Rescue and a Fated Duel

**Rescue and a Fated Duel** (救出と宿命の対決, *Kyūshutsu to Shukumei no Taiketsu*) is the eighteenth episode of the *Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts* anime series.

## Summary

Leonhart arrives just as Sariphi and her would-be rescuers near the end of their rope. Now the king must face the pretender to his throne. But how will he fare against a rival who has lived his life for this moment?

## Plot

Upon escaping, Sariphi is carrying Lanteveldt and asks Cy who's carrying Bennu if he is okay. But before Cy could finish answering, blue magic is unleashed towards them, but the group were luckily unscathed due to a rock behind them. It was Fenrir, who caught up with him as he hoped that Sariphi would prove to be more entertaining.

As Sariphi asks Lanteveldt if he's hurt, Fenrir suddenly jumps down facing them. Fenrir asks if she thought that the ring would save her and that the ring only works once, Sariphi wondering what he's talking about tells her that he put some of his magic in that ring. Sariphi then recalls that his magic from the ring was protecting her that time when Fenrir unleashed his magic and that she wasn't imagining things, and that's why she felt that the king was still with her.

Fenrir commands her to tremble in fear or he’ll make her his queen if she prostrates. Before Sariphi can reply, Lanteveldt suddenly recovers, stabbing Fenrir in the leg. Carrying Sariphi in his arms, Lanteveldt insults Fenrir before jumping up into the sky.

Enraged, Fenrir unleashes his magic after pulling out the weapon that Lanteveldt attacked him with until Sariphi's ring suddenly cracks and some magic unleashes while Fenrir jumps after them Gwiber then appears and flies Sariphi, Lanteveldt and Cy to a cliff nearby.

Fenrir looks behind him and sees the king and then yells that he hasn't waited on anyone or anything for this chance to face Leonhart once again. As Cy & Clops reunite, Sariphi is relieved to see Leonhart is here right beside her again.

Fenrir feel honored that the king of Ozmargo know so much about him and that he has lived to fight him again and reclaim his stolen pride that was taken from him. Leonhart then asks if his pride will return if he defeats him then asks him what he will do if he takes the throne.

Fenrir says that Sariphi asked the same question that he did, then he says that he will purge the realm and make every beastkinds fight each other. Lanteveldt then says that chaos brought the kingdoms together and was ruled by the leader of the last species that was standing, and that the strong makes the rules and the weaker ones will follow the stronger ones.

He then says that if he still wants to keep the throne that he has to fight him or that he still says that Leonhart doesn't want to fight him, which Leonhart denies and proclaims that's why he will never give the throne to him as a king and a man. As Leonhart then takes his cape off, he declares that he has things that he must protect from him.

On the north, Anubis and Jormungand are riding towards the battle but Nir gets in their way, telling them that the battle between Fenrir and Leonhart has begun and that they're no longer needed. As Anubis demands what he meant, Nir explains that his duty now is to ensure that no one interfere since that was his promise to Fenrir he then says that if they intend to interfere that he will kill them even if he can't do it honorably. Jormungand agrees to this, much to Anubis' confusion.

Jormungand then replies that the lord that rules this land is fighting its self-proclaimed ruler and that they have no place in the duel. Leonhart and Fenrir are both unleashing their magic. Sariphi then says that his majesty is facing forward. Fenrir asks if something is wrong and if this is all he got. Sariphi says that Leonhart is wearing the face of a king that has too much on his shoulder and all she can do is believe in him. She is then calling out to him and says that he will never loose.

Fenrir asks if this is it and then recalls the day his overwhelming power stole everything from him and to him his might was despair. He then asks if this is all a king can do before he unleashes his magic. Gwiber is flying to another cliff. Fenrir then says that he hasn't recovered from the power that he put in Sariphi's ring and asks him if he was so desperate to reach her as soon as possible, knowing that he wasn't at his full power. Fenrir then says that the women he is so head over heels for will soon be his much to Leonhart's anger.

Fenrir then says that he has to take care of something and that he will unleash all of his mystic power. Clops & Cy is calling out to the king while Lanteveldt protects Sariphi. Leonhart then asks him what he's playing at and Fenrir says that their on even footing and trampling over a weaker one to reach the top would only tarnish his royal dignity. Fenrir then tells him from now on that they will fight like primal beasts.

At Ozmargo, Amit is looking at the townspeople that have come to the palace as refugees and that they feel uneasy. Guards is telling others to track down their majesties holy beast to find out where the enemy's leader is located. Amit then wonders if his majesty will fight after all and all she can do is pray she then asks that everyone including Sariphi and the king will be safe, especially Jormungand.

After Jormungand, Anubi and Nir comes to watch the battle, Fenrir and Leonhart are fighting as beasts and Anubis wonders if they're fighting claws and tooth. Fenrir is then jumping and then runs towards Leonhart and Leonhart runs towards him too. After Fenrir bites him, Leonharts leap into the air with him and then crash in the ground and then growls before biting Fenrir.

Jormungand then says that Leonhart bit deep and that he now has him before Fenrir puts his hand and removes his from the bite and tells him that he's not done yet. Leonhart then says that this is obsession and the pride of the man who lost everything including his ear and royal status so that he can reclaim his own existence. Leonhart then says that he mustn't let his mind wander since there's no time for weaknesses, he then says that he curses his own existence and fear battles due to his own frailty and that he was clinging onto the throne giving the extent of his powers. Fenrir is then charging towards Leonhart and everyone is looking in shock as Leonhart falls due to wounds.

Fenrir then laughs, Leonhart then wonders if its over and that he has no strength left suddenly he sees Sariphi calling his name and says that he has that name and then recalls to when Sariphi named him that and that the pride he gave her is the one thing that no one can take from him before he growls. Fenrir is wondering how he is still standing and looks towards Sariphi and says that she is the one who brought this out of him. Nir is looking at Fenrir and knowing that he is afraid just like back then.

He then recalls to Fenrir hurting after he lost his ear and Nir calls out to him and says that he brought water Fenrir then says to not call him your highness anymore since he lost his ear and that he is just a stray. Fenrir then says that he is not his servant anymore and tells him to go away while Nir picks up a broken shard but before Nir cut of his ear, Fenrir stops him and ends up with cutting his eye instead. Nir then says that if he wants an ear that he can give his and that he will do whatever he says and begs him to keep him with him which touches Fenrir.

They are then looking over the castle and Nir says that before he met Fenrir that he was just a stray dog and that he was the one who gave him a name and a place to belong. Fenrir then says that he will be king of this country one day and until then that he is just Fenrir and that he should act accordingly, Nir then asks the whole wolf kingdom which he denies and says the whole beast realm, and says that one day he will become king and that he will beat him and take over the throne. Fenrir then asks Nir not to go anywhere and that he should stay by my side.

Nir then calls out to Fenrir to take it back and reclaim his pride. Fenrir then charges towards Leonhart. Leonhart and Fenrir both says that they will not loose to each other. Leonhart finally beats Fenrir, Clops & Cy and Lanteveldt says that his majesty did it and looks towards Sariphi who is nowhere to be seen. Sariphi then jumps and lands towards Leonhart. He then asks her if he made her worry which she denies and says that she believed in him.

After Leonhart goes down on his knees due to the wounds, Sariphi asks him if he's alright. Anubis then calls out to him, which suprises them Anubis then says that Fenrir is still alive and to finish him off quickly. Leonhart stands up and starts walking towards Fenrir before Sariphi stops him. Leonhart then reassures her to not have fear. Leonhart then walks towards Fenrir and that he must not show a shred of compassion and that he must by his own hand. Nir then says that it is not necessary and stabs Fenrir right infront of Leonhart much to the confusions of the others.

Anubis then asks why Nir would strike him. Nir then says that his job is done and his reason to live. Leonhart tells him to wait and asks him and Nir answers. Anubis then says that they must give chase and to not let him escape before Leonhart falls while Sariphi runs towards him, which suprises everyone

After they returned to the castle on Gwiber, Leonhart is quickly carried away and Anubis tells the guards to gather all the priests that is in the palace to tend to the king. Sariphi is looking while they take Leonhart away when Amit suddenly calls out to her so Sariphi runs towards Amit and cries while Amit comforts her.

Lanteveldt tells Jormundgand that the royal captain guards are there to watch over them until their job is done which suprises Anubis, Jormungand then says that he must recover from the wounds as soon as possible so that he can protect his queen then tells Lanteveldt that he would be happy to to face him then. Lanteveldt then thanks Jormungand for sparring with him.

On a night of revelation, Sariphi enters Leonhart's bedroom to check up on him. When she goes near his bed he pulls her in which surprises her, she then asks if she woke him which he denies. When she starts bandaging his arms, Sariphi informs Leonhart that Anubis doesn't know when Nir will take revenge on him. Leonhart, on the other hand, wasn't too worried as he voiced his doubts that they will ever encounter him again. She then asks what they talked about at the end before he left with Fenrir's body.

Leonhart then tells her what Nir said to him; a flashback then appear with Nir saying that the fight was Fenrir's dream and that it was also his curse and that Fenrir is now free of that, Nir then thanks him for that and flies away from the field.

Nir is recalling when Fenrir told him that when the king is about to kill him that he should do it first. Nir tells him that it isn't like him and that's why he won't say it again to Nir. He then recalls that Fenrir was robbed of his ear and his pride and that he lost everything and that only his life was left and that he wanted to give that to Nir.

Nir then says that Fenrir was the reason that he lived and says that Fenrir is his pride then Nir recalls a flashback of Fenrir calling him asking him where he went and that he should come when he calls him and that he should stay by his side, close enough to hear him. Nir then claims that Fenrir is the only king he recognizes prouder than others.

Meanwhile, Set is in a library within the darkest bowels of the castle.

## Characters

* Sariphi
* Lanteveldt
* Cy
* Bennu
* Fenrir
* Leonhart
* Gwiber
* Clops
* Sirius
* Jormungand
* Gleipnir
* Amit
* Official A
* Official B
* Leonhart's Father *(flashback)*
* Sirius's Father *(flashback)*
* Set

## Trivia

* This is the second episode to show a short scene after the ending credits.
* Sariphi and Leonhart (in his human form) narrate the preview for the next episode.

## Anime and Manga Differences

* Inside the canopy bed, Leonhart was seen asleep right before he woke up and pulled Sariphi in. In the anime, it was shown Sariphi being pulled in by him.
* When Sariphi asked Leonhart what he and Nir talked about in the end, Leonhart was in his Beast form in the Manga but in the anime he was in his human form.