I held the axe tightly, standing between Aurelia and Rela. In front of us stood Rowan and the woman. Their five warriors surrounded the golden hands that held Dominio in a tight grip.
"Now it's time to face your punishment," Rowan declared. "And I will be your executioner."
"Zain… can you fight?" Aurelia asked, her voice laced with concern.
"At this point, I don't even care. As long as Dominio is alright."
"LET'S DO THIS, THEN!" Rela roared. "I'll take these five bastards!"
She dashed past the golden hands and launched herself at the rookies.
Aurelia's hands glowed a faint light blue. "I'll handle the curly-haired one."
Purple Lumin surged through my body. Faint purple flames flickered across my skin, forming into a bear's pelt over my shoulders. Bear paw claws materialized over my arms. A bear's skull formed over my head.
My vision shifted. The world became white—Rowan and his allies painted in red. Dominio, Aurelia, and Rela in green.
Shaman of War. Activated.
I dashed toward Rowan and swung my axe. He dodged—fast, too fast—and the blade cut only air.
I jumped back. My Lumin engulfed the two-headed axe in purple fire.
"You look like a true barbarian." Rowan grew more arms until six limbs extended from his body. "Impressive."
He dashed at me. I raised my axe just in time to block.
He kept coming—a barrage of punches, relentless and fast. My berserker state sharpened my reflexes. I dodged each strike, then kicked his stomach, forcing him back a step.
I lunged forward and raised my axe. "Vrikni Barrage."
A storm of slashes exploded toward him. He dodged again, his arms growing larger, more muscular.
He jumped back and extended his fists. Six long arms shot toward me at incredible speed.
"Vrikni Barrage!"
I parried the punches, disintegrating the golden fists on contact. But something felt wrong. He's holding back, isn't he?
Rowan walked toward me, calm and unhurried. Then he ran. His Lumin swelled, brighter and hotter with every step.
My own Lumin expanded through my body, shaping and manifesting behind me into a massive boar's head. I pointed the axe at him.
"SCREAMING BOAR!"
I launched myself forward. Finally—impact. The axe blade bit deep into his shoulder.
"Vrikni—"
Pain.
Something pierced me. Deep. Inside my body.
I looked down.
Rowan's golden hand was buried in my right abdomen.
Was that his plan? Let me get close so he could stab me?
Smart bastard.
I gritted my teeth. Blood trickled from my lip.
"VRIKNI BARRAGE!"
I tried to swing. My blade stopped.
His golden hand had caught the sharp edge.
"I win, Zain." Rowan's voice was cold. Certain. "It has been decided. Solorus has chosen your fate."
"Death."
No way.
After all this? After everything? The Black Forest. The ritual. The trial. The battle royale.
I'm going to die because I killed a priest?
Life's a bitch, isn't it.
---
"Live."
That word.
Kora's word. The one she gave me before I left for the exam. The one that had pushed me through the first trial. It had been a year since I met her. She was the first person I'd ever trusted with my life.
I grabbed Rowan's shoulder.
"No."
I looked him straight in the eyes. His widened in shock. His teeth clenched.
After everything.
A car hit me while I was saving a girl.
I fought cannibals alone.
I survived a forest I was never supposed to survive.
I made a strong ally along the way.
I trained for a year under the best of the best.
And I will NEVER lose this life I've been given—not to a religious fanatic.
"I will not die to you. I will not lose to you or anyone else."
My grip tightened on his shoulder.
"The only time I'll lose…"
I pulled my head back.
"…is when I die!"
I slammed my forehead into his face.
I pulled back and did it again.
And again.
And again.
His golden arms dissolved. His grip released me.
I stumbled back, breathing hard. Rowan's nose was bleeding. He looked dazed.
This is my chance.
I grabbed my axe and turned toward the golden hands holding Dominio's unconscious body.
I pointed the blade at them. The boar manifested again—bigger than before. Darker purple. Flames raging. Its eyes locked on the same direction as mine.
"SCREAMING BOAR!"
I launched myself at the hands. The boar crashed through them, shattering them like glass into thousands of scattered Lumin particles. I caught Dominio around the waist and hoisted him over my shoulder.
Rowan turned to face me. His arms had shrunk to four.
"So that was your plan? Saving the rogue?" He smiled—not cruel, almost admiring. "Dominio wasn't lying about you. You really would jump into a river to hunt an alligator."
His smile widened.
"Zain the Berserker."
My breathing was uneven. I scanned the room.
Aurelia was launching ice spikes from the floor, immobilizing the olive-skinned woman.
Rela stood over one of the defeated rookies, her foot on his head. She spat blood at a lizardman nearby. Her body was bruised, a fresh gash on her side leaking black blood.
"This is it, Rowan." My voice was steady despite the pain. "You quit and leave. Or you keep fighting. What's it going to be?"
Rela walked to my side, axe over her shoulder, grinning through the blood. "You'd be a good challenge, Zendorium boy."
Aurelia stood behind Rowan. The olive-skinned woman was frozen in thick ice shackles, spikes piercing her palms. Larger spikes hovered near her neck—she couldn't even turn her head.
Rowan looked around. At his five unconscious rookies. At his immobilized right hand.
"Fine." He raised his chin. "You win. I call for a ceasefire. We won't fight."
"How long?" Aurelia's voice was sharp.
"One day. Enough time for both sides to rest." He smiled again. "I'm still going to hunt you down and kill you, of course. But at least you'll have time to prepare."
A golden hand rose from the floor, open for a handshake.
"Is that a deal, Berserker?"
I looked at the hand. Then at Rowan. He held my gaze, still smiling.
I glanced at Aurelia. Her eyes were narrowed, a bead of sweat on her forehead. Rela stood ready, tense, waiting for my signal.
I exhaled.
I took his hand.
"Deal."