James regarded his family after three days of resting. Everyone was outside the temple, gathered in a circle. Coral and Priest were there but Luna was quick to point out they couldn't come with.

"I can only guarantee the lives of my direct family," Luna explained. "You two aren't part of that. Plus, we need someone connected to us in the temple. The dragons can handle most things, but…"

James cut in. "We don't know if The Pact will send a group this way. They might sneak around us during the fight to strike at the temple."

Jamie yawned and started walking away. "I'll see you all at the rent."

Frowning, James watched her go before Mender hurried after her. A second later, Linda and the Elson brothers followed. Grace smirked before walked toward him. Brushing her tail across his thighs, she patted his arm. "Let's hurry and finish this."

Zenaria and Amber shared a look before running away, both racing to see who could get to the rent first. Grace joined them, leaving James with Luna.

"We should probably keep up," Luna suggested.

"You're right." Turning to Coral and Priest, he added, "keep our home safe. Once this is over, we are going to get your sister, Coral. Mender will heal her and we'll bring her back her for safety."

"Thank you," Coral said before wiping her eye. "Thank you for remembering."

Smiling, James turned away and started jogging. They had plenty of ground to cover before they could rest for the night. The capital was hundreds of miles away and they would likely have to fight their way through plenty of Pact members.

Luna stayed by his side, pushing him faster as they followed everyone. Neither of them talked as they reached the wastelands that were already being reclaimed. Life was growing over the cracked earth, sealing the ground and turning it fertile once more. Burnt trees and rubble would be claimed as easily, but it wouldn't be long before the world was healed.

Reaching the rent took a few hours and when they arrived, they promptly had to fight their way to a ramp. Grace hurled poison bombs off the edge, killing those lower down while Amber and Zenaria cleared the first ramp. Jamie and Linda fired on everything drawing close, while the Elson brothers kept back the tide that threatened to surround them.

"I've killed the most!" Grace called out.

"Screw you and your poison!" Amber growled.

"Aww. Is someone a sore loser?"

Another growl filled the air as James watched Amber and Zenaria push further. The way down was one giant switchback ramp that was going to take them a few hours to clear. Every second was spent fighting, yet he knew no one would be exhausted when they reached the bottom.

"What do you think the capital is like?" Luna asked.

"Hard to say." James rubbed his chin. "It's possible that The Pact has let the castle degrade over the years. Or, they could have complete control of everyone and everything. I'm thinking the latter."

"So am I." Sighing, Luna shook her head. "We need to destroy The Pact. They nearly killed both worlds."

"That's not what their organization believes."

"I know."

James didn't know what else to say. They had all talked about The Pact for days. All of them were more than eager for the final battle. They were also tired. It had been months of fighting nearly nonstop. Each passing day was just another fight waiting to happen. From first awakening to saving Luna. The giant Forsaken and the city that was a monster. Every single battle and discovery gave them the strength to reach this point.

"You're lost in thought again," Luna teased.

"There's a lot to think about." James shrugged before noticing they were halfway down. "There's a lot to do once this fight is over. Coral's sister. Retrieving Tian. Talking with Mender's girlfriend. Not to mention taking Jamie to a few bars to find her a girlfriend."

Giggling, Luna glanced at the woman. "She really needs someone that can keep up with her. I'm pretty sure she's going to drug Grace soon."

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

"She's not that desperate," James said with a laugh.

"She was picking herbs yesterday. Very specific herbs."

James tried to process that but could only shake his head. "Maybe you're right. Let's keep Grace away from her."

Sharing more small talk, the approached the bottom as the monsters started fleeing their presence. Grace hurled poison after them, but it quickly grew pointless.

Spreading out his soul, James scanned the rent for clusters of monsters. What he found instead was a large group of shielded souls not too far away.

"I think they came to us," James murmured.

Frowning, Luna spread out her soul as well. "At least some of them did. Shall we go say hello?"

"Might as well." Turning to Amber, James said, "head north, Amber. There's a group of Pact members waiting for us."

Nodding, the nekorian hopped off the last ramp and yawned. Zenaria joined her, both of them looking bored as they waited for everyone. Grace was the next to join them, her boredom clear as well.

Once he was down, James gestured for everyone to start walking. They had a few hours walk before they reached the group waiting for them.

***

Sebastian turned to the south and grunted. "They are nearly here!"

The rest of the council members ran out of their building. Their scrambled actions made Sebastian groan as all of their fighters were gathered and led out of the compound. The monsters scattered, giving them space as they formed up.

His personal assistant, the nekorian stood at attention, her tail and ears twitching with nervousness.

"Come along," Sebastian ordered. Taking the stairs, he descended to the cavern floor and joined the rest of the army. They had several thousand people ready to assault his nephew.

Reaching the front of the formation, he had the nekorian stand by his side. Her spear and shield were ready, but he had her relax as they still had an hour before they met.

"Are we going to die?" the nekorian asked.

"Most of you will," Sebastian answered. "In fact, most of you won't last the few first minutes."

Gulping, she started to shake.

"I'll do my best to protect you," he said softly. "You deserve that much."

With a jerky nod, his assistant started to cry. "I don't want to die…"

Sebastian didn't know what to say to that. He had already accepted that everyone but the council were likely going to die. Everyone else would weaken the Valiant and his team. That was their only purpose.

The hour ticked by agonizingly slow. He never lost his patience as his fellow council members started to complain. He checked more than once that their soul shields were in place and were strong enough to withstand a violet soul. But it wasn't until his nephew drew closer that all of his hope for the fight died on his lips.

Glancing at his assistant, he made a decision. One that would at least see her live through the fight. Leaning in, he whispered, "when I say run, I want you to join our enemy. I will shield you."

"Sir?"

"They will keep you alive, child. We won't win this fight, and I'm sorry."

"For what, Sir?"

"I never learned your name."

"Naryia," she whispered. "My name is Naryia."

"Prepare to run, Naryia. You'll only get one chance."

Nodding, she continued to tremor as the Valiant drew closer.

***

James stopped a hundred feet away from the army. Thousands of souls were arrayed against him and his family, but it wasn't until his eyes settled on the only shadow clad man that he drew angry.

Stepping forward, he approached the man. "You bastard!"

The man walked toward him as well, leading a nekorian with him. Her red hair and fur was bright in the canyon, even if she was trembling and terrified.

"Drop your guise!" James ordered.

"I will in a moment," the man stated. His voice was very familiar and James only need a second to place it.

"Sebastian?"

The man nodded. "I don't know how you know me, but yes, I am."

"You killed them. You killed all of them. Your own family. Your own people."

Once again, Sebastian nodded. "I did." Dropping his shadows, the gray haired man stopped ten feet away. "Hello, nephew."

"Why?" James asked. "Why would you kill our people and end the world?"

"For power," Sebastian said softly. "At least that's what I told myself when it happened. Power that I have used to fight against the mess that I created." Gesturing behind him, he added, "that we all created. The rents were never going to be defeated, nor the nests."

"Did you know what would happen?"

"No," Sebastian admitted. "I also know that we can't win this fight, but I'm sure as hell going to try. But if you can grant me one final wish, I would be grateful."

James wanted to snarl and deny the man outright until he noticed a protective hand on the nekorian's shoulder. With reluctance, James nodded. The woman was terrified and had no right to be in this fight. "Let her go and I'll take her in."

"Thank you." Leaning in, Sebastian whispered, "run child. Don't stop until you are among his family. I will protect you."

The woman dropped her weapons and sprinted, tears streaming down her face. The moment she passed James's side, several red beams of light tried to strike her. Sebastian threw out his shadows, blocking the attacks, absorbing the damage and coughing up blood.

Luna pulled the woman into an embrace before passing her off to Jamie. James didn't know what they said to her, but she was now under his protection.

"What about the others?" James asked.

Sebastian whipped his lips as the other Council members started approaching. "They are too devote."

Grimly nodding, James waved for his family to join him. Grace, Zenaria, Amber, Luna, and the Elson brother stepped up to his side. Linda, Jamie, and Mender stayed with the nekorian, keeping her behind them as they raised their weapons.

"The numbers are skewed," James stated as he looked over the dozen Council members. "I guess we'll be doubling up."

"Why did you let the nekorian go?" an elderly man demanded.

"For piece of mind," Sebastian said softly.

James regarded the men as the army behind them started to charge their spells. Taking his sword from his storage, James coated it in flames. Lifting his hand, he prepared to do something that would make him wish this fight never had to happen.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.