Episode 19: The Painful Strike
The air felt heavy.
Marcus stood still, his sword shaking in his hands.
In front of him…
Elara.
But not fully her.
Tears rolled down her face.
"Marcus…" she whispered softly.
Then her voice changed again—cold, empty.
"End this."
Marcus's chest tightened.
"I don't want to fight you…" he said, his voice breaking.
She rushed at him again.
Fast.
Deadly.
CLANG!
Their weapons collided.
The sound echoed through the pit.
Marcus blocked her attacks again and again, stepping back each time.
"I won't hurt you!" he shouted.
She didn't stop.
Her attacks became faster. Stronger.
The forest was pushing her harder.
"You have to!" she cried suddenly—her real voice breaking through.
"Marcus… I can feel it… it's taking me…"
Marcus froze for a second.
"Elara…"
She screamed, falling to one knee.
"Please… before I lose myself… STOP ME!"
Silence.
Heavy.
Painful.
Marcus's eyes filled with tears.
"No…" he whispered.
"I can't…"
The creature's voice echoed again, louder than ever.
"Then she will destroy you."
Elara stood again.
But now…
Her face was empty.
No emotion.
No tears.
No Elara.
She attacked.
Harder than before.
Marcus barely blocked.
He stumbled back, hitting the wall of the pit.
He had nowhere to run.
Her blade came toward him—
Fast.
Deadly.
At the last second—
Marcus moved.
He stepped forward instead of back.
And drove his sword…
Into her side.
Everything stopped.
Elara's body froze.
Her eyes widened.
The darkness in them… flickered.
Marcus's hands shook violently.
"I… I'm sorry…" he whispered, tears falling.
She looked at him.
This time…
Her real eyes returned.
Soft.
Human.
"Marcus…" she said weakly.
A small smile touched her lips.
"You… saved me…"
Marcus shook his head.
"No… no… I hurt you…"
She gently held his hand.
"No… you stopped it…"
The shadows around her began to fade.
Her body weakened.
"Don't go…" Marcus said, panic rising.
"Stay with me!"
She looked at him one last time.
"You're… stronger than you think…"
Her voice faded.
"And you… are not alone…"
Her hand slipped.
Her body fell still.
"ELARA!!!"
Marcus screamed.
His voice echoed through the forest.
Silence answered him.
Cold.
Empty.
Then—
The creature appeared at the edge of the pit.
Watching.
Smiling.
"Beautiful…"
Marcus slowly lifted his head.
His face changed.
Tears still there…
But now—
Something else burned inside him.
Anger.
"You…" Marcus said quietly.
His voice was no longer weak.
"You did this…"
The creature tilted its head.
"Yes…"
Marcus stood up slowly.
His body hurt.
His heart was broken.
But his eyes…
Were full of fire.
"Then I will end you…"
For the first time—
The hunter was no longer afraid.