MLIV C4, P5- "Target For Trouble"

"Target For Trouble" is the fifth Part of "Miracula Luxia IV" 's fourth Chapter.
It was released on 26.06.2022.
== Plot ==
Adam and his allies learn of the arrival of a mysterious entity. She seems to be oddly familiar, but looks could be unknowingly deceiving. It is best to proceed with care, for this mission will be a hard and perilous one.
And yet, there is still a sparkle of hope left in the curtain of darkness. If the creature is here to fight Darkthrop, then it must be an ally in Adam's eyes. Perhaps it might even reveal crucual information that might lead to the evil wizard's downfall. But that remains to be seen and, until then, it is best to be wary.
In the meantime, a mysterious and powerful warrior has been stalking Adam and his allies. He has been causing all kinds of trouble for them, often finding ways to lead them away from the right path. And now, the young hero is approaching World's End, and this notorious villain decides that it is time to reveal himself in lieu of hiding like a coward, since he thinks that the only way to defeat an opponent is through a fight to the end. Perhaps not a fair one, but a fight is nothing more than an everday activity for him.
Will Adam prevail against this increasingly imminent threat... or will he succumb to his own emotions, at last?
== Story ==
As our heroes walk on the road toward World's End, Jared consults the map that describes the region around the supposedly impregnable settlement of evil.
"So, this is what those fools are fighting for. A high ground where no one can ever touch them."- He says and sighs- "It is a pity that they have no idea what they are going up against. If they had even the foggiest fragments of reason left, then we would never be here in the first place."
Adam nods.
"The moment of surprise has won us many battles."- He says- "And yet, there is still a long way to go. Breaking into that place will require a lot of effort- much more than what we have, I am afraid."
Jared nods.
"We will find a way."- He says- "The entire world depends on what we are about to do."
Linus raises his eyebrow.
"But what if we fail to make a difference?"- He asks- "What will be the cost?"
Jared sighs and shakes his head.
"Then another group of heroes will be the one who shall emerge victorious."- He says- "If our attack is not enough to break their empire apart forever, then I am sure that it will be perfect for turning the tables of this meaningless conflict, at the very least."
Linus nods.
"I hope that the others are ready to fight, should we fail to protect them."
Akira takes a step forward and glares at both of them.
"What are you two talking about? Of course we won't die there!"- She says- "I mean, look at how long we've gone just to be here! Every battle, every moment of misery, every sign of happiness and hope, they all led to this very journey. Even when everything seemed dire and hopeless, we stood strong and tall, fighting together against those armies of evil. Nothing was able to bring us down. We were majestic, like phoenixes that soar in the sky and illuminate the world in a beautiful, white light. Now, we have a chance to save those poor souls from Darkthrop and his people. And I refuse to let it all fall apart, just because some maniacal wizard of old wants to have the world all for himself!"
She stares at her father.
"Have you thought about how our family would feel if we died out there? How much they would mourn us?"- She says- "This would drive them crazy! Every moment that they spend will not be toward defeating that evil freak, but to cry for us! They will be hopeless! And it'll be because we weren't strong enough to stand our ground!"
Jared looks down.
"I do not want to see your mother cry again."- He admits- "She has been worrying about you and Adam for way too long. And I made it worse when I left her all alone. She is a wreck and such heartbreaking news could be the end for... "
He sighs and clenches his fists.
"No. We are not going anywhere."- He adds- "We have a mission to fulfill. So, let us get on with it."
Akira smiles.
"That's the brave and illustrious father I've always admired for so long."- She says- "Seeing you motivated about something makes me even more so."
Jared smiles.
"We can do this, Akira."- He says- "I know we can."
Akira nods.
"Of course we will, dad."- She says- "Now, it's our turn to make a difference."
The four of them continue to walk on the road,
"By the way, World's End sounds like a place that could be older than us."- Adam says- "Is there some kind of lore behind it? Any fragments of history that might help us discover what it used to be and how we could penetrate past its defenses?"
Jared looks at the map and nod.
"Looks like your sixth sense is finally coming in handy. Your question is very interesting, Adam."- He says- "Anyway, you are right. World's End is a place of old. A No Man's Land that many tribes have fought fiercely to conquer. The cost of its current structure and amazing location has been paid with the blood of many foolhardy warriors, those who threw their own lives away so their tribes could have the place for themselves."
He sighs.
"And yet, it has always been free. When a certain tribe tried to conquer it, they were soon dislodged and replace with another. The process continued for centuries and centuries... until there were no people left to fight for this miserable land."- He continues- "In the 19th century, however, warriors of the law managed to seize this place. For nearly an entire century, they held the hungry remnants of those fading tribes back. They strengthened the walls, delivered carts and caravans filled to the brim with resources, provided it with machinery that could bring down even the hardiest construct, even the most determined villain. And yet, their plan to keep this place under the Order's control failed when the tribes united and exploited their common enemies' weakness- The Underground. In a little more than one week, the entire place fell and World's End became nothing more than a No Man's Land. Once again, it was uninhabitable, deserted but still relatively intact. Many feared that the souls of those who once fought for this place still linger within, but those theories might just be simple paraphernalia, meant to fool those weak-minded souls to avoid this place so others could conquer it. And, if I have to be honest with you, it worked. To a certain extent, that is."
He nods.
"And that is what happened to World's End during its centuries of existence."- He says- "Now, it is Mordred Darkthrop's most powerful land, the plae whose darkness, hidden within the tainted soils themselves, makes him feel right at home. And we should stop him from using it to its full extent, no matter what it takes."
Akira sighs.
"Going into World's End is surely going to be an outstanding achievement for us."- She says- "However, we should be warned that Darkthrop's forces are undoubtedly prepared to repel us, should we we decide to make our move. And they won't be merciful, like the spies and agents that we found on the road."
Jared sighs.
"Avernum's entire army is still holding off against the forces of evil underground."- He says- "Our choices of aid are limited, if not non-existent in the first place.'
Adam shakes his head.
"I know that there is still someone willing to help us out there!"- He exclaims- "Every bit of help is appreciated, so I will not stop until we find them!"
Akira shrugs.
"That's nice of you to say, little brother."- She says- "However, the forces of Darkthrop are in hot pursuit. Trusting people so easily could be quite dangerous for us."
Adam sighs.
"In a time like this? Yes. There is no doubt that we have to be careful."- He says- "But our honor demands that we give it a try, at the very least. No mythical battles in the past have been won without the allies that made it all possible. The ones who risked their own lives so we could have our freedom."
Akira raises her eyebrow.
"So, you trust a group of soldiers to do the right thing?"- She asks- "What time is it? The Medievals? Fighting enemies does not require allies or a shield and sword. All that we need is hope and faith. And they shall be omnipresent, for as long as we're alive."
Adam glares at her.
"Are you really going to disrespect the world's defenders like this?"- He asks- "Listen, Aki. We may be doing something incredible out here, but it is the other warriors who give is a chance to strike. They left their own families, willingly putting themselves into the claws of danger and expecting not to come back. And right now, they are still out there, fighting for their lives even as we speak."
He stares at the road ahead.
"Darkthrop's forces may be powerful, but our allies are even more so."- He says- "Strength through unity is our key to victory. I am certain of that."
Akira sighs.
"If you believe in this, then I shall do the same."- She says- "I don't like to force others to do the job for us, but I guess that nothing I say will ever change that."
Adam sighs.
"I understand how you feel. Once, I acted the same way. I always neglected the others, although I vowed to protect them from evil. Always refused their help, claiming that I am better off alone. And I never, ever dared to put them in danger, no matter how desperately foolhardy they were."- He says- "And yet, in the last few years, I realized how wrong I was. Going in alone against a world of evil is always impossible. But our allies, they always stand alongside us. They give away everything that they once believed in, just to fight for a better, brighter world. Their names may remain lost in history, but they still remain. The little, shining stars whose voices where never heard, yet still remained heroic until the very end. Those are the people who truly matter, not us. We are just the voices of reason, the lights in the darkness for those in need. But we should never think highly of ourselves, since there are others who deserve respect more than we do."
Adam's words drive Akira to tears. She looks down and shakes her head.
"How could I have been so... blind?"- She says- "All the people whose lives were lost out there, they were just fighting to protect their common home. They didn't do it because we told them to. They just made a promise themselves and... wanted to keep it. By helping others, just like us are right now."
Adam nods.
"And that is why they will always be remembered."- He says- "If not by the commoners, then by the heroes of this world."
Akira sighs.
"If only mama was seen the same way."- She says- "She died while protecting what was dear to her- her daughter... and the entire world. And yet, the memory of her has nearly faded away, even though she was a hero who saved the world countless times."
Jared shakes his head.
"Your mother's noble sacrifice will not be in vain, my dear."- He says- "As long as we exist, she will never be truly gone."
Akira wipes the tears from her eyes.
"That's what I've been thinking the entire time."- She says- "Thank you for giving me the strength to move on, dad."
Jared hugs his daughter and smiles.
"I will always be on your side, my dear."
With that, the four of them continue to walk toward World's End.
On the way toward the nearby ruins of a ransacked settlement, Akira stares at it, anger swirling in her eyes like a hurricane. While touching a nearly destroyed wall with the palm of her hand, she unknowingly clenches it into a fist.
"Darkthrop."- She mutters- "When will it all end? When will you leave them alone?"
Adam stands next to her and raises his eyebrow.
"Aki?"- He asks- "Is something worrying you?"
Akira sighs.
"The guilt of being in the darkness for so long has been haunting me. All of the things that I did... they were unspeakable."- She says- "I deserve to be punished for what I've done. I'll accept any kind of judgement, as long as you are safe and sound."
Jared shakes his head.
"I will not let anyone punish you."- He says- "Deep behind that sea of turmoil, I know that you are still the shy and kind Akira that I have always known. So, do not be afraid to let your colors out once again. Be yourself, even when everything seems to be falling apart. It is in our nature to be unique, so I do not want to see you sad about what you have done in the past."
He smiles.
"Think about the future. About the children who will talk about how amazing we were. About the parents who will reverently hold books about us, telling them stories of the ones who prevented the inevitable."- He says- "Their smiles will be more than enough to keep our fires burning."
Akira nods.
"But how will Darkthrop react once he sees me again?"
Adam shakes his head.
"It does not matter."- He says- "I will not let that fiend hurt you again. Never."
Akira looks down.
"Adam... "- She mutters- "I'm not sure... "
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"Aki. You are worrying me."- He says- "Is there anything I could do to make you happy?"
Akira sighs.
"Just... hear me out."- She says- "Speaking with you about my past will be the greatest cure for my tortured soul."
Adam nods.
"I will gladly do that."- He says- "What do you want me to know?"
Akira looks up.
"When I joined Darkthrop, I thought that I was certain about helping him conquer this world. About capturing and torturing you, extracting every single fragment of useful information from your minds. But the truth is, I was insecure. Frail. Helpless. Darkthrop took me in because I still had darkness within my soul and exploited it to help his own people. I stood behind those warriors, because I feared that I would be called in battle alongside them. I commanded them to kill, but never wanted to kill anyone myself. And my greatest fear... was to kill my family with my own hands."
Adam nods.
"Then why did you try to kill dad back then?"- He asks- "Were you... afraid of what Darkthrop could do to you if you refused."
Akira shakes her head.
"You don't understand."- She says- "Darkthrop is terrifying. If you saw him angry, you would feel the same way."
Adam shakes his head.
"Absolutely not."- He responds- "Fear is the most perilous factor of them all. Being despondent will not help you life in this new world. Aside from being unreliable, it also makes you a faulty element. A liability. But I was not the one who helped you out. You were the one who searched for the voice of reason all the time, albeit you never knew it. And, in the end, wisdom prevailed. You were able to face your fears... and win. You came face to face with your own self and let go of the hatred which haunted you for so long, replaced it with the hope that you have always desired to have."
He smiles.
"You are a hero, Aki. Whether you see it or not."- He says- "Stand by my side and we shall win."
Akira smiles.
"Little brother, you're right. Fear and regret will not get me anywhere if I don't make the right decision myself."- She says- "Then let's make it happen. For the world that we've always been fighting for."
Adam nods.
"That is the Akira that I always wish to see."- He says- "Now, it is best if we leave thoe ruins behind. They are too dark for us."
Akira nods.
"Let's go."
As the team leaves the ruins, Adam takes one last look at them and smiles.
"Someday, this place will be a thriving metropolis. Many people would walk on the streets and talking about how happy they are."- He says to himself- "I hope that I can witness humanity's return with my own eyes. It will be glorious."
Adam turns away and leaves, but somebody is still watching him.
From the ruins, a cloaked man emerges from the shadows. His massive blade is drawn, but he does not make a move to attack. Instead, he simply watches the young hero as he leaves, evaluating his sentimentality and searching for a weakness.
"Soon, Adam Kaos."- He mutters- "Soon, you shall feel the wrath of Joseph Clarke."
With that. he runs to the left and jumps into the nearby bushes, remaining unseen by anyone.
As Adam and Akira move on, Akira stares at her brother.
"Umm. Adam?"- She says- "Have you got that weird feeling on your mind?"
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"And what could that be?"
Akira shrugs.
"I don't know."- She replies- "It is as if someone's always watching us. Probing us in secret. Waiting in the shadows for the right moment."
Adam shakes his head.
"Even if they exist, I am not afraid of them."- He says- "We have fought many cowards before, so I am not afraid to do it again."
Akira nods.
"Then let it be this way."- She says- "Come on. Let's move on.'
As they proceed, the mysterious man watches from behind a nearby charred tree and chuckles.
"If only you knew what you're up against... "
Not long after they proceed, Adam is lost in thought. He remembers how he said the same thing about the enemies whom he was forced to face, yet he was proven otherwise soon after meeting them.
"Maybe her fears are justified."- He says to himself- "What if we are walking straight into the lion's mouth?"
He is concentrated to find the answers, so much that he nearly bumps into the spirit standing next to him.
He looks up and gasps.
"A... spirit?"- He says- "What are you doing here?"
The spirit, seemingly a ghostly vahnatai, twists her face into something which likely resembles a smile.
"Welcome, o mighty wanderers. I have been expecting your arrival."- She says- "For a long time, I've wanted to fight a foe who made so many lives miserable, yet never had the help to do it. Maybe you could help me out?"
Jared shakes his head.
"How do we know that we can trust you?"
The spirit sighs.
"I know that it's heard, but understand that I am on your side."- She says- "Now, come with me. Enter the portal and we shall speak further."
With that, she disappears and forms a portal where she once stood.
"Is it worth the risk?"- Linus asks- "Can we really trust the ghost of a vahnatai? One of their most powerful mages, from the looks of it?"
Jared sighs.
"In my life, I have taken a lot of risks. Such a simple trick of the light is not enough to bring me down."- He says- "We may the choice to simply ignore her, but I think that this is the right route- morally and strategically."
He takes a step forward.
"So, come on."- He adds- "Let us proceed." 
As both Jared and Linus step into the portal, Akira looks back at Adam.
"Maybe you should go first."- She suggests- "I've always been scared of those things."
Adam shakes his head.
"Fears are to be overcome, not to be scared of."- He says- "Come on, Aki. Go on. I believe in you!"
Akira sighs and looks back at the portal.
"I guess that it is for the best."
As she steps forward, a single arrow flies forward and nearly pierces her in the head.
"What was that?!"- She exclaims and looks back.
Then, the two of them see the cloaked man, staring at them and aiming his bow, preparing to take another shot.
As Akira draws her weapon, Adam shakes his head.
"This is too dangerous for you, Aki."- He says- "Go! I can take care of this!"
Akira shakes her head.
"But you'll be alone!"
Adam sighs.
"It does not matter."- He says- "Remember what I said earlier? That one brave warrior can make an army? Well, I am about to prove it!"
Adam lunges forward as Akira watches, forcing her to step back.
"I'll see you on the other side... I guess."
Then, she fearfully steps through, still worried about her brother.
As Akira leaves, the cloaked man smiles.
"At last, we are alone."- He says- "I've been waiting for this moment for a long time, Adam Kaos."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"And who might you be, if you do not mind me asking?"
The man smiles again.
"Just a harbringer of destruction. Bane of humanity."- He says- "You couldn't get rid of me before, so I shall haunt you until you're gone."
Adam gasps.
"You are... Mordred Darkthrop?!"
The man leaps back and shakes his head.
"Nope."- He says- "But I ain't your normal villain, either."
Adam shakes his head.
"It does not matter whether you are Darkthrop or not."- He says- "You pose a great danger to humanity. I must bring you down, for the sake of our world."
The man smiles.
"Exactly."- He says- "Fight for the broken world that you cherish so much. Throw your own life away, just to protect the people who never cared about you."
He looks at him.
"But tell me this."- He continues- "If the ladle becomes too hot to hold, do you drop it? Or do you bravely hold it and stir until the soup is finally done?"
Adam glares at him.
"Listen here. I do not know what you are talking about, but I will never give my people up."- He says- "So, if you want to end humanity, then you have to get through me first."
The man smiles.
"That's the plan, Adam."- He says- "That's the plan!"
Then, with a series of vicious, fierce attacks, he manages to bring Adam to his knees.
"What is this power? This determination?"- Adam says to himself- "I have never seen it before!"
As Adam attempts to stand up, the man smiles and points his gigantic weapon at him.
"Tired already?"- He says- "Come on, kid. It's not fun when you're acting like a weakling."
Adam shakes his head.
"I am no weakling."
The man smirks.
"Then go ahead and prove it."- He says- "I want to see your immense power."
Adam takes a step back and opens the palm of his right hand. Motes of light appear inside of it.
"Be careful what you wish for."
The man smiles.
"Oh, I will."
Then, he jumps back and intercepts his next attack.
Adam runs forward, enchanting his sword with the power of light and swinging it, creating waves of pure light energy that pierce their way through the hostile stranger's defenses.
However the man is unfazed by Adam's attempts to kill him. Instead, he simply uses his magic to teleport farther and farther away, until he reaches the top of a nearby tree.
Then, he jumps down and slams his massive blade into the ground, creating a massive shockwave that shakes Adam's feet.
"Using the moment of surprise will not win the battle."- Adam says.
The stranger smiles.
"Oh, I think that's been working well for you."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"What?"- He says- "You... know about me?"
The man nods.
"More than you could ever imagine."- He says- "Have you ever dug deeper into your past? Did you see how evil your family used to be?"
Adam shakes his head.
"Those halls of tainted knowledge are foreign to me. The people who used to be called the Kaos family, I never consider them to be a part of it."- He says- "We are the new generation, the one who does not work with villains, but destroys them- just like it should be! And I will stop at nothing to erase their plans from existence!"
The man smirks.
"Someday, one of your descendants will look into the past. See how powerful and feared your family used to be. They shall give into the darkness and become what you fear to see now. Treachery will run deep into their veins and they shall be too corrupted to be heroes like you."- He says- "Do you ever wonder about that, Adam?"
Adam shakes his head.
"Even if it does happen, I shall be there to stop them."- He says- "The balance shall not be ruined by anything or anyone."
The man smiles.
"That's what you think."
As Adam hurls a fireball at him, the man smiles again and disappears from sight. Then, he reappears a few steps away.
When Adam attacks him, he simply teleports away and reappears somewhere else.
And again.
And again.
Adam wonders how he can defeat this incredibly dangerous foe, but is not left alone for long, as the man teleports behind his back.
"Sayonara, boy."
Then, with a single strike from his blade, he brings him down.
He stands over his seemingly lifeless body, like a lumberjack looking at a freshly chopped tree.
"There is a future ahead of us, Adam."- He says- "You just won't be there to see it."
As Adam weakly looks up, he notices something unusual nearby.
"An anvil? Here, in the middle of nowhere?"- He says to himself and sighs- "It will do. Anything could be helpful in this situation."
Looking back at the man, he smiles.
"I bet that you are not quite as smart as you claim to be."
The main raises his eyebrow.
"Oh, really?"- He says- "And what makes you think so?"
Adam smiles.
"Keeping a hero down will only make you vulnerable."- He says- "Perhaps you did not know that."
The man glares at him.
"But what if told you that I already did?"- He asks- "What're you going to d-- "
Suddenly, Adam stands up and, with incredible speed and self-control, manages to kick the man three times in the chin, delivering small, but very sharp blows and nearly breaking his jaw.
"You little cretin."- The man says- "You're not going to make a fool out of me."
Adam smiles.
"Then go ahead and catch me."- He says- "If you can!"
As Adam performs three long, perfect backflips and lands in front of the anvil, the man teleports away and appears behind him. However, too late, he realizes that Adam planned this all along.
Before he can get out of his reach, the young hero grabs him.
"I got you right where I want you."
Then , with a single leap of faith, he jumps in the air and slams the man's entire body into the anvil, making him feel every single bit of steel as it swiftly crushes its way into it.
As the man yells out in pain, Adam delivers a few more sharp kicks and leaps away, like a ballerina on a stage of doom and despair.
"And now, for the final dance."
Without thinking twice, he unleashes a powerful firestorm, sending the man flying back and completely disorienting him.
"You won't... get away."- He says as he prepares to teleport again- "There's a bounty on your head. And I... shall be the one to take it."
Adam shakes his head.
"You have to try harder than that."
Then, he unleashes a gigantic whirlwind that whisks the man away with its mighty tendrils.
Before the man could say anything else, to insult Adam or otherwise, the hurricane flashes wildly and vanishes from existence, sending the mysterious person flying very, very far away.
As Adam watches it all unfold, he falls on his knees and sighs.
"With each passing day, those forces keep getting stronger and stronger."- He says to himself- "Were it not for the flame that still burns in my soul, I would have vanished long ago."
He looks down at a wound on his shoulder, delivered by the mysterious attacker. Then, without wasting any time, he heals it with his magic.
"There. It is almost like new."- He says- "Now, I must join the others."
As the firestorm dies down, he steps into the portal.
When he appears on the other side, Akira runs forward and hugs him.
"I saw what happened out there."- She says- "You are a hero, Adam! A hero!"
Adam smiles.
"I was just doing my job."
Then, he stares forward and sees the shade of a vahnatai woman, a mage of some kind, staring at him and smiling.
"It seems like you overcame the challenge that Darkthrop bestowed upon you."- She says- "Perhaps you are indeed quite as altruistic as I had imagined."
Adam nods.
"Who are you?"
The vahnatai smiles sadly.
"Just a woman who wishes to atone for her sins."- She says- "I shall help you. But I won't do it simply because I like you. I'm doing it because I want our common world to be safe from evil."
Adam nods.
"This is exactly what I am trying to do."- He says- "Is there any way you can lead us to the right place?"
The vahnatai shakes her head.
"Not without being sensed by their mages. They're too good at it."- She says- "You see, I'm not here to be your travelling agent or the guide in your adventures. I just want to make a... proposition. If you're interested, that is."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"A proposition?"- He asks- "What are you offering?"
As the vahnatai mage speaks, several spirits appear beside her. Then some more. And some more.
Soon, hundreds of spirits are standing in front of our heroes.
"Those souls lost their lives during the ages when Darkthrop caused so much chaos. And, I assure you, they were nothing more than innocent bystanders. People who simply wanted to escape from him, yet met his unwaveringly loyal warriors and became victims of his endless wrath."- She says- "Darkthrop may be powerful, but even his notoriously powerful forces stand no chance against the fallen. Once they rise up, their vengeance shall burn stronger than wildfire, they shall be as bright as the morning sun."
She looks back at them and sighs.
"However, they will never have the will to act without a proper leader."- She continues- "And thus, they require you."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"Me?"- He asks- "But I am no leader!"
The vahnatai shakes her head.
"I couldn't agree less."- She says- "In the past, you have shown tendencies that make you the natural selection for a leader. Many people have been relying on you for so long, You are their light, their hope, the match that burns away the rope of villainy. You are the embodiment of their prayers, the herald of their dreams and the harbringer of a future that we've all been dreaming of. And you tell me that you're going to simply throw it all away, just because you are afraid?!"
Adam takes a step back.
"But why? Why would you want me to do this?"- He asks- "Who are you?"
The vahnatai realizes that she is not visible enough. Sighing, she reveals herself.
"Perhaps this will clarify my true intentions to you, hero."
Adam gasps, barely believing what he is seeing.
"Incredible!"- He exclaims- "You are... are... "
The vahnatai mage smiles.
"That's right, hero."- She says- "My name is Rentar-Ihrno. Once the greatest mage in the vahnatai lands. Still their sworn protector, even in death. I have helped many humans in the past, yet suffered a gruesome defeat to their kind because I was too blinded by my hatred."
She looks back at Jared.
"And your father was the one who delivered the final blow."
Adam stares at his father, surprised.
"You defeated Rentar-Ihrno?!"
Jared sighs.
"I do not like to pride myself with defeating a once deranged and hopeless evil person, but yes. I did."- He says- "But do not fear. While she may have been mad in life, I assure you that she has learned from her mistakes and is ready to atone for them. And the best way to do that... is if you take the lead of this army."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"Could this be enough to defeat Darkthrop?"
Rentar-Ihrno nods.
"Didn't you say it yourself once, boy? That one warrior could make an army?"- She asks- "Well, if one person is enough to be an army, then one person is also enough to lead one. They may not be the best units the Spirit World has to offer, but I assure you that they fight better than any you have ever seen."
Adam looks at the spirits.
"But... why are they throwing their lives away to help us like this?"
Rentar-Ihrno shakes her head.
"Their lives are already forfeit. They have nothing left to lose."- She says- "Nothing would ever be worse than the pain that they had endured in life."
Suddenly, she feels a massive jolt go through her incorporeal body. She looks around and realizes that she is fading away.
"Someone's coming."- She says- "And they... they're very powerful."
Adam blinks a few times.
"They are powerful?"- He asks- "More powerful than you?"
Rentar-Ihrno shrugs.
"I am not sure. The energies are coming from far away."- She responds- "But I won't be here to witness it. I must go before this wave of malevolence brings a swift end to me."
Adam raises his eyebrow.
"But you are a spirit!"
Rentar-Ihrno shakes her head.
"Just because I am a spirit, it doesn't mean that I can't feel any pain. Or despair."- She says- "The only way I'll be able to aid you is through the mind. For now, it's best if I simply appear as an innocent bystander. I shall contact you as soon as the next step of our plan is revealed."
Then, she starts to fade away."
"Don't lose your focus, Adam."- She whispers- "Hurry up... to... World's End."
And then, she is gone. For now, at least.
As Adam and his allies look back, they stare at the portal as the same cloaked man from before appears. And this time, he's brought two large darklings with him.
"I told you that you won't get rid of me."- He says to Adam- "Now, how shall we end your life- the slow way or the hard way?"
Adam shakes his head and draws his weapon.
"I will not take neither, fiend!"
Then, the four of them face the new enemies.
"Alright, Aki."- Adam says to his sister- "You and Linus should take care of the big ones. Me and dad will make their leader pay."
Akira nods.
"Roger that, Adam."- She says- "We're on it."
As Akira and Linus lead the large darklings away, Adam and Jared come face to face with the man cloaked in shadows.
Seeing whom he is about to fight, he smiles.
"Ah. Father and son, finally together."- He says- "It's an incredible sight to see, if we were not already enemies."
Jared stares at the man, confused.
"Why does this person's voice sound so... familiar?"- He wonders to himself- "His moves. His mannerisms. The way he leads his warriors. It is all very suspicious."
The man notices him and smiles.
"What's wrong, Kaos?"- He asks him- "Are you afraid that you'll lose another one?"
Jared raises his eyebrow.
"Another one?"- He asks- "What do you mean, villain?"
The man smiles.
"Oh, you'll see."- He replies- "You'll all see it soon."
Having said that, he teleports behind Jared and attempts to attack him, but the mighty hero manage to parry his attack and trip him, forcing him to use his defensive maneuvers instead.
"Just what I expected from the one who defeated Grah-Hoth."- The man says- "Perhaps you haven't grown old yet."
Jared leans forward and prepares to cast a spell.
"True heroes never age, no matter how long you wait."- He says- "Time may be a poison to many, but we always remain the same."
The man tries to respond, but is soon knocked down by Jared.
"Stop with your pleasantries, wise man."- He says- "If you want to say something, do it with your fists instead."
The man grins.
"You might regret it."
Jared shakes his head.
"I never regret anything I do to people like you."- He responds- "Bring it on."
As Jared fends him off, Adam thinks of a strategy to use against him.
"It is clear that he has mastered the art of teleportation, but his movements are still completely chaotic."- He says to himself- "Maybe we can use this to our advantage."
He leans close and whispers something to his father.
Jared nods.
"You know, I think that we could make it happen."
He turns around.
"Hey, chaos bringer!"- He says to the man- "If you really fight like this, then I cannot imagine how feeble your master is!"
The man grits his teeth.
"How dare you insult my eternal master!"- He exclaims- "I won't let you do this."
He takes a step back and prepares to dash, his eyes filled with malice and anger.
"No more talking."- He says- "I'm done playing around."
Then, he runs forward with incredible speed, heading toward Jared.
Adam nods.
"This should be the right one."- Adam says to himself while staring at the portal behind his father- "Now, it should be a piece of cake to trick him in this state."
Jared smiles.
"I hope that you like trees, friend."- He says- "Because you are about to become one with them."
As the man angrily runs forward, Jared nimbly jumps out of the way and watches as the fool unknowingly jumps into the portal and is teleported on the other side.
Once there, the two of them hear an agonized yell, followed by the sound of bones being broken.
"Looks like our friend fell right into our trap."- Jared says and pats his son on the back- "Good job, Adam! We did it!"
Adam smiles.
"Yes, dad."- He says- "We did it. Together."
Akira and Linus join them, dragging the corpses of the dead darklings with them.
"Umm. Adam?"- Linus says- "Do you mind if you take care of them? It took us great pain to, you know, make them depart from this world. But we fear that they might come back."
Adam sighs.
"Of course."
Then, he uses some very intense fire magic to burn them down into a large pile of black ashes.
"There you go."- He says- "Are you feeling better now?"
Linus nods.
"Much better."
The four of them step through the portal and on the other side. There, they realize that they have teleported near the same spot, only on a different angle.
"Wow."- Akira says- "Magic like this is surely very unstable."
Adam nods.
"Yes. Magic is never something that you can safely trifle with."- He says- "However, its current chaotic state helped us outsmart our enemy. So, that is a plus."
They stare at the nearby man and realize that he is stuck in a tree.
"Ugh. Defeated by a band of disorganized brats."- He says and sighs- "I guess that I wasn't meant to be a general."
Adam approaches him and glares.
"You deserve it."- He says- "Standing like this for all eternity is the least we can do as an answer to your crimes."
The man sighs.
"So, this is what I- Joseph Clarke, mightiest of Darkthrop's generals- am subjected to."- He says- "But don't think that this is over. Once Darkthrop realizes what happened out here, you will pay."
Akira smiles.
"So, what will he do?"- She asks- "Treat you like a nobody, just like he did to Isaac Darkshade?"
Joseph looks up and gasps.
"You know about Isaac?!"- He exclaims- "What have you done to him?!"
Akira shakes her head.
"We didn't do a thing."- She says- "But it looks like someone else was not that kind to him."
Joseph clenches his fist.
"If I were free from those bonds, I shall make you pay for your part in it, no matter how big or small."- He says- "Darkthrop's generals are always united. And we don't take it lightly when someone is killed!"
Linus sighs and shakes his head.
"Looks like he still has a lot to learn."
Jared sighs.
"Yes."- He says- "In the underworld."
Adam takes a step toward Joseph.
"Your life is forfeit, villain."- He says- "Your days of tyranny are over forever."
He turns around.
"And now, it is time for us to leave you here."- He says- "To your fate."
As Adam prepares to approach the road ahead, Akira stops him.
"Hold on."- She says- "What if we use him as a bargaining chip? Wouldn't that be better than just letting him waste his own life away?"
Adam shakes his head.
"I would never engage in this kind of immoral activity."
Akira sighs.
"Then maybe we could use him as bait, at the very least?"
Adam looks back at the trapped Joseph and sighs.
"Darkthrop's forces are too many. Too well-prepared. A frontal assault could be fatal for all of us."- He says to himself- "I hate to do something disrespectful like this, but I can tell that there is no other way. If we use Joseph as our bait, then maybe we could stand a chance before they slaughter us all."
Adam approaches Joseph and nods.
"It seems like you are lucky, villain."- He says- "I shall spare you, on the condition that you are coming with us."
Joseph raises his eyebrow.
"Why would you do such a foolish thing?"
Adam glares at him.
"Because you are the star of the show now."
Having said that, he uses a well-aimed magical droplet of water that weakens the hold of the trees, loosening their connection.
"There you go."- He says- "You can back away now."
Joseph does so. When he is finally free, he laughs.
"Hah!"- He exclaims- "You must be either very foolish or very stupid, because you just condemned your souls to-- "
Suddenly, Adam leans forward and strikes him with a bolt of lighting, sending a massive jolt through his body and completely paralyzing him.
"Sure. The effect is not permanent."- He says as he looks back at Akira- "However, it will hold him still until we arrive there."
Unfortunately, Joseph's mouth is still free. He uses whatever strength he has left to launch a worrying number of insults at Adam before getting slapped a few times by him.
While Adam hits him, Akira uses her magic to seal his mouth, leaving only his nose so he could breathe.
"And now, he's like a little sheep- quiet and harmless."
Adam sighs.
"For now, that is."
He turns to the rest of his allies.
"Well. It seems like Darkthrop's general is in our mercy now."- He says- "And yet, the road remains the same. Darkthrop and his forces are still out there, waiting for us. And we must reach them as soon as possible, if we want to save the world."
Jared nods.
"I am eager to bring that fiend down."- He says- "Let us proceed."
Adam nods.
"And proceed we shall."
Then, the four of them, along with their new prisoner, walk toward the road and against the wind, their mission clearer than the light within their hearts.
"Onward, everyone."