Chapter 65

Theron POV

Imbuing cosmic energy into the first rune of the Eclipse Serpent constellation, I released a burst of decay energy into Kael's soul armor. Sensing my intent, he immediately darted away from me.

"What are you doing, Theron?"

"You really thought you could disobey Master's orders and live? I told you at our last meeting that you should have just stayed put. Now, you're merely a fraction of what you used to be. A pity, really. Your family is about to lose their husband and father, and a guild is about to lose its leader. Don't worry—I'll take good care of them."

"Theron, like hell I'll ever let that happen. Ezra might have been too much for me, but you? I do not fear you at all. Even with one arm, I can take you."

"Is that so?" I said, slowly walking toward him. "I don't think I'll even need to use fifty percent of my power to take you out—especially in the sorry state you're in." I said as I cast several constructs in the shape of serpents, each one pulsing with decay energy.

"What are those? Since when could you do that? That's not the same constellation you had before."

"You really might be dense. So, you didn't notice last time at the meeting of generals? My power has grown significantly. I'm not your average Starbound at the Empyrean stage anymore."

I released more of my cosmic energy, commanding my constructs to lash out at Kael.

He immediately altered the topography of our battlefield to disrupt the serpents' path, giving himself enough time to summon his soul weapon. But I had fought him before—I knew exactly what was coming next.

I conjured several more serpents, about a dozen or so, sending them at him from all angles as a diversion. With Kael focused on my constructs, I summoned my soul weapon and launched myself into the air, drawing back several arrows made of decay energy.

With a snap of my fingers, the arrows tore through the sky with a reverberating bang, hurtling toward my enemy. Reacting like the seasoned warrior he was, he immediately struck the air with his fist, countering my attack with an explosion that gave him a moment of cover.

Landing atop one of the trees nearby, I now had a bird's-eye view of everything. I knew how Kael operated. I knew how the hulking titan ambushed his opponents with his constellation. But in his current state, he had only about ten percent of his reserves left. He couldn't waste energy tunneling underground. And with the nearby town, he wouldn't risk using lava sprouts either. The advantage was all mine.

"How long do you want to keep this up, Kael? You're barely clinging to life. I think this is it for you," I called down, conjuring a massive arrow, its size rivaling a missile.

As the smoke cleared, I saw the once-fearsome titan hunched over, struggling to catch his breath. "Until I can no longer breathe... until my body can no longer stand... that's how long I will persevere through this little conflict."

"How admirable," I replied coldly, casting my arrow downward like a harbinger of death itself. "You choose, Kael—these people or your life. You can't have both."

Seeing his resolve harden, I felt him muster what little energy he had left to counter my attack. With a single gallant thrust, he ignited the atmosphere around him, sending a fiery explosion upward to meet my descending arrow.

"Release," I commanded, just before impact. My large arrow splintered into countless smaller projectiles, raining down on Kael like hellfire. The ground was soon drenched in decay energy, trapping him as my arrows plunged into the earth.

"Transform."

At my command, the arrows shifted into serpents that lunged at the general, their fangs sinking into his soul armor.

Descending from the tree, I watched as my decay energy slowly took hold, consuming his defenses. "It really is a shame. You were the perfect person to take on the Syltharion clan. You just couldn't stay put. Don't worry—I'll be taking over that role myself anyway. And I'll make sure to prepare little Mira to be a fearsome warrior, just like you once were. Hopefully, she takes more after her mother in terms of intelligence."

"You bastard."

"Do you really want those to be your last words, Kael? And you, of all people, should know—I am not a bastard."

"You were cast away from your clan as if you were one."

Kael scoffed as the last remnants of his armor crumbled beneath my serpents' relentless assault.

"True, in a way. But in return, I achieved something so rare that the average Starbound couldn't hope to comprehend."

"You really have no honor, no loyalty, do you, Theron? You threw everything away... for a childish ideal."

"Who said I threw everything away?" I smirked as I took off my mask, pouring cosmic energy into the astral tattoo hidden beneath my bandages of my right arm. Kael's eyes slowly drifted toward the golden-orange light radiating from beneath the wrappings, and I chuckled.

"Now you see, I have two constellations. You—or anyone else—will never be in my league. You were right to feel jealous of me. I understood it. I would have felt the same way if I were in your position."

"Farewell, Kael, the earth that once trembled beneath your feet in awe now whispers as dusk settles and the fearsome titan is reduced to ash."

I conjured a small orb of energy, shifting its color from the dark red of decay to the brilliant orange of the sun.

With no cosmic energy left to protect himself, I watched as my former comrade—once a proud general—wilted into lifeless ash.

"You end just as you began."