The punch, aimed directly at Ethan's face, was halted mid-air by Ethan's left hand. His eyes, glowing red, locked onto the leader with a predatory intensity, and in a flash, Ethan retaliated.
With a roar, his fist shot forward, a blur of motion that carried the weight of pure rage. The punch landed with the force of a charging ram, slamming into the man's chest with such power that the walls around them shook. The leader was sent flying backward, crashing into the stone wall with a sickening thud before slumping to the floor, dazed.
But Ethan wasn't finished.
Before the man could even recover, Ethan was on him, his fists raining down blow after blow. Each punch landed with bone-crushing force, his fury making each strike more devastating than the last.
"You thought you could just take everything from me?" Ethan growled between punches. "You thought you could destroy everything I fought for?"
The man groaned, trying to shield himself, but it was futile. Ethan's fists were like meteors, each one hitting harder than the last, tearing into the man's face and chest. Blood spattered across the floor, staining the stone with each hit.
"You think you can hurt me? That you can break me?" Ethan sneered as he grabbed the man by the collar, lifting him off the floor. "I'm not done yet. Not until you've paid for everything."
The man's face twisted in pain, but he was still defiant, spitting blood. "You... you don't know who you're dealing with. You can't—"
Ethan slammed his fist into the man's stomach, cutting off his words with a vicious punch. "I know exactly who I'm dealing with. Someone who deserves to die."
The leader's eyes were wide with fear now, but it was too late. Ethan's claws extended, their sharp tips glinting in the dim light. He was going to end it—finish what he started.
His claws hovered over the leader's chest, poised to impale him. But before he could strike, a voice rang out, cutting through the air like a knife.
"Ethan! Stop!"
Eliza burst into the room, her voice filled with urgency.
"This isn't you," she said softly, her eyes locking with his. "We've won. Look at him. Look at what you've done. He's not worth it. You're not a monster."
Ethan's breathing was ragged, his grip tightening around the man's throat, but his heart was a storm of conflicting emotions. The darkness, the bloodlust, it all clung to him like a second skin, but Eliza's voice was slowly cutting through the haze.
"He's not worth your soul, Ethan," she continued, her voice soft but firm. "You're better than this. You have to be."
Ethan's clawed hand trembled, his fingers twitching as if fighting against his own will. He looked down at the leader, at the man who had caused so much pain, but the anger was slowly starting to drain out of him. His chest heaved as he struggled to regain control, his red eyes flickering before they faded back to their normal, human hue.
Slowly, agonizingly, he lowered his hand. The leader's eyes were wide with terror, but Ethan let him drop to the floor.
Ethan collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving with emotion. The weight of everything—the blood, the vengeance, the rage—came crashing down on him. He had been a weapon, a force of destruction, but now, in the stillness, all he felt was the crushing reality of what he had almost become.
Eliza knelt beside him, her arms wrapping around him, pulling him close.
"It's okay," she whispered, her voice a balm to his tortured soul. "It's going to be okay. You're not alone."
Ethan clung to her, his body shaking with the weight of everything he'd done, and everything he almost did. He felt the tears come, hot and bitter, his sobs raw and unrestrained.
"I'm sorry," he whispered through his tears. "I—I didn't want to lose control. I didn't—"
"Shh," Eliza soothed, running her fingers through his hair. "You didn't lose control. You're still Ethan. You're not a monster. You're a guardian. And you'll always be one."
Her words wrapped around him like a shield, and slowly, the storm inside him began to quiet.
They stayed there for a long moment, until Ethan finally pulled away, wiping his face with a shaky hand.
"Thank you," he whispered, his voice hoarse.
Eliza smiled gently and nodded, standing up and offering him her hand.
The scene shifted quickly. The leader of the shifters, now bloodied and bruised, was dragged through the halls, cursing and shouting insults at his captors. "You think this is over?" he spat. "You think you've won? This is just the beginning. I'll never stop. I'll—"
The door to the cell slammed shut, and his words were muffled by the heavy iron bars.
Back in the throne room, Eliza stood tall, her eyes filled with quiet triumph as she addressed the councilors. Her kingdom had been restored, the threat vanquished. The weight of her responsibilities now fully settled back onto her shoulders, but for the first time in what felt like an eternity, she felt something else: hope.
As she turned to leave, Ethan knocked softly on the door and entered the room. His gaze met hers, and a smile tugged at her lips.
"Hey," Ethan said, his tone light but filled with warmth. "How does it feel being queen again?"
Eliza's smile was faint but genuine. "It feels different. But I guess I can't complain."
"Yeah," Ethan said, his voice trailing off.
"So, I guess you'll have to be going back to Earth," Eliza said, her tone thoughtful.
"Yeah. I guess so. It's just that there's not much to go back to," Ethan replied, a quiet sadness in his voice.
Eliza's eyes softened as she took a step closer. "About that... I had my wizards do a little tinkering. They were able to fix your timeline."
Ethan blinked in disbelief. "You're joking, right?"
"Of course not," Eliza said with a playful smirk.
Before she could stop him, Ethan jumped up and hugged her, his arms wrapped tightly around her.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" he exclaimed.
Realizing what he'd done, Ethan quickly pulled away and apologized, his cheeks flushed. "I—sorry. I didn't—"
"It's fine," Eliza said, smiling warmly at him. "I understand your excitement. I felt the same way when I finally got my kingdom back. In no small feat, thanks to you."
Ethan's smile was bittersweet. "I really hope you're right."
"I'm always right. Even when I'm wrong, I'm right," Eliza chuckled.
"Take this bracelet," she said, holding out a delicate piece of jewelry. "Go to the boundary in the forest. This will take you home. It's also a messenger bracelet. If you ever need my assistance, just give me a call using this. I'll cross worlds for you."
Ethan's eyes widened in surprise. "Thank you. It really means a lot."
"It's nothing," Eliza said softly, before pulling him in for a final hug. "Stay safe."
Ethan smiled, his heart light, before he turned to leave. He walked to the forest boundary, where the bracelet opened a portal before him.
He turned one last time, gazing at Eldoria—a place he didn't think he'd visit again since the day he came here with Emily and Ava. A world he had come to love. Maybe someday he'd visit it again, preferably in better circumstances but till then...
He waved goodbye to this magical world and after a deep breath, he stepped into the portal.