Blood soaked into the ancient stone
as El-Mond collapsed to one knee,
his breath ragged, each inhale burning
through the stab wound in his chest.
"Why… kill me…?" he gasped,
crimson spilling from the corner of his lips.
"Brork… we grew up together. We were like brothers."
His vision trembled, yet he forced his eyes
open, glaring at the man before him.
"What did I do to you…? Why join hands
with her to kill me…? What for…?"
The final words dissolved into a wet cough.
Brork stood calmly, sword lowered,
a mocking smile carved across his face.
"El-Mond… my dear brother," he said softly,
almost tenderly. "You really never understood anything."
El-Mond's eyes narrowed.
"I was already sharing your wife's bed
long before you ever married her."
The world seemed to freeze.
El-Mond's pupils shrank, disbelief
flooding his face.
Beside Brork, Luna leaned against him,
her fingers resting comfortably on his chest.
She laughed light, cruel, intimate.
Brork pulled her closer, his arm
possessively around her waist,
their closeness speaking louder than
words ever could.
"And that wedding night you treasure so
much?" Brork continued, voice dripping
with amusement.
"We celebrated it together… while you slept."
El-Mond's mind reeled.
"Impossible… That night…
only she and I were there.
We drank the ceremonial wine and"
His voice faltered.
Realization struck like a thunderbolt.
"T-The wine…"
Brork snapped his fingers. "Bingo."
Luna's smile deepened, eyes glittering
as she leaned further into Brork's embrace.
"You were unconscious the entire time,"
Brork said casually.
"Completely helpless."
El-Mond's sword trembled in his grasp.
His hatred twisted into confusion then
shattered.
Brork stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"You know…
I always wanted to say something."
For a fleeting moment, El-Mond thought
an apology?
But Brork's grin widened.
"Sorry you had to witness how easily
everything you cherished was taken."
Luna laughed softly, resting her head on
Brork's shoulder.
El-Mond coughed violently,
blood splattering the ground.
The sword slipped from his fingers and
clattered uselessly beside him.
"You took my position as Sect Leader,"
Brork continued calmly.
"So I took your woman. Fair trade,
don't you think?"
He reached down and pulled a golden
plaque from El-Mond's belt.
The words "Storm Blade Sect Leader"
gleamed mockingly in the moonlight.
"And now," Brork said, holding it up,
"I reclaim what should have been mine
from the start."
El-Mond no longer resisted.
He simply sat there,
head lowered, blood dripping steadily.
"Don't look so miserable, brother,"
Brork said, wiping his hand against
El-Mond's shoulder as if cleaning dirt.
"Think of it as a sacrifice."
"The Phoenix Sect promised friendship
true alliance if I replaced you."
He smiled.
"They even gifted me a Heaven-Tier Stone."
Brork's eyes burned with ambition.
"I've been stuck at Seventh-Level
Marquess for twenty years.
If I don't break through to Duke Realm…
I'll die within a century."
He shrugged.
"So it was you… or me."
His laughter echoed against the cliffs.
"If you want someone to blame,"
Brork said as he turned away,
"Blame yourself for having strength but
no brains."
"Oh," he added casually,
"That old fool of a mentor? He'll be joining
you soon."
El-Mond's eyes snapped open.
"DON'T YOU TOUCH HIM!"
Summoning the last of his strength,
El-Mond grabbed his fallen sword
and charged.
But weakened, poisoned, drained of core energy
he was no longer a match.
Brork pivoted calmly and struck with a
single kick.
El-Mond's body flew backward
over the edge of the cliff.
As he fell, Brork's voice drifted down
like a curse.
"You should thank the Ascenders Sect
for the drug.
it drained your core beautifully."
The wind roared past El-Mond's ears.
"The Ascenders…?" he thought bitterly.
"I never even knew them…"
The sky darkened.
"What does it matter now…"
"Born an orphan… and dying like one."
A broken chuckle escaped his lips,
filled with sorrow.
"I guess… I was never meant to be loved."
As the abyss swallowed him,
his thoughts turned gentle.
"I'm sorry you were dragged into this…
Old Lu…"
His eyes closed.
Darkness claimed everything.
To Be Continued.