...With a swift motion, I pulled a small Sisminocrystal from my pocket with my good arm. A sinister smile spread across my lips as I hurled the crystal towards Lysandros. The Sisminocrystal flew across the room, emitting an intense glow before striking Lysandros square in the chest. The impact immobilized Lysandros, knocking him slightly backward. Powerful tremors rippled through the floor, shaking the entire house. The walls creaked under the pressure, and objects fell from the shelves, creating a deafening chaos. The moment the Sisminocrystal touched Lysandros, an explosion of light and heat filled the room. In an instant, the entire palace was transformed into a blaze, flames erupting everywhere, licking the walls and ceiling. We were now surrounded by flames, the stifling heat making the air almost unbreathable. Lysandros, still immobilized by the crystal, glared at me with burning hatred in his eyes.
"You won't escape, Naboru,"
he growled, his voice trembling with rage.
I took a slow and deliberate breath, a cruel and deranged smile forming on my face. My eyes were filled with a glint of madness, reflecting the dancing flames around us. I slowly advanced towards Lysandros, savoring each step.
"Maybe, Lysandros. But at least, Ume will be free."
Lysandros, still immobilized by the Sisminocrystal, began to rise with difficulty, his muscles strained with pain and anger. He suddenly realized the gravity of the situation and stared at me, his eyes wide with terror and confusion.
"What have you done, Naboru?! What have you done?!"
he screamed, panic piercing his voice.
I let out a dark, demented laugh, a sound that echoed like a sinister reverberation through the burning room.
"What have I done? I have ensured her freedom, Lysandros. You are finished. And I am sacrificing myself for a better future, for her."
I continued to advance, my smile widening. Each step resonated like the death knell of Lysandros's condemnation. The flames seemed to draw closer, the crackling of the fire mingling with my malevolent laughter. Lysandros, standing despite the pain and surrounding flames, grabbed me by the collar and lifted me with a strength that seemed to come from pure rage. My smile did not falter, even as I felt his grip tighten on my collar.
Suddenly, with an enormous effort, I thrust my good arm into my own mouth, feeling my throat contract and protest against the intrusion. Lysandros, stunned, watched in horror and incomprehension at the grotesque spectacle. I felt the stone slowly rise, tearing at my throat as I regurgitated it. It was a Sisminocrystal, much larger than the previous one. The stone slid from my mouth into my hand, its rough, cold surface against my burning skin. The shock made Lysandros release his grip, causing me to fall heavily to the ground. Out of breath but determined, I got up, the Sisminocrystal firmly held in my hand.
"What are you doing, Naboru?!"
cried Lysandros, shocked and incredulous, his voice almost drowned out by the roar of the flames.
"I am finishing what I started, Lysandros. Don't you still understand? This is the end for you, and for me, it is a final act of liberation. It is the beginning of something new, something better for Ume."
Lysandros looked at me in shock and said,
"By doing this, you are also signing your own death warrant? H-How? You? You don't realize it? YOU WILL BE THE ONLY ONE TO DIE, I WILL BE SAVED BY THE FIREFIGHTERS, I AM RICH, THEY WILL SAVE ME FIRST."
I advanced slowly towards Lysandros, a mad smile stretching my lips. My voice was calm, almost gentle, but tinged with a chilling madness.
"That's what you think, but I guarantee you, Ume will be free."
Lysandros retreated, his confusion visible on his face as he tried to understand the situation.
"What have you done?!"
he cried, desperate.
I began to laugh, a hollow, manipulative laugh, echoing in the smoke and ash-laden air.
"Ah, Lysandros... Let me tell ya a story."
"You see, Lysandros,"
I began, a glint of insanity in my eyes
"all of this was planned from the beginning. Every detail, every move, every crystal. I put everything in place to ensure you were trapped, with no escape."
I took a step forward, savoring the fear on his face.
"I secretly installed Breezeflare Anemoprisms in the corners of the garden. These crystals, once activated by heat, generate a breeze that keeps the smoke and flames confined within the house and garden. Then, I placed Nebumas Crystals near the Breezeflare Anemoprisms. When these are activated, they produce a dense mist retained by the breeze, adding a layer of confusion and darkness."
Lysandros froze, his lips trembling as he tried to find words. I continued, relentless.
"I hid Resonant Echolites throughout the house. These crystals prevent sounds from escaping, ensuring that no one outside can hear the sounds of explosions or fighting. I also convinced Ume to place Lumicrystals all over the house indirectly. I had asked her during our city escapade to place all the Lumicrystals she could find in the attic. But I knew that, in her effort to do well, under the pretext of improving lighting, she would place them throughout the house!"
He shook his head, unable to believe what he was hearing.
"I intentionally destroyed a Sisminocrystal,"
I continued, showing my injured arm.
"This minor explosion and these tremors cost me an arm, but I ate a piece of that crystal to be able to vomit it up later. The rest of the crystal is hidden for future use."
Lysandros retreated further, his eyes shining with incredulity and fear.
"I found a way to anger you, Lysandros, pushing you to confront Ume during the night. This confrontation was essential to trigger chaos. When you attacked Ume, I threw a hidden small Sisminocrystal at you. This caused an explosion that shattered the Lumicrystals placed throughout the house, except in the attic."
I chuckled, savoring every word, every reaction from Lysandros.
"And now, with this Sisminocrystal I regurgitated, I will complete my plan. The Lumicrystals in the attic will explode, generating intense heat that will activate the Breezeflare Anemoprisms in the garden. The heat will cause the Breezeflare Anemoprisms to glow, triggering their refreshing breeze that will keep the smoke and flames confined within the house and garden."
Lysandros was out of breath, his mind unable to follow the complexity of my plan.
"The light and breeze from the Breezeflare Anemoprisms will activate the Nebumas Crystals, releasing a thick mist. This mist will prevent the activation of the Aquamoonis Naiad, as it will block the light needed to trigger these water-producing crystals, thus canceling the mansion's fire defense."
I took another step, forcing Lysandros to retreat further.
"And finally, the Resonant Echolites will prevent the sounds of explosions and tremors from escaping, ensuring that no one outside is alerted to the chaos inside the house."
Lysandros was now cornered, his eyes wide with terror. I savored this moment, knowing my revenge was almost complete.
"You see, Lysandros, everything was planned. Every detail, every suffering, every moment of terror you felt, it was me. And now, you have to live with the consequences."
Lysandros looked me in the eye, his eyes widening with terror and understanding. His lips trembled before he managed to articulate,
"You're a madman… No, a genius… No, no, even worse, you're a manipulator."
He stared at me, shocked, his eyes bulging gradually.
"No, no, no, you… you are a monster! NO, NO, NO, EVEN WORSE… WORSE, WORSE…"
I savored every moment, every word spoken with horror. Lysandros began to tremble, his hands clutching the edges of his clothing, his eyes searching for a rational explanation in the abyss of madness I was imposing on him.
"YOU, YOU... WHAT ARE YOU, DAMN IT?!"
he screamed, his voice echoing in the room, distorted by fear and incredulity.
"WHO ARE YOU?!"
I looked at him with an expression of almost serene calm, despite the chaos around us. A cold smile stretched my lips as I replied, in a low but clear voice,
"I am simply Naboru. Nothing more."
He seemed momentarily confused, as if he did not understand what I had just said. His eyes remained fixed on me, his breathing labored.
"You… you are a monster!"
I shook my head slowly.
"No, Lysandros. I am just a simple human, without any power. A mistake in this world, an aberration if you will. Everything I have done, everything you see around you, is the work of an ordinary man who decided to play the role he was assigned."
I approached him slowly, my eyes piercing his with an icy intensity.
"There's no magic in me, no supernatural powers unlike all of you. Just me, Naboru, a man with a bit of ingenuity and a bit of resentment. I have nothing extraordinary, nothing powerful. I am just a human being who decided to accomplish his stupid goal in the worst way possible, even if it meant becoming the shadow of his own nightmare."
Lysandros seemed on the verge of collapsing, his body trembling under the weight of realization.
"But... but... why?"
I let out a bittersweet laugh.
"Because, Lysandros, in this world where everything is governed by strength and magic, it is sometimes necessary to be more terrifying than the monsters themselves to survive and achieve our justice. I am not a hero, not a villain. I am just Naboru, and that's all I need to accomplish what I started."
I took a step back, letting Lysandros collapse into his own confusion.
"And now, Lysandros, it's time for you to understand that in this cruel game, there is no place for pawns, only the master of the game can win. This is the end of your reign."
Lysandros rushed through the burning corridors of the palace, his erratic footsteps echoing like drums of anguish in the devastated house. His eyes, wide with terror, frantically scanned the shadows and flames, desperately searching for an escape from this hell he had helped create. Sweat poured down his face, mingling with the smoke that thickened with each passing second. He saw nothing but debris and glowing shards of light, struggling to maintain his balance in this infernal chaos. I ran behind him, my left arm hanging grotesquely, deformed and broken by the previous explosion. Each step I took seemed to propel me forward, as if an invisible force urged me closer to my prey. My breath was ragged, but a chilling determination pierced through every breath. The sounds of explosions and crackling flames could not drown out the noise of my calculated and methodical steps. I caught up with Lysandros at the turn of a corridor. I lunged at him with controlled brutality, my arms wrapping around his torso in a desperate embrace. His surprise was complete, his body arching under the impact as I grabbed him with unexpected strength. My hands gripped his shoulders firmly, forcing him to stop in his frantic flight. My face leaned close to his ear, a wicked smile forming on my lips, my eyes shining with implacable madness.
"GOTCHA,"
I whispered in a low voice, almost a murmur, but loaded with terrifying intensity.
Each word was charged with the promise of the end, a chilling breath that made Lysandros shiver from head to toe. My gaze was a sick excitement, a glimmer of pure madness contrasting with the tranquility of my voice.
Without giving him time to react, I pulled out the large Sisminocrystal from my pocket with my good hand. It was larger and more massive than the previous one, a heavy and menacing stone that radiated powerful energy. I raised it above my head, then, with fierce determination, I threw it to the ground with all the strength I could muster. The Sisminocrystal hit the ground with a deafening crash, triggering a cataclysmic explosion. The shockwave reverberated through the house's walls, shattering everything in its path and sending debris flying in all directions. The walls trembled under the impact, intense heat flooding the room as the stone unleashed its devastating power.The flames intensified, devouring everything in their path as the mist thickened, adding a layer of darkness and confusion to the carnage. The Sisminocrystal's explosion, of unprecedented power, shook the entire house, the walls trembling as if the world itself were about to collapse. The shockwave tore through the air, propelling Lysandros and me into a maelstrom of inevitable destruction. The force of the explosion was such that it engulfed everything in an infernal whirlwind. Debris flew in all directions, carried by the violence of the impact. The heat from the flames became suffocating, a wave of heat so intense it seemed almost alive, devouring everything left. The dense mist, previously created by the Nebumas Crystals, mixed with the flames, forming an opaque shroud that obscured the surrounding chaos. Lysandros and I were caught up in this conflagration. My body was hurled into the air, flames and debris raining down around me in a macabre dance. Each fraction of a second seemed to last an eternity, the world warping around us in an explosion of light and heat. Lysandros' screams were lost in the tumult as the blast engulfed us, the flames consuming the last remnants of our struggle. I gritted my teeth, my breath stolen by the extreme heat. The shockwave shattered the last remaining Lumicrystals, generating a blinding light that merged with the fire. The house turned into an infernal blaze, the unleashed flames crashing down on us with relentless fury. The walls, the furniture, and everything that had once formed this home were reduced to ashes, carried away by the final explosion. The whirlwind of fire and destruction seemed to continue without end. The flashes of light, the intense heat, and the deafening roar of the flames engulfed everything in their path, forever erasing Lysandros and me in the incandescent madness. The house, once majestic, was now an infernal blaze marking the end of my story?
TO BE CONTINUED...?