MLIII C2, P5- "Hard As Steele"

"Hard As Steele" is the fifth (and penultimate) Part of "Miracula Luxia III".

It was released on 05.12.2021.

## Plot

Steele has managed to escape... again! Now he is on his way to the Light Temple and is eager to steal the Light Crystal... even if it means that he will have to face all of Castle Goznor's guards to achieve it!

But this doesn't mean that he is done with Adam and his allies. He may have escaped from the battle, but he will never escape from the war. As long as he is still alive, they will chase him and (hopefully) hunt him down, making him pay for his crimes to both his own family... *and the entire world*.

However, Steele is far from the only threat to the world's delicate balance. Even if he falls, other ambitious villains will replace his role in the society. The cruel, cold and uncaring society that compromises this unhappy world. And all of those evildoers will be servants of a person whose ambitions extend far beyond the mortal veil itself.

Meanwhile, a new villain awakens from its slumber. A force of darkness so strong that it makes Nature itself tremble with every step that it takes. An unspeakable evil that threatens to (and is certainly capable of) destroying the Good that exists within this planet, along with the Light, the Hope and everything else that compromises the most important qualities of Men around the world.

Either way, that is not the primary focus of our heroes. Or, at least, *not yet*.

For now, they have to stop Steele and prevent him from reaching the crystal. Or, in the (unfortunately) very likely event of failing, at least to protect the priceless gem with their own lives.

## Story

Aiden notices that all eyes are on him. For a moment, he feels very nervous. Almost as if he is too scared of Steele to share anything regarding his whereabouts.

However, the feeling of dread and fear that is standing over his head like a black cloud soon dissipates.

"Again, I thank you all for trusting me."- He says- "You have shown me kindness and hope and I am glad to have met you in a time like this."

He sighs.

"Speaking of Steele is... very dangerous. He can easily find the person who ratted him out and making their life a nightmare. Maybe even worse than that."- He continues- "Still, I am going to share this information with you. I know that it will be the end of me, but it is all for the Greater Good. That's what I want to do. I want to be a hero to those who have been wronged... and I will. Nothing will stop me from doing this. Even Steele."

Adam places his hand on Aiden's shoulder.

"There is a good reason to fear a man like Steele. Cruel and malevolent as he is, he could be the bane of us all."- He says to him- 'But do not worry. As long as I am the leader of this small band of heroes, I promise that you will remain under our protection. Your life matters to us, just like those of every good citizen around the world. Rest assured that we will not let you down."

He glares at the sky above. For a moment, silent rage within his very soul replaces his previous kind and caring attitude. The year that he spent hunting this mysterious individual has been harsh on him and the separation between him and the rest of the Kaos family made it much worse.

However, those feelings are temporary. As soon as he looks back at his allies, the people with whom he has been travelling with during this entire adventure, he calms down. In a matter of mere seconds, the limitless anger within his eyes fades away from existence, replaced by the usual feeling of calm and wisdom that he projects while talking to someone.

"What a change!"- Elwyen whispers to Mardek- "So, my dearest Mardek. What do you think triggered his anger? Was it his regret of not being with his family? Was it a memory that is too painful to describe? Or maybe a lovely maiden that he-- "

Mardek shakes his head.

"Well, Ellie. I'd love to respond to your long and confusing question."- He whispers back- "But there's a war going on. Steele's still out there and Adam regrets the fact that he failed to kill him. Yes, he's angry. We all know that. However, this anger is best used in battle. Staring at the sky and wishing that things will get better is in vain. Got it?"

Elwyen sighs.

"Way to ruin a girl's curiosity."- She whispers- "Thanks, Mardek. You're the best."

She looks back at Adam.

"However, I can't deny that you speak the truth."- She continues- "This boy's been hunting Steele for a whole year, not knowing where to look or what to expect. Right now, he finally gets the chance to redeem himself."

She smiles.

"And I'll stand beside him, no matter whether it's in flesh... or in spirit."

Mardek smiles as well.

"Well. You said it!"- He says- "Little Adam has grown so much during his stay in Canonia. He became more confident, more intelligent. He's now a trustworthy leader and I'm ready to help him out."

Emela, who has been listening to their conversation until this very moment, finally decides to tune in and say something herself.

"We all do, Mardek."- She says= "We all do."

Having come to a mutual agreement, the three of them listen to Adam and Aiden's conversation.

Aiden pulls out a small, square gem from his pocket and shows it to Adam.

"This is a rare Chaos Stone."- He says- "Normally, I wouldn't resort to using such strange, unpredictable magic, but this is an urgent situation. We can't just sit here forever, so I'll take the risk of using it to reach Steele."

He sighs.

"However, there is a little problem."- He continues- "As you can see, this little device's energy has been exhausted. There is nothing left in it. Thus, I need the help of an experienced mage to help me fix it."

Adam nods.

"I would assume that you also need the help of a young hero who is capable of stopping Steele and ending his reign of terror once and for all."- He says- "Is that right?"

Aiden grins.

"Yeah."- He says- "That, too."

Emela approaches Aiden. Once she is close enough, she holds out her hand.

"May I see it?"

Aiden nods.

"Of course."

He starts to hand her the stone, but he soon realizes who she is.

"Wait."- He says- "Are you Emela- the Water Guardian?"

Emela nods.

"That's me."

Aiden shakes his head.

"With all my respect to your kind, I am afraid that you may not be able to help us."- He says- "I've heard that your magic is different from ours. That means that I... need to find someone else."

Emela smiles.

"Oh. You're worried that I might make it unusable?"- She says- "Don't worry, kiddo. I do know a thing or two about teleporation magic. In my years dwelling in the Water Temple, I studied those complicated devices and tried to understand their nature."

She sighs.

"I am no expert, but I want to give it a try."- She finishes- "So. Will you trust me?"

Aiden looks at Adam, as if wondering what he will say about this.

"Miss Emela is my teacher."- He says- "We have studied this kind of magic together and I can confirm that she is good at it."

He smiles.

"Come on. Give her a chance."- He says- "Trusting people is the first step to building a stable relationship with them."

Aiden looks back at Emela who is still looking at him. He sighs and hands her the stone.

"If Adam trusts you, then I'll do the same."- He says to her- "Just... be careful. Okay?"

Emela nods.

"I will."- She says and stares at the stone for a few seconds.

Although its surface does not look damaged, there is one thing that she immediately notices. Something that cannot be spotted by the untrained eye.

A small crack runs from the top of the crystal, all the way down to the end of it. Such a minor problem is often ignored by skilled mages who assume that it is only a part of its unusual shape.

However, Emela is no fool. Her training in teleportation magic has taught her that even the smallest flaw can have a devastating effect on the teleportation device in question.

She carefully places her other hand on the crystal and mutters an incantation. In a moment, the crack disappears.

"Your crystal was not exactly in perfect condition."- She says to Aiden- "But that was just a minor setback. You can use it now."

Aiden nods.

"I thank you for your aid, mighty Guardian."- He says to her- "However, the device is still bereft of any magical energy. Even though it has been fully repaired, it's not going to take us everywhere."

Emela smiles.

"Now *this* is my specialty!"- She exclaims- "Magic like this is child's play to a person like myself!"

She places her hand on the crystal again. Then, she mutters something.

At first, nothing happens. Everyone wonders if she was just trying to comfort them.

However, they soon notice a small spark of light appear in the device. Slowly, it grows stronger.

Soon, the light from the spark illuminates the entire crystal, activating its long-hidden power once again.

"There's no need to thank me, kiddo."- Emela says to Aiden while handing him the teleportation crystal- "Guardians live to help those in need."

Aiden smiles.

"Now I know why they respect your kind so much!"- He says- "I am in your debt, mighty Guardian. What you did today, I will never forget it."

He turns to Adam.

"The stone is active. Once again, I can use its power and teleport to Castle Goznor to stop Steele."- He says- "However, I won't be able to make it. Not alone, at the very least."

Adam nods.

"How many people can this device teleport at once?"

Aiden stares down at it and shrugs.

"I never thought about it."- He says- "But I would assume that the estimated amount would be around three."

Elwyen is surprised.

"Three at once?"- She asks.

Aiden nods.

"Isn't there a chance for more?"- She says, clearly longing for a fight with Steele- "There's more than two people here who want to fight!"

Regretfully, Aiden shakes his head.

"I'm afraid not. The device is too... unstable. Even this amount of users can be devastating for it."- He responds- "So, three. Take it or leave it."

Mardek sighs and gently pulls Elwyen back.

"Well."- He says and smiles- "This means that we'll have more time to spend together."

Elwyen grins.

"Of course!"- She says- "I've always wanted to do that, Mardek."

Mardek nods and looks at Adam.

"Me and Ellie want to stay back here."- He says to him- "Although we really want to kick Steele's bottom, we think that you are more... suitable for this job."

Adam nods.

"It is a shame that we must split like this. It pains my heart to do such a thing."- He says to them- "However, it is for the Greater Good. If this is the only way to stop Steele from causing an apocalypse, then I am going to take my chances. I will stand tall and face him in battle, even it means that I will be nearly alone."

Mardek grins.

"Well, you're the boss!"- He responds- "Do what you have to do. We'll be with you!"

Emela takes a step forward and looks at Adam.

"So, Adam. I think that it's time to make your intentions clear to everyone."- She says to him- "Last year, you came to Canonia. You showed us the spark of a true hero- someone who's more than capable of leading an assault against a feared enemy. You promised us that you'll protect Goznor and Canonia from the clutches of evil. You want those people to see you as the hero that you deserve to be? Well, now's the chance to prove that you mean it!"

Adam nods again.

"Miss Emela."- He says- "Before I go, I want to thank you."

Emela raises her eyebrow.

"Thank me for what?"

Adam looks at her.

"I want to thank you for welcoming me and taking me under your wing when my own parents failed to do so."- He says to her- "All this time, I have seen you as my only parent. My true parent, You showed me that, even though my body was warped by the Geneforge and its vile magic, I am not necessarily a lost cause. You were eager to teach me the ways of magic and help me uncover my true potential- the one that is hidden deep under the layers of fear and insecurity inside of me. You worked hard to help me become a kind, caring and hard-working young man, something that my parents have always wanted to see. You kept me away from the evil temptations out here, but you did not force me to shy away from them. You taught me how to understand them, avoid them and listen to the cheerful tunes of my young heart. To ignore the tragic rhapsody of Darkness and to open my soul towards the radiant hymn of Light. Thanks to you, I remembered what happiness and hope truly mean. The time that I spent with you was like a sweet song, performed by a choir of beautiful angels. It is true that there was a time when we did not agree about everything that we said to each other. However, that time is long past and I can see that you trust me as much as I do."

He smiles again.

When that happens, Emela can't help but do the same.

"I love you, Miss Emela. The memories of you will always remain in my mind and remind me of who I really am."- He continues- "Before I go to the place where I might meet the end of my own road, I want to sing you a song that I dedicated to you."

Having said that, Adam closes his eyes and starts to sing.

He sings about the times when he was alone. Afraid and unsure in himself. When he was merely a mercenary who searched for a way to redeem himself to the world.

Then, he sings about the time when an angel- Emela herself- saved him from the darkness around him and brought him into her Temple of Light. He sings about the feelings that she awoke within him, ones that he had forgotten after he was separated from his family- kindness, loyalty, compassion, wisdom, love, happiness and, most importantly, hope.

Finally, he sings about the time when they made a promise to each other- to never forget the times that they have spent together, to always cherish the good memories that they made and stay side by side, even when their road is not the same anymore.

This flurry of emotions reminds Elwyen of her own life as a child. In a few moments, she starts to cry and hugs Mardek.

When the song is done, she looks up and claps.

"Bravo!"- She says- "That's my boy!"

Emela is thrilled to hear that Adam sees her more than just a Protector. She realizes that he sees her as a friend. A companion. And, most importantly, a parental figure that fills the hole that was made one year ago.

Overcome by the emotions within her own heart, the guardian hugs her apprentice. Like a loving mother, she kisses him on the forehead and smiles, her smile alone reassuring Adam that everything will be alright.

"Adam. My dear, dear Adam."- She says- "When I took you in, I only did it as a favor to someone else. I did it because I respected your parents and because I wanted to honor their wishes. Because I respected them for being heroes who have always cared about our world. I kept you safe and awaited their return. I noticed your potential ever since you came here, but I never came to understand you completely. I nurtured your talents because I knew that, one day, you would leave me to become a great hero, just like your father. I coped with the fact that you will depart and leave me to my solitude. I was content with seeing you go and do the right thing."

Her eyes quickly fill with tears.

"What you said right now was more precious than, well, *everything*. Even the crystals are not as important as the bond that we made."- She continues- "All this time, I feared that you might see me as more than just your teacher, that you would come to love me and care about me, as if I am the one who's been taking care of you ever since you were brought into our world. And now, that day finally came. At long last, I... finally understand how much I mean to you and I don't want to let you go... go... "

Suddenly, she falls on her knees and looks down. Tears continue to fall from her face as the others watch.

Mardek lets go of Elwyen and hugs Emela, trying to comfort her.

Moments later, she has calmed down. A little.

Mardek looks up at Adam.

"This is quite an emotional moment for all of us."- He says stoically - "Your words struck home and we feel... different. It's something that doesn't happen often and we don't know how to react."

Then, he smiles.

"But don't worry about us. We're going to be fine."- He continues- "Now go out there and give Steele what he deserves!"

Adam looks at him.

"Is that a promise?"

Mardek nods and smiles.

"You have my word."

He looks back at Elwyen.

"*Our* word"- She says.

Adam looks at Aiden and Derion.

"Whenever you're ready, Adam."- Aiden says to him.

Adam nods.

Aiden hands him the crystal and he holds it up.

"Take us to Castle Goznor!"- He says- "We are ready!"

As they start to fade away, Adam looks at the rest of his allies.

"Miss Emela. Sir Mardek. Lady Elwyen."- He says to them- "Thank you. For everything."

He smiles.

"You are amazing."

Having said that, he, Aiden and Derion disappear. Completely.

"Good luck, young hero."- Elwyen says- "Safe travels."

After being teleported away from their companions, Adam and his allies are transported to Castle Goznor.

The teleportation process is rather... unsettling, to say at the very least. Especially for Adam.

Although Aiden and Derion emerge from the portal unharmed, Adam stumbles outside and briefly leans against a nearby wall.

"Feeling dizzy?"- Aiden asks him- "Don't worry. It'll go away."

It turns out that he is telling the truth. Soon, Adam feels much better.

He stands up and takes a look at his surroundings, realizing that they were teleported at the entrance to Castle Goznor.

"Here we are."- He says- "Castle Goznor. Our final stand against Steele and his bandits."

Derion looks around. He is clearly amused.

"So this is the famed Castle Goznor- home of the kingdom's sovereign."- He says- "I've got to say. You humans have an interesting taste in architecture. The place looks immaculate and it... "

He notices a bloodstain nearby and sighs.

"Nevermind."- He says- "It's not entirely safe."

Aiden sighs as well.

"Looks like Steele got here well before us."- He says to Adam- "Let's hope that we are not too late."

Adam shakes his head.

"I will not let this villain escape."- He says- "I will fight him until the end!"

Aiden and Derion nod.

"And we're right here with you."- Derion says- "Now, where's the crystal?"

Adam has no clue.

"In a large shrine under the throne room."- Aiden says, relieving both Adam and Derion- "It's well-hidden, but I assume that Steele's already found a way in there."

Adam nods.

"Let us do this."- He says and dashes forward. Aiden and Derion do the same.

As they rush towards the throne room, they see the corpses of those who fought in the inevitable battle for the Light Crystal. Surprisingly, all of them are soldiers, presumably from Castle Goznor, who fought to protect their relic from evil... and failed.

"It's hard to think that he would do such a thing, but that doesn't mean that it's not possible."- Aiden says- "He may be a coward, but he ain't no fool. When he wants something, he'll do anything to have it. And when someone tries to stop him, well... "

He sighs and shakes his head.

"Let's say that they're going to have a bad time."

Adam nods.

"I have met many villains in my adventures, but I have never seen someone so... maddened by his own desires."- He says- "Miss Gloria told me everything about Steele. He is a power-hungry man who only wishes to satisfy his own greed with endless treasures. He enjoys hitting people and that is why he joined the Royal Guard many years ago- to do it without being yelled at. Even without knowing his true nature, I can still see that he is a madman who must be taken care of."

Derion nods.

"Well said, my friend."- He says- "However, we have yet to find him.'

Adam sighs.

"I know."- He says and continues to run without saying another word.

On their way towards the throne room, Adam looks at Aiden. He is about to ask him about something, but soon thinks better of it.

"Is something wrong, Adam?"- Aiden asks him- "If so, don't be afraid to share it with me. I'm a good listener."

Adam sighs and looks back at him.

"You know. Normally, I do not ask many questions, but you intrigue me."- He says to him- "I just want to know who you are. Why you decided to help us in a time like this. Is this fine by you?"

Aiden smiles and shrugs.

"Well, there isn't much to say. My life is... a rather boring one"- He responds- "I was raised by a poor family of farmers. Lived my life as a normal child and never knew more than I had to. When I became 18, I inherited my father's farm and started working on it. Right now, I take care of my parents and make a living by selling eggs, milk and fresh meat to the local traders in my hometown. I admit that I want more than this, but I am content with what I have."

He sighs.

"As for my involvement with Steele and his gang, I will say that it was a coincidence. Not a total one, but still a coincidence."- He continues- "When I was working on my fields, he and his bandits arrived unexpectedly and attacked our village. Then, he demanded our mayor to tell him more about the crystals and threatened to slaughter all of us if he did not comply. That's when I decided to help him out and bail our mayor out of a fate that could have been worse than death. Watching an entire settlement get destroyed by a madman is a pain for anyone, let alone a person who is sworn to lead and protect it. So, I fooled Steele into thinking that I know a lot about the crystals. He was content with what I said, so he allowed me to travel with his gang and left my hometown alone. We raided more settlements together, but I never participated in any of the battles that they caused with their actions. I simply stood back, too afraid to hurt good and innocent people. We worked together for almost an entire year... until I decided that he was too wicked and unpredictable to be trusted. I secretly left his gang and ran off into the woods, hiding from them. I feared that he would kill me as soon as he learned that I am the one who betrayed him... until I heard of you."

He smiles.

"To many people, you're a pillar of light. Of goodness. Everyone respects you and revers you because of your heroism... even though you haven't done much yet."- He continues- "That's why I came to find you. I thought that you'd be the only person who can help me defeat Steele. And now, here I am."

He stares at him.

"So. Now you know my backstory. Therefore, you can judge me and decide whether my actions were justified or not."- He says- "But please, remember this. When I did those things, I did them for the good of others. I wanted to warn those people, to help them resist Steele's infuence and give them time to fight back. My total failure was, of course, anticipated, but I think that I still deserve a chance. My question is: Am I good enough to stand by your side?"

Adam nods and smiles.

"I understand your pain, Aiden. Few people would dare to do such a thing and see their own world fall to pieces as he tries to restore it."- He says- "If you want to hear it from my mouth, then I will gladly say it. Your actions were justified and any crime that you may have committed is officially forgiven by yours truly. We need every ally we can get and I assure you that you are a valuable asset to our small, but significant team of heroes. Rest assured of that."

Aiden smiles and bows to him.

"One day, you'll become one of the most revered heroes in the entire world."- He says- "When that happens, I will gladly remember the time when I met you in person and when you gave me the courage to continue. Thank you, Adam Kaos."

He looks up.

"Now, what are we waiting for?"- He says- "We have a kingdom to save!"

Adam smiles.

"Well said, Aiden."- He says and takes another step forward- "Let us finish what we started!"

Soon, the three of them approach the open door that leads to Castle Goznor's throne room.

"This is it."- Adam says- "Prepare yourselves, everyone. From now on, we are in danger. Every move that we make may be our last, so make them all count. For the sake of everything that we love."

Derion and Aiden nod.

"Lead the way."- They say.

As they enter the throne room, they see a person kneeling on the ground in front of them.

Derion aims his bow at him, but Adam stops him from shooting.

"Hold on."- He says- "Let me take a look."

Derion nods.

"Right."- He says- "Be careful."

Adam approaches the person and looks at him.

It does not take him long to realize who he really is.

"Donovan?"

For some reason, Aiden is very surprised. The mention of Donovan's name makes him overjoyed. Almost ecstatic. A tiny gleam in his eyes betrays just how happy he is.

"Donnie!"- He yells and rushes towards him.

Donovan looks up and stares at them. Seeing Adam makes him happy, but seeing Aiden makes him even more so.

"Aiden! Little brother!"- He says and hugs him- "I... I can't believe it!"

Aiden hugs him as well.

"I finally found you!"- He says- "We're finally reunited!"

Adam and Derion stare at each other.

"Little... brother?"

Donovan looks at Adam and smiles.

"Adam. I'm sure that you already met my little brother- Aiden."- He says- "I've been looking for him for years. Ever since I became a mage, I renewed my search for him. I never stopped until this wonderful day. I am so happy!"

Adam smiles.

"I am glad that I reunited you."- He says- "It is nice to see the smiles on your faces."

Donovan looks at Aiden. His smile suddenly turns into a frown.

"Aiden."- He says to his little brother- "I... I was afraid to tell you about what happened back here years ago. I feared that you might take it too hard and forget about our purpose. But, well... I... "

Aiden sighs and nods.

"It's okay, big brother. I already know about it."- He responds- "News travel fast and it reached my ears shortly after it happened. He's gone and I'll never cope with his demise. The fact that I wasn't here with you haunts me every day and I hoped that I could turn back time to do what I failed to do back then. I... I'm so sorry."

Donovan hugs him again.

"Don't blame yourself about it. It's not your fault."- He says to him- "Blaming yourself for something like this will only drag you down."

Aiden sighs.

"I know."- He says- "I know."

Adam takes a step forward.

"So. How is the castle doing?"- He asks Donovan- "Are there any signs of Steele?"

Donovan shakes his head.

"That fiend attacked the castle. Killed most of its defenders without any remorse."- He says- "Me and Sharla gathered a small force of warriors to make a last stand, but she was wounded during the struggle. I stayed here to protect her while the rest of our allies chased Steele down into the shrine where the crystal is held."

He turns to Adam and sighs.

"I know that we haven't know each other for a long time, but I beg you."- He says- "Please. Defeat that villain and show him that we're not afraid. And, if you don't do it for us, then please do it for our common future."

He looks down at an unconscious Sharla and sighs again.

"We all need you Adam."- He continues- "You're our only hope right now."

Adam nods.

"You do not need to tell me twice."- He says- "Steele will pay for what he did. And I will make sure of it."

Donovan smiles and shakes Adam's hand.

"Thank you, my friend."- He says- "I knew that I could trust you."

As Adam and Derion turn to leave, they notice that Aiden is still staying with Donovan and Sharla.

"I'm afraid that this is the end of my journey, friends."- He says to them- "As much as I want to help you out, I also want to stay with my brother. Stand beside him and help him out."

He looks at Donovan and smiles.

"It's just that it... it's been so long."- He says- "I've missed him so much."

Adam nods and smiles.

"Of course, Aiden. We understand."- He says to him- "You are a valuable ally, but you are not forced to stay with us. If you want to help your brother, so be it."

Aiden smiles and waves at him.

"Stay safe. Adam."- He says- "Steele is strong, but I know that you are stronger. I'm confident that you will emerge victorious."

Donovan smiles as well.

"And so am I."- He says- "Good luck, my friend."

Adam nods and smiles.

"I will make you proud."- He says- "I promise!"

Having said that, he and Derion enter the shrine. Alone.

Once inside, they are greeted by the particularly grisly sight of numerous fallen soldiers. All of them show no signs of life and their weapons sit on the ground next to them.

"Poor humans."- Derion says, shaking his head- "They fought for what they loved and met a fate that they did not deserve."

Adam sighs.

"I agree with you."- He says- "Their souls cry for redemption. For justice. And we are the ones who will do it for them."

Derion nods.

"What about you?"- He says- "Would you fight for the people that you love, even if it means that you'll die like... like *them*?"

Adam nods.

"Gladly."- He says, without thinking twice.

It seems like that is all that he will say regarding this topic. Without another word, he takes a step forward and walks towards the end of the shrine.

"Then let me fight beside you."- Derion says to him- "If you're going to die for those humans, then I'll do the same."

Adam smiles.

"I appreciate it."

It doesn't take them long to reach the end of the defiled shrine. As soon as they get close to the crystal's resting place, they notice something very interesting.

"Amazing"- Adam says- "It is still here."

They notice a man who is slowly approaching the shrine. His right leg is wounded and he barely limps forward.

However, he is probably pretending to be weak, just to confuse those who would dare to attack him. Underestimating this villain could be a fatal mistake.

But Adam does not care. He has come so far and helped so many people. A mere villain like this one will not stop him from doing what is right.

"Hey! You!"- He yells- "Stop right there!"

The villain turns around, surprised. Adam immediately realizes that he is Steele Brennte- the new, cowardly leader of the Order of the Black Fist and the villain who was too afraid to face him in battle.

"Ugh. I knew that it was too good to be true!"- He says- "You ruined everythin', you know."

Derion aims his bow at him.

"Alright, bandit, the jig is up."- He says to him, preparing to take his first shot- "We've got a score to settle. And we're going to settle it right here... and right now!"

Steele smirks.

"Score, eh?"- He says- "I don't care 'bout how much ya hate me."

He turns around and looks at the crystal.

"I only care about this lil' babeh."- He says- "Nothin' more!"

He reaches for the crystal and touches it with his filthy hand.

"Get you hands off this sacred artifact, you vile fiend!"- Adam yells- "We will not let you take it!"

Steele laughs maniacally.

"You?"- He mocks them- "You and what army?"

Derion shakes his head.

"We don't need an army to defeat scum like you!"- He yells- "Now get over here and fight us like a man!"

Steele grins.

"I'd rather get the crystal's power first."- He says and takes another step toward it.

Adam and Derion try to stop him, but it is too late. Steele rushes forward and grabs the crystal.

Having done the impossible, he turns to Adam and Derion and laughs.

"The Light Crystal is mine!"- He yells- "All mine!"

He pulls out a small, black orb and grins.

"See ya, suckers!"

He tries to break it, but Adam knows about this trick. Instead of simply staying and watching, he rushes forward and swiftly knocks both the orb and the crystal out of Steele's hands.

"No!"- Steele yells- "My precious!"

The orb breaks into hundreds of small pieces and exudes a black smoke, but Adam manages to back away before Steele can stab him and take the crystal back.

"Argh!"- Steele yells and draws his weapon- "I knew you are trouble! Ever since I met ya, you've been quite the problem for me!"

With surprising speed and accuracy, he rushes forward, takes the crystal from Adam's hand and stabs him in the arm.

Suddenly, Adam feels very weak. He collapses to the ground tries to seal the fresh wound.

"The curse. It is making me feel weak."- He says weakly- "Derion. Stop... him."

Steele laughs as he avoids Derion's blows.

"So the Lake Hag cursed ya, eh?"- He says- "Good! This makes my job *much* easier!"

Derion snorts.

"Easier said than done, villain."- He says, draws his daggers and leaps forward.

The two of them fight over the crystal. Derion attempts to stab him in the chest with both of his weapons, but Steele refuses to die.

Instead, he throws him on the ground and points his finger at him.

"Ha!"- He mocks- "You're nothin' more than a farlander! A weak warrior who thinks he's real good!"

Derion tries to attack him again, but the villain punches him in the face a few times.

Then, he throws him on the ground. Again.

"So, you wanna dance?"- He asks him- "Well, I'll show ya!"

He starts to head towards him, but gets distracted by the crystal's light.

For some reason, the ancient artifact is gleaming. Shining in its own, white light.

"What's this? The crystal's trying to stop me from killing ya?"- He says and laughs- "Ha! Like that will ever hap-- "

Suddenly, the crystal's light gets much brighter. It flashes once and illuminates the entire shrine with its light.

Meanwhile, it also sends Steele flying into a nearby wall, breaking his head in the process.

The crystal stands in mid-air for a few seconds. Then, it starts to fall.

Seeing that this precious artifact is about to break, Adam reminds himself of its purpose- being the source of all good things that happen around the world. He also sees a brief image of the world without it- a place of total chaos, bereft of any order.

Yes. It is clear that, without the Light Crystal to illuminate the way forward, the entire world is going to be plunged into everlasting Darkness. Chaos is going to reign and all good people will become slaves to evil.

Without thinking twice, he leaps forward and catches the crystal before it can fall down and break. He checks it to make sure that it is not damaged.

"Thank God. I did it."- He says and smiles, having confirmed that it is still fine- "I refuse to let you break! You of all crystals, you are the most important to me!"

Before he can put it back in its resting place, Steele gets up and attacks him. This time, he refuses to mock him or break his morale. Instead, he simply fights him with his fists, intending to take the crystal back.

"Oh no, you don't!"- Derion says and aims his bow at him.

Once he makes sure that he is in range, he fires two accurate shots at both of his legs, completely crippling them.

However, this does not stop him from trying to fight back. He grabs Adam's right leg and twists it.

The young hero screams in pain and almost drops the crystal, but soon remembers what is happening and he grasps it even tighter than he did before.

"I will not let you win, Steele!"- He yells at him- "I will finish you and rid the world of your evil presence!"

Steele grins as he twists Adam's ankle even further.

"Yeah. Keep on dreamin' !"- He yells- "The crystal's mine. You can't take what's rightfully mine!"

Adam ignores the pain and shakes his head, trying to loosen Steele's grip.

The crystal has never been yours... and it will never be!"- He says- "Just give up accept your fate! It has been sealed and you cannot change it!"

Steele shakes his head. His grip gets stronger.

"I ain't gonna die 'til my last breath!"- He yells- "Even if I die, I'll still haunt ya! You won't get rid of me!"

Adam continues to struggle against him, but soon realizes that his grip is too strong.

Derion rushes to his aid and tries to rip Adam away from the villain. However, it turns out that he is too strong.

Soon, the pain becomes unbearable. Adam flinches as the crystal slowly slips out of his hand.

"Yes! Yes!"- Steele screams and laughs maniacally- "My precious! *My precious!*"

However, hope is not lost yet.

As soon as Adam and Derion are about to give up, Aiden jumps down from a vent in the ceiling above.

He lands on top of Steele and attempts to strangle him.

"This is what you get for making me help you!"- He yells at him- "Die, you bloodthirsty vagabond!"

Steele tries to free himself, but Aiden's grip is surprisingly strong. Too strong for him.

Soon, he falls limp, unable to fight back anymore.

Aiden stands up, stomps him in the head a few times and smirks.

"And stay down!"- He yells- "Jerk!"

He turns to Adam and helps him stand up.

"My god, you don't look good at all!"- He says- "What happened?"

Derion sighs.

"This fiend tried to take the crystal away from us. We crippled him, but he still fought back. I'm ashamed that we tried our best to stop him, but he was just too determined to drag us down with him... and break the crystal, too."- He says- "I'm glad that you came to help us. You're a lifesaver."

Aiden nods.

"My friends, it is an honor to be by your side!"

Adam slowly regains his senses, approaches the pedestal that once housed the Light Crystal and puts the priceless artifact back on its resting place.

He turns to Aiden.

"Why did you decide to help us?"- He asks him- "I thought that your brother needs you more than we do."

Aiden smiles and pats him on the shoulder.

"When I meet new friends, I build stable and long relationships with them. I rely on both loyalty and honor to help them keep standing tall as they are."- He says- "But ours was something truly special for me. Something that made me reconsider, to beg my brother for forgiveness and to abandon him to... to help the one who needed me the most."

He looks at him.

"Remember what you told me back there? That trusting someone is the first thing that leads to a long and lasting relationship?"- He continues- "Well, I do. Despite the heat of battle, I remembered my purpose. Why I came with you and why I am still here. I fight for my family, but I also fight for my friends. Our bond will never break!"

Adam smiles.

"I knew that I could count on you, Aiden."- He says to him- "You are such a loyal and arduous ally. Many could learn from your good deeds."

As the three of them prepare to leave the sacred shrine, they notice that Steele is still moving.

A second later, he grabs Adam's leg again.

"Please."- He begs them weakly- "Don't let me... die. Become one of them. Please. Kill me."

Seeing Steele's weakness, Adam decides to use it as a weapon against him.

"*I hate to do this when he is at the brink of death.*"- He says to himself- "*I know that it is wrong. So wrong and unjust. And yet, I...* "

He shakes his head.

"*I have to do it, though.*"- He continues- "*I need to know where he is.*"

He turns to Steele and stares at him.

His beautiful, blue eyes are filled with hatred. Hatred for the man who slaughtered countless innocents and left their families to grieve for them, with a smile on his face.

"Tell me!"- He yells at him- "Tell me where he is!"

Steele looks up and smiles.

"You want to know about my... employer?"- He says- "Mordred... Darkthrop?"

Adam nods.

"Tell me everything that you know and I will spare you."- He says- "I swear."

Steele shakes his head.

"No. I wanna die. This world is... too hard for me to live in. Too many enemies. Too many struggles."- He mutters and sighs- "But I'll tell ya. Hope that you can kill me afterwards."

Derion shakes his head.

"Alright, villain."- He says- "Where is the man of whom you talked about? What does he want from us?!"

He is tries to kick him in the face, but Adam pushes him away.

"That is enough, Derion."- He says to him- "You helped me out as much as you could. Now, allow me to finish the job."

Although Derion is clearly infuriated, he still allows Adam to interrogate him. He respects the young hero and thus, he also respects the decisions that he makes.

"Go ahead."

Adam turns back to Steele.

"Earlier, you mentioned something about a person that I love. How they serve Mordred Darkthrop."- He says- "Who is the person that you spoke of, if you do not mind me asking?"

Steele smiles.

"Why, it's yer sister, of course!"- He responds- "The poor girl doesn't know what's getting herself into!"

Adam shakes his head.

"Liar! My sister would never do something like this!"- He yells at him- "She is a devout warrior of Light and she will never turn away from the path that she chose! Nice try, Steele, but you have to be more convincing than that!"

Steele smiles.

"Oh, you will see her soon enough."- He says- "And when you do, you... are gonna be surprised that she ain't what she used to be. I'd love to see the sheer terror in your eyes when you... you see the harsh truth in person."

He sighs and shakes his head.

"But that's enough."- He says- "Anything else?"

Adam sighs.

"Tell me where they are."- He says to him- "Where did Mordred and his cronies take my sister?!"

Regretfully, Steele decides to reveal their location.

"Underfall. The city of Darklings."- He responds- "Your sister's now their queen and she's gonna rule them. All according to our wise leader."

Adam sighs.

"At least we know where those fiends took her."

He turns to his allies and sighs again.

"Come on, everyone."- He says to them- "There is a long and arduous journey ahead of us. We'd better start moving."

As they turn to leave, Steele stops them again.

"Wait! Wait!"- He yells- "What about me?"

Adam raises his eyebrow.

"What do you want from us?"

Steele looks down at his wounds.

"I gave you info. Told ya about Darkthrop and your sister."- He says- "Now, can you end my life? Stab me before I turn?"

Adam considers doing what he wants. He draws his weapon and tries to bring himself to stab him to death.

However, he stops at the last moment and takes a step backwards.

"No. I will not do that."- He says- "I will not become a bloodthirsty killer like you."

Steele smiles.

"You're only makin' a fool outta yourself."- He says- "Soon, this... might be you. Right? What would you do if your enemy refuses to honor your last wish?"

Adam shakes his head.

"I refuse to give in to your demands, even though I am sure that you will be gone soon."- He responds- "It does not matter whether I interfere with your impending doom. You will still die. Why should I taint my hands with more blood than I already have? There is no point in killing someone else, if I can simply avoid it."

Steele smirks.

"Well."- He says- "You can't tell *me* what to do!"

Suddenly, he stands up, grabs Adam's blade and points it at his own chest.

"If you can't do it, then... then I'll do it for ya."- He says- "Goodbye, cruel world."

Before Adam and his allies can do anything to stop him, he plunges the sword into his chest and watches as his life is quickly being drained away.

"*Guess this is it. Wish I could receive a better death, but this... this will do.*"- He says to himself, smiling as he continues to bleed to death- "*I'll see ya on the other side, papa...* "

He collapses on the ground and watches Adam and his allies.

Soon, his eyes close (for the last time) and he finally dies.

"There we go."- Aiden says- "And so came the end of the story for Steele Brennte. Fearsome leader of a powerful bandit organization. Cold-blooded slayer of innocents. Maddened conqueror and devoted collector of priceless artifacts. He died the way he lived his entire life- being the fool who eventually paid for his crimes."

Derion shakes his head.

"Rest in pieces."- He says- "You won't be missed. Not at all."

Adam sighs. He kneels and inspects his dead body.

Although he does not want to search the dead, he is still curious about what he might find in his pockets.

Soon, his patience is rewarded. He finds a black stone that is shaped like an Onyx.

Unfortunately for him, this is also the moment when Steele reanimates. Just as he opens his eyes again, he yanks the Onyx away and picks his weapon back up.

"Man!"- Derion says- "This person doesn't want to stay down, does he?!"

Adam takes a step forward and shakes his head.

"I guess not."- He responds- "But this is the end of the line for him!"

Having said that, he lunges forward and swiftly stabs the undead Steele in the head, ending his life. This time for good.

Adam leans against a nearby wall, clearly exhausted.

"We did it."- He says, lifting his head in the air triumphantly- "Goznor is safe. At long last."

## Trivia

* "*So, three. Take it or leave it.*" is a reference to the *Spongebob* episode when the Flying Dutchman grants Spongebob and Patrick three wishes. It is also a reference to Patrick's words during said episode- "*Three. Take it or leave it.*"
* "*Goodbye, cruel world*" is a reference to a song by English 60s-90s rock band "Pink Floyd" that goes by the same name.
* "*My precious!*" is a reference to Lord of the Rings character Gollum who called the legendary One Ring as "*his precious*" or, simply, "*precious*". Said item extended his life far beyond its intended limits and made him lose his sanity, both at the same time.