On the other side of the city, buildings began to collapse in rows, their foundations crumbling like dominos. Smoke filled the streets, thick and suffocating.
James, drenched in sweat and blood, was buried beneath rubble. A low groan escaped him as he slowly pushed himself free.
"Ugh..."
He raised his head just as heavy footsteps echoed toward him, each one radiating menace. A sharp, almost excited breath followed.
"Hahahaha..."
Rhyver emerged from the smoke, his eyes locked onto James like a predator eyeing its prey.
"I really had high expectations for you," he said, stepping through the dust. His body stood firm, barely scratched, save for a few shallow cuts. "Yet you still proved to be a disappointment."
Without hesitation, Rhyver grabbed James by the collar and hurled him across the ground. James crashed hard, sliding until he finally stopped.
"That monster..." James muttered, lifting his head weakly. Through the thick smoke, Rhyver's bloodthirsty grin was still visible.
After that one lucky blow I landed... my luck must've run out.
His eyes darted to his handle, lying far away.
"Shit..." he hissed, slamming his fist against the ground.
Rhyver slowly approached, each step deliberate.
"Oh, don't worry," he chuckled darkly. "At least you did something, right?"
He giggled. "Wasted my time."
James gritted his teeth and pushed against the pain, forcing himself up. His body trembled, riddled with deep gashes and blood loss.
No matter the outcome...
He extended his hand. The sword handle twitched, then launched toward him. Gripping it tightly, James summoned his remaining strength. Mana ignited in his grasp, and the blade roared back to life, glowing with renewed energy as particles danced around it.
"I have to fight... until the end. For the others."
His blade pulsed, its aura sharpening and expanding like a flame reigniting.
Rhyver's eyes narrowed.
"Even like that, he's able to maintain such control over his mana?" he muttered. A grin crept back onto his face. "Well... a final stand it is."
He raised a finger, pointing at James. "You never fail to surprise me."
James stood still, his expression unreadable.
"But sadly, your little acts of heroism..." Rhyver's voice dropped into a growl. "...die now."
In a blur, Rhyver launched forward, claw extended. James blocked the strike, but Rhyver's other hand swung from the side. James reacted fast, raising his energy blade just in time to catch the second blow.
"Not giving up, huh?" Rhyver sneered, pressing harder.
James's arms trembled under the pressure. Then—
CRACK!
Rhyver's foot slammed into James's ribs, breaking through his defenses. His blade was knocked aside.
"Gah—!"
James coughed blood as Rhyver's claws slashed across his chest. Blood sprayed out as his body was hurled back.
With one swift motion, Rhyver spun and struck James with his tail, sending him crashing into a building. Cracks webbed through the wall before James dropped to the ground in a heap.
"You fought well... but not well enough," Rhyver said coldly, walking toward him.
James lay bleeding, twitching from the pain. The energy from his blade vanished.
I've failed them... like I always do...
Darkness closed in around his mind.
Years ago.
Snow blanketed a massive camp. A young James stood in it, eyes burning with rage.
Life wasn't the best...
Soldiers dragged him into a tent leading to an underground cell. He was thrown inside—where other kids his age huddled in silence.
A void of fear kept them barely alive... everyone but me.
James stood tall.
"Are y'all planning to wait for your fate?! Or are you willing to change it?!"
The other children looked up, uncertain.
"This is what they want! They want us to bow and obey like good little slaves!"
Some listened. Some ignored him. But a few, just a few, felt something shift inside.
They listened. Eventually, more joined me. We planned an escape... we timed it perfectly.
But James made one fatal mistake: he accidentally took the wrong route.
That one mistake cost everything.
As the children fled, a guard spotted them. Panic broke out. The escape turned into a nightmare.
Some were caught... some died... and the rest? I never saw them again.
He remembered the torture.
Burned in flames. Frozen in a lake. Cut with blades. The pain never ended. But worse than all that... was knowing it was my fault.
Even after reuniting with my sister... I couldn't save her from Zaria.
"ZARIA YOU MAD LIZARD! TAKE ME INSTEAD!!!"
Zaria only laughed.
"Don't worry. You'll see her again... in the afterlife."
James shook the bars until they bent.
"NO! GET BACK HERE YOU DEMON!! I SWEAR—I'LL KILL YOU MYSELF!"
Not only did I let my sister die... I lost everyone. And I was left alone.
Time passed. People came and went. I remained, a hollow shell.
I wanted to die.
Until one day...
A figure appeared outside his cell, casting a shadow over him. A key clattered at his feet. James eyes widened.
"If that fire still burns... don't let it die."
Liam's voice. His smile.
Something inside me snapped.
James ran. Smashed everything in his way. Robots attacked, he used their weapons to shatter the chains binding the mana-core.
He escaped, chased by city guards. Injured, bleeding... he reached the edge of a cliff. Below, a rushing river.
With no other option, he jumped.
They never found me. Declared me dead. But I was alive.
He washed ashore, clinging to a tree trunk. His breath ragged.
"You did well... James."
Liam stood above him, helping him to his feet. Together, they vanished into the forest.
The Royal Resistance took me in. Liam made me part of the new Rush Party. And that day... I made a promise.
The memories faded.
Back in the present, James stirred. Slowly, agonizingly, he stood.
Rhyver's eyes widened.
"W-What?! How... how is he still alive?! Let alone standing?"
He stepped back.
Is he even human?
James's hands gripped the hilt. The energy burst back to life, the blade roaring into form.
"I'll never stop fighting! Until my last breath, I'll rise, learn, and never back down!"
Mana surged around him. His sword gleamed red-hot with power, it's aura like a sharp and aggressive like a storm. With a single breath, he launched forward,an explosion of motion.
Rhyver's eyes went wide. Too slow.
James slashed, clean, precise. The energy blade carved through fur and flesh, tearing across Rhyver's chest in a storm of sparks and blood.
Time seemed to freeze.
How... is this possible?!
James's eyes closed as he collapsed. The energy vanished.
Rhyver staggered, clutching his wound.
"AGHH!!" he roared. "How dare you..."
His fury exploded. "I've had enough of you!!!" He lunged forward, claws outstretched.
"GO BURN IN HELL!!!"
But just before the blow landed—
CRACK!
A fiery kick struck Rhyver's face, sending him crashing through buildings.
I landed, eyes locked on the wreckage.
"That should keep him down for a while..." I muttered.
Turning, I rushed to James. He lay unmoving. I quickly extinguished the white flames on my leg and flipped him over. My eyes widened. Klara landed beside me, panic in her voice. "Kajin! Is that James?!"
She saw him. Her words stopped. Countless deep wounds, broken bones, blood everywhere. She dropped to her knees and began casting healing magic, glowing light surrounding her hands.
"Please! Hold on, James! Don't you dare leave me!!!"
Tears rolled down her cheeks, but her spellwork never faltered. I'd never seen her so focused... or so afraid.
My gaze shifted to James again. What he did... it shouldn't have been possible. He wasn't meant to face Rhyver head-on. The plan was just supposed to lure him away, and that role... was Hano's. But he took it upon himself.
James... you...
I clenched my fists, frustration bubbling, then released it.
"Thank you, James..." I whispered, bowing my head.
He knew it was suicide... and he did it anyway.
I stood.
"Klara."
She didn't look up, still healing.
"Take him. Don't let him die."
She nodded, wiping her tears, then gently lifted James and his handle into the air. Without another word, she ran.
Far away, where the buildings had been reduced to rubble a hand shot out.
"Rhyver..." I muttered.
White flames reignited on my arms and legs.
"You and I... have unfinished business."