravis..."

"Shut up," he cut her off and tightened his grip around her hands. He could go to any extent to save those he loved.

Yes, two weeks and a month was not enough to get close to someone the way he did, but he didn't care.

It was his choice and it was his responsibility to keep her alive, no matter what.

He continued charging up, exhaustion slowly replacing his rage, seconds away from healing her fully, Vasquez grabbed his collar and pulled him away from her.

He tossed him aside like a price of paper and carried Claire in a bridal style, "How do you feel?"

She gave a weak smile and placed her head on his chest, her eyes drifting to Uravis, "Is he okay?"

"Worry about yourself, Claire," he uttered and turned to Seraphina, giving her a scrutinizing gaze, "You're too terrified, and too attached to do it. So who did?"

Seraphina frowned deeply, "That's rude."

"If you don't talk now, he will break every bone in you before you actually get time to explain," he said coldly, his eyes focused on Arcanis who switched back to Uravis and tried to get up.

"Torvald did," she blurted out as fast as she could, out of fear and raised the sword, "Something about her knowing too much."

Vasquez moved his gaze to Claire who simply smiled innocently and averted her gaze. "You're going to get killed for your curiosity."

"Hey Vendetta!" Vasquez called out to Uravis whose eyes was already blazing with anger, 'Seraphina didn't do it.'

"How are you so certain?" Uravis asked as he cleaned himself up, prepared to pound Seraphina, "She was with her the whole time, so what makes you think I will believe you?"

A smirk appeared on Vasquez' face, "I know you do. Besides, she's won't hurt Claire for no reason, even if there was. She is too emotionally weak to do so," he stated and sighed. "Torvald.."

"Don't make me laugh," Uravis immediately interrupted him, "Torvald has nothing against me."

"And so do I," Seraphina defended herself, gaining courage from no where.

That same moment, a figure emerged from the shadows, a faint aura that Vasquez recognized to belong to those who had made contact with the Void Serpent.

Uravis head snapped towards the direction, his eyes focused on the figure, till he showed up. "Torvald?"

Torvald had a nasty smile on his face, disappointment in his eyes as they settled on Claire who glared daggers at him, "Uravis," he called softly and turned to him, "Is she okay?"

"Yes, I managed to heal her," he paused, taking a side glance at Vasquez.

He would never dare doubting Vasquez, even though he was not sane or normal, but Vasquez would never lie about what he thinks.

If it was Torvald then it had to be.

But Torvald was too close for him to take action, so he just had to play along. "Did you see who did this?"

Torvald's eyes narrowed when he turned back to Claire, he saw she was weak to talk and sighed, "I saw Seraphina with her before I heard she was attacked."

'I swear I will break you,' Seraphina thought with clenched fists. "I didn't," she trailed off when Torvald began moving towards her.

"You shouldn't spare her, Uravis. She could kill Claire next time if care is not taken," he uttered, trying to convince Uravis but Vasquez sighed and shook his head.

"I'm out of here," he said and vanished with Claire in his arms.

Without making a sound, Uravis switched to Drakonis as he walked towards Torvald, then he raised the blood stained sword to his throat.

"You betrayed us, Me especially," he growled, the sword flashing in the moonlight.

Torvald remained calm, his eyes dropping as he realized he was figured out, but a hint of amusement danced in them, startling Seraphina even more. "I served a higher purpose," he said, his voice low and void of any emotion.

With a swift motion, Torvald, turned around causing Drakonis to jump back. He gripped the sword in his hand, rage blinding his senses.

"You'll pay for this," he uttered and charged towards Torvald.

Torvald also charged at him, their blades clashing in a flurry of steel and sparks.

The forest echoed with the ring of metal on metal, alerting the Alliance back at the camp site.

Seraphina moved silently away from the scene for her safety and to go find help, even though she believed Uravis didn't need one.

Torvald parried Drakonis attack, their swords dancing in a deadly waltz, the air was thick with tension as they fought with their life on the line.

Uravis was ready to dice Torvald, he didn't care, whenever someone he trusted, broke the trust, it was over.

And alongside that, Torvald tried to kill his sister. Something he would never tolerate.

"You are supposed to be our ally," Drakonis snarled as they stood apart to catch their breath.

Torvald's smiled twisted to a smirk, "The Void Serpent gave me a good offer right from the moment I set out. He offered me great power if I managed to weaken you."

"And you had to go for my sister?"

"She is the only person you love genuinely without a doubt in this life. The love you have for her cannot be matched with that of Elyria or Vasquez."

Drakonis' eyes dilated, his rage increasing by the second, "How could you? I trusted you."

Torvald's expression turned cold, "You stole the heart of the woman I love, you were too busy, engrossed in your mission to ask how I was feeling. You didn't even check in, on my group. But you were focused on the princess, your sister and Seraphina," he paused and gripped his sword, taking a stance to attack.

"At least now if I killed you, the Void Serpent would reign supreme and no one would adore you."

"I am not perfect you idiot, You think I like being treated like a hero?"

"Who cares, If I can't kill who you love then I'll kill you!" Torvald yelled and charged towards him, Drakonis managed to dodge his attack, despite how he felt.

The clash of swords began and intensified, Uravis' anger fueling fueling his strength.

But Torvald was more experienced and the little power the Void Serpent granted him, made him a formidable foe.

He landed a solid blow, sending Drakonis stumbling back. As he regained his balance, Torvald's sword went into the left side of his chest, causing a painful hiss to escape his lips.

Another blade bit deep into Drakonis' shoulder, resulting a loud painful cry.

He bit his lips, enduring the pain as he went on his knees, Torvald gave a triumphant smile and pushed the sword deeper till it went into Drakonis' heart.

"Vendetta!"

"Uravis!"

"Arcanis'!"

Four voices echoed through the forest at once, gaining Torvald and his victim's attention.

Claire looked at Drakonis with tear filled eyes, while Elyria's eyes had darkened her rage returning in a flash of light despite her condition.

However, as his heart slowly died out, a silver holographic screen appeared above him, casting a bright light over his face. Vasquez' brows curved in confusion, since he was the only one who saw it.

'Just when I failed you decide to give me new identity,' Uravis thought as he slowly changed back to himself, Torvald pulled out his sword, taking a step back to watch blood pour out of the injury he gave Uravis.

Right before everyone's eyes, Uravis body dropped lifeless to the ground, his brain still working to pump his heart but he had already failed. No amount of healing could bring him back.

Ding!

[System Activated]

[Host Died as Drakonis, at 7:58 pm]

[Initiating Soul removal]

Those words appeared on the screen before Uravis, he sighed and slowly closed his eyes, already giving up without struggling.

Vasquez clenched his fists, as he also read the words, it was all too good to be true. Uravis was the only one who brought out a side of him no one has.

And the only one capable of bringing his father down.

But then there was Claire..who could summon anything and everything. Could she be the next hero?

He thought as he raised his gaze to look at Uravis lifeless body. Just as Uravis' energy faded away, a bright green orb emerged from the center of the forest and into the air.

Exploding into a thousand tiny glitters.

Indicating that Uravis, Arcanis, Nightshade or Vendetta, and Drakonis were gone, Forever?