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Na’zehra suddenly let out a loud, mocking chuckle. With a swift motion, she slammed her hand against a nearby wall, causing debris to rain down.
Her eyes sparkled with amusement as she spoke to Kaelan. “Was that a dragon soul transmission?”
“Seems your lord had already kicked the bucket if he was able to send something like that. What has it been, 30 minutes? I thought his battle with my lord would take much longer than that. Guess I overestimated him.”
Kaelan’s face twosted with anguish, his body shaking as he slowly called out, “Lord… Lord Hazerion… Lord Hazer-” His voice broke off as he coughed up blood.
Alister, still trapped within Kaelan’s mind, felt the surge of despair and helplessness seep into him.
The connection between them made the emotions even more, intensifying the sense of loss.
[Error! Player is trying to override the quest parameters!]
[Error: The player is attempting a forceful skill activation!]
[Skill activation failed!]
Na’zehra’s gaze snapped toward Kaelan, her smile widening as she saw his reaction.
“Oh, what’s this?”
“Are you like a baby calling out for his mother? Keep whining, Kaelan. Your lord died so easily because he was weak, and all these people dying around us are just fools who chose to accompany him to the grave.”
Kaelan’s blood continued to drip from his mouth as he mustered the strength to speak through his pain.
“I won’t let you get away with this,” he managed to say between violent coughs, his voice strained.
Na’zehra’s expression hardened, but her eyes still had a trace of amusement.
“Oh, really?”
“And what exactly do you plan to do about it? You’re in no condition to stop us, and there’s nothing left for you to protect.”
Kaelan’s vision blurred as he struggled to remain conscious. His gaze remained locked on Na’zehra, the anger in his eyes where like the flames that slowly consumed the city.
Na’zehra, gripping Kaelan by the hair and forcing him to meet her gaze. “You know,”
“I could spare your life if you’re willing to come under my lord. He welcomes all those who are willing to serv-”
“I would rather die,” Kaelan interrupted, his voice a rasping growl, cutting through her offer without hesitation.
For the first time, Na’zehra wore a serious expression on her face. “Then die.”
In a swift motion, she drove her hand into Kaelan’s chest, her fingers tearing through his scales and flesh. Kaelan gasped, his eyes widening in shock and pain as Na’zehra’s hand closed around his heart.
With a twist, she ripped it from his chest, the still-beating heart pulsating weakly in her grasp.
Kaelan’s breath hitched, his body trembling as he felt the life draining from him. The heart in Na’zehra’s hand gave one last feeble throb before it grew still, the light fading from his eyes.
With a look of disgust, Na’zehra discarded the heart, tossing it aside like a piece of trash. Kaelan’s body slumped to the ground, lifeless, his golden blood pooling beneath him.
“Death is the fate that awaits all those who dare to oppose my lord.”
“Now follow the others. Your lord awaits you in the afterlife.”
Without another glance, she turned her back on the fallen warrior and began to walk away. The chaos of the battle continued around her, but Na’zehra moved composure of one who had already claimed victory.
And just like that, everything went completely black.
[Penalty Quest complete!]
[Now returning the player’s conciousness to their body…]
[Failed!!!]
[2nd attempt….]
[Failed!!!]
Alister floated in the void, surrounded by the endless expanse of pitch-black space. The only thing visible to him was the soft glow of his golden astral body, a construct simmilar his physical form. He looked down at his hands, flexing them slowly, noticing how they resembled his normal, earthly body.
“Kaelan’s dead, and the penalty quest is over,” he said to himself, his voice echoing in the
empty space.
He clenched his fists tightly, a deep frustration simmering within him. He didn’t like how things had played out-the way those people had died, the way he couldn’t save Hazerion. But there was something more, something deeper that troubled him. A strange sense of attachment lingered in his mind, emotions that didn’t fully belong to him.
“These feelings… they’re not mine…”
Alister whispered, his gaze drifting into the dark void. He knew he wasn’t the type to grow
attached to strangers or even feel angry for them. He had always been pragmatic, mostly focused on his own goals.
Yet, Kaelan’s emotions seemed to be clouding his thoughts, seeping into his consciousness.
It had to be because they had shared a body, their souls intertwined. It was the same as when
he first heard Kaelan’s voice, the regret and sadness that had when he decided not to kill his
brother.
“Well, it can’t be helped,” he sighed, letting his hands fall to his sides.
“It’s all over now. I might as well move on and return to help the others in the Wasteland
Event.”
Just as he resolved to move forward, a voice echoed through the void, soft but clear.
“Young lord, please wait.”
Alister froze, feeling a sudden grip on his shoulder. He glanced down to see a purple astral
arm resting there, the touch gentle but firm. His eyes widened in shock as he recognized the
presence behind him. Slowly, he turned around…
It was Kaelan.
“I don’t understand… How are you here?”
Kaelan, his purple astral form glowing faintly, slowly dropped to one knee, bowing his head
in respect.
“How I am here doesn’t matter, young lord from a distant time. What matters is that I am.
And if I may be so bold, I have a request.”
Alister remained silent for a moment, his mind racing. “Did you know I was using your body
this entire time?”
“Yes, young lord.”
“Then why did you let me?”
“I was told to do so.”
“By who?”
“That, I cannot say,” Kaelan responded, his tone apologetic.
Alister paused, his eyes gazing at Kaelan’s face. For a moment, it seemed like he wanted to
argue, to demand answers. But instead, he let out a long sigh, as if deciding to let it go.
“What do you want?”
Kaelan lifted his head slightly as he spoke. “I know it’s not my place to ask this of you, young
lord, but I beg of you… avenge Hazerion. Avenge my people who couldn’t fight back to protect themselves… they didn’t deserve the fate that’s been forced upon them.”