Sebastian's guttural cries echoed through the forest, a sound so raw and unearthly it made Nox's blood run cold. Her breath hitched, and her heart pounded violently in her chest. "No… no, Sebastian!" she whispered, her voice trembling.
On Crimson's shoulder, she began to thrash, adrenaline overtaking reason. "Put me down!" she screamed, her fists pounding against his back.
"Nox, stop!" Crimson shouted, his voice laced with desperation as he struggled to hold her. "We have to keep moving!"
But it was too late. With a final, powerful shove, Nox freed herself, tumbling out of Crimson's grasp and landing on the forest floor. Before Crimson or Lilith could stop her, she was on her feet, sprinting back toward the chaos, her steps frantic and uneven.
"Nox, no! Come back!" Crimson yelled after her, his voice hoarse.
Lilith grabbed his arm, her face pale with fear. "We can't let her go—come on!"
The two took off after her, their feet pounding against the earth, but Nox was too far ahead.
Sebastian's body trembled, his once-powerful draconic form shrinking as blood streamed from his wounds. The blood-forged blade in his eye glowed faintly, its edges pulsing with a cruel crimson light. Smoke billowed from his nostrils as he breathed ragged, broken gasps.
Even blinded, even battered, the fire in him refused to die. He stomped a massive claw into the ground, the earth beneath him cracking with the force. A deep, red glow flickered in his throat, growing brighter with each shaky breath.
"Looks like he's still got fight in him," Grey muttered, rising unsteadily to his feet. His voice carried a hint of both awe and annoyance as he wiped the blood from his bruised face.
"He won't for long," Gale spat. His scorched scalp still smoked, and his red hair all but burned away. His face was a grotesque mix of charred skin and fury. "This ends now."
Suddenly, Sebastian's mouth snapped open wide, and an inferno of brilliant blue flames erupted from his throat. The fire roared to life, consuming the air with searing heat as it rushed toward Grey and Gale.
"Move!" Grey shouted, diving to the side.
Gale leapt in the opposite direction, the flames grazing the edges of his armour as they scorched the ground where they'd stood. The trees ignited instantly, their branches crackling as the azure flames spread like a tidal wave.
Sebastian didn't stop. His fury poured out in an unrelenting torrent, the fire swirling around him like a storm of wrath. The forest turned into an inferno, the blue flames consuming everything in their path.
"Damn it!" Grey cursed, hitting the ground and shielding his face as the heat singed his skin. He turned his head toward Gale, his voice desperate. "He's losing control—we must stop him before he burns everything to ash!"
Gale grunted, rolling back onto his knees as he glared at the blazing beast. "Oh, I'll stop him," he muttered darkly, his fingers curling into fists. His blood-forged weapon gleamed, pulsing as if alive.
With a flick of Gale's wrist, the crimson blade still buried in Sebastian's eye began to shimmer. The blade's solid form shifted, melting back into liquid. The blood seeped deeper into Sebastian's eye socket like a venomous poison.
Sebastian froze mid-roar, his massive body suddenly stiffening. The blue flames pouring from his mouth began to weaken, the intensity faltering as the fire dimmed.
Gale clenched his fist tighter, his expression cold and unrelenting. "I'm sorry, Sebastian," he said quietly, though his tone carried no remorse. "But you brought this upon yourself."
Sebastian's body convulsed violently as crimson spikes erupted from his dragon head. Each spike burst forth like jagged spears, piercing his scales and flesh. A strangled roar escaped his throat—a sound of agony that echoed across the burning forest.
The blue flames sputtered and died, leaving only embers drifting through the air like falling stars. The once-proud dragon form began to shrink, his scales retracting as his body slowly reverted to its human form. But the spikes remained—cruel, crimson shards embedded deep within him, each one glistening with fresh blood.
Sebastian's body slumped forward, his knees hitting the scorched ground with a sickening thud. Blood dripped steadily from his wounds, pooling beneath him as he knelt motionless amidst the ashes. The forest smouldered around him, a silent witness to his fall.
Panting and desperate, Nox burst through the burning trees, her eyes darting wildly as she searched for him. The stench of smoke filled her lungs, but she didn't care.
And then she saw him.
Sebastian.
He was still, kneeling in the centre of the clearing. The crimson spikes jutted grotesquely from his back, his body limp and lifeless. The once-mighty dragon who had torn through enemies and defied the odds now sat frozen in defeat. The air was thick with ash and smoke, swirling around him like a cruel shroud.
"No…" Nox whispered, her voice breaking. Her knees buckled, and she staggered forward, her hands trembling at her sides.
In the distance, Gale and Grey stood, breathing heavily as they watched her approach. Gale's expression twisted into a cruel grin, satisfaction gleaming in his burned, broken face.
Nox's heart shattered as she dropped to her knees mere feet away from Sebastian. Her voice trembled, rising into a cry of pure anguish.
"Sebastian!"
Tears streamed down her face as she crawled closer, her hands reaching out to touch him—praying, hoping that he would move, that he would breathe, that he would look at her with those fierce, stubborn eyes.
But he didn't.
Sebastian's body remained still.
Crimson and Lilith finally caught up, their faces contorting in horror as they took in the scene before them. Crimson's voice faltered as he whispered, "No… not Sebastian…"
"I won't leave him," she whispered, her voice hollow. "I won't."
The forest burned quietly around them, the embers flickering like dying stars. The air was still, save for the faint crackling of flames and the sound of Nox's quiet sobs.
Gale stood a short distance away, wiping blood from his mouth as he straightened. "You caused this," he muttered, though his voice carried little satisfaction now.
Grey's gaze lingered on the fallen warrior, his smirk replaced by a faint frown. "He didn't go down easily," he admitted softly. "We'll give him that."
The crackle of smouldering flames filled the silence that followed, their glow casting twisted shadows on the ashen ground. Nox's choked sobs echoed softly, blending with the restless sigh of the wind as it carried the scent of smoke and loss through the air.
Grey finally tore his eyes away, his posture shifting as he turned to face the others. "We don't want to hurt you anymore," he said, his voice level but edged with quiet authority. "Send us to Miles, and we'll take it from there."
Crimson's head snapped up, his teeth gritted in raw defiance. "No way we're doing that," he spat, his voice ringing with resolve. Without hesitation, he bent down and grabbed Nox by the arm. She flinched, her body still trembling with grief, but Crimson's grip was firm.
"Let me go!" Nox screamed, her voice raw as she thrashed against him. Tears streaked her face as her fists pounded furiously against his back. "Crimson, don't! We can't leave him again!"
Crimson didn't falter. Without a word, he lifted her onto his shoulder, his expression hardened with determination. "I'm sorry, Nox," he muttered, his voice hoarse as he began to move. "But we're not staying here."
Nox kicked and pounded against him with everything she had, her cries filled with anguish. "No! Put me down! We can't leave him like this!"
"Stop it!" Crimson barked, his voice cracking slightly under the weight of the moment. "We'll come back for him and give him a proper burial—I promise. But right now, we need to get out of here."
Lilith followed closely, her face pale and eyes wide with grief as she glanced back at Sebastian's unmoving form. She clutched her bow tightly, her hands trembling as she whispered, "We have to go… before they make a move."
Gale tensed as they started to retreat, He took a step forward, his face twisted with fury. "You're not getting away!" he growled, preparing to dash after them.
"Stop!" Grey's voice snapped through the air like a whip, his arm shooting out to block Gale's path. Gale froze, his red eyes blazing as he turned to Grey, incredulous. "What are you doing? They're escaping!"
Grey exhaled slowly, shaking his head. "You fool. We need to report back to my superiors first. If we act recklessly now, we'll lose everything."
"But—!" Gale began, his voice a furious snarl.
"Think for a second!" Grey interrupted sharply, his demeanour replaced by a rare flash of frustration. "Look at us. You're barely standing, and I'm running on fumes. We're too drained to survive another fight, let alone win it. Besides…" He cast a final glance at Sebastian's lifeless form, his tone darkening. "They've already lost enough today. We'll deal with them when the time is right. And besides our fight is with Miles mainly. "
Gale's fists clenched, his jaw tightening as he glared daggers at the retreating figures of Crimson, Lilith, and Nox. "But they're getting away!"
"I don't care," Grey replied coldly, stepping closer to Gale. "You think I can't see that they're escaping? But this isn't about them even—it's about killing Miles. With my superiors' support, we'll find Miles and wipe him out in a flash. No running. No struggling."
Gale's breathing slowed, though the fire in his eyes remained. He turned away bitterly. "Fine," he muttered, though the venom in his tone lingered. "We'll do it your way. For now."
Grey's lips curled into a small, knowing smirk. "Wise choice."