The roar of battle echoed across the shattered cliffs. Eno lay motionless, her chest pierced by Jack's tentacle.
Leo sprinted toward her with everything he had, blood dripping from wounds and eyes wide with shock.
"ENO!!!" he screamed.
But it was too late.
Jack grabbed Eno's body and with a smirk, flung her limp form off the mountainside.
Leo didn't think—he jumped after her, arms outstretched, catching her mid-air. He clutched her tightly, tears streaking down his bloodied face.
"So this is how it ends…" he whispered. "I couldn't protect you... I broke my promise… I couldn't even take revenge…"
Blood leaked from his eyes like tears as they plummeted through the sky.
"I'm sorry… Eno…"
And they vanished into the mist below.
Jack watched from above.
"They're gone," he said coldly. "What a waste of spirit."
Nearby, Akumo stood barely holding himself up, his body cut and burned. Necros stumbled away, his arms torn and powerless.
Jack appeared beside him. "That's enough. I'll finish this."
Necros nodded and limped away.
Jack faced Akumo.
"Still standing? You're more persistent than expected."
Akumo raised his portal blade, panting. "I… won't back down…"
The clash began. Akumo unleashed every last ounce of power, his portals slicing, shifting, exploding across the jungle—but Jack was faster. Stronger. A predator toying with its prey.
Finally, Akumo dropped to one knee, gasping. "So this is my en—"
Suddenly, a boot slammed into his side. He fell over—Ardy had arrived.
Raven landed nearby, assessing the scene. "Where's Leo?"
Jack wiped his hands. "That boy? I killed him."
Everyone froze.
Ardy's eyes lit with a violent glow. His aura erupted so fiercely, the trees bent backward. The air cracked like lightning.
Jack staggered back. "What… is that pressure…?"
Raven looked to the sky. "So Leo's really dead..."
But his lips curled into a strange smile.
Rage burned behind Ardy's eyes.
"Let's end this," Raven said to Ardy. Together, they charged Jack.
The three collided in a brutal 1v2. Jack lashed out with his tentacles while Raven and Ardy split his attention with synchronized attacks—fire magic and talismans from Raven, raw power and elemental blades from Ardy.
Jack struck back hard, breaking the ground beneath them, but he couldn't overpower an Elder and Ardy combined.
Finally, Ardy closed in and drove a blade through Jack's chest.
Jack gasped, coughing blood, and tumbled from the mountain.
Ardy fell to one knee, exhausted, breathing heavily.
Raven helped steady him as the last of the battle cries faded behind them.
The war had ended.
Ardy woke in the recovery ward, blinking slowly. Ruka sat beside him, eyes red from crying.
The Emperor stood nearby, arms crossed.
Ardy sat up weakly. "Where's Leo?"
Ruka blinked. "Leo? Oh… I forgot… After the war, I haven't seen him."
Ardy bolted upright. "What?!"
He ran from the room. Ruka, the Emperor, Zero, Kael, Master Lee, and Raven followed close behind.
They reached the cliffside of the mountain.
What they saw froze them.
A pack of wild animals had gathered around a burnt, half-eaten corpse. The remnants of its clothing—Leo's academy jacket.
Ruka covered her mouth.
Everyone stood in horrified silence.
Ardy fell to his knees, staring at the body.
"They forgot him… they all forgot…"
He turned slowly to Raven, his voice like steel.
"You knew… didn't you?"
Raven looked away. "What?"
"You knew. That if you stopped me back then… Jack could kill Leo."
A flashback played.
Rosalie stood before Raven.
"I saw a future… a future that ends in fire and death. The only way to stop it is if Leo dies."
Raven's eyes narrowed. "That idiot?"
Rosalie's tone was firm. "If he survives, the future will collapse. No matter what happens—he must die."
"…Fine."
Back in the present, Raven whispered, "I didn't want this… but it was necessary. For humanity."
Ardy shook. "You could've helped… you didn't."
"I didn't know exactly how it would happen."
"But the Second Elder has time magic. You could've seen."
Raven stepped forward. "Ardy—what are you saying?"
Ardy's glare hardened. "I'm saying… maybe now I want to die too."
And he lunged.
Raven stepped back—but before the clash, Kael, Zero, and Lee intervened.
Zero raised his hand. "This is too complex. Don't lose yourself, Ardy. If you attack an elder… you'll be declared an enemy of the kingdom."
But Ardy didn't listen.
He pushed forward—until Ruka threw herself in front of him.
"Please… Ardy… stop! We've already lost Leo and Eno… I don't want to lose you too."
She stepped closer, eyes filled with tears.
"If you do this… our friendship ends here."
Ardy stood still, chest rising and falling.
He took one last look at Raven.
"You always stand in my way."
He turned away.
"Better find a place to hide."
---