Chapter 17: Purge.

A light rain fell on the castle's central courtyard when the queen summoned the remaining scouts. The sound of wet boots echoed off the stone walls, mingled with the clinking of armor.
She maintained a cold, distant gaze, as if carrying a weight she didn't want to reveal.

Zhofia: — Scouts... there are new reports of monsters appearing near the villages. The city cannot afford to lose more lives.

Divide yourselves into small groups and eliminate any threat you find.

A murmur spread among the soldiers; direct orders from the queen rarely came without the advice of the alchemists, and this one seemed too hasty.

Scout: — Your Highness, with all due respect... shouldn't we wait for the council? The borders are dangerous, and our units are reduced...

The queen interrupted him, her voice firm and sharp:

Zhofia: — Carry out your orders before more people die. That's what you swore to do, isn't it?

Silence fell like a heavy cloak. No man dared to question again.

Soon, the scouts began to split up:

Isz and Hyogo were given the mission to investigate an abandoned building north of the city, a place shrouded in rumors.

They said a child had been kidnapped by a creature hiding among the rubble.

Harpya and Hindal headed to the farmers' fields, where animals were being found dead during the night.

The others were sent to the borders to guard the roads and the old lookout posts.

As the groups departed, the rain intensified.

Isz walked in silence, the sound of thunder echoing in the distance like omens.

Even without saying anything, Hyogo seemed uneasy and began to have small premonitions, seeing someone within the rubble.

Isz: -Are you alright, Hyogo? You seem scared. Don't worry, after this mission we'll resume our escape. If all goes well, we'll be out of here in two days.

Hyogo: -Yes, I'm fine, but I had some visions about what awaits us.

Confused but confident, Isz continues on his way and hears a child crying.

Arriving at the location, there was no child; the Voice of Despair manipulated a corpse to make it cry while the Voice of Imposing Power laughed loudly.

Voice of Imposing Power: -Hahaha, so the lady brought the banquet as she said.

He stands up and the Voice of Despair retreats. Isz draws his spear and throws thunderbolts at the Voice of Imposing Power, who deflects them with his hand and advances. Hyogo draws his bow and provides support by launching small fireballs. Isz engages the enemy in combat and locks his sword.

Voice of Imposing Power: -Well, I wasn't expecting so much resistance from you, but since we meet again, why not enjoy the moment with your last fight?

Isz pulls out a smoke bomb to escape, Hyogo has another premonition showing the Voice trying to summon an explosion, Hyogo hears someone telling him to shoot a fire arrow in the back and Isz to use purple lightning.

Isz is confused about how he would do this, since he had never used this power before.

Isz: -How do I do this?

Hyogo: -Trust your mark, Isz.

Isz takes a blow to the chest and begins to vomit blood.

Isz: (tired) -Damn it, what a strong blow... They ambushed us...

Isz begins to fade, but regains consciousness and assumes a fighting stance.

Hyogo: -Isz, stand up, we can't lose this fight, the butcher wouldn't surrender.

Voice of Imposing Power: -So you were friends with that man? Right, I'll send you to the same place I sent him.

Isz and Hyogo discover that the voice was responsible for the butcher's death.

Isz becomes furious and begins to deliver several blows, one of which hits the voice in the chest, causing it to bleed.

Voice of Imposing Power: -Enough playing around, you've gone too far, brats.

He sees the mark on Isz's chest and makes a surprised expression, saying: -Ah, so you're the one behind this... I'll finish off your wielder and complete your plan.

The voice throws the sword like a spear. Hyogo, who had already foreseen what was going to happen, throws himself in front of his friend, who says (panting): -Isz, don't worry about me. After you defeat him, run without looking back... The city has already been condemned-

He spits blood and speaks his last words: "I already knew I was going to die... There was no way to save me, don't feel guilty... Hehehe, it seems I won't be able to marry the flower seller..."

Isz, crying with his friend in his arms, becomes very angry and explodes in energy, his body begins to emanate lightning, his eyes turn blue, and his nails grow along with his teeth.

Isz: "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU, YOU BASTARD!"

His voice sounds frustrated, seeing that he couldn't prevent this from happening.