“No,” I cut him off. “I’m Rosalina’s. I’m Kel’s. I’m mine.”
Footsteps sound behind me, light and sure.
“We’re with you.” Rosalina appears beside me, gold briars at the ready.
Ezryn flanks her, hammer blazing in his hands. “Let’s finish this.”
I smile.
We press him hard.
Ezryn’s hammer crashes against Malekai, rippling out with blasts of spring light, forcing him back step by step. Rosalina’s golden briars snap like whips, coiling around the Baron’s legs, binding, tearing, holding. I charge through the chaos, blade of thorns blazing with green fire, and slash deep across his chest.
He staggers, movements slow.
His magic is still powerful, but it’s faltering.
“You’ve got nothing left,” I snarl, slamming my boot into his side and driving him back farther. “Your time’s over.”
He lifts his massive, gleaming sword with trembling hands, and I feel it break. Not just the weapon. Him.
This time, when I move, I don’t hesitate.
My blade plunges into his chest, briars twisting, flame pulsing down the edge, shadows lashing outward like a scream made visible. A roar of pure shock erupts out of his throat.
His form begins to unravel, flesh withering. Light bleeds out.
He looks at me. And I see him for what he is. Not a god or a monster.
Just a man. A man murdered by his own son.
“For what it’s worth,” I snarl, “you were right about one thing. I am powerful.”
Then he crumbles.
His body collapses into ash and green light, folding in on itself and vanishing into the air.
Ezryn exhales. “Is it over?”
Rosalina looks toward the crystals, her hands still glowing with magic. “Something isn’t right.”
I turn, scanning the chamber: Anya strung between the obelisks, George pounding against them. He’s not even making a dent.
Then Anya lets out a wailing scream, back bowing. Her whole body is a firefly, flickering. George screams, reaching for her. Then the water above her stirs and pulses with light.
A low hum begins.
“George, get back!” I shout.
Too late.
The water explodes.
Green light bursts downward like a geyser, and from within it, he emerges.
The baron. Reborn.
“You didn’t think it would be that easy to end me, did you, son?” He smiles. “I am tethered to this world as it is to me.”
