My eyes locked on the blaze-tipped arrow lying precariously near the crumbling edge of the rooftop. It was my only chance. Without it, I might as well throw myself over the side and save the Captain the trouble. I rushed forward and scooped up the arrow.

The guard captain staggered again, his scimitar dragging along the tiles with a harsh screech. “You… I know your kind. Always slithering where you don’t belong, always thinking you can rise above your station.”

I froze, my fingers tightening around my bow.

“Rod Argent.” He spat my name like it was poison, the sound of it jarring in the still evening air. “You think I wouldn’t recognize the stink of your stock? The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it? You’re just like your father—conniving, weak, hiding behind tricks and shadows.”

My breath hitched, and my pulse hammered in my ears. “I'm nothing like my father! You know nothing about me!”

“Don’t I?” He let out a barking laugh, sharp and jagged. “I remember him. Oh yes, I remember that coward groveling when the noose was tightening. Pleading for mercy he didn’t deserve. What did he say? ‘Spare my family, they’re innocent’? Pathetic.”

"You know nothing! I killed my father! Not some noose!" Or did I? The foggy memories fought in my brain, but I shook away the thoughts. My fists clenched around the bowstring, but I didn’t fire. Not yet. As much as I thought I had dealt with my father's ghost. Apparently, I hadn't.

“Of course, you’d follow in his footsteps,” the Captain sneered ignoring my remarks and taking a heavy step forward, the ground cracking beneath him. “A schemer, a liar, just like the one who sired you. You’ll die here, Argent. And no one will mourn you.”

The venom in his voice curdled my stomach, but I could see it now—beneath his anger, something unsteady.

{Oh, this is delicious. He’s unraveling. Do prod him more.} Aurentum’s voice slithered through my mind, as smug as ever.

“You’re scared,” I said, keeping my voice steady despite the storm in my chest.

His eyes widened for a fraction of a second before his scowl deepened. “Scared? Of you?!” He let out another barking laugh, hollow and strained.

“You’re stalling because you can feel it,” I pressed, stepping back slowly, my boots sliding on the slick tiles. “The blaze. It’s in your veins, twisting your mind, isn’t it?”

His scimitar trembled in his grip as he raised it high, pointing it directly at me. “I’ll end you here and now. No more games.”

{Ah, but games are so fun. Look at him—one spark away from completely falling apart.}

The Captain’s lips curled into a snarl, his teeth bared like a cornered animal. “You think you’re clever,” he hissed. “You think you’ve outsmarted me.” His voice cracked as he took another step, his uneven movements betraying the blaze’s creeping effects. “But you’ve already lost, Argent. You just don’t know it yet.”

The Captain roared, his voice raw and jagged, reverberating through the ruined rooftop. His scimitar carved arcs in the air as he staggered forward, his massive frame looming like an unstoppable force. My body screamed for rest, but I couldn’t stop now. My fingers wrapped tightly around the last blaze-tipped arrow, its surface slick with condensation from the damp tiles.

“You’re done, Morgan!” he bellowed, his movements jerky, his head snapping from side to side as though warding off invisible phantoms. His erratic swings were unpredictable, each one a potential deathblow.

I swallowed hard, gripping the arrow so tightly it dug into my palm. My heart pounded in my chest, the rhythm echoing in my ears.

{Well, this is it, isn’t it? One shot. No pressure. If you miss, you’re just another pile of ashes.}

“Shut up,” I hissed under my breath.

The Captain’s bloodshot eyes fixed on me, fury and madness swirling in their depths. “I’ll make sure your name is forgotten,” he spat, his voice slurred and wild. “No one will even know you existed.”

His words were lost in the roar of my own thoughts. One shot. I had one chance to end this. My bow felt like it weighed a hundred pounds as I raised it, the string trembling under the strain of my injured arm. The arrow slid into place, its tip glowing faintly with blaze residue.

The Captain lunged, closing the distance between us faster than I expected. His scimitar came down, and I rolled to the side, the blade smashing into the tiles where I’d stood moments before.

Pain flared in my shoulder as I scrambled to my feet, every movement a battle against exhaustion. The Captain turned, his erratic gait making him harder to predict. His head jerked, his eyes narrowing on me again.

“Die already!” he roared, raising his weapon for a final strike.

{Aiming for the eye? Bold. Difficult. Stupid. I like it.}

I pulled the bowstring taut, the arrow trembling as I steadied my aim. My breath came in shallow gasps, but I forced myself to focus. Time seemed to slow, the world narrowing to the single glowing tip of the arrow and the Captain’s unprotected face.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

His eye. It was the only vulnerable spot left.

He raised his scimitar high, and I loosed the shot.

The arrow flew, its blazing trail cutting through the dim light. It struck true, sinking deep into his left eye. The Captain froze mid-swing, his body rigid as if the blaze had seized him completely.

His scream tore through the air, a sound of pure agony and disbelief. He dropped the scimitar, both hands clawing at his face as smoke poured from the wound. The blaze spread rapidly, veins of fire snaking across his body, consuming him from within.

“You…” he rasped, his voice barely audible over the crackling blaze. “What… have you… done…?”

The heat radiating from him was suffocating. I stumbled backward, my legs barely supporting me.

{Well, this is dramatic. Do step back. He’s about to get… messy.}

The Captain’s body convulsed, his final roar swallowed by the firestorm erupting from his chest. The explosion tore through the air, a violent burst of flame and shrapnel. The force hit me like a freight train, throwing me across the rooftop.

I slammed into a crumbling chimney, pain lancing through my side as I crumpled to the ground. My vision blurred, the world spinning as heat washed over me, tiles clattering like broken glass.

When I finally opened my eyes, the rooftop was unrecognizable. Smoke curled into the sky, and charred fragments of the Captain’s armor lay scattered like discarded scraps. A blackened scorch mark marred the center of the explosion.

{Well, that was… spectacular. And you survived. Barely. Should I start slow-clapping?}

I groaned, pushing myself upright, my body trembling with exhaustion. Every movement was agony, my wounds burning with each breath.

“I’m alive,” I muttered, more to myself than to Aurentum.

{Barely. But yes, you are. Shall I fetch a medal? Perhaps a bandage?}

I ignored him, staggering toward the edge of the rooftop. Below, the distant sound of the marketplace drifted up, surreal and disconnected from the chaos I’d just endured. My breath came in ragged gasps as I leaned against the ledge, my vision swimming.

“You almost got me killed,” I muttered, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

{Almost,} Aurentum said, his voice smug. {But you didn’t die. And that’s what counts, isn’t it? Victory through sheer… stubbornness.}

I let out a weak laugh, wincing as the movement sent fresh pain shooting through my ribs. “One fight at a time,” I whispered, more to myself than anyone else.

{Wise words. Though I do wonder how many more fights you’ll survive at this rate.}

I slumped against the domed parapet, my bow slipping from my fingers and clattering softly onto the tiles beside me. The rooftops were quiet again, save for the faint hum of the marketplace far below and the steady drip of water from the ruptured cistern. The moon hung bright and heavy above me, bathing the scene in pale light that made the carnage I’d left behind look almost serene.

I exhaled a long, shuddering breath, the tension in my chest loosening just enough to let relief creep in. For a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to feel it—the sheer, stupid joy of still being alive.

But the horizon stretched out before me, cold and unfeeling, and my thoughts turned darker. They’ll send more. They always do.

{That was… adequate,} Aurentum’s voice crackled into my mind, dripping with his usual brand of sarcasm. {Though next time, I suggest clearing it in half the time. Efficiency is everything}

I groaned, tilting my head back against the stone. “Just let me breathe for a second.”

{Breathe later. Loot now. Before they respawn.}

I blinked, still catching my breath. “Wait. I can loot them?”

{Yes, obviously. Did you seriously skip the first corpse your very first time through? Wow. Amateur hour.}

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I snapped, hauling myself to my feet with a wince.

{Didn’t think I had to. Common sense, no? Look alive, Rod. Start with that pile of ash where the Captain used to be. His inventory might still have something worth salvaging.}

I glanced at the scorched tiles where the Captain had exploded, and sure enough, faint glimmers caught my eye. I limped over, every step an ache, and crouched down to sift through the remains. As my fingers brushed against something cool, a faint glow illuminated my finds:

* Jeweled Dagger

A slender blade with an ornate hilt inlaid with emeralds. Despite its elegance, the edge gleamed razor-sharp.

Value: 25 Gold Pieces

Stats: POW +2, EVA +1

* Gilded Bracers

Reinforced leather bracers etched with intricate swirling patterns and trimmed in gold. Worn but sturdy.

Value: 15 Gold Pieces

Stats: DEF +1

* Gold Coins (50)

Coins minted with Aurentum’s smug likeness etched on one side, complete with his self-assured smirk. The reverse shows a raised thumb in approval, as though mocking the very concept of currency.

Value: 50 Gold Pieces

* Ruby Amulet

A delicate pendant with a blood-red ruby at its center. It hummed faintly, pulsing with residual magic.

Effect: Slightly increases resistance to magical attacks.

Value: 40 Gold Pieces

Stats: MAG DEF +2

* Medium Heal Potion

A small, intricately carved glass vial filled with a glowing green liquid. The potion exudes a faint, herbal scent.

Effect: Restores 50% of health when consumed.

Value: Consumable

* Ancient Map Fragment

A yellowed piece of parchment depicting part of an ancient city. Its edges were burned, but a few landmarks were visible.

Effect: Unlocks a potential quest.

Value: Unknown

* Ivory Ring

Carved from pure ivory, with a tiny sapphire embedded in the band.

Effect: Grants a slight boost to precision-based attacks.

Value: 20 Gold Pieces

Stats: EVA +2, POW +1