In the next moment, a large light engulfed the platform where Henry and the woman conversed.
Blinded by the bright light, Henry covered his face. "What is this," he demanded to know and braced himself.
The light subsided.
Snapping back to reality, Henry curled his toes and felt the dirt rubbing his feet. He lowered his bloodied arms and looked around. He stood in the crater, left by his secret technique. Blood dripped down to the ground.
In front of him, the female cloaked figure sat and panted heavily. "This is the last time I'm helping in this sort of thing," she complained to another cloaked figure beside her.
Her colleague nodded and affirmed, "You have done enough. Fall back and rest. We'll figure out a way to restore your energy."
"He's awake," another cloaked figure alerted and pointed at Henry.
The cloaked figures turned to their stubborn adversary.
Henry let out an agonizing breath. "Impossible. All of you are alive," he managed to mutter. Blood seeped out of his mouth. His frail legs trembled under his own weight.
"You killed so many of us, and only our strongest survived your final attack. You were a worthy adversary," a cloaked figure, in front, remarked.
The female cloaked figure winced under her mask and walked away.
"I don't care about your nonsense of glory," Henry weakly replied and smirked out of frustration. Truthfully, he was just one of their victims. "None of you seem to care about what you've done tonight. None of you seem to know what consequences there will be for your nefarious schemes. Believe me. There are consequences. Think carefully about what you're doing. As for me, my family means everything to me. With all of you still standing here, I simply must not fall," he proclaimed and grinned proudly. He placed one foot forward. Blood flowed down his leg.
The cloaked figures gritted their teeth.
"How are you still moving? How are you still alive? You're just a human," a cloaked figure interrogated and stepped back in fear.
From the back, a cloaked figure approached with a slouch. "This organization will never face defeat. If we're ever struck down, we will come back from the shadows. Nothing can be done to stop us," he declared in a raspy voice and sneered wickedly. He stopped feet away from Henry. "You're bluffing, anyways. Now, go, human. Take a look at your precious family. Keep in mind what I said," he threatened in a stern tone.
Henry furrowed his brows.
"Are you letting him get away, boss," a cloaked figure questioned his superior.
Henry struggled and desperately limped away. "Please. Be alright," he prayed.
"Let him witness our power of controlling their destinies," the slouching cloaked figure responded and chuckled maliciously.
The cloaked figures relented and observed.
At the end of the crater, Henry found himself standing on the grass. His eyes opened unbelievably wide.
His family's home was in shambles.
Beaten down, Pepe and Cassandra laid on the ground. They bought enough time for Stark, Hafen, and Matteo to recover and continue the fight.
The remaining chanting cloaked figures lunged at the three kids with fierce glares.
A cloaked figure swung his sword towards Stark.
Stark ducked under and threw a punch.
Reacting quickly, the cloaked figure weaved to the side. He kicked him in the arm.
Stark shrieked in pain, and his arm contorted. Following an explosion of energy, he rolled on the ground.
Beside him, a cloaked figure grasped Hafen and threw him away.
In the back, a different cloaked figure knocked Matteo into a tree.
Matteo gasped and groaned in pain. His healing had become extremely slow.
"Leave them to me," Sabre ordered loudly. Parts of his clothes were burnt away, and bruises sporadically covered his body and face. "I'll kill them," he announced and tightly clenched his teeth in anger and madness.
On the other side, The Exalted One stood with his long sword in hand and a couple of bruises. "Don't kill them, Sabre," he implored. "However, we can incapacitate them more. We'll take them with us and keep them alive for our amusement," he explained and smirked.
Adelia grabbed his cloak and frantically pulled. "Stop this," she pleaded, and blood trickled down her forehead. Her headband laid on the ground nearby. "Boys, get up! Run," she begged with a shout.
Ana was nowhere to be seen.
The Exalted One stood firm and glanced back with disdain. He launched her away with a kick.
Adelia crashed into the remains of the house. She barely stood back up and shuddered in pain. Her chest heaved, and her mouth hung agape. Breathing deeply, she raised her head and looked at her sons.
Cornered, Stark, Hafen, and Matteo helped each other up. Their faces evoked their struggle to remain conscious.
Just then, The Exalted One and Sabre charged at them. With a menacing gaze, they loomed closer.
Henry tripped forward and caught himself. He looked up with fully opened eyes. On the brink of death, he had lost too much blood, and he could not fight anymore. With a sullen look, he clenched his fists and groveled. "Is this the end of me and my family? Is this where my sons will be taken again," he sought to answer. "No. It's not over, yet. They're still alive. It's going to be different this time," he murmured. He rebounded and limped towards his sons. He was not going to give up. Until his very end, he was prepared to die for his sons and give them another chance to live.
"Help," Matteo, scared, exclaimed and cried.
Stark and Hafen frowned with watery eyes and protected him.
Henry, determined, reached his sons and pushed them away with a very small wave of energy.
In an instant, Sabre punched him through the stomach.
Simultaneously, Adelia jumped in front of The Exalted One.
In a flash, The Exalted One impaled her in the gut with his long sword.
Blood oozed from Adelia's mouth. Her body convulsed, and her face immediately darkened.
Behind her, Henry coughed up blood and staggered. He took Sabre's blow with a cold shiver running through his dying body.
"Mom," Stark screamed and rushed to his foster parents.
"Dad," Hafen yelled and followed.
Matteo watched in horror and sobbed uncontrollably.
The Exalted One pulled his sword out in a swift motion and stepped back. "What an entertaining turn of events. Sabre, stand down. Let's watch this unfold," he commented and sneered widely.
At the same time, Sabre chuckled and pushed Henry away, pulling his arm out. He let him fall and backed away. "Did that hurt? It's what you deserve after hitting me with your last attack," he snickered.
Adelia fell to her knees and bled profusely. Her back leaned against her husband's back.
Henry harshly coughed. His recent wound was grave, and his blood gushed out of his stomach. He held it and looked back at his wife, realizing what she had done.
Adelia, smiling to comfort, peered back at him.
The couple held each other's hands.
Stark, Hafen, and Matteo rushed to their aid. They were in tears.
Adelia stared at them and handed them a gentle smile. She reminisced about the good times that she had with her family. Like how she used to make food for three hungry boys, and their daily routine of helping her in the garden. Like how Henry would train their sons, and she would watch. It reminded her of when Henry was a young man with his master. Her sons would argue, and then, they would play around seconds later. They talked to and took care of Ana, too. Ana? Who is she? Did she meet someone named Ana? Nonetheless, her sons were not her blood, but she raised them as if they were. "Boys, I'll treasure our time together," she solaced.
Stark, Hafen, and Matteo embraced Henry and Adelia. They wept with grief.
Henry and Adelia managed to turn towards them. They hugged their sons.
Sabre looked at them in disgust. "Brother, what part of this is entertaining? We should just kill them," he suggested and moved his eyes. His grimace turned to concern.
The Exalted One smiled with delight. An eerie energy emanated from him, and he seemed out of it.
Adelia kissed their foreheads. She looked at them and asserted, "You will always be my sons even though you aren't mine by blood." She paused for a moment and continued, "It's probably the end for us. I'm sorry. Will you be alright?"
"You and dad are the ones severely hurt," Matteo bawled.
"You can't die," Stark urged desperately and repeatedly. He shook his head in denial.
"Hey, it's fine," Adelia reassured them and coughed out blood.
Henry stuttered, "Survive, my sons." He took a deep wheeze and elaborated, "Even though our lives are cut short tonight, you must keep going and see the outside world."
"The outside world," Stark asked.
"Of course. Just remember what I taught you between good and bad. We're proud of you, three, and we will always be watching over you," Henry responded.
"Stay alive. Be careful. Don't get into too much trouble. Start with the depths first, then, the outside world. Please don't die," Adelia insisted in a whisper. She gasped and felt immense pain. Her time was almost up. She had no regrets living with her family in The Sacred Forest. Her husband and sons were her whole world. She simply hoped for their safety. Tears flowed down her cheeks.
Henry looked at his wife. He smiled and cried. What kind of people would his sons become? He wanted to be there to see them grow up. He wanted to continue living to witness their future. He remembered the higher being's final words.
"Don't worry too much. The world will have its peaceful days because of your adopted sons," the woman's voice solaced in his mind.
Henry felt comforted by her words alone. His sons will live peacefully and have a wonderful life. He could not have been more grateful to have had them as his kids. He was ready to move on. Satisfied with his life, he stared at the full moon. "It's a beautiful night. It's up to our sons, now," he pointed out as a serene breeze blew over them.
Henry and Adelia used their last ounce of energy to look at their sons.
"Get stronger, my sons. Protect good from evil," Henry, his face bloodied and in pain, urged.
Adelia smiled and reassured, "Just do your best. Don't worry too much."
"I don't want you to die," Stark repeated.
"We need you," Hafen implored.
"Don't leave us," Matteo wailed.
Slowly losing consciousness, Henry and Adelia struggled to keep their eyes open. They smiled weakly and expressed their final words, "I love you all." At peace and content with their lives, they slowly closed their eyes. Their heads tilted and leaned against each other. Their faces relaxed and darkened more than before.
In their minds, an image of their kids in the future appeared before them.
Adelia and Henry smiled at the image.