As the light began to fade and the dust started to settle, two silhouettes could be seen locked in combat—one human, one monster.
But something was wrong.
The captain's blazing sword was cracked down the middle, its flames flickering weakly like a dying candle.
And Havoc's claw was completely unharmed—not even a scratch.
The Soulwretch's grin widened as he leaned in close to the captain's horrified face, close enough that the man could smell death on his breath.
"My turn," Havoc whispered with deadly promise.
His cannon arm began to whir with charging energy, pointed directly at the captain's chest—
WHIRRRRRRR—
The air rippled violently, raising dust clouds and making the captain's hair whip around his face like he was caught in a hurricane.
*No! I'm a goner if I don't move!* The captain's mind raced, adrenaline flooding his system.
"BLACK SERPENT SHOT!"
THUUUUUMP!
SWOOOOOOSH!
The cannon blast erupted like a miniature sun going supernova.
BOOOOOOM!
The impact sent trees flying like toothpicks, debris scattered in all directions like deadly confetti. The shockwave cracked the ground in spider web patterns stretching for hundreds of yards.
"CAPTAIN!!" one of the knights shouted, his voice breaking with desperation.
"No! Don't tell me he's dead!"
The smoke started settling like a funeral shroud. Havoc stood unharmed, his tortoise shell skin proven stronger than steel itself.
"Hahaha! Wow, what a blast!" Havoc chuckled as he admired his handiwork, the heat still radiating from his cannon. "This never gets old. That man had no chance."
"I said it—we had no chance against that monster," a knight whispered, his sword trembling in his grip.
"Time we accept our fate..."
The knights lowered their heads in defeat, some dropping to their knees.
"Haha, who shall I slaughter next?" Havoc turned, scanning for his next victim like a predator choosing prey.
*Agh... agh...*
A weak cough from within the cloud of dust cut through everyone's despair.
"Wow, what firepower..."
The dust cleared. It was the captain—he was glowing faintly red, bleeding from multiple wounds, but *standing*. The crack on his sword had increased dramatically, spider-webbing across the entire blade.
Havoc's crimson gaze snapped to him. "How is he still alive? That blast was enough to blow up a small hill." His voice carried genuine surprise for the first time.
"Thank the goddess Astral for my Echoform's fire-resistant shield," the captain gasped, the protective light fading as smoke rose from his shoulders and chest.
"CAPTAIN!" one knight shouted, tears of relief streaming down his face.
"He's alive! I can't believe it!"
The knights' faces lit up with renewed hope, like candles being relit in the darkness.
"Yeah, I survived—barely. Even through my fire-resistant shield, I felt that heat trying to cook me alive." He glanced at his sword, its glow fading like a dying ember. "What ferocity... one more strike from that beast and it's game over."
"Hahaha! I love how this day is going!" Havoc smirked, his razor-sharp teeth gleaming like polished daggers. "You are tough, and I heard them call you captain. You live up to your title." His voice sounded like grinding tombstones.
The knights froze. So did the captain.
"Did... did that Soulwretch just SPEAK?"
"I heard it too, and it really did."
"But is that even possible?"
The knights murmured to themselves, their worldview cracking like thin ice.
"You... you just spoke!" The captain's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Yeah, I did." Havoc smirked wider. "Are Soulwretches not capable of speech?"
The captain brought a hand to his head in confusion. "In all my years, I have never heard of a talking Soulwretch. What in the seven hells is going on?"
Havoc's forked tongue flickered out in amusement. "By their reaction, it's a fact. And my suspicions have been clarified. I am a special case of Soulwretch. How... amusing."
The captain turned to face Havoc, raising his cracked sword with shaking hands. "I don't know what's going on or how this is even possible, but I'm ending you now!"
"Ooh, really?" Havoc tilted his head mockingly. "Your earlier attack didn't even put a scratch on me. What do you think your next one will do?"
*He's right. I didn't even scratch him. But my blade—my Echoform got cracked. What monstrous power...*
"Since you want to conclude everything, I'll do the same. No holding back. I have business with some other people, and I'm dying to see them." Havoc's smirk turned predatory.
"Too bad it ends here! I'm the last line of defense—you shall not cross me!" The captain raised his blade high, determination burning in his eyes.
"Haha! You're funny—to the extent that it makes me want to slice your head clean off!" Havoc's claw arm twitched with anticipation.
*If I get close, I'm done for. If I'm too far, I'm open for another full head-on blast, and this time I won't be lucky. My Echoform is almost out of juice. I have to end this with one strike.*
*Hmm, he's plotting something dirty. I can feel it in my spine.* Havoc's eyes narrowed. *I'm ending this now.*
*I'm going to use my ultimate attack and hope it does the trick, but there's a setback—it takes a long time to charge, and judging by this Soulwretch's speed, my head will be off before I finish. I need support. Someone to stall him while I charge my attack.*
"Hey Captain, we got your back! What do you need?" The remaining knights stood prepared, their captain's determination igniting their own courage.
The captain smiled weakly. "Are you guys up for it? You saw this thing's power. I can't guarantee we'll survive, but we need to take a gamble."
"Don't worry, we are Solar Knights like you. We know we have no chance of survival, but we want to put that one percent on you. We're done being cowards and are ready to support and protect the kingdom like you!" The lead knight's face was set in grim determination.
"Are you sure about this?" The captain asked.
"I am, but what about you guys?" The knight turned to his comrades.
"Yeah, we're ready!"
"He killed our other men!"
"It's time for payback—we're not running anymore!"
They raised their swords with trembling but determined hands.
"You heard them, sir. Now we're waiting on your orders," the lead knight said.
"Thank you, my men. You are the best soldiers a captain could ask for." The captain's voice cracked with emotion.
"Stop flattering us—you're the great one!" they replied. "You're standing up to a monster all of us fled from just at the sight of. You deserve all the respect. We are here to serve!"
The knights smiled through their fear.
"Hahaha! This is precious! I can't believe they still think they have a chance to win. I'll not ruin their moment—I'll see how far they take it!" Havoc grinned, his razor-sharp teeth fully exposed.
*I don't know if I should be glad or sad they're ready to risk their lives. I know all of them, and I know they're scared but trying to prove strong. I can see it—they're terrified.* The captain's eyes gazed at his men's trembling hands, sweat dripping like rain.
*Their minds are decided. If we go down, we go down putting up a fight.*
"Men! I am almost out of mana and stamina. My Echoform is weakened and can't take another attack. So what I want is for you to keep this beast busy while I charge my ultimate attack. It will take some time to charge."
"Haha! Got it loud and clear, sir! Don't worry—we will fight to the very end and won't let it come near you!" the lead knight declared.
"Good men! Now... CHARGE!" the captain yelled.
"You heard him! Fight like your lives depend on it!"
"YAAAAAH!" The remaining knights charged all at once, swords and spears ready.
Havoc grinned. "Haha! What a day! Since they have the courage to face me, I'll etch my face into their minds so they'll fear me even in the afterlife!"
BOOM!
CRACK!
The ground fractured beneath his feet like broken glass as he prepared to charge.
The knights closed in—some leaped with blades raised, others thrust spears aimed for his chest.
"DIE, BEAST!" they roared with the fury of the desperate.
Havoc's crimson slits burned brighter. "Time to slaughter."
The two knights who leaped swung their blades down with everything they had—
With one swift slice of his massive claws, Havoc cut through them like they were made of paper.
SHLICK! SHLICK!
Blood sprayed everywhere like crimson rain.
"NOOO!" The other knights with spears thrust them at his chest.
Havoc simply grabbed both spears with his free hand.
"What?!" The two knights pushed with all their strength, but Havoc didn't budge an inch.
CRACK!
He snapped the spears like twigs.
With a swift turn, he swung his crimson axe-blade tail—
SLAAAAASH!
It severed the knights' necks with surgical precision, their heads flying off like grotesque baseballs.
THUD! THUD!
Havoc smirked as blood sprayed across his reptilian face like war paint.
"No! My men! I can't let them die like this!" The captain was ready to enter the fray.
"NO! Don't, Captain! We can handle it! Don't you dare come here—just charge your attack already!" The lead knight shouted desperately.
"But—"
"There is no 'but'! We decided our fate when we said we'd fight! You are our last hope now—blow him apart! We'll hold him still!"
The captain hesitated, his heart breaking.
"YAAAAAH!" The remaining knights grabbed Havoc by the legs, some by his arms, holding him in place with everything they had.
The lead knight rushed over and grabbed Havoc's waist, his arms barely going around the massive torso.
"Don't worry, sir! Do it!" he said with a blood-stained smile.
The captain gathered his courage. *They're willing to sacrifice their lives. I won't let their deaths be meaningless.*
He raised his blade, his Echoform beginning to glow like living flames.
"Time to show them my ultimate!"
BUUUFF!
SWOOOOSH!
Wind hurled around him, his red light almost blinding as magical energy built to critical levels.
"BY THE FAIRY GRACE OF THE DYING SUN, THE VERY FIRE FROM THE PITS OF HELL—COME FORTH AND TURN MY FOES TO ASH!"
The captain's incantation shook the very air. Magic circles red in nature bloomed before him, his gaze turning crimson with power.
"Let go of me!" Havoc snarled.
The knights smirked through their pain. "I know you're scared! This is the end of you, freak!" the lead knight spat.
"I said GET OFFFFF!"
WHOOSH!
Havoc threw them off like they were made of paper.
They flew backward, but it was too late—the captain finished his incantation.
"IGNIS INFERNO SLASH—BLAZING ROAR!"
The captain brought his blade down with the fury of a dying god.
ROOOOOAAR!
FWOOOOOOSH!
A massive flaming slash erupted toward Havoc, tearing the ground apart and burning everything in sight. The attack was beautiful and terrifying—like a tiger made of pure fire.
"You're finished, Soulwretch!" the lead knight gasped from where he lay wounded.
"No, I'm not done yet!" Havoc raised his cannon arm defiantly. "I still got my own shot! Let's see which one wins!"
WHIRRRRRRR!
WOOOOOOSH!
His cannon hummed to life, charging with all its horrific glory.
The flaming slash approached, scorching the land black.
"Here I go! TYPHOON ECLIPSE CANNON!"
FWOOOOOOOOOOSH!
WOOOOOSH!
The blast exploded from the cannon with such force it pushed Havoc backward. It flew straight for the captain's fury slash with equal ferocity, raising dust and debris, tearing trees apart like they were grass.
BOOOOOOOOM!
DUUUUUSH!
The blasts collided in an explosion that could be seen for miles. The shockwave bent trees to their breaking point and caused total destruction. The scorching wind washed over the battlefield, burning everything it touched. Light engulfed both the captain and Havoc in a miniature sun.
Then... silence.
Smoke rose from the scorched field.
*Huff... huff... huff...*
The captain breathed heavily. "Did I do it? Is it dead?" he wondered, barely able to stay conscious.
CRACK! KAAK!
HISSSS!
His blade shattered and crumbled to the ground, transforming back to its natural form—the flaming tiger. But its light burned faintly; it was totally exhausted, having used its last strength and essence for that final attack.
It collapsed with a weak groan, unconscious.
"I'm sorry, dear friend. Hope you can forgive me." The captain picked it up gently.
"Everyone fell except me. So that was the price to pay just for one Soulwretch... what power they have. I couldn't have done it without my men. May they rest in peace—they shall go down as heroes in the kingdom's history."
"Hahaha! How exciting! You really had me there!"
Havoc's voice cut through the silence like a blade through silk.
The captain jolted. "What?! No! It's still alive?!"
ZOOOOOM!
WHHHSH!
Havoc leaped through the settling dust like a nightmare given form. "You deserve that title, Captain."
As the smoke cleared, his right arcane cannon arm was completely blown off, his skin scorched and bleeding profusely. But he was smiling.
He descended with his claw going straight for the captain's chest.
*No! I can't dodge! I'm all worn out! I can't move!*
TWIIIIISH!
SQUELCH!
Havoc's claw hand went through the captain's chest, all the way to the back. Blood sprayed out like a crimson fountain.
"Guhh!" The captain coughed blood as Havoc raised him up with his claws still in his chest.
"But... how? That was my ultimate..."
Havoc smirked, almost gently. "Don't be down, Captain. You were powerful—so powerful that if I hadn't transformed into a Soulwretch, I could have died. You were truly a worthy opponent."
"No... all this was for nothing. I let down my men and am dying a failure." The captain's eyes filled with tears.
"What's your name? So I can remember you," Havoc asked with what almost sounded like respect.
The captain burned with fury. "Go to hell, monster!"
SLAAAASH!
THUD!
Havoc's tail blade cut his head clean off in one smooth motion.
"Wrong answer." He flung the captain's body—THUD!—it slammed against a tree and fell. "You fool. I wanted to honor you, but you decided to remain a cocky bastard till the end."
SWIIISH!
A blinding light—
PSSSSH!
His Echoform Magmarious glowed red and disintegrated into particles of light. It died since its master was no more.
"Huh. What a waste. I could have made a soul pact with that man and taken his Echoform—it was powerful. But one man can't have it all." Havoc shrugged.
He turned to survey the bloody field—corpses of the squadron scattered everywhere, the containment carriage standing alone. The field was completely scorched, looking like the aftermath of a war.
"Huh. What a day. It was exciting and all, but I still feel incomplete. I want to bathe the ground with Elsa and Lorenzo's blood like I did here." He turned and faced the distance where buildings stood.
"Time to go hunting."
TWAASH!
GRRUUG!
His severed arm began to grow back, flesh knitting together like living clay. His wounds healed completely, leaving unmarked skin.
"I can regenerate too? Now this is perfect." His cannon hummed with residual heat as the blood on his body burned and evaporated into red mist.
With one last glance at the field of carnage, Havoc began walking toward the city, his footsteps leaving smoldering craters in the earth.
His eyes burned like twin suns in the gathering darkness. "I'm coming for you, pretty boy, and Elsa. Just wait for me..."
He paused, tilting his head as something caught his enhanced senses. In the distance, he could hear the faint sounds of day to day life —laughter, music, the clinking of glasses.
The lifely sidonian kingdom.
Thousands of innocent people, completely unaware of what was coming for them.
Havoc's grin widened until it split his face from ear to ear.
"I shall make you all beg for your lives."
—TO BE CONTINUED—