In one swift motion, he dispelled the Fiendfire still crashing toward Alex, letting the blue flames vanish into the air like smoke blown away by the wind. Then, drawing every last thread of magic into his wand, he channeled it all into Ferrum Ignis.
With a roar of defiance, he slashed upward with all his strength.
The strike didn't fully stop Voltbrand, but it did what he needed, it shattered the already crumbling scarlet shield with a violent snap and bought him a split second of breathing room.
Without wasting a moment, Thunderbird crossed the flaming blade in front of his chest and leapt backward, skidding across the scorched ground.
Then, with a flick of his free hand, he reached inside his robes and pulled out a battered, rust-covered pocket watch. He clutched it tightly in his palm, his eyes flashing. Another Portkey.
"Heh, so you're just going to run away now that the fight isn't going your way? And here I thought you were supposed to be a pure duelist." Alex didn't even try to stop him. Instead, he stood his ground with a sneer curling on his lips. "Thunderbird, Thunderbird... turns out you're nothing more than a coward, someone who clings to life and fears death."
Thunderbird stared down at the Portkey in his trembling hand, his eyes wide with disbelief. He had clearly activated the alchemical device just moments ago, why wasn't it working? Was it broken? No, impossible. He had tested it thoroughly before this mission.
"You go around calling yourself a 'strong wizard,' looking down on anyone who uses tools to fight, always preaching about honor in dueling... but what's that in your hand?" Alex nodded toward the Portkey. "You're no better than the rest of us. You're not just a hypocrite, you're sick in the head."
Thunderbird stood frozen, blood trickling from his nose, ears, and eyes. He was trembling, barely holding himself together. Meanwhile, Alex slowly approached, the greatsword Voltbrand dragging behind him, its tip carving thin lines in the dirt as he walked. His voice remained calm, even amused.
"You did this..." Thunderbird muttered, voice hoarse with disbelief and rage.
Alex gave a slight shrug. "What did you expect? After watching you escape with a Portkey last time, did you really think I'd come here without a backup plan?"
The smirk on his face deepened. "Let me spell it out for you. Not only did I disable your Portkey, but I also blocked Apparition within a ten-kilometer radius.
No sounds, no distress signals, no chance of outside help. Even your mask, the one you used to stay in contact with your people, is out of play. We've already neutralized that."
Thunderbird's heart dropped. He instinctively raised the mask and tried to activate the communicator. Nothing. Not a spark. Not even a buzz. Panic crept into his face as the realization hit.
"You even knew about the mask..." he said, eyes narrowing in horror. "Azalea... she's the one who sold me out, isn't she?"
That name made Alex pause slightly, then he let out a short laugh. "Azalea? So she's your contact inside the Ministry of Magic. Interesting." He looked genuinely amused, as if a small mystery had just clicked into place.
Thunderbird blinked in confusion. "Wait... it wasn't her?" His voice was hoarse, unsure.
"Of course not," Alex replied, shaking his head with a mocking smile. "As an alchemist, I've got plenty of connections. Did you really think she was my only option?"
"Connections... alchemist... but only two people knew I'd be here today..." Thunderbird muttered under his breath, his mind racing.
Alex watched the pieces fall into place, then delivered the final blow, not with his sword, but with his words. "That's right. Sebastian. Your so-called Lord Sphinx. The one you keep calling your superior, the head of the Egyptian branch of your precious club."
Thunderbird looked as though he'd been hit by a curse. His mouth fell open, his eyes wide in disbelief. "No... no, that's impossible..." he whispered.
"You look surprised," Alex said, his tone almost sympathetic. "But really, you shouldn't be. He reached out to me himself. Said he was interested in doing business.
In exchange for your location, I bought the Egyptian agency rights to his alchemy company.
So, congratulations. Your life cost me a few thousand Galleons. Not a bad price, honestly. The man really knows how to strike a deal."
Thunderbird stared into space, utterly defeated. The betrayal, the setup, the realization that everything he thought he controlled had already slipped from his grasp, it was too much. His knees gave out slightly as he clutched the useless Portkey, all the fight draining from his body.
Alex didn't even blink as he spun one lie after another. He wasn't sure if Thunderbird had a hidden trump card or some secret way to send messages, so he figured, why not mess with his head while he was at it?
He wasn't just planning to defeat the guy; he wanted to break him, mentally and physically. As far as Alex was concerned, Thunderbird didn't deserve a single honest word.
"Sphinx… Sebastian… Could it be, ?" Thunderbird's expression twisted the moment Alex mentioned the name, as if something in his mind had just clicked.
"I knew something was off!" he snarled, his face growing darker. "I couldn't figure out why he tried to stop me from executing that traitor, Martin Grenville. So that's it… he's still clinging to the dream of reviving the Saints' Church! What a deluded fool. I should've known better than to trust a conservative."
'Martin Grenville?' Alex blinked in surprise. 'Isn't that just the grumpy old tavern owner where I'm staying? What does he have to do with a secret society like the Saints' Association?'
His bluff had somehow paid off more than expected. Still, this wasn't the time to dwell on surprise revelations. He had recovered, and the opportunity to end this was now.
Alex rose, eyes sharp, his grip tightening around the hilt of Voltbrand. He took a step forward, ready to end the fight once and for all.
"Wait!" Thunderbird's panic spiked the moment Alex moved. He dropped the Portkey as if it had burned him and raised a hand in a desperate attempt to stop the oncoming blow.
"Let's make a deal. If you let me go, I swear I won't come after you. We can settle this right now."
He gasped, stumbling over his words as he backpedaled.
"I've got wealth. Power. Everything Sebastian promised you, I can give you just as much. Maybe more. Name your price!
I'll even sign an Unbreakable Vow," he added, almost pleading. "Whatever it takes. Just let me live!"