MLIV C5, P3- "All Falls Down"

"All Falls Down" is the third Part of "Miracula Luxia IV" 's fifth Chapter.
It was released on 26.07.2022.
== Plot ==
Adam and his allies are slowly getting closer to the heart of Erika's Tower. Unfortunately, it is almost as if Erika herself wants to stop the young hero with interfering with her own work, as a giant cave-in separates him and leaves him all alone. In a tower, filled to the brim with dangerous traps and vicious monsters.
With the help of Donovan and Amelia- two of his greatest allies whom he has known for many years- he embarks on one last run, in the hopes that he will be able to unravel Erika's secrets unharmed.
And yet, everything seems to be acting against him. Time is of the essence and even the inside area of the tower is not safe from the mercenaries of Mordred Darkthrop.
WIll Adam emerge from the fortress of doom before everything falls apart in front of his own eyes?
== Story ==
Donovan looks at Adam, staring him up and down, barely believing that this is no lie.
"You've changed so much. I call tell by the newfound resonance of your soul."- He says- "It's almost... mesmerizing to look at you now."
Amelia smiles sadly.
"So, his sacrifice was not in vain."- She says- "Looks like we're together again."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"Are you talking about... him?"
Amelia looks down.
"I... I'm sorry."- She mutters- "I let him down. I ran when he was still in danger."
She clenches her fists.
"I'm not worthy enough for him."- She mutters in an even lower voice- "Why did he choose me?"
Donovan sighs and places his hand on Adam's shoulder.
"Ever since he died, Amelia's been a wreck."- He says- "She fell in love with him when he arrived in Goznor and has been infatuated with him ever since."
Adam nods.
"I understand."- He responds- "If this is what happened between them, then I sympathize with her grief. Losing someone who is important to you could be... devastating."
Donovan looks at him.
"I mean, you've already gone through the worst of it."- He says- "How bad could it be for her?"
Adam sighs.
"Every time I went on missions to defeat stragglers from Darkthrop's invasion or to save innocent villages from being razed to the ground, Aalia has been feeling very sad. She never dared to tell me how much she hates it when I am not home, but her eyes easily betrayed the truth to me."- He says- "And yet, she was never angry about it. She never cheated on me. She was always loyal to me, even as I worked with other female heroes like her to save the world."
Donovan smiles.
"Heh."- He says- "I knew that she'd be a good one for you."
He looks at a nearby window and sighs.
"Hearing of how she still loves you so much reminds me of Sharla."
Adam gasps.
"Oh, right! I almost forgot that you are the King of Goznor now!"- He exclaims- "How is that going for you?"
Donovan grimaces.
"Ugh. I wish it had not been me."- He says- "I don't know how my father dealt with the constant threats on the other side of the border and the constant mutiny that is caused by unruly civilians, but I'm just... not fit for this job."
Adam shakes his head.
"You are giving yourself too little credit, Donnie."- He says- "I have already heard of your heroic feats. It is a pleasure to hear that we could still rely on each other."
Donovan raises his eyebrow.
"You still see me as something that I'm not. And yet, I can't blame you. You've always been quite an optimist, even in the most dire situations known to mankind."- He says- "But what about me? Am I really playing an important role in the story of our times? If so, please name a few good reason why I should keep going?"
Adam smiles, as if knowing that he would ask.
"Well, you were responsible for preventing Darkthrop's people from conquering Port Remembrance- a strategic location from which your kingdom could trade supplies with others with minimal difficulty. Another one is Battle for Canonia- a fearsome siege that would have left a more incompetent sovereign unsure in the face of danger. That day, you saved so many lives and everyone praised you for your altruism and selflessness. And so did I."- He says- "Finally, do you remember how you distributed the kingdom's suppiles in a more fair way than your father once did? Everyone was thrilled to see that you care so much about them."
Donovan nods.
"That may be true, but are they still going to see me as their king after leaving their kingdom in the hands of Sharla?"- He asks- "I mean, she is indeed a well-trained warrior. But she is a diplomat, not a strategist. She won't hold out on her own for long if she were in any danger."
Adam shakes his head.
"And you want to simply abandon them when they need you the most?"- He asks- "Forgive me for saying this, my friend, but I think that you should grow up. I know that you miss Aiden and that you want him to be king instead of you, but this is not the world that we live in. Nobody can change the past and the best we could do is to march on until we find a light in this dark tunnel. So, look into my eyes and tell me that you are no coward, because the worst thing that we all need right now is another man of importance who is foolishly shying away from his duties."
Then, he takes a step forward.
"If you have the guts to be the hero they want to see, then I am sure that you know what to do next."
Donovan nods.
"I came all the way here, endangering myself and risking that I've still got let, just to save a friend who once changed my life."- He says- "Adam, I never dared to save the world for them. They matter a lot to me, but you've always been on my mind."
He looks up.
"Ever since he left us, I never forgot his words."- He says- "It's as if he desperately wanted me to find you. To protect you."
He nods.
"But he was right."- He adds- "I made the right choice. And now, we can stop Darkthrop together."
Adam nods.
"Judging from the spark in your eyes, I can see that you found another fragment of faith."- He says- "I can see that you never changed, Donnie. You may have become one with the nobles you so despised, yet your noble personality never faded away. It was still resting inside of that golden heart of yours, but was surrounded by riches and fame. The greed that once ran inside the veins of your family tried to corrupt you, to turn you against your own friends. And yet, you stood strong against it and held your head high in the air. Thanks to your constant efforts to make a difference, Destiny has finally decided to give you another chance for redemption."
He takes a step forward and places his hand on Donovan's shoulder.
"Donnie. I know that I am not the worthiest ally for you and Sharla. I know that I could never be what you consider a good friend. And yet, I still have a sense of duty. A burning passion to redeem myself. So, my honor demands that I ask you of this."- He says- "Will you join me on this perilous adventure one last time? Will you conquer your own fears and fight alongside the one you once called your friend again?"
Donovan smiles.
"You really think that I would leave and try to avoid the only living person who truly respects me?"- He says- "Count me in, my friend. I shall burn that fiend down, in the name of our friendship!"
Adam nods.
"That is the spirit that I wanted to see."- He says- "Now, let us proceed. The heart of the tower awaits.'
Donovan raises his eyebrow.
"The heart of the... what?"
Adam sighs.
"I will try to explain whatever I can once we get there."- He says- "For now, just try to focus on not getting killed. There are many traps in our way and each one is more lethal than the other."
Amelia shivers.
"Yikes."- She says- "This won't be an easy journey."
Adam draws his weapon.
"And I never intended it to be."
On the stairway to the top, they stumble across a long hall.
"How peculiar."- Donovan says- "The design of the walls is rather... uneven. This is the first sign of a deadly trap."
Adam nods.
"From the looks of it, this chamber contains turrets that shoot venomous arrows."- He says- "And they are mounted on both sides of the wall."
Amelia raises her eyebrow.
"Uhh, sure thing about the arrows."- She says- "But how did you know that they're venomous?"
Adam points at a droplet of venom, carelessly spilled on the floor ahead of them.
"Could this make it any more obvious that it already is?"
Amelia 's eyes widen.
"Oh."- She says- "Al's never come across something like this."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"What do you know about my brother?"
Amelia blushes for a moment as she remembers her beloved.
"Oh, he was the sweetest man I've ever met. In my humble opinion, he could make all of the world's gentlemen worthless in comparison."- She says- "He is everything a lovestuck woman like myself ever needed. He was so gallant. So selfless. So gentle and kind. No matter what kind of men I meet in the future, he'll always own my heart."
She falls on her knees.
"Why can't you just stay with me, Al?!"- She yells- "Why must you make me suffer like this?!"
Adam sighs.
"Well, I have no more tears left to cry."- He says- "I apologize, but we must stay calm. Who knows what kind of trap we could trigg-- "
Unfortunately, Adam's suspicions prove to be correct sooner than he could express them. Amelia's tears seem to trigger a hidden trap, somewhere beneath her feet.
Suddenly, all turrets swivel their aim toward the crying girl.
"Amelia!"- Adam yells- "Stand still, I beg you! This will confuse the turrets and help me disarm them before they could hurt you!"
However, Amelia's cries show no signs of ceasing. They are loud enough to force the turrets to start shooting.
"No!"
With a swift series of movements, Adam leaps from side to side and catches arrows in mid-air, effectively keeping Amelia alive and well with minimal effort.
"How are you doing down there?"- Adam asks.
Amelia does not respond. She just continues to cry.
"Alright. I understand."- He adds- "Just do not go anywhere. I have everything under control."
Having said that, he watches as one last arrow is shot at Amelia and picks it up.
"And now, it is time to return the messages to those creeps."- Adam says confidently.
Then, without a moment of thought, he jumps in the air, spins around like a wild hurricane in the windy season, and throws arrows at all sides, seemingly without any sense of direction.
And yet, they still perfectly hit their intended targets- the now-empty turrets all around him and Amelia.
"Brace for impact!"
Just as the unstable tools of destruction finally explode from all of the pressure that is cast down on them, Adam and his allies stay very close to each other, narrowly avoiding the widespread blast.
As explosions ring the air around them, Amelia lowers her head and sighs.
"I'm sorry, Adam."- She says- "I failed you, just like I failed him."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"And how did you do so, if you do not mind me asking?"
Amelia sighs again.
"It's just that I-I'm such a crybaby. I always mourn those that I had lost and I never focus on my real task."- She says- "Will this be my last mistake?"
Adam shakes his head.
"I genuinely hope so."- He says- "However, I will not let those moments be the last ones of your life."
Moments later, the explosions finally die down. Our heroes sit on the ground and let out three big sighs of relief.
"And so, the mighty defenses of Erika's Tower have finally been defeated."- Adam says- "With each step, we are getting closer to the object that we must destroy. And I have the good feeling that it is almost the end of our journey."
Donovan raises his eyebrow.
"Wait. Erika's Tower?"- He asks- "But this... this can't be true. Her tower was destroyed long ago by enthusiastic avernite wiz-- "
Suddenly, a large, tattered banner falls on the ground in front of Donovan. While bending down and looking at it, he notices the star sigil that is the true sign of the archmage that used to be Erika Redmark.
After finally realizing where he is and what is going on, Donovan falls on his knees and starts to shiver.
"None of this is true. This is all just a dream."- He says to himself, trying to forget what he is seeing- "I'm still out there. Still looking for Adam. We're not doomed to the bone. I'm certain of it."
Adam sighs.
"Donnie, are you really going to act like a child again?"
Amelia is angered by Donovan's act of incompetence. She grabs him by the neck and pulls him up.
"Get up, Donnie! Is this really what you want to be- a cowardly sovereign who can't take a dangerous job seriously or speak like a normal person?"- She asks him- "Sharla said that you were once a mighty warrior! A fearless master of fire! She told me how you helped a foreign trader get what she was owed and established an alliance between their powerful nation and ours for many decades to come! And this is what you've turned into?!"
Then, without thinking twice, she slaps him.
"Umm."- Adam says- "Was that really necessary?"
Amelia looks at him and sighs.
"Sometimes, I have to be a little harsh with him."- She says- "Don't worry. I'm sure that he'll be fine."
Then, she turns around, leaves him alone and starts to walk forward.
"I hope so."
As Adam helps Donovan up, he looks down and sighs.
"See?"- He says- "Even my sister thinks I've gone too far.'
Adam shakes his head.
"Remember what I told you, my friend."- He says- "You still have not lost your way. You are just a little confused. So, do me a favor and keep on being yourself again."
Donovan nods.
"I'll try. It's the best I could do, for now."- He says- "However, I can't make any promises. Nobody could tell what kind of magic is still left in here. Thus, I suggest you keep a keen eye on me, in case I act like a fool again."
Adam nods.
"If it means that your mind will be put at ease for good, then I assure you that I will do so."
Donovan smiles.
"I knew that I could count on you, Adam."- He says- "Now, let's proceed. The heart of the tower is awaiting us... I hope."
As Adam and his allies walk past the rubble that used to be powerful additions to the tower's defenses not too long ago, Donovan remembers how Alcander had to get past the same kind of trickery to reach his opponent.
"I wish I had the chance to help him out."- He says to himself- "If I wasn't so preoccupied with Isaac Darkshade's forces, I would have strangled him with my own hands for what he did to my friend."
Adam turns to him, in a way that suggests he is curious about something.
"Donnie, can I have your attention for a minute?"
Donovan raises his eyebrow.
"Umm, sure."- He says- "What's on your mind?"
Adam sighs.
"Even by simply staring into your eyes, I realize that my brother went through a lot of pain and suffering before he died."- He says- "You were his closest ally during his last adventure. So, I want to know what happened. Who is responsible for the death of my brother. And, most importantly, if his legacy is truly lost forever."
Donovan looks down. With an exasperated sigh, he reminds himself of the last moments that Alcander Kaos spent with his friends. How he heroically fought off countless enemies, putting his own life at risk. How he made sure that they reached World's End alive. And, finally, how he climbed on a crumbling tower of doom all by himself and faced an evil necromancer without the aid of his friends.
"It was Vexor."- He gives a simple and straightforward answer- "Vexor killed Al."
Adam clenches his fists. Fury burns deep within his eyes, like an undying flame that burns bright in a dark forest.
"I knew it."
Donovan nods.
"Unfortunately, that wicked creature escaped soon after Al perished. We didn't have the chance to catch him and I... I feel responsible for letting my friend put himself through all this pain, just to execute a man who has gone too wild."- He says- "Thanks to the rumors that I heard from kindhearted strangers along the way, I came to the conclusion that Vexor was travelling past the wastes west of World's End and tried to reach another major outpost of their empire. And yet, I haven't seen him ever since. Does this mean that he... ?"
Adam nods.
"You should not worry about this anymore, my friend."- He says- "Vexor is no more. He fell by my hand and he shall never be brought back into this world again- just like Darkthrop when I finally find where he is."
Donovan smiles.
"Then this means that Al's noble sacrifice was not in vain, after all."- He says- "Thanks to the two of you, the world is a bit safer."
Adam nods.
"It is the least I could do to honor my brother's memory."- He says- "The memory of him shall live on, no matter how hard our enemies try to erase it."
Amelia takes a step forward, staring at Adam as she prepares to reveal whatever truth she had held away from him until now.
"Your brother's memory is legacy, it's far brighter than you expect it to be."- She admits and looks at her abdomen- "I mean, look at this and tell me that he's truly gone."
Adam takes a closer look and realizes something which he never noticed when they reunited.
"You are... pregnant?"- He asks- "With my brother's child?"
Amelia nods.
"You say that we're just allies. That we'll always remain this way, even as we're separated."- She says- "We're a family now, Adam. And it's not just whatever is inside of me that forms a connection for us to cherish. The bond that we share's the strongest gift anyone could give and I'd do anything to keep it alive, even as we enter the deepest stronghold, face the strongest enemies."
Donovan nods, agreeing with his sister's statement.
"Ever since Aiden left this world, I've come to recognize you as my younger, but still very competent sibling-like figure. You've always been the brightest star in the sky, the brilliant sun that lights up our path to eternal peace. And yet, there's always been that spark in your eyes, that flame of honor that my brother once had in life. This is when I realized that Aiden never went anywhere. The sparks that once compromised his very soul have been scattered across each one of those that he valued the most, and you're one of those whose spark burns the brightest."- He says- "Family is more than just those who are related to you, my friend. Those that we consider parts of it are more than just what we've had since we were born. To me, all of the friends and allies that we met along the way have been a part of my family. And you, buddy, you're the one that I'll never forget."
Adam smiles serenely.
"Family is what we are fighting for."- He says- "And all of us are one big, amazing family."
Donovan nods.
"In we go, then."
The three of them get past numerous signs of danger. And yet, they do not stop to wonder if they made the right decision. As long as there is still a chance for survival, they are ready to take it, even when their hands are bloodied and bruised.
"Keep up the great work, everyone."- Adam says- "I have the feeling that we are getting closer."
Donovan raises his eyebrow.
"And what makes you think so?"
Adam smiles.
"My father taught me how to sense danger from afar."- He says- "It seems like all the hours of training are finally paying off."
Amelia points at something in the distance.
"Sure thing, but did they train you to see this coming?"
Adam gasps as he realizes that they are no longer alone in the room. He draws his weapon and watches as a small group of confused-looking creatures approach them.
And then, reality is bended in a twisted way, as if by a wicked villain out of their reach. The faces of their new enemies are revealed and our heroes realize that they are no mere, semi-sentient beasts captured from the wilderness...
"We are getting attacked... by humans!"
Donovan shakes his head.
"But this is impossible!"- He exclaims- "There can't be any humans! Not here, not now!"
Unlike him, Amelia seems to believe what she is seeing. She curiously approaches one of them and stares at him as he tries to kill her.
"Those humans seemed to be under the control of a superior being."- She says- "From the looks of it, they were quite unlucky. Quite a pity, considering that they seem to be quite competent with the blades in their hands."
Adam shakes his head.
"Enemies or not, I do not like having to fight our fellow humans."- He says- "Killing fiends like those darklings is one thing, but having to deal with those who are a part of your race is... a horrifying concept, at the very least."
Donovan nods.
"Me too."- He says- "I'm tired of seeing the blood of humankind, even though those who died were traitors."
He looks around.
"Isn't there another way to deal with them?"- He asks- "Something that's more... humane for them?"
Adam nods.
"I understand your concern, Donnie."- He says- "I will try to find a safer way around this mess."
It does not take long for the heroes to discover a tool that will allow a safer takedown.
"A paralyzing field."- Adam says- "Eureka!"
He turns to his allies.
"Push them back without any fear."- He instructs them- "The magic of this place shall do the rest."
Donovan and Amelia work together to fight back against the dazed humans. They avoid their attacks and trip them as they get closer, pushing them into the giant field when they are unable to act.
With the help of Adam, the three of them take care of this problem in no more than ten minutes. Soon, the road to the top is open once again.
"I am sorry, my friends. But it had to be done."- Adam says to the paralyzed humans as they struggle to break free- "You will understand what we had to go through to save you once the curse wears off."
Donovan sighs.
"They never had a choice."- He says- "Why must the guardians of this tower be so cruel?"
Adam shakes his head.
"They trespassed into sacred ground, and they paid the price."- He says- "However, their intentions were far less noble and pure than ours. Thus, they received a more painful punishment."
Amelia is confused by Adam's statement.
"Do you really think that the intentions of scavengers like those can really be noble?"- She asks- "But why? They're just a bunch of flamboyant thieves! Nothing else!"
The paralyzed people glare at them, as if to confirm what she just said.
And yet, Adam is unconvinced. He shakes his head.
"Everyone has to survive, no matter if their intentions are pure or not."- He says- "Sometimes, survival is a matter of life and death. You have to take risks. Whether you will continue living your life normally or not depends on how well-prepared you are for them."
Amelia sighs.
"Yeah. Whatever."- She says- "I just hope that you won't feel all... sentimental among the rest of them."
Adam nods.
"I try to show mercy to my enemies."- He says- "But sometimes, it is just impossible to do so."
Donovan shakes his head.
"I hate to interrupt you, but we still have farther to go."- He says- "Many more guardians are awaiting us."
Adam sighs.
"Of course."- He says- "Come on. Let us keep moving before it is too late.'
The three of them approach the top of the tower. When they do, Amelia stares out of a nearby window, taking a good look at the area just below the tower.
"Beautiful view."- She says- "It's a shame that this place is so... war-torn."
Adam nods.
"There have always been disputes over the tower of Erika the Archmage. Both Avernum and the Empire have been fighting over it."- He says- "And yet, no one was able to claim it as their own. All that they managed to do was to destroy the land, with no clear result in sight."
Donovan nods.
"And yet, it seems like they've finally given up."
Adam sighs.
"Perhaps Darkthrop's invasion finally did one good thing for us- it stopped an unnecessary conflict from corrupting the lands of Avernum."- He says- "However, I fear that it may continue as soon as it is over. So, it would be best to inform the authorities of how foolish it is to fight over a piece of land that they might never own as soon as possible."
He takes a step forward.
"But not before we take care of this dangerous bit of business."- He adds- "So, let us forget this for now and focus on trying to survive instead."
With that, the three heroes approach the heart of the tower.
Just as they are about to enter the last room, however, an ominous feeling falls over them. It is as if someone has been stalking him all the way to this point and is now preparing to make their move.
"Oh no."- Amelia says- "Something's... not right."
Adam nods.
"So much for a safer arrival."- He says- "Keep yourselves together, everyone. We are going to face a dangerous enemy."
As the door to Erika's inner sanctum is finally opened, our heroes carefully stumble inside. They inspect every corner of the room for their enemy, aware that he could be anywhere and everywhere.
Moment later, a small dagger flies out from the left. 
Fortunately, Adam has dealt with this kind of trickery before. He pushes Donovan and Amelia back before they could get themselves hurt.
"Adam?"- Amelia asks- "Is something wrong?"
Adam nods.
"I forgot to tell you earlier, but a servant of Darkthrop has been stalking us as we entered the tower."- He says- "I do not know how he came so far, but there is one thing that I am sure of- he is here."
Donovan draws his spear.
"Then let him in."- He says- "I'm not afraid of them!"
A voice chuckles from nearby.
"Oh, but you should be."- It responds- "Your Majesty."
Donovan gasps.
"What? Who is there?!"- He asks- "How do you know who I am?!"
The voice chuckles again.
"You can't hide anything from Master Darkthrop."
Adam recognizes the mysterious voice immediately.
"Declan, you coward!"- He yells- "Show yourself!"
Declan laughs.
"And why should I do so, Adam?"- He asks him- "It's so much more fun playing around in the dark."
Adam draws his sword.
"I will pull you away from there- one way or another!"
"I'd like to see you try!"- Declan responds.
Declan's response to Adam's determination is almost immediate. He throws a barrage of daggers in their direction, in a way that implies how skilled he is.
"Fall back!"- Donovan yells- "We can't fight him! Not like this!"
As the three heroes leap toward a safer spot, Declan laughs.
"Yes! This is just what I wanted!"- He exclaims- "Now I can take them down, one after the other!"
Moments later, he throws a small grenade in their direction, startling them.
"Dear god!"- Donovan exclaims as the heroes leap back even further to avoid the blast- "Why are we dealing with such a monster?"
Adam sighs.
"Sometimes, the most powerful and evil villains must be taken down, if there must be peace for the entire world. They are too wicked to live and too foolish to negotiate with them."- He says- "Thus, we have to take care of this... little predicament."
Amelia nods.
"I know how it feels."- She says- "I've defeated many people like him. They all fell apart while fighting for whatever foolish cause they had in mind. And yet, it never felt good to do so. They were all brave and skilled warriors, but they threw their own lives away for someone who doesn't even care about them. What a harsh world we live in."
Donovan nods.
"The best we could do for this tainted soul is to show him the magnitude of his mistakes... "- He says- "... by purifying him with fire!"
Adam gasps.
"Of course!"- He exclaims- "Donnie, you are a genius!"
Donovan raises his eyebrow.
"Huh?"- He says- "Did I say something smart?"
Adam forms a small wisp of flame in the palm of his hand.
"If we are to defeat this vagabond, we must fight his fire with our own!"- He says- "Prepare yourselves, everyone. It will soon get very hot in here. And I mean it quite literally."
He jumps out of his hiding spot.
"Take this, Declan!"
Then, just as he launches another grenade from the nearby shadows, Adam quickly launches a fireball and forces it to explode, throwing Declan back and revealing his position with ease.
"But... how?"- Declan asks- "How'd you know where I was?"
Adam smiles.
"You were attacking us so carelessly."- He says- "It is almost as if you were not showing your true power."
Declan sighs.
"Well, you can see me now."- He says- "How does it feel to know the one that will bring forth the end of your existence?"
Amelia chuckles.
"You're the one who will kill us all?"- She asks- "No offense, friend, but you've still got a long way to go before you can get into a real fight... assuming that you could survive this one, that is."
Declan smirks.
"You're underestimating me, just like everyone else."- He says- "My name is Declan. I am the the master of shadows. When I'm given a task to complete, nothing could ever stop me. No matter where my victims run away, they can never hide from me!"
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"Who said that we were trying to hide? From you, of all people?"- He asks him- "You are only making a fool out of yourself. You are the one who ran away from us after we defeated you at the entrance, not the other way around."
Declan takes a step back. He knows that the truth can burn, but this is way too much for him to bear.
"Enough! I won't be fooled by your lies anymore!"- He yells- "Darkthrop commanded me to destroy you once and for all! And I won't rest until you're finally gone!"
Adam draws his sword.
"And I shall not rest until your wicked kind has been purged from the face of the earth."- He says- "All of you shall feel the wrath of the condemned as justice finally rains down upon you. And I will make that happen!"
Adam prepares to charge, but soon realizes that Declan has another trick up his sleeve. He wisely gets out of the way as the villain launches a barrage of small grenades.
"This is only the least I could do."- He says- "Prepare yourselves for more!"
As the three heroes fight against him, Donovan notices something interesting.
"From the way he uses his weapons against us, it's clear that he's completely unable to use magic."- He says- "Maybe this will give us an advantage in this fight."
Adam nods.
"Indeed."- He says- "And I have a plan in mind."
As Declan continues to launch grenades and daggers like a madman, Adam emerges from his hiding spot and whistles to him.
"Hey, Declan!"- He yells- "If you really want to get me, I am right here!"
Declan glares at him. He considers attacking, but soon suspects that this might be a trap.
"You think that I'm some kind of fool?!"- He yells- "Your tricks ain't going to work on m-- "
Suddenly, Amelia leaps out and uses her wind magic to pull Declan closer to them. Then, Donovan charges and strikes the villain with his spear a few times, leaving behind a few nasty wounds and burning his skin simultaneously.
At the same time, Adam leaps behind Declan. As the outlaw turns around, he uses his wind magic to push him into a wall, nearly breaking his skull in the process.
"Agh!"- He exclaims as he gets up- "And to think that I was facing a group of disorganized brats!"
Donovan shakes his head.
"We are not your ordinary unfortunates, villain."- He says- "We can fight back. And you shall soon see the rest of our powers!"
Declan points two daggers at them.
"Bring it on, fools!"
Adam draws his bow and points it at him.
"You asked for it."
As he fires three arrows in his direction, he nimbly avoids them and surprises Adam by teleporting away. Then, just as he wonders where he went, he teleports behind him and stabs him with both of his daggers, leaping away before he could strike back.
"Adam!"- Donovan exclaims- "Are you okay?"
Adam nods.
"I have to admit that this was unexpected."- He says- "But I will be fine. I have nothing to worry about."
Then, as if by some kind of a vile curse, he falls on his knees and starts to cough.
"This is not good!"- Amelia says- "Adam's not feeling well!"
Donovan shakes his head.
"And it's not just a normal sickness!"
Declan laughs.
"Hah!"- He exclaims- "I'd like to see your mighty hero get through that!"
Amelia glares at Declan.
"What have you done to him, you fiend?!"
Declan idly tosses a small knife in his hand, as if he doesn't care.
"Oh, nothing much."- He says- "Just a deadly toxin that chips away a person's sanity and drains their life away in a matter of just a few minutes."
He grins.
"It's inevitable."- He adds- "Your friend will die soon. Remember him while you still can, because you'll be next.'
Amelia shakes her head.
"I can't believe that this is happening."- She says- "Adam, one of the world's greatest heroes, is going to suffer like this?"
She looks down.
"I don't want my friend to die."
Donovan hugs her.
"I'm so sorry, Amelia."- He says- "We can't do anything."
Much to their surprise, Adam slowly stands up again, ignoring the poison that is swiftly destroying him.
"This is not the end, Declan."- He says confidently- "I refuse to die in such an unfair way."
He closes his eyes.
"Your vile poison will never work on a hero like me."
Then, just like that, he brushes all the pain away, as if it was never there in the first place. The aura of uncertainty that corrupts the thoughts of his friends goes away almost immediately afterwards.
"What?! N-no way!"- Declan yells- "You were supposed to die! You can't just st-stop it!"
Adam smiles.
"It sounds like this was the last of your little tricks."- He says- "You were out of your league even before you accepted Darkthrop's quest, Declan. Did you think that fighting me like this would make you any better than you were back then?"
Declan clenches his fists.
"I only accepted his task because I wanted to make another one pay for his crimes against us."- He says- "You just happened to be standing in my way. No hard feelings, but I needed to get rid of you, in the name of our dark empire."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"You wanted to get rid of... someone else?"- He asks- "Another hero, I would assume?"
For a moment, Declan sets his weapons away and looks down. His eyes are filled with hatred.
"We used to believe in heroes like you. We thought that you could save the world from more than just a bunch of monsters. And yet, when we needed your kind the most, you never arrived to help us."- He says- "My people sent messages to your father-the mighty King of Avernum. We were forced to beg him for aid. But he never looked at us, because he was busy dealing with brigands who were attacking his little kingdom."
Adam gasps.
"But why do you want to kill my father?"- He asks- "He is such a noble man! A truly good person! Getting rid of him will solve nothing!"
Declan sighs.
"I already know that. You don't need to remind me."- He says- "And yet, revenge runs too deep in this body of mine. If I am to avenge those who starved to death in that year, I must make an example out of you. To show your daddy that ignorance is not tolerated in the subterranean lands of Avernum."
Donovan raises his eyebrow.
"Who in the world are you and why do you seem so... familiar?"
Declan pulls out a small scimitar from his pocket and shows it to his enemies.
"Does the presence of this object remind you of something?"- He asks- "We've been fighting in the name of Avernum for far longer than you expected. We were here before Adam's father- the new King of Avernum- was even born. We were the heroes of this land, until those foolish avernites betrayed us by allying themselves with the Empire. Even though we might have made mistakes in the past, what's the point of making us suffer like this?"
Adam sighs.
"I can sympathize with your pain, but this is not the right way to deal with my father."- He says- "You could have just sent envoys to the Castle. Talked to him in a more civilized way. Don't you know how absurd it is to rebel against a legitimate sovereign of a well-respected land?"
Declan nods.
"I already took the risks of acting against those people."- He says- "And I don't care, as long as my new master is happy with the results."
Adam glares at him.
"You separated me from my sister, you fool!"- He yells- "How can you always act so ignorant?"
Declan smirks.
"So, the traitor finally got what she deserved?"- He says and nods- "Good. I expected no less than this."
Adam restrains himself from attacking again, in an attempt to discover more information.
"I understand your desire to slay my father, but why would you target my sister as well?"- He asks him- "Did something painful happen in your past?"
Declan clenches his fists, as if he imagines Akira standing in front of him.
"When we first met, I saw the inner beauty she had much earlier than everyone else did. I was lovestruck. I wanted her all for myself."- He says- "But when I confessed to her, she broke my heart. Said that she doesn't want to deal with people inferior to her. And her eyes were always on that one guy, the mighty vampire lord who was able to bring down an entire city in just the blink of an eye. I never wanted to despise her, but she made me this way."
Adam sighs.
"And yet, you still outlived the vampire."- He says- "Does this make you feel any better?"
Declan grins.
"So, he's finally dead? By your hand, I'd assume?"- He asks and smiles- "It seems like you were finally able to do something right."
He points his weapon at him.
"But that doesn't change anything,"- He adds quickly- "And once I'm done with you, your sis shall be the next in line. I'll make her go through a maze of emotions, forcing her to feel every single wound that she inflicted to my fragile heart. And then, I shall shatter hers and watch as she turns into the hollowed-out shell of a broken woman, devoid of the ability to love or feel. She'll be a monster, just like me."
Adam ignores his empty threats. Instead, he devises a plan to take him down once and for all.
Then, as the villain prepares to throw his daggers at them again, he raises his hand in the air.
"Donnie!"- He yells- "Now!"
Donovan wastes no time to make his move. He sets the ground below Declan's feet on fire and watches as he tries to get away from it.
"Agh! It burns!"- Declan yells- "Put it out! Put it out!"
Adam nods.
"As you wish."
Then, he launches a large bolt of water, putting the fire out and exuding a huge amount of smoke.
"Be careful."- He says as he navigates his way through the dark mist- "This room has just become a danger zone."
Donovan nods.
"What level is it?"
Adam stares at the area ahead.
"The highest one."- He responds- "And there is no going back."
Although Declan himself cannot see in the mist, he notices the silhouettes of our heroes. He attempts to put them down with a single grenade, but to no avail. He is too disoriented by the fumes to make a good move.
"Curse you, Kaos!"- He says as he prepares to leap away- "I'll bring you down someday! Mark my words!"
Before he could run away, however, Adam casts a single thunder spell. Suddenly, a small thunderbolt strikes the area below Declan's feet and disorients him even further.
Too late, the mercenary sees that the ground below is filled with water.
"Oh."- He mutters- "Oh no."
Suddenly, he is electrocuted and thrown back into a nearby window, shattering it into pieces and severely wounding his head in the process.
As the smoke finally clears, Adam approaches him. He sees that his enemy is gravely wounded, charred to the point of unrecognizability, but somehow still alive.
"Impressive."- He says- "Looks like you have learned some magic, after all."
Declan slowly stands to his feet and points a venomous dagger at his neck.
"You should've gone for the head."
As Adam prepares to put Declan out of his misery, he is surprised when a giant, stone-cold hand, grabs him my the shoulder and pulls him back.
"Adam!"- Amelia yells- "Watch out!"
A huge golem has formed itself from the rubble in the right corner of the room and approached Adam just as he was about to finish the job. Amelia tries to stop it from destroying her friend, but it punches her in the face and easily pushes her away.
"Ouch."- Donovan says- "That's going to leave a black eye, for sure."
Adam tries to revolt against the golem, but he is just not strong enough. 
As the golem throws him into a corner, Declan laughs.
"See?"- He says- "Even the guardians of the tower want you dead!"
Adam shakes his head.
"I will not surrender, no matter what I have to face."
He notices that Donovan is standing nearby and motions for him to attack, watching as he climbs on top of the golem and stabs it in the back.
As the creature attempts to throw his friend off, Adam makes his move. He plunges his blade deep into the golem's chest, confusing it.
"You fools!"- Declan yells- "That's not going to kill him!"
Adam smiles.
"We shall see about that."
Then, just as the golem is about to punch them both, Adam and Donovan unleash a high amount of concentrated magical energy. While the intensity of the combined attack is not enough to kill the creature immediately, two large cracks appear on both its chest and its back, expanding almost as soon as they are formed.
Surprisingly, the golem lets out a frustrated sound- a groan of pain. And then, it explodes and shatters into hundreds of tiny rocks, filling the room with the rubble of what once used to be a powerful guardian.
Once the deed is finally done, Adam approaches the shocked Declan and points his sword at his head.
"And now, it is your turn to join him."
Declan, having seemingly accepted his impending doom, lifts his hands in the air and nods.
"Alright, alright. You got me."- He says and lets out a theatrical sigh, fit for one of the greatest villains in some kind of movie- "I should've known better than to challenge you to a battle in this crumbling ruin."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"Is this some kind of trap?"
Declan smiles.
"No. Of course not."- He says- "You beat me fair and square. Now, you get to finish me off."
He looks back and glares at Donovan and Amelia.
"And I don't want anyone else to join in."- He adds- "Just you and me, kid. No one else."
Adam sighs.
"I guess that you finally understand how foolish it is to rebel against the just law of our lands."- He says- "Very well. I shall give you the noble end that you desire. And I hope that the Scimitar will understand that they are still our friends, no matter what is happening between us."
As Adam lifts his sword in the air, Donovan notices that Declan is secretly pulling out something from his pocket, as if attempting to strike as well.
"What is he doing?"- He says to himself- "He's not supposed to fight back anymore!"
Then, he takes a closer look at the object that he is pulling out.
It is a small, curved dagger.
"Adam!"- He yells- "This guy's trying to kill you again!"
Adam looks back at him, confused.
"What?"- He asks- "What do you mean?"
Before he could respond, Declan lunges at him and nearly stabs him in the shoulder.
"It's foolish to believe that a man's down, especially when you think that he's lost his mind."- He says- "Long live King Darkthrop!"
Donovan and Amelia attempt to stop him, but he pushes them away.
"Don't be so anxious."- He says to them- "You'll be next."
However, Declan's luck runs out as soon as the tables are turned in his favor. Standing in such a position has left him vulnerable to a counterattack... and someone below the tower wastes no time to take advantage of it.
A single arrow flies out through the broken window and strikes Declan in the shoulder, disorienting him for a few seconds. And then, a second arrow joins it, striking the villain in the back of the neck, severely wounding him.
"What... is this?"- He gasps as he stumbles back- "Who's there?!"
He looks down and sees Akira and Derion.
"Does this answer your question, you evildoer?!"- Derion yells.
Akira glares up at Declan as he struggles for his life.
"This is what you get for trying to hurt my brother!"
Declan gasps.
"A... kira... "
He looks back at Adam, who immediately grabs him by the neck.
"You played around with my kindness. You struck me down when I pitied you the most. And now, you finally realize that I am never alone."- He says as he pushes him near the broken window- "I am sorry, Declan. I really am. However, you have gone way too far, and I must get rid of you- for the sake of the world and everything that we still have left."
He sighs.
"Farewell, servant of Darkthrop."- He says- "I hope that you see your mistakes in the Afterlife."
And then, he throws him off the tower without thinking twice.
As Declan screams and falls to his death, his head is crushed by the impact. Blood pours out from his numerous wounds as he weakly looks up at Akira.
And his eyes remain fixated on her, even as he dies.
"Well."- Akira says- "At least I don't have to kill him again."
Derion nods.
"Another warrior of Darkthrop has fallen."- He says- "The world is a little bit safer, at least for now."
The two of them look up as Adam and his allies approach the window.
"So, Donovan and Amelia actually found you?"- Akira says- "Well done, friends. Thanks for keeping my brother safe."
Donovan smiles.
"See, Akira? We did it!"- He exclaims- "There was nothing to be worried about!"
Adam nods.
"Is everyone alright down there?"- He asks- "Are you injured?"
Derion shakes his head.
"Don't worry about them."- He says- "They made it out alive. It's all that matters."
When Adam sees his old friend, he smiles.
"I knew that I could count on you, Derion."
Derion nods.
"I'll keep them alive out here."- He says- "Keep going. You've almost made it to the top."
Adam nods.
"We will be back soon."- He says- "Do not go anywhere."
Then, the three of them get away from the window and climb the last set of stairs.
A few seconds later, they finally reach their last destination.
"The heart of the tower. At long last."- Adam says- "Now, we can finally discover what Erika has been doing out here."
As Adam and his allies approach the giant library, some of the books are set on fire. They manage to put them out, but not before realizing that they are not alone in this place.
"There is one last guardian out here. Someone who is much stronger than the rest."- Adam says- "And if we are to destroy whatever tainted knowledge was left in this tower, we must defeat them... whoever they are."
Suddenly, a single, tall shade coalesces in front of them. It takes on a more substantial form, reminding our heroes of someone very familiar.
"Are you... Erika Redmark?"
The spirit of Erika Redmark- strongest incantatrix of Avernum- is revealed.
"Welcome, intruders. It is clear that you've gone a long way to discover what had already been left behind in this place. Everyone else failed to make it this far, so you should be honored."- She says and starts to cast a spell- "And now, it's time for you to face your last challenge- the worst of them all."