Later that night…
Ten figures moved through the forest toward Eldrick's house, careful and silent. The moonlight barely revealed their shapes.
Suddenly… Snap!
One of them stepped into a bear trap.
He nearly screamed, clamping his hand over his mouth as blood soaked the ground.
"A bear trap?" one whispered sharply. "Who put this here?"
Before anyone could react… Thwip!
A stone struck one man in the head, knocking him back.
"Who's there?" someone shouted.
Zorayel tried to move to a better position, but a twig snapped beneath his foot.
"There! He's over there!"
"Three of you, chase him!" one ordered. "The rest with me!"
Zorayel ran.
But they were fast.
One of them caught him, yanking him up and slamming him to the ground. In the struggle, Zorayel was dragged closer to Eldrick's house.
"You'll pay for that," one growled, punching him in the face.
Another punch followed.
Zorayel collapsed, barely conscious.
One of them kicked him aside. "Let's regroup with the others."
Zorayel forced himself to speak.
"I… won't let you hurt him."
The men laughed.
"And what will you do?" one mocked. "Beg?"
Zorayel pushed himself up, trembling. Every breath hurt. His vision blurred, but he stood.
He screamed, gathering everything he had, trying to cast a spell.
"Stop him!" someone shouted.
A man lunged toward him…
Thwip!
A stone bullet slammed into his head.
"It's just a basic spell!" another yelled. "Grab him!"
Suddenly, a shower of stone bullets rained down.
"Damn it!" one cursed, dodging wildly.
But then a blow struck Zorayel from behind.
His vision went dark.
The next morning…
"…Ugh…" Zorayel slowly opened his eyes. Pain throbbed through every part of his body.
"You're awake."
He turned his head weakly.
He saw Eldrick.
Zorayel pushed himself up slightly and realized he was lying on a mattress inside Eldrick's house.
Seeing Eldrick unharmed, he felt something he hadn't felt in a long time. -Relief.
"Why am I here?" Zorayel asked quietly.
"That's what I want to know," Eldrick said, setting down a bowl of soup. "What were you thinking, fighting those men alone?"
"They were coming to kill you," Zorayel said, looking away.
"You should've told me," Eldrick replied.
"I wanted to repay your kindness," Zorayel whispered.
"You don't owe me anything," Eldrick said, handing him the soup.
Zorayel accepted it with trembling hands.
"You're the only one who was ever kind to me," he said softly.
Eldrick sighed. He understood now, no matter what he said, the boy wouldn't believe he owed nothing.
"…Then listen carefully," Eldrick said.
Zorayel looked up.
"If you truly want to repay me," Eldrick continued, "then you'll do what I ask."
Zorayel nodded immediately.
"I'll take you in as my disciple," Eldrick said firmly. "I'll teach you magic. I'll teach you how to fight."
"You'll live here with me."
Eldrick placed a hand on Zorayel's shoulder.
"That's how you repay me."
Present time…
"Demon Art: Hell's Chain."
A small, glowing circle appeared beneath Zorayel's feet. From it, black chains burst forth, snapping through the air, trying to bind him.
Zorayel dodged desperately, sometimes deflecting the chains with his staff, sometimes narrowly slipping past them.
"Demon Art: Devil's Claw."
For the first time in the fight, Dareth moved.
In an instant, he appeared before Zorayel, reaching for his neck. There was nothing physically different about Dareth's hand, but the aura surrounding it was terrifying, crushing, overwhelming.
While Zorayel was still evading the chains, Dareth caught him by the throat and lifted him into the air.
Zorayel grabbed Dareth's wrist, struggling with all his strength. But it was useless.
With a flick of his arm, Dareth threw him away.
Zorayel slammed into the ground, rolling several times before managing to steady himself and stand.
That was when Dareth's fist crashed into Zorayel's face.
Again and again.
Each punch carried not only brute force, but demonic power. Zorayel's vision blurred as he barely managed to stay upright.
Just as another punch was about to land, Zorayel kicked Dareth's arm, redirecting the blow and creating a brief opening.
"Divine Art: Divine Archers." White, angel-like figures appeared around Zorayel, bows in hand. He leapt backward as they fired a volley of radiant arrows toward Dareth.
"Demon Art: Hell's Wind." A violent gust erupted from Dareth, blowing in every direction. The arrows shattered and dispersed before they could reach him.
"Divine Art: Arrow." Zorayel's staff transformed into a bow. He drew back the string and fired.
The arrow grew larger midair, glowing brilliantly as it surged toward Dareth.
Dareth caught it with his bare hand.
"Tsk…" Zorayel clenched his teeth. "He's far stronger than me."
"Divine Art: Sword." The bow shifted into the familiar sword Zorayel had wielded countless times.
He charged.
Dareth leapt backward into the air.
"Demon Art: Hellish Hands." The ground cracked open. A massive demonic hand erupted from below, grabbing Zorayel and hurling him away.
Zorayel rolled across the ground, coughing, before forcing himself back to his feet.
"Demon Art: Hell's Imprisonment."
A dark circle formed around him. Two pillars rose from the ground, chains shooting out from them, binding Zorayel's arms and legs tightly.
He struggled hard but couldn't break free.
Dareth walked toward him slowly.
"Did you really think a weakling like you could defeat me?"
Dareth Punched him Zorayel in the face.
"Did Father even teach you anything?"
He punched again.
"He was too busy playing hero for that pathetic town."
And again.
"What could that selfish old man teach you anyway?"
And again.
Each blow carried rage, resentment, and demonic power.
As Dareth kept striking him, Zorayel's mind drifted…
Ten years after Eldrick took Zorayel in…
Eldrick was cleaning Davi's room.
His movements were slow, heavy. His eyes lingered on Davi's belongings, memories flooding back with every object.
A knock sounded.
"Master… are you there?" Zorayel asked.
"Come in." Eldrick said
Zorayel entered and immediately noticed what Eldrick was doing.
"Let me help you," Zorayel said.
"It's alright," Eldrick replied softly. "I've got this."
Zorayel remained standing.
"You can sit on the bed," Eldrick said.
"I'm ok," Zorayel insisted.
Eldrick paused.
"You know," he said quietly, "after you learned this was my son's room… you never once touched anything here."
"It's wrong to touch something without the owner's permission," Zorayel replied.
Eldrick smiled sadly. "If he were here, you two would've been brothers."
"What will you do if he returns, Master?" Zorayel asked.
"I'll hold him tightly," Eldrick said, his voice trembling. "I'll apologize… for everything. For my neglect. For failing him."
"I hope he'll forgive his father."
"I'll find him," Zorayel said firmly. "I'll bring him back home."
Eldrick looked at him in silence.
Zorayel handed him an envelope.
"What's this?"
Eldrick opened it.
A Royal Guard acceptance letter.
"Thank you, Master… for everything," Zorayel said, kneeling in respect.
Eldrick's sorrow faded, even if just for a moment.
"Wait here."
He returned carrying a staff. "Take this."
"What is it?" Zorayel asked.
"I made it for Davi," Eldrick said. "But you should have it."
"I can't," Zorayel said quickly. "It belongs to him."
"Then keep it for now," Eldrick replied. "When he returns, you'll give it back."
"I'll keep it safe," Zorayel promised.
Eldrick's expression hardened.
"If the day ever comes when you must stop him… at any cost…"
"Do not hesitate."
"Consider this… my punishment to him." Eldrick said
Present Time…
"You think Master didn't love you at all? Didn't care about you?" Zorayel's voice was low, almost breaking.
Dareth's fist froze mid-air. "What did you say?"
"Master waited for you," Zorayel said, pain trembling in every word. "He waited… every single day."
Dareth said nothing.
"He waited for your forgiveness."
"Do you think I care about that anymore?" Dareth finally spoke. "That little boy died long ago."
He stepped back, eyes cold.
"The day I left that house… the day I sacrificed my heart…Davi died that day."
"There's still that little boy inside you," Zorayel said.
Dareth laughed bitterly. "Look at me. Do you see that little boy?"
His gaze hardened.
"He's dead. And he's never coming back."
"Demon Art: Hell's Execution."
Dark entities rose from the ground, forming a massive execution circle. Each one held a spear, their eyes burning with malice.
Dareth stepped outside the circle.
"Give my greetings to Father," he said coldly.
He summoned the spear again. He slammed it into the ground.
The dark entities took their positions.
"I failed to keep my promise, Master…" Zorayel whispered, closing his eyes.
"Don't lose hope."
A familiar voice echoed in his mind.
"Master?" Zorayel whispered.
Dareth frowned, confused.
"You have to stop Davi," the voice said.
Zorayel's eyes snapped open.
His master was standing beside Dareth. Calm, gentle, exactly as he remembered.
"How…?" Zorayel asked, trembling.
"If you don't stop him now," his master said, "he will slaughter the everyone. Everdawn will fall."
"How can I stop him? He's too strong," Zorayel said.
"You are strong too," the master replied softly. "I raised you as my own son."
"I passed my secrets to you."
"Use them… and stop your brother."
"He may have my blood," the master said, placing a hand on Zorayel's shoulder, "but you have my heart… and my skills."
"I believe in you."
The vision faded.
Zorayel realized this entire time, he had been hallucinating.
The staff began to glow.
The dark entities lunged at him.
"Divine Shield!" A radiant barrier formed around Zorayel—the same shield Eldrick once used. The spears shattered against it.
"How is that possible?!" Dareth shouted.
"Even my own father failed to block that attack!"
The staff flew toward Zorayel, severing the chains binding him before landing firmly in his hand.
"Divine Art: Unleash!"
Wings grew up on Zorayel's back. Zorayel started to float in the air.
The staff transformed into two massive swords, blazing with divine light. Zorayel lifted into the air.
"Divine Unleash…?" Dareth muttered, eyes wide. "I never thought I'd see it."
"Thrust."
In a single heartbeat, Zorayel pierced Dareth's chest and reappeared behind him.
Blood spilled from Dareth's mouth.
"Not bad," Dareth said, coughing. "So that's what the old man raised."
He tried to heal but Zorayel struck again, slicing through his arm and stopping the healing.
The swords left Zorayel's hands, floating beside him.
He rushed forward and began punching Dareth. Each blow fueled by rage, pain, and resolve.
"I promised Master," Zorayel shouted, "that I would punish you for your crimes!"
"No matter how strong you become," Dareth said, grinning through blood, "you can never defeat me."
"Demon Art: Hell's Burning."
The moment Zorayel's hand touched Dareth, dark flames erupted, crawling up Zorayel's arm like living shadows.
Dareth staggered. Blood streamed from his nose.
"Demon Art: Hell's Chains."
Chains burst from the ground, lunging toward Zorayel, trying to bind him.
The swords flew back into Zorayel's hands.
With swift, precise movements, he cut every chain down before they could tighten.
Dareth unleashed attack after attack. But none of them landed.
"It's time to stop your madness," Zorayel said, his voice steady but heavy with resolve.
"Divine Art: Divine Punch." Zorayel struck.
The impact shattered the air itself, sending Dareth flying backward until he crashed into a tree with bone-crushing force.
Dareth coughed violently, blood splattering the ground.
He couldn't move.
"…Is this how it ends?" Dareth whispered.
His vision blurred.
He saw his father… guiding the town, protecting its people… smiling at Zorayel.
Then another memory surfaced.
When Dareth returned.
His father turned away.
Busy. Ignored.
"Old man…" Dareth muttered, shaking.
"I'll never forgive you!" He screamed.
Suddenly, dark shadows poured from his body, swallowing him whole.
"Demon Art: Demon Unleash."
Wings materialized on his back.
His skin turned crimson. His hands twisted into bestial claws. Horn-like shadows curled around his silhouette.
He no longer looked human. He looked like a devil.
"What the—" Zorayel froze, staring at Dareth's hideous transformation.
"You'll die," Dareth growled. His voice layered with devilish echoes.
He vanished and charged straight at Zorayel.
Zorayel blocked with his right sword.
CRASH!
The force sent the sword spinning away.
Zorayel retaliated with his left blade, carving a deep gash across Dareth's body.
But the wound healed instantly.
"What kind of beast have you turned into?" Zorayel asked.
Dareth answered with a punch.
Zorayel was sent flying into the sky.
Dareth leapt after him, closing the distance in an instant.
He attacked wildly, like a feral animal. Slashes, claws, relentless strikes.
Zorayel blocked them all.
The battle raged mid-air, both of them flying, clashing again and again.
"Demon Art: Arise." Dark entities began to emerge around Zorayel.
Hundreds of them.
They looked exactly like Dareth… only made of living shadow.
"Divine Art: Divine Blessing."
Zorayel's sword ignited with radiant white light.
The shadow Dareth clones rushed him.
Zorayel cut through them.
Unlike before, they did not regenerate.
They fell, dying like normal beings.
The sky turned into a black-and-white battlefield, light and darkness colliding endlessly.
Dareth was now many times stronger than before.
Still, Zorayel pressed on.
The staff no longer needed commands. It responded to Zorayel's will.
It transformed into a rope.
Zorayel wrapped it around Dareth and yanked him close.
The rope shifted into a giant hammer.
Zorayel smashed it into Dareth's face.
Dareth was launched across the sky.
Zorayel followed.
The staff transformed again into two massive blades.
He aimed straight for Dareth's heart.
Dareth caught both swords with his bare hands.
He pulled.
Zorayel was dragged forward and kicked brutally in the chest.
Zorayel flew back. The swords followed him automatically.
Dareth appeared in front of him.
"Demon Art: Chains of Ragnarok."
Massive chains engulfed in dark smoke wrapped around Zorayel.
His entire body began to burn.
A massive, ominous aura spread across the battlefield.
At Arcane's Side…
Arcane and Drelvan were rushing toward the battlefield.
They were close. Too close.
Arcane suddenly felt it. The feelings.
"…Ragnarok?" Arcane thought, his eyes widening.
"Is he insane?" Arcane muttered while running. "He can bare thee toll of Ragnarok"
Arcane came to a halt.
He was directly beneath Zorayel and Dareth.
Arcane looked up and saw the Ragnarok chain.
His breath caught.
For the first time Arcane was worried.