No Chain Can Hold the Dark

Talon and Elara stood face to face.
The air was heavy. Neither of them planned to back down.

"From the first day you walked into the base, I could tell you had nothing to offer," Talon said as he swung a massive mace down from his shoulder. "Surrender, and come with us. That way, the boy won’t be scared."

Elara’s voice was sharp and angry.
"Don’t even say it! I’ll tear all of you apart if I have to!"

Talon chuckled calmly.
"Fine by me."
He signaled to the undead not to attack—he wanted to finish this himself.
"I’ll make it quick!"

Elara had no doubt, but she was anxious inside.
I hope he doesn’t know much about me. But even if he does, it doesn’t matter. I promised Ben. I swore I’d help him—and this is my first step.

She activated her blue and golden eyes. Her sword began to glow with golden light, and the blue eye allowed her to read Talon’s every move.
But Talon knew exactly how to counter it.

"Nice trick—using the blue eye to read movements. Could be your winning card... just not against me."
With a snap of his fingers, the air around them filled with mist. The fog blurred her vision, and the blue eye couldn’t focus properly.

Talon launched the first blow, a punch from above. Elara blocked it with her sword, barely.

"Damn it! I can’t see him clearly without the blue eye. Even keeping my eyes open hurts!"

As she held off his punch, Talon swung his mace from the side, smashing into her ribs and throwing her across the field, straight toward the wall of undead.

Elara hit the ground, coughing blood.
Her side was bleeding heavily, but she wasn’t done yet.
She grabbed her sword and muttered through the pain:
"It hurts... I can’t aim clearly. If I try to use the golden spear now, it’ll just drain all my energy..."

Suddenly, she shouted,
"Lux, you idiot! Get out here and help already!"

A voice responded in her head.
"You foolish girl. I’m just a hallucination in your mind." Lux cleared his throat.
"But if you really want help, then hear this—you're on the right path. Just do what you believe in. Your resolve will guide you."

Elara groaned,
"What kind of useless advice was that?"
Lux didn’t reply.

Talon, still watching her, smirked.
"This was just a warning. You sure you don’t want to give up yet?"

Elara tightened her grip on the sword and charged forward.
"It’s only just begun!"

As she ran through the mist, Talon disappeared into it.
"You made your choice. Now suffer in your regret!"

Blow after blow landed on her from within the fog—punches, mace strikes—tearing through her.
She couldn’t see, couldn’t react. Blood spilled freely from her wounds.

Talon’s final strike hit the back of her head.
Elara crashed to the ground, barely conscious.
Talon walked up and looked down at her, just like the first time they’d fought.

"You could’ve joined us without all this pain... but you chose the hard way."

Elara coughed up blood but smiled.
"You arrogant meathead... your guard’s down."

With all the strength she had left, she raised her hand. A golden spear burst from her palm.
She couldn’t aim for the heart, but it struck his shoulder, slicing through and tearing off his right arm.

Talon staggered back, dropping to one knee in shock.

Elara tried to stand again, but before she could, two of the guards she had sent back to the base suddenly appeared.
They struck her from behind and wrapped enchanted chains around her arms and legs.

Elara hit the ground again. She struggled, trying to use her powers, but nothing worked.
Talon stood over her, grinning despite the pain.
"You really thought it would be that easy to beat me?"

Elara finally saw the faces of the two traitors. Her eyes filled with rage.
"You bastards! What did you do to Nina and Roni?!"

One of them replied coldly,
"Don’t worry. They’re safe. They went back with the third guard."

Talon continued,
"Our main target was the boy. We got him." He chuckled.
"And we even got a bonus prize."
He laughed louder.
"Prepare to head back to the sanctuary. The girl will be a nice gift for our master!"

Elara lay on the ground, breathing hard. Her heart pounded. Tears ran down her cheeks. Rage boiled inside her.

The undead approached to grab her. But the moment they touched her—
—they turned to ash.

Talon turned back in shock.
"What are you fools doing?! Just pick her up and go!"

Elara's voice was weak, shaky:
"You betrayed Ben... your comrades... you put those children through hell... all for what...?"

Talon stepped forward to punch her, but his hand burned the moment it got close.
"Argh—what the hell is—"

A wave of darkness blanketed the sky.
Everything around them was swallowed in black. The wind howled like a beast.

Talon panicked.
"What’s going on? Grab her! Hurry!"

Then he looked at Elara.
And froze.

"No... It can’t be... That face… that eye… It’s too familiar!"

He screamed,
"Forget the girl—just run!"

He grabbed Flint and began to flee. But no one could move.
A dark wall surrounded the battlefield.

Then, Elara’s voice—now deeper and filled with power—echoed across the field:
"No one leaves this place alive!"

They tried to escape, but it was useless.
Then came her scream—louder than thunder.

A massive explosion of darkness erupted from her.
The ground quaked violently. The shock reached all the way to the base—Ben felt it. Even distant tribes sensed the tremor.

When the dust settled, Talon stood up, trembling.
There were no undead left. No chains. No enemies.
Only Elara... standing.

He looked at her face—and pure terror filled him.
Without saying another word, he turned and ran.

Elara walked over to Flint, who lay unconscious, and checked him. He was okay.