King Zinch was shocked to his knees to learn and witness that the Great Mage, the one he used to call him his friend, Handikiz has returns. But with a disturbing truth that was bestowed upon him something he does not recognize about his former friend, only seeing the worse side of his true colours.
"Handikiz what is the meaning of this treachery you bestowed upon the kingdom" he wanted to know and he asked demandingly at Handikiz though to the shock towards himself.
"My King it isn't what it looks like"
"Don't believe his lies King Zinch, he's only been using you to gain power!"
Suddenly Handikiz summons a explosion spell catching Jin off guard for a moment as he was then blasted away from him and crashes though a wall. Before Handikiz quickly started running to the center of the throne room before kneeling in front before King Zinch.
"My King I don't speak such lies, since I've been gone for so long I was doing this for you my King" King Zinch was hesitant in his word as Handikiz tries to speak more "don't believe him my King, he's only trying to manipulate you"
Dani then shows up with Venny holding her by the shoulder due to their injuries even though Venny took most of the damage. "Captain Vixen?" King Zinch surprise to see the captain but also notice the Venny helping her.
"You retched pest. I'll finish you" Handikiz tries to summon a fireball spell towards them but was stopped by the king "stand down Handikiz!"
As King Zinch shouting on top of his lungs Handikiz was frightened by his words "what is the meaning of this. Why would try to kill the captain with no hesitation. Explain!"
"My lord these frauds are planning against you, trying to take power over themselves. They started by trying to take me out of the picture, why do you think I've return in our most dire moments"
"That's not true you were the one scheming against us"
"Me!? weren't you the one who associated with these retched vermin and the only reason you got the title was only due to that idiotic grandfather of yours."
"you do not understand what it mean to be a Vixen, we held up high remarks in respectable servitude leading many armies to protect our home country. Unlike you traitor"
They continue to argue each others with insults and evidence of betrayal and ruin to the country but the argument started to become more infuriating.
"Enough!" King Zinch yelling again to get everyone's attention stopping the entire argument.
"I don't know who's really the true mastermind. But I need evidence if these statements are true or not". Then suddenly a huge burst of wind then blasted through the wall as Jin walks through the broken wall.
"Yeah I have your evidence right here"
"and who are you... wait are you" King Zinch recognizing Jin from where they have first met during a visit to the capital.
"I'm the guy who's going to end his whole life as he once did to me. Showing kindness what a joke to someone who is nothing but a schemer"
"Jin" Dani and Venny with gratitude that Jin is safe and ready to fight even more giving them more courage to fight along side their friend.
"The man you speak of as the great mage is a fraud. He was once a man who was weak and needed shelter, and two brothers decided to help him and bring him to a tavern they have built to support people in cold weather. Though he was grateful for the save, turns out his gratitude was nothing but wind and air, he first killed the older brother at his own tavern, and he left the younger to die in the cold weather. And that man over there will soon face the consequences for taking a life from someone with potential"
"Handikiz how could you"
"That's not true, don't believe the lies!"
"Handikiz... stop taking... the city of Alvera suppose to represent a proud and grateful kingdom, we all treat each other equally and yet you turn your back on another person... I will never forgive. Thus you don't deserve the title of great mage anymore and no longer my old friend".
Handikiz was then lost in his words and for a moment it was all taken away from him "well I guess that's it"
Handikiz then gets up and then they all suddenly feel a huge dark aura of magic flowing around Handikiz entire body. "If I have nothing that give's my life meaning"
Handikiz starts charging fireball spells without even trying "then that means... I have nothing to lose" as Handikiz fire a barrage of spells at everyone.
Jin, Venny, and Dani manage to deflect and dodge with ease, but two fireballs are heading towards King Zinch and almost hit him, but they were blocked by Gale leaping in time able to keep their footing stable this time.
"You okay your majesty"
"Yeah I think. Thank you, um... worthy knight"
"Gale? You're here?"
"Hi Captain you seen better day"
Handikiz surprised to see Gale here in the throne room, "What!? how did you defeat my living armors"
Before he could ask another question he suddenly heard someone's hands crackle with thunder, then a burst of lightning is hit behind Handikiz as he fall to his knees Ralian is their hands crackling with lightning and coughing a bit of blood out off her mouth.
"Ralian? You can use lightning magic now" Jin surprise to see Ralian now having the ability to cast lightning onto his opponents.
"Yeah see that Jin, I ain't the type of person to be disrespected of what I can't do"
Handikiz still feeing the effects of the lightning attack as it surges around his body in pain. He was able to quickly numb the pain but with a little bit of effort but still feels the pain. "Why you Druid. Take this!"
Then Handikiz summons boulders from the ground and attempts to throw it towards Ralian, but were quickly countered by her vines sprouting from the ground catching the upcoming boulders and throwing them back towards Handikiz which he was hit by the boulders. Then Gale, Dani, Venny, and Jin then surrounds Handikiz ready to fight,
"You think, you have a chance to stop me" then from Handikiz's staff emits a bright glow as elemental energy is emitting from as Lightning, fire, and ice started blasting from all around the throne room, and the other are dodging swiftly.
"I have taken so much energy from wizard, and mages a like, that my powers can match of that to an ancient dragon!". As Handikiz is cackling in laughter the ceiling begins to crumble due to magic Handikiz is summoning through his staff.
"We need to get that staff away from his hand!" Dani yelling for the others to listen but was then blasted away with a bundle of energy.
"Dani! That's it. You knight pierce my arm" Venny pointing at Gale as they were confused of what he met.
"what do you mean pierce your arm, if I damage your arm then you will have no hands to fight back"
Venny quickly scoffs in annoyance "just do it! I know what I'm doing!"
With a bit of hesitation, Gale quickly pierced through Venny's arm but not enough to complete hack off his entire right arm. As Gale suddenly quick to witness Venny activating his blood magic as the wound on his arm healed itself instantly. Then Venny started to run towards Handikiz as he quickly blasted a beam of energy towards Venny but he quickly ran and endure throughout the blast of energy Venny is able to get through though sustaining damage while charging towards Handikiz as the damage quickly enhancing his blood magic even further.
Then suddenly Ralian summons some vines to reach towards Handikiz and Gale is also running through the blast of energy, protecting themselves with their shield. But Gale was quickly to be swept away from the blast of energy, along with Ralian, and Venny though trying their hardest to attack Handikiz were also swept away by the blast of energy. And it's up to Jin to defeat his former friend.
(End of chapter 18)