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“You can’t win this one. Accept your defeat, and I’ll spare your miserable life.”
The battlefield's air was thick with acrid, dark smoke, the strong scent of blood and burning, filling the ears with countless screams, mixed up with the clings of cold steel against each other. Most of the sunlight was gone because of the heavy clouds hanging low over the ground, making the flames and the flashes of spells the only one source of the light around the fields. There was no telling how many were still fighting, and how many already drawed their last breath, giving up their lives for the sake of long lasting madness. Humans and Anthrens, fighting on both sides against each other, dropping down the last shreds of the whole purpose and dignity, becoming nothing more than a wild animal, forgetting their weapons only to tear apart each other’s throat.
Coughing up blood, the cougar felt his broken ribs painfully moving under his skin. Clawing the ground below himself, he tried to stay conscious, despite the deep wounds and the sudden outflow of mana, desperately gasping for air. Keeping the defensive and offensive spells running continuously at the same time during battle usually was a reckless deathwish for most of the mages, especially when they were combining them with the physical battle. And yet, he decided to take the risk as the herd’s instincts took over a logical flow of thoughts, willing to sacrifice himself for other’s sake. Gritting his teeth, the feline male reached for the chipped sword, which was laying on his side. A blade, which was shaped to resemble an eagle’s feather, glowed weakly as the Anthern’s fingers grazed its handle.
“Defeat?” Reeden chuckled silently, slowly forcing his body up to the standing position with the weapon’s help, feeling that weakened legs were shaking under his weight. “What kind of a delusional leader are you to assume such things so easily? I’m just warming up and still have plenty of blood to lose.” Wiping out a trickle of blood from his muzzle, the cougar took a fighting pose, aiming the tip of sword toward an partly armoured black spotted leopard standing in front of him. He had a long, black mane, a few golden earrings in his ears and… Eyes with the same, orange-red color as the cougar’s one. But they weren’t burning with life the same as Reeden’s one - they had a cold, steady tone, filled with nothing more by a precise, murderous intent.
Black feline hissed, clenching his paw firmly around his weapon’s handle. He was wielding a double-edged sword with its both blades marked by the red, corrupted runes.
“This is your last chance, brother.” He said silently. “Do you really want to die for all of those glorious and enlightened values? Face the truth - they won’t miraculously spare your friends from inevitable, nor will they bring back to life the dead ones. The legends are nothing more than lies, Reed. Our mother told us nothing more than -”
A dark, magical shield - raised in almost instant as he more felt than saw incoming attack - protected him from the spear-shaped fire spell at the last moment… But not entirely, letting through a few burning shards that painfully cut through the armour on the leopard's shoulder and grazed his cheek as well. A painful hiss escaped his throat as he made a few steps back, lifting his head with a muzzle twisted in an angry grimace, only to meet a burning fury expressed in the cougar’s eyes. His second paw and arm were still covered with small flames and sparks.
“If you will mention her one more time, I’ll burn your filthy body to ashes.” Reeden growled, baring his fangs with fury. “A wretched bastard like you doesn't even deserve to say her name… Or call himself her son.”
Black leopard smirked, starting to chuckle silently.
“Oh, but I AM her son, no matter how many times you’ll deny it.” He replied, taking a few steps toward the cougar. His muzzle became distorted by the wicked expression. “And so we are brothers, Ree. Bound by blood and fate. Didn’t you swear in the name of the Ancients that you’ll gladly sacrifice your life for every member of Landshey’s family? What about your younger brother, Silas? Aren’t you going to save him? Give him a last chance for redemption?”
Reeden’s blade blazed with orange and red flames.
“My brother died.” The cougar made a few steps forward as well, the flames lighting up his cold muzzle’s expression. “He was buried under the falling vault of Mount Aethelgard’s deepest chamber over twenty years ago. What remains of him today is you - unnamed being, merely a shady plot, twisted again and again by its tellers. And today, I’m going to end it, once and for all, sending the shattered shadow of who you once were to the afterlife’s Endless Fields.”
Silas Landshey exposed his sharp teeth, while his sword enlightened with a red glow over the blade’s edges.
“Try your luck then, Reed.” The leopard lowered himself on his legs, ready to attack as well. His smile was gone, replaced with nothing more than a cold, murderous intent. “Let’s see who’ll arrive there first.”
As they clashed with loud, furious roars, the ground trembled under the powerful impact of blades and spells that collided with each other, pushing away the smoke and dust around them. A final chapter of the war began.