Chapter 18: The Bloody Price of Power
The wind roared around them as Elvas lifted Kevin high into the sky, his Devil Wings slicing powerfully through the cold air. The strength pulsing through his back felt both agonizing and fiercely exhilarating, every powerful flap sending them higher above the trees. Below, the ancient forest rapidly shrank until the people and shadows were just tiny, insignificant specks.
Kevin thrashed violently in his grip, his claws snapping wildly and ineffectively. His scorpion tail curled forward, venom dripping from its sharp, hooked tip.
"You can't hold me!" Kevin snarled, his voice no longer remotely human, but warped by the monster within. His sickly green eyes burned with malice, his face twisting in fury.
Elvas tightened his desperate hold, the strain biting deep into his shoulder muscles. "Stop fighting!" he shouted fiercely over the relentless wind, "or I'll drop you right now!"
Kevin's laugh came out harsh and warped. "You think I'm scared of falling?" His claw swung fast, aimed directly for Elvas's heart.
Elvas instantly twisted mid-air, barely dodging the attack. The claw skimmed his side, slicing his shirt but miraculously missing his flesh. He countered with a sharp, forceful kick to Kevin's ribs, momentarily stunning the monster.
Kevin only smirked, his voice dripping with triumphant mockery. "You're fast," he said. "Just like your father—the demon king."
Elvas froze instantly. His powerful wings faltered for a critical split second, and a wave of paralyzing cold shot through him. "What did you just say?" he demanded, his voice trembling with a mixture of confusion and boiling rage.
Kevin grinned wider, venomous amusement flashing in his glowing eyes. "Oh, you truly didn't know? Poor little heir. You've got his precious blood running in your veins."
"I don't have a father!" Elvas snapped, his voice raw with denial. "Don't you dare lie to me!"
Kevin tilted his head slowly, laughing cruelly. "So naive. You don't even know the first thing about who you are."
Elvas's anger boiled over. "Shut up!" he hissed. His eyes darkened, raw power visibly rippling around his form. "Come out of Kevin's body now… or I'll rip you out myself."
Kevin chuckled, his smile twisting into something wicked and mocking. "You can certainly try," he taunted. "But if you manage to kill me, you kill your friend too. Are you ready for that, demon boy?"
Elvas's grip dangerously trembled. His pulse pounded deafeningly in his ears. He couldn't lose Kevin—not like this.
The System's red words appeared suddenly in the air, glowing bright and sharp against the dark sky.
[System Command: Acquire the Sword of Death to kill monster, friend remains unharmed. Crippling injury to monster provides alternate reward. Mandatory choice: Player Deletion.]
Elvas's eyes darted frantically over the words, his breath hitching. His heart hammered violently, still spiking from the desperate fight.
[Host heart rate: 80%]
He stared down at Kevin, whose body convulsed as the beast fought for total control. "If I choose a player," Elvas whispered, his voice shaking with awful realization, "someone else dies… but if I don't, I lose Kevin forever."
He clenched his teeth until they ached, desperation completely breaking through his resolve. "System… I have no choice."
His voice broke, thick with guilt. "Player deletion."
The cold air violently trembled around them. The glowing words instantly expanded, spreading across the vast sky like cracks of intense red lightning.
[System Update: Player Deletion Complete. Ability Unlock: Sword of Death—Activated.]
A blinding flash of light instantly flared in Elvas's hand. He squinted hard against the sudden illumination, and when the glow quickly faded, a terrifying sword rested firmly in his grasp. Its blade was black, jagged, and impossibly sharp, pulsing with a strange, hungry energy that seemed to consume the light.
Kevin's eyes widened with pure terror. "How did you—what is that?" His voice cracked, genuine fear finally seeping in. "Where did that horrific sword come from?"
Elvas's grip tightened around the deadly hilt. "I'm sorry, Kevin," he said quietly, his voice rough with conflicting emotion. "This is for your own good now."
Kevin's expression twisted completely from confusion to absolute dread. "No—wait—"
Elvas didn't hesitate for a second. He swung with all his augmented strength. The black blade cut clean through the air and plunged deep into Kevin's stomach.
A primal cry of agony tore from Kevin's throat as his body violently convulsed. The sickening green glow in his eyes flickered and dimmed rapidly. A thick, inky black mist poured from the wound, swirling violently before twisting toward the sword. The black blade pulsed brighter and brighter, greedily absorbing the darkness until it vanished completely inside the steel.
Then, an absolute silence fell.
[System Notification: Mission Complete. Monster now sealed in Prison of Death.]
Elvas stared at Kevin's now limp form in his arms. His chest rose and fell weakly, normally. The demonic corruption was gone, but Kevin looked dangerously pale—fragile.
Elvas's immense wings trembled as total exhaustion suddenly hit him like a physical blow. He descended slowly and carefully, landing in the clearing with shaky, aching legs. He laid Kevin gently on the soft dirt, his breathing heavy and ragged, his wings aching fiercely.
A rustling sound came from the surrounding woods. Elvas's instincts immediately kicked in. He turned sharply, every sense on high alert. Voices—shouting, running—were getting closer.
"The others," he muttered under his breath.
With a painful wince, he quickly retracted his wings. A searing pain tore through his back as the massive black appendages folded and sank back into his skin, leaving only faint scorch marks behind. He stumbled for a second, gritting his teeth, then darted behind a thick tree trunk, using his Speed to blur into complete cover.
Moments later, his teammates burst into the clearing—Auran leading, Laura and Marcus close behind. Their faces were pale with shock, their eyes wide as they rushed toward the prone Kevin.
"Kevin!" Auran dropped to his knees beside his friend. "Hey, wake up! Come on!"
Kevin groaned weakly, his eyelids fluttering open. "What… happened?"
Laura pressed her glowing hands to his chest, her healing light faint but steady. "You're okay now," she said softly, relieved. "You're safe."
"Safe?" Marcus scoffed, pacing nearby. "From what? The beast is gone. Who finished it? Did anyone even see?"
Laura looked around. "Did anyone see Elvas?"
Auran shook his head, his face tight with concern. "He was chase by Kevin right before we lost sight of them."
Marcus snorted, his grin sharp and cynical. "That kid probably ran and hid. He's good at that, after all."
Elvas's fists clenched tightly from where he hid. He wanted desperately to speak, to defend himself—but he forced himself to stay silent, letting them talk and revealing nothing.
Marcus continued his mocking assessment. "No way he actually fought that thing. He can't even swat a fly without crying."
"Enough, Marcus," Laura snapped, her eyes flashing with anger. "He's part of this team, whether you like it or not."
"Team?" Marcus laughed coldly. "More like dead weight."
Elvas exhaled slowly, quietly. His heart rate finally slowed, his immediate fear fading. Finally, he stepped out from the concealment of the trees.
The group turned instantly, their expressions shifting.
"Elvas," Laura said quickly, undeniable relief washing over her pale face. "You're actually okay."
"Yeah," Elvas said quietly, brushing dirt from his shirt. "I just… hid for a bit. Didn't know if it was truly over."
Auran's eyes narrowed sharply. "Did you see the beast?" he asked, his tone demanding. "It disappeared completely. Where did it go?"
Elvas hesitated, his throat dry. "I—I don't know," he said, using the truth where he could. "When I woke up, it was gone."
Marcus laughed scornfully under his breath. "See? Told you. The kid's useless."
Laura shot him a furious glare, then gently helped Kevin sit up. "Don't mind him," she said to Elvas gently. "You did the best you could to survive."
Kevin coughed, still weak. "It's okay," he rasped. "I'm just… really tired."
Auran rose quickly to his feet, scanning the immediate horizon. "We're done here," he said firmly. "Let's regroup and keep moving. We still need Medasu's head before nightfall."
As he spoke, the sky darkened suddenly and dramatically. Thick, ominous clouds rolled in from the west, swallowing the remaining sunlight. The wind picked up, howling eerily through the trees.
Leaves scattered violently across the ground. The air grew heavy, biting cold.
Laura's faint healing glow immediately flickered and dimmed. "What's happening?" she whispered, fear lacing her voice.
Marcus tightly gripped his sword, his eyes narrowing. "Is this… the beast again?"
Before anyone could answer, a shadow appeared suddenly behind them—impossibly tall, distinctly horned, and terrifyingly fast.
A blur of motion. A wet, sickening sound like tearing flesh.
Kevin barely had time to utter a gasp.
The creature's razor-sharp claw plunged straight through his chest.
Blood sprayed across the clearing. Kevin's eyes widened in impossible shock, his mouth parting soundlessly—
—and then the shadow ripped his heart out and instantly vanished into the gathering darkness.