[Scene: The Execution Attempt]
Dalia raised her axe high, the blade gleaming under the night sky.
"Now it's time to cut off your head, Master."
A cruel smirk twisted her lips.
Damn it… I can't move…!
Leo's eyes widened in horror, her body refusing to respond. The axe descended—
SLASH!
"Egh—!?"
Dalia froze, her voice trembling. A dagger jutted from her back, blood staining her dress.
Slowly, she turned.
There stood Lucas. His body was drenched in blood, his stance weak, but his grip on the dagger unwavering.
"You…" Dalia hissed, ripping the blade out and tossing it aside. "Hah. I thought you'd be dead already."
Her smirk returned, sharp as a blade.
Lucas's eyes burned with fury. His jaw trembled as his teeth clenched, his gaze fixed on Leo's broken body. Tears threatened to spill.
"Enough!!" Lucas roared. "Stop hurting Mion! If you want blood, then kill me instead, woman!!"
Dalia tilted her head, annoyed.
"Hm? Why do you even care for her? Leave. This is between me and her."
"Of course I care!!" Lucas's fists trembled as he raised them high. "It's my responsibility—I will not fail again!!!"
He charged, fury carrying him forward.
"Then take it!"
Dalia swung her axe at him—
"Wind Blow!"
Lucas's voice thundered, and a violent gust of wind ripped through the air.
"Tch—!" Dalia's arm was thrown upward by the blast. Lucas seized the moment—
BAM!
His fist crashed into her stomach.
"Ughhh!"
Dalia staggered, coughing.
"You idiot! Get out of my way!!" Her rage boiled over. She spun with terrifying grace, her heel snapping through the air like a dragon's tail.
BOOM!
The kick slammed into Lucas's chest. Blood sprayed from his lips as his body was hurled to the ground.
"Lucas!!" Leo cried out, her voice cracking.
Dalia raised her axe again, her killing intent suffocating the air.
"Why are you stopping me, idiot!? Just die already!!"
The blade descended—
"NO!!"
With bloodied determination, Leo hurled herself onto Dalia, dragging her down.
"What the—Mion!!" Lucas shouted, horrified.
"I… I won't let her kill you, Lucas!!!" Leo screamed, her trembling body clinging to Dalia with the last of her strength.
Dalia's eyes widened in disbelief.
"How… how can you still move!?"
At that moment—
"Waterfall of Hell!!"
Lucas's voice tore through the night.
From the sky, a colossal torrent of water came crashing down.
"What—!?" Dalia's eyes shot upward. She tried to leap away—but it was too late.
CRASHHH!!!
The roaring waterfall swallowed her whole.
Lucas didn't waste a second. He scooped Leo into his arms, sprinting away from the impact zone.
"I think it worked…" Lucas muttered, his voice trembling. He laid Leo down, placing a glowing hand over her wounds. Green light spread across her battered body.
"Let me heal you, Mion."
"Lucas…" Leo's eyes blurred with tears. "Why… why would you risk your life for me?"
"Because… I have a responsibility." His voice broke as tears finally fell. "I can't lose again. Never!!!"
"Lucas… what happened? Did—"
CRASH!!!
"Aaaghhhhhhh!!!!"
Dalia's furious scream erupted from the collapsing water.
"Shit… she stood up so fast!" Lucas hissed, sweat rolling down his forehead.
"Lucas, don't—don't risk yourself like that! I'll fight too—"
Leo tried to rise, but Lucas cut her off, lifting her into his arms again.
"Lucas!?" she gasped.
"Run. Leave with the postillion. I'll handle her." His voice was calm, but his eyes held the weight of unshakable resolve.
"No, Lucas!! It's too dangerous!!" Leo screamed.
But he ignored her, shouting instead:
"Kaizer!! Take her and get out of here!!"
"Yes, sir!!" the postillion roared back.
"No… I won't let Leo escape!!"
Dalia burst free, her aura trembling with rage.
Lucas set Leo down, sprinting straight toward Dalia.
"Lucas, nooo!!!" Leo's voice cracked.
Kaizer seized her, lifting her into the carriage. With a sharp tug of the reins, the horses bolted into the night.
"LEO!!!" Dalia shrieked, her face twisted with fury. She slashed through Lucas's right arm, blood spraying into the air.
Still—Lucas endured. With his remaining strength, he hurled a dagger.
THUNK!
It buried itself in Dalia's leg. She collapsed to the ground, screaming.
"Damn you!!!"
The carriage disappeared into the darkness.
"LUUCAAASSS!!!"
Leo screamed, tears streaming down her face.
"Stop the carriage!! We have to save Lucas!!"
But Kaizer's hands shook as he held the reins. Tears rolled down his cheeks.
"We can't!! Sir Lucas gave his order! He… he sacrificed himself for us! I… I can't disobey!!"
His voice cracked under the weight of sorrow.
Leo's screams echoed into the night.
The carriage vanished into the distance, wheels rattling against the stone road.
Lucas staggered where he stood, his body drenched in blood, his legs trembling. Each breath scraped his lungs like broken glass.
And yet—he smiled.
"…I finally… fulfilled my responsibility."
His voice was a whisper, carried by the cold night wind.
[Flashback]
A younger Lucas guided a carriage through a moonlit forest path. Shadows thickened beneath the trees, the moon hidden behind black clouds.
Inside the carriage sat a young noblewoman, her dress of pink and white silk glowing faintly even in the darkness.
Then—chaos.
The road erupted with shouts as a gang of armed men blocked their path.
The carriage screeched to a halt. Fists struck flesh. The gang leader, a scarred man with white hair, slammed Lucas into the dirt with a savage punch.
The girl rushed out, her face pale.
"What is happening!? Stop hurting him!"
"No, my lady! Run away!!" Lucas shouted, his voice hoarse.
"Ohh, look at that girl," one of the bandits sneered.
"She's pretty. Let's take her."
The leader's men closed in, their eyes glinting with vile intent.
As one reached for her, Lucas, beaten and bloodied, forced himself up—
CRACK!
His fist connected with the man's jaw.
"My lady! Are you alright!?"
"Yes, I—"
Her words choked as the gang leader raised a hand. A flash of light—
BANG!
Magic tore through Lucas's arm.
"Aghhh!!" Lucas fell, clutching his bleeding hand.
"Lucas!!" The girl cried out, her eyes wide with panic.
He gritted his teeth, forcing himself up again. "My lady… please go. Your wedding is tomorrow… You must survive."
"But—how can I leave you like this!? I won't go!!"
The gang closed in, their laughter echoing.
"No! Run!! Please, just run!!" Lucas's voice cracked, his fear plain.
But it was too late. Another flash—
CRACK!
The girl's leg buckled under a searing shot of magic.
She screamed, collapsing. Lucas caught her, staggering under the weight.
Then—
BOOM!
A fireball exploded against his back. He gasped, the air ripped from his lungs. The girl slipped from his arms, falling to the ground.
Still, she looked up at him with a smile. A sad, gentle smile.
"Please… live." she whispered in his ear.
"Wha—?" Lucas's eyes widened.
But before he could react, she pushed him onto the horse.
The reins snapped. The horse bolted into the night.
"NOOOO!!! FREYAAAA!!!" Lucas's scream split the forest, tears blinding his vision.
Back on the road, the girl—Freya—stood. Her eyes glistened with tears as flames and shadows surrounded her.
"Why… why would you sacrifice yourself… for just a mere man like me…" Lucas sobbed, his cries swallowed by the night.
[Current Scene]
Dalia rose from the rubble, fury twisting her features.
"Because of you… I missed my golden chance to kill her!!"
Her grip on the axe trembled with rage.
Lucas, barely holding himself upright, smiled through bloodied lips.
"I don't know… why you want to kill Mion. But this time… I saved someone."
He lifted his gaze to the night sky. Clouds parted at last, revealing stars that shimmered with cold brilliance.
"Finally, O Lord…" Tears slid down his face as his smile softened, pure and unburdened. "…I finally saved someone… the one I couldn't, back then."
His golden eyes shone, reflecting the starlight.
"Fine." Dalia's voice dripped with venom as she raised her axe. "Then you'll pay with your life."
Lucas's smirk widened, defiant even in the face of death.
"…Let's see."