Chapter 49: Journey’s End

The battle continued.

My knights kept on attacking but kept getting smashed to pieces.

Forcing me to summon more, fortunately, there’s plenty of miasma here that allows me to replenish without reserve.

Llednar is gauging his chances lurking silently at the sidelines waiting for a chance to kill.

Clovis is timing his fireballs firing in flames to burn the Guardian’s Skin.

My knights dealt light damage to it and failed to deal any deep wounds.

Merely shallow wounds that heal at no time at all.

This battle is turning into a battle of attrition.

A complete stalemate.

However, this is not in our favor.

Both sides are using up miasma from the area.

It’s inevitable that it may run out sometime soon.

At that time, we’d be at a disadvantage without our powers.

For the source of our powers come from the Heart of Malice before us which is our foe.

Therefore, if it does run out, we’d end up facing defeat.

“This can’t go on. Llednar! Clovis! To me!”

Hearing my voice, my companions hurried to my side.

“What’s up lad?

“Thought of a plan?”

“We need to end this soon. I have an attack that might deal a deep wound. But I need some time. Llednar, Clovis, after I summon a last batch of knights, you must help them delay for as much time as necessary. Clovis, fire your deadliest flames at the wound and burn it from within. Llednar, aim for its heart.”

My two companions nodded.

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No more words needed to be said.

They then faced our foe.

I summoned my final squad of warriors.

“Come forth, mighty knights of steel and iron. Initiate the final battle!”

New figures joined our ranks.

“Forward!”

They attacked in formation.

“Here I go!”

“Time to put an end to this tomfoolery!”

My companions joined in their attack.

I began gathering power near my chest.

I will soon unleash a devastating attack.

Shadows began to gather.

Forming a dark light towards my surroundings.

“Take this!”

Llednar threw bottles that upon contact with its skin burst into flames.

*Roaaaarrr*

The Guardian roared with pain and began to attack with renewed fury.

“You should not ignore my act!”

Clovis gathered flames and formed a huge flame and hurled it at the Guardian.

The second explosion burned the Guardian and spread.

Forming flames surrounding it.

The Guardian roared once more but feared the flames.

“It ends now.”

I spoke.

The dark lights gathered to form a powerful Dark Knight with a mighty lance of darkness.

Raising its lance, my knight charged forth.

This is my strongest power.

I can summon a powerful knight of pure darkness to obey my will.

It charged forth while my knights gave way.

It pierced through the flames piercing the Guardian flesh.

“Now is the time! Burn!”

Clovis unleashed several balls of flame at the Guardian.

Burning away the flesh covering the Heart.

“Sorry laddie, but it ends here!”

Laughing proudly, Llednar jumped towards the Heart and before it could regenerate the flesh guarding it, the Heart was pierced and cracked.

The Guardian then began to howl.

But at its dying moments, the Guardian looked at us.

Before, those dark eyes were filled with malevolence, but now, I see it filled with sorrow.

It then spoke hoarse words.

And I heard a voice that I should not have heard anymore.

“Thank… You… All my life… I pursued beauty… Even after I had… my own… family… I never… truly valued them… until I lost them… Only then… Only then did I know… the price… I paid for my… sins… and my… madness…”

It let out hoarse voice.

And I saw tears fall from those eyes brimming with emotions.

“It was… only… when I lost… my family… did I know… that my pursuit… in beauty… is nothing… but my… mad delusions… it never… truly held… meaning… but alas… I was… too foolish… and too late… to regret… drowning… in despair… I tried to resurrect… them both… but failed… Please… Even… If… I’m… unworthy to ask… of you… all... a favor… please… bury my body… beyond here… along with my… wife… and daughter…”

I went forward.

“You are a foolish man. Guilty of numerous sins but I will fulfill your request. For there is no longer any point in vengeance. For that is something, only the living can cling to. For it is nothing more than shackles for the dead.”

The demonic and vicious face then smiled lightly.

“Thank… You…”

Just this once, I finally heard this man’s voice. Free of malice and insanity.

A voice filled with sorrow and regret.

A voice akin to that of a prisoner as he gains freedom.

His true voice.

“Eliza… My dear wife… Forgive this foolish man… I was never… worthy… of being… your husband… And… Lilia… my dearest child… Forgive… this failure of a father… for being unable to read you anymore tales… Please wait for… me… I shall… soon… join you both…”

And with those final words, he finally closed his eyes.