Meanwhile, Thia, Vera, and Thena were weaving through the narrow alleys, the distant sound of the battle ringing in their ears. The ground shook beneath their feet, and debris rained down from the rooftops as the shockwaves from the fight reached further into the city.
"Are we really just going to leave him?" Vera asked, her voice trembling.
"We have no choice," Thia replied her tone firm despite the fear in her eyes. "General Farouk told us to go. If we stayed, we'd only be a distraction."
Thena glanced over her shoulder, her expression grim. "I've never seen anyone fight like that before. He's… holding his own against those monsters."
Thia nodded, though her heart felt heavy. "That's why we have to trust him. He knows what he's doing."
"It would have been better if he told us where the prince was before we left though". Thena said.
"Thena!" Thia shot at Thena.
"What?" Thena asked innocently.
"I think he told us," Vera said causing both girls to stare at her. "When he saved my life, he said not to die like rebels in a foreign country. It didn't make sense for him to say that to us. After all, we didn't know each other that much. Why would he care how we die?" Vera said.
"What do you think he was trying to say?" Thia asked
"I think he was trying to tell us the location of the prince. Rebels in a foreign land" Vera muttered.
"Are there any other rebels left fighting in Wize?" Thia asked
Vera suddenly opened her eyes in realization.
"I think I know where the prince is," she said with a renewed determination.
At this point, the battlefield was unrecognizable. Craters marred the ground, pillars of smoke rose into the darkened sky, and the very air felt heavy with the remnants of spirit energy and cursed power. Farouk stood panting, his once-pristine armor cracked and bloodied. Across from him, Jai grinned, his monstrous form towering amidst the destruction. Though battered and bruised, his wounds had begun to knit themselves together, dark tendrils of demonic energy crawling over his exposed flesh.
"You've fought well, old dog," Jai sneered, his voice guttural and layered with malice. "But this is the end for you."
Farouk straightened, gripping his sword with trembling hands. His spirit flared once more, though it was faint and flickering. Blood dripped from the various wounds that covered his body, but his eyes remained steady, filled with unyielding resolve.
"I've protected this kingdom for over thirty years," Farouk said, his voice hoarse but firm. "I have bled and killed for this country. For its people, for its king, I won't let a monster like you ruin it."
Jai laughed, the sound echoing across the battlefield. "This Kingdom is already mine, old man. You can't stop what's coming."
Farouk didn't respond. Instead, he shifted his stance, his sword glowing faintly as he prepared for one final move. The air around him grew still, and even Jai paused, sensing the energy shift.
"You're not serious," Jai said, his grin faltering. "You wouldn't dare use that."
Farouk's aura flared suddenly, brighter than ever before, illuminating the battlefield in a blinding light. His voice was calm, almost serene. "For the people, I swore to protect… for the kings I've served… I will give everything."
He raised his sword high, and the ground beneath him began to tremble. A sharp, deafening crack split the air as Farouk unleashed the Tenth Sword: Devil's Bane. A massive wave of energy erupted from his blade, tearing through the ground and sky alike. The attack was chaos incarnate, ripping apart everything it touched with ruthless precision. The barrier Viran had painstakingly maintained shattered under the force, and the shockwave sent him and his men flying.
"Fall back!" Viran yelled as the blast engulfed the battlefield. He managed to shield a group of his men from the brunt of the force, though blood trickled down his temple from the strain. The ground quaked violently, buildings near the edge of the battlefield crumbled, and the air itself seemed to scream in protest.
When the light faded and the dust settled, the battlefield was eerily silent. A massive crater stretched as far as the eye could see, its edges glowing faintly with residual energy. In the center of the destruction lay Farouk, barely breathing, his body broken and bloodied. His sword was shattered, its remnants scattered around him.
Jai stood nearby, his monstrous form badly injured. In places, his skin had peeled off, revealing sinew and muscle beneath, but the demonic energy in his veins worked tirelessly to restore him. He staggered toward Farouk, dragging his cursed blades behind him. Each step was labored, his breaths shallow, but his grin returned as he loomed over the fallen general.
"You almost had me," Jai admitted, his voice softer now. "If I weren't what I am, that attack would've killed me."
Farouk coughed, blood staining his lips. He looked up at Jai, his vision blurred but his spirit unbroken. "That… was unfortunate." Farouk managed to say. "I would have loved that my final gift to this world was your funeral"
Jai knelt beside him, his grin fading. "You're a stubborn one, old man. I'll give you that."
Farouk chuckled weakly. "You think… you've won… but you'll never… break this kingdom."
Jai's expression hardened. He raised one of his hands, his finger glowing slightly. "Your time is over, Farouk. Rest, old dog."
He placed his finger on Farouks head, trying to absorb his memories, but the unexpected happened. Farouk's mind drifted back to his younger days. He saw himself as a fresh recruit, standing nervously in the ranks of the royal army. Back then, he was just a boy with a dream—to protect his homeland, to serve with honor.
"You'll never make it," an older soldier had said to him. "You're too scrawny, too soft."
But Farouk had proved them wrong. Over the years, he rose through the ranks, earning the respect of his peers and the trust of the kings he served. He became a legend, the "Old Dog" who never backed down, no matter the odds. He had defended the kingdom through countless battles, standing as a wall against those who sought to destroy it.
A faint smile crossed his lips as his memories faded. "I did… my duty." The old dog thought and died
Jai stood over Farouk's lifeless body, his breathing ragged.
"Why didn't it work Jai said. Why didn't the memory extraction work?"
"Remember what I told you about the soul will?" Abaddon said.
"Yes. The stronger the soul, the harder it is to touch influence, or possess" Jai replied as blood dripped from his wounds, pooling at his feet. He staggered back, exhaustion finally catching up to him.
Abaddon explained, "That man has a very powerful soul will. One that cannot be tainted or touched, not without his permission. His soul didn't allow you to touch his memories; that's all there is to it."
Jai stared at Farouk's lifeless body and smiled.
"You pushed me further than anyone ever has," Jai muttered, glancing down at his trembling hands. "What a terrible foe you were even until death"
Since he couldn't take Farouks memories, Jai decided to go after the girls.
He tried to take a step forward, but his legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground. His body trembled as he realized just how close he had come to losing. Farouk's final attack had drained him more than he cared to admit.
"Damn you, old man," Jai muttered, his voice filled with equal parts frustration and respect. He looked toward the horizon, where Thia and the others had fled. His wounds were healing, but slowly—far slower than usual.
"I'll finish this," Jai growled, forcing himself to his feet. But as he took a step, his legs gave out again, and he fell to his knees. He clenched his fists, his pride wounded as much as his body.... Jai sighed
Farouk's sacrifice had pushed him to his limits, a final testament to the general's unwavering resolve. For the first time since Abaddon possessed him, Jai felt the weight of mortality pressing down on him.
The battlefield was silent once more, save for the faint hum of residual energy in the air. Farouk had fallen, but his legacy would endure. And though Jai had won, he knew this wasn't the end.
"So, what's next?" Abaddon asked.
"We begin, Jai replied. It's time for the next show...."
End of 'the call of the desert'