Rex was frantically searching for a way out, but the white flames erupted around him, closing off every possible escape. His heart raced as he prepared to shield himself, bracing for the overwhelming attack aimed at both him and Malin. Desperation surged through him, but before he could act, Malin’s body moved in front of him, forming a barrier around them.

“Rex,” she whispered, her voice calm despite the chaos.

“Malin!” Rex’s shout was raw, filled with panic. His eyes widened as he saw the flames licking closer. “What are you doing!? Stop using your flames—protect yourself! Don’t waste your energy on me!”

But Malin simply turned toward him, her face soft with the kind of tenderness that comes from a bond forged in battles, triumphs, and losses. “No, Rex… not this time.”

Before Rex could protest, the world around him faded. The battlefield melted away, replaced by the gentle rocking of an old, worn train car. The familiar rattle of tracks echoed in his ears. Malin sat across from him, her eyes distant, as if lost in memories. Amelia and Griffin sat by the window, gazing out at the blur of passing scenery. A shadowy figure wreathed in dark flames lingered in the corner, watching silently.

Rex’s voice broke the eerie calm. “Why didn’t you protect yourself, Malin?” His tone was low, barely above a whisper, yet each word carried the weight of his torment.

Malin’s eyes met his, and for a moment, they were the eyes of the woman he had fought beside for so long—full of life, resolve, and something unspoken. Her voice, steady yet filled with sorrow, cut through the stillness. “Because keeping you safe… is all that matters. I don’t need to protect myself anymore, Rex. My time’s up. You need to keep going.”

Rex clenched his fists, the veins in his arms tightening. His chest heaved with emotion, frustration bubbling to the surface. “It doesn’t have to be like this, Malin. You don’t have to give up. We can still fight. You don’t have to leave me like everyone else!” His voice cracked on the last words, the pain seeping through.

Malin smiled softly, the kind of smile that comes before goodbye. “I’m sorry, Rex. I’m so, so sorry… but this is as far as I can go.” Her voice wavered, her vulnerability showing for the first time in years. “I’m tired… I’ve been tired for a long time. This is my end.”

Tears burned at the edge of Rex’s vision. He shook his head, as if refusing to accept her words. “No… You’ve been by my side since L.A. You made me stronger, you gave me a reason to keep fighting. I don’t want to do this without you.” His throat tightened. “I can’t lose you too.”

Malin’s face softened as her own memories washed over her. The image of her daughter—fragile, dying—flashed in her mind. The way she held the small body, pouring her flux energy into her just to keep her alive for a few more moments. “Mommy, I feel cold,” her daughter had whispered, her voice weak.

“It’s okay, I’ve got you,” Malin had whispered back, though she was trembling, tears streaming down her face. “You’ll be warm… I promise.” She had lied, knowing that no matter how much power she gave, she couldn’t save her daughter.

The memory shattered as the flames consuming Malin’s present body flared violently. Her dark flames began to sputter and fade, her strength draining faster than even she expected. She stumbled, her knees giving way. Rex was at her side in an instant, his hands trembling as he touched her skin, already beginning to crumble into ash beneath his fingertips.

“Rest, Malin,” Rex choked, his voice breaking. “You’ve earned it. I’ll carry on for you.”

The flames flickered one last time, and Malin’s body disintegrated, scattering into the wind like the ashes of a dying fire. Rex knelt there, his hand still outstretched, clutching at nothing but air. His heart felt hollow, a deep ache resonating through his entire being.

But amidst the sorrow, something hardened inside him. He stood slowly, the weight of his grief giving way to a cold, unyielding resolve. He turned, his eyes locking on Natalia, who still loomed in the distance, untouched by the devastation she had caused.

Out of the smoky haze, Hanako appeared. She was changed—markings glowing across her face, her energy surging with newfound power. Rex could feel the force radiating from her, like a storm barely contained.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“Rex,” Hanako said, her voice steady yet laced with determination. “Let’s finish this. For the both of them

Rex’s gaze sharpened. “Yeah… for both of them.”

Before Natalia palace

“Akira you’re going to be ok!” Hanako said. She put her paw on Akira's body. Trying to heal it but it wouldint work. “Hankao transforms into your Demi human form,” he said slowly.

Both of them transformed into the Demi-human form.

“You have to do it,” Akira said.

“No I can’t! If I do you dead I don’t want to eat you,” she said.

“You reamber the blood pact right we made right with Rex,” he said. Hanako back at him with crying eyes. “Condition was that he will never leave us, if you eat me he will have use for you and be safe,” he said.

“I just can’t eat you,” she said.

“don’t do it for Rex do it for me,” he said.

She had to respect her brother was she transforms into her fox form and open her mouth wide and devoured him.

Back with reality

Without hesitation, both Rex and Hanako charged at Natalia. Hanako’s tail flicked and began to blur with speed, moving in unpredictable arcs. In an instant, all three of them vanished, teleporting across the battlefield in rapid succession, leaving shockwaves in their wake. Natalia struggled to keep up, her eyes darting around, unable to track their movements.

“She’s even faster now,” Natalia thought, gritting her teeth. “Since the Yeager fox gained more power probably by eating her sibling, her teleportation is seamless.”

Before she could react, Rex and Hanako reappeared on either side of her, striking with ruthless precision. Hanako’s claws sliced through the air, connecting with Natalia’s torso, while Rex delivered a brutal kick to her neck, sending her hurtling through the shattered remains of the city.

Natalia crashed into the ground, struggling to regain her footing. Rex didn’t waste a second. He darted to where his sword had reappeared , grasping it in one fluid motion. With a fierce cry, he teleported in front of her, his blade raised high. The sword gleamed as he swung it down toward her neck, the force of the blow enough to cleave through anything in its path.

Nataila sword also appears and blocked the attack. Both of them swing their blades as the clashed togther. Hanako tail start to vibrate faster and faster. All three of them started to teleport faster. Nataila can barely keep up with Rex movements. “Due it now Emi! End this fight!” Hanako yelled. Emi was above them with a smile. “Water style, Boxing Day tsunami,” she thought. Realsing a faint pressure of water to hopefully to kill Nataila. Nataila smile and used her flames to create a barrier to make a path towards Emi . As she jumps through it. Emi smiled and she was about to throw a punch with her Tonfa. And hanako teleported to punch as well. The shockwave was everywhere and destroyed more than of the city. Giant explosion happen and emi, Hanako were sent flying back into a drsoteyed building. Emi palace was destroyed and water return to the earth. Then Rex grabbed her by the feet and threw her into the building. “Did he also climb of that pressure of water!” She thought.

Both of them went into another sowrd fight. Destroyed buildings swings of their swords. And each attack cause the entire solar system to shake with each attack.

“I have to end this fight now! I have to kill Rex Jones!” Natalia thought.

But Rex mind was somewhere else.

Malin shook her head. “No, it’s far more complicated than that. It’s not just about power; it’s about your ideals. Your Palace is a reflection of your beliefs and how you shape those ideals into reality. It gives you more power, yes, but it’s deeply tied to who you are at your core.”

Rex furrowed his brow. “So, I need to understand my own ideals and make them real?”

“Exactly. But be warned, Rex—it takes a tremendous amount of flux energy to create and maintain a Palace. And you’re not ready yet. You don’t fully understand your soul, and until you do, you won’t be able to harness that kind of power,” Malin explained, her voice calm but firm.

Rex nodded slowly, realizing how much more he had to learn. "So, mastering my soul is the first step..."

“Yes, and once you do, your Palace will come naturally,” Malin said. “But for now, focus on building that connection.”

The memories ends.

As the both of them continue to fight Rex becomes more stronger with determination.

“My Belief is that everyone life was forged out form the beginning of their life just like I was born to be a cog in a weal just to kill yeagers and die, and that hasn’t changed about me,” Rex thought.

Rex separated distance between them both.

Rex created a hand symbol.”Enteral Forge Palace,” Rex said.

A dome was created over them the dome sky became dark and red and Nataila was standing in dark water. While a light forge was in the middle of the palace. Rex created an injector with his hand. And stab himslef with it. His flux energy recovered and his wounds did as well.

A sword materialized into Rex hand it was Malin’s sword.

“Let’s end this fight, togther, Malin” Rex thought.

He charged at Nataila with both swords in hand.

He swings one of the swords right at Nataila. But she dodges it barely. Objects were created in the water to kill Nataila. She can barely dodge them.

“Let’s end this together Malin,” Rex said with a smile.

Chains were created on Nataila who couldn’t move. She was trying to break free but couldint.

Rex hold Malin sword up high and swing the blade downward—cutting of Nataila head.

Rex palace cause him to create anything he desires no mater how ridiculous it is.

Nataila lifeless body fell to the ground and Rex closed his palace.

he looked up to the night sky and fell down to the ground to finally rest.