Seilan coughed blood.
The General stepped back.
"You killed all my subordinates. It's only fair I kill all of yours."
Seilan held her position. Even near death her pride wouldn't let her fall. She pressed her hand over the wound. Slowly her strength left her.
Liam grabbed her from behind.
"Why. Why did you do that. I didn't need your protection. I can heal you. Just stay still."
Seilan: "Don't let your guard down. He will come again."
The General attacked. "You think I will let you heal her?"
Liam deflected the attack.
"I will make you regret that you were ever born."
He attacked . he hought in his mind — I have to end this fast so i could get back to her.
He grabbed the General and threw him. He flew after him grabbed him again and drove him into the ground. The impact exploded outward.
The four party members held Seilan and watched.
Kross said quietly. "We couldn't help him. We were too weak.
He was holding back the whole time because we were here."
Davan: "What Are we watching.
Liam hit the General in the sky. On the ground. Again and again.
The General broke Liam's rhythm. He roared. "I will burn you. I gave you my word."
He moved at full speed grabbed Liam and drove him into the throne with everything he had. The gold of the throne scattered into the air.
Gold rained down around them.
Kross watched it fall. "Did we just see two gods clash?"
Liam crossed the General away. The General flew and came back at full speed.
Gold was still raining. The fight continued.
Both had many injuries now. Healing would cost too much energy. Neither could afford it.
They stood opposite each other.
Both knew. The next attack would be the last.
Zulixa: "Liam. Don't attack. Just dodge. After his next attack he will be weak for a moment while his energy cools down. You cannot win in a fight of pure strength. He is stronger than you. Trust me."
Liam: "Okay. I trust you."
The General attacked. He moved so fast everyone saw only a single line cutting toward Liam.
Liam dodged. But not fully. It was too fast to avoid completely. The attack sent him rolling across the ground.
Liam grabbed the ground with his feet. His heels cut grooves into the earth stopping him.
He looked up. The General's aura had dropped.
Now.
He Think , Seilan. Just wait a little longer. Don't die on me.
He put everything into his legs. When he pushed off it created an explosion beneath his feet.
"NOW ZULIXA!"
Zulixa: "Command — Dark Sword Creation."
A row of dark swords appeared and moved with Liam.
He grabbed one.
He hit the General full force and grabbed him by the throat with his left hand.
With his right hand he drove a dark sword into his chest.
He took another sword and drove it into his belly.
Another sword to the left side of his head.
Another to the left side of his belly.
Another to the right side of his belly.
He dragged him back at full speed and slammed him into the throne.
The throne the General had been sitting on when they first arrived.
He sat on it again now — broken and bleeding.
Liam released his throat and turned back to his friends.
Aelion coughed blood. "You dare look away from me. You dare turn your back."
Liam was already walking.
Liam chanted.
"Dark Absorb."
All five swords dissolved into black liquid and seeped inside the General.
He screamed.
Zulixa: "Move fast. We have to get away. He is going to explode and everything in range will disappear with him." She paused. "Why did you mix dark magic with his blood?"
Liam: "It was the only way."
Zulixa: "it was but ? any way. Creation — Space Seal Cancellation. Transport — Outside Space."
The group vanished.
They appeared outside.
Behind them the dungeon began to collapse.
A dark black fire spread across Aelion's body. Then he exploded. Everything within range dissolved slowly. Like a black hole pulling the world inward. Then silence.
The dungeon was gone.
Liam held Seilan.
She was seconds from death.
He tried to heal her. His energy was almost completely gone.
Zulixa: "Liam. I don't think you can use that much energy right now."
Liam: "Please. Find a way. Can I use Dark Healing for her?"
Zulixa: "I'm sorry. Dark Healing only works on yourself. It was designed that way."
Liam: "But I have the green light too. Please. Work."
He used everything he had left. The green light flickered. Almost nothing came out.
Zulixa was quiet for a moment.
Zulixa: "Liam. Let her go. Even at full power I don't think you could heal her. Aelion used a special magic when he struck her. When it enters the organs it infects the soul too. Her soul will vanish before her body dies. The fact that she is still alive right now shows how strong her body and soul are together. Her body is fighting for her. But I think it's time. I'm sorry."
Silence.
Seilan raised her hand to Liam's face.
"Let it go Liam. It was not your fault." She smiled weakly. "I'm happy. I didn't lose anyone in my party. I said before I would never let anyone in my party die. I didn't say anything about myself. My word is still true."
She looked at him.
"And Liam. You will be a wonderful father too. Just like you told me." A small laugh escaped her. "Maybe on the other side we can have a bunch of kids together."
A single tear ran down her cheek.
And slowly she faded away.
"No. No. No. Don't go. Please."
Liam held her in his arms. He looked up at the sky.
"I can't do this. Everyone who gets close to me has to suffer. Why. WHY."
He screamed at the sky.
"WHYYYYYYYY."
One by one the party dropped to their knees and bowed their heads.
Davan pressed his face to the ground. Tears fell silently.
"Goodbye. You will be remembered for eternity."
One by one they said it.
"Goodbye. Maybe you find happiness on the other side."
Liam closed Seilan's eyes.
"Goodbye."