"My goodness…"
"The Admiral really was working for… and so were we…?"
"What did we even accomplish?"
The crowd was still reeling from Zach's confession, the weight of his betrayal settling heavily on everyone present. As the murmurs and cries of disbelief rippled through the Resistance fighters, Seraph stood silently to the side, her mind racing beneath her outwardly composed demeanor.
She watched Rey, his presence commanding as he addressed the crowd, his righteous fury evident.
'He's uncovered far more than I anticipated,' she thought, her lips tightening. 'I underestimated him.'
Her eyes flicked to Zach, still kneeling and broken, then to Rey, who stood like an unshakable pillar in the storm of emotions surrounding them.
'Good thing I manipulated Zach's memories before this mission began,' Seraph mused. She felt a small swell of satisfaction. Even if Rey uses his magic to dig deeper, he'll find nothing. Ancient MajiK leaves no trace for him to unravel.'
Yet, as much as she reassured herself of her advantage, Seraph couldn't deny a flicker of unease.
'He's more cunning than I gave him credit for. I'll need to be cautious. He may already suspect me, and until I'm ready to act, I can't afford any missteps.'
Her thoughts were interrupted by Rey's voice, ringing out with unwavering resolve.
"The Resistance is disbanded," he declared, his tone final.
Gasps of surprise echoed through the courtyard.
Rey held up a hand to silence the growing murmur.
"There's no need for all of you to fight or struggle any longer. From this point on, I will take this burden myself." His gaze swept across the gathered fighters, fierce and determined. "At this very moment, I will purge the world of the Dragon Emperor and his cohorts by going straight to the heart of their power—his Central Stronghold."
The crowd erupted into chaos once more, their shock written on all their faces. Even Seraph, who rarely showed her emotions, widened her eyes slightly.
'He's going there already? Alone?' she thought, alarmed. 'How reckless can he be?'
She stepped forward, her voice calm but firm.
"Rey, this is a rash decision. The Central Stronghold is the heart of the Dragon Emperor's power. You'll be walking into a trap."
Rey turned to face her, his eyes blazing with conviction. "That's why I need you with me, Seraph. I can't do this without you."
Her heart skipped a beat—not from the trust in his words, but from the weight of all the eyes now fixed on her.
The crowd held their breath, awaiting her response.
'I can't refuse, huh?' She realized this was most likely his plan from the start, forcing her expression into one of calm acceptance.
"If that is your decision, then I'll stand by you," she said, her voice steady.
Rey nodded, his gaze softening slightly. "Good. Together, we'll end this tyranny once and for all."
Turning to the crowd, Rey raised his voice.
"Zach will be left to you. Deal with him as you see fit. As for me and Seraph, our mission begins now."
His gaze flicked to Angy, who stood among the fighters, her eyes wide with worry. Rey's expression softened as he smiled at her.
"It'll all be fine," he said.
Before anyone could respond, Rey placed a hand on Seraph's shoulder. A portal materialized around them, and with a flash, the two vanished.
********
"Huu…"
The grand hall of the Dragon Emperor's citadel was deathly silent, save for the faint hum of magic coursing through its walls.
The Dragon Emperor sat motionless on his throne, a towering figure of dark majesty.
His ebony skin shimmered with golden black scales, catching the faint torchlight. Nine curved horns crowned his head, their tips gleaming ominously. His six enormous wings were folded behind him, and his muscular form exuded an aura of untouchable power. His tail coiled loosely around the base of the throne as if in slumber.
His eyes, shut tightly, betrayed no awareness of the world around him.
The hall trembled slightly, but it wasn't enough to stir him. It was only when a violent quake shattered the stillness that his golden eyes snapped open.
He straightened slowly, the movement itself carrying the weight of his authority.
His gaze swept across the vast hall as his deep, resonant voice rumbled in his mind.
'Has it begun already?'
Before he could fully consider the thought, an explosive surge of power shattered the air, and a figure hurtled toward him.
The Dragon Emperor raised a hand lazily, a shimmering barrier materializing around him just as Rey's blade came crashing down. The impact was deafening, sending shockwaves through the hall.
The force of the clash launched both combatants away from each other.
Rey landed with a skid, planting his feet firmly to regain his balance. His eyes burned with determination, and his presence was sharp and unrelenting.
The Dragon Emperor rose from his now-ruined throne, his immense form casting a shadow over the chamber. His gaze shifted to Seraph, who appeared beside Rey in a swirl of energy.
A flicker of confusion crossed his otherwise impassive face.
"Rey," the Dragon Emperor's voice reverberated, carrying a mixture of curiosity and disdain.
"You're still alive. Impressive."
His eyes narrowed as he regarded Seraph.
'What's she doing here so soon? And without offering any warning beforehand? This wasn't the agreement…'
Seraph offered no response, but her composure wavered slightly under the Emperor's piercing gaze. The Dragon Emperor continued speaking, his tone edged with disbelief.
"What a curious sight this is. I thought you were dea—"
Before another word could be spoken, Rey turned sharply to Seraph.
For a brief moment, her expression flickered with suspicion, then shock, as Rey's blade glinted in the dim light.
~SWISH!~
With a single, fluid motion, he slashed through her neck.
Bright golden blood sprayed into the air as her head fell from her shoulders, her body crumpling lifelessly to the ground.
The silence that followed was deafening.
The Dragon Emperor's eyes widened, genuine surprise breaking through his stoic demeanor. Seraph's headless form lay at Rey's feet, and for the first time in an eternity, the Dragon Emperor was at a loss for words.
Seraph's lips moved slightly in disbelief as her consciousness faded. Her final thought echoed silently.
'How...did he know?'
Rey turned his gaze toward the Dragon Emperor, his face splitting into a broad, almost feral smile.
"It's your turn next!"
*
*
*
[A/N]
A surprising turn of events… and now we are slowly reaching the halfpoint of this Arc.
Thanks for reading.