The air in the chamber grew cold, as if the very presence of the Black Widow had drained all warmth from the room. Padrino's heart pounded, but his hand remained steady on the hilt of his sword. He had faced many foes, but this was different. The Black Widow wasn't just another Galdrosian officer—she was a force of calculated malice, the puppet master behind many of the kingdom's atrocities.
The Black Widow stepped forward, her thin lips curling into a predatory smile. "You think you can just walk in here and take what you want? You underestimate the power of Galdros."
Padrino didn't respond. Words wouldn't help him now. He could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him, the culmination of everything he had fought for since arriving in this world. Every battle, every loss, every hard-fought victory had led him to this moment.
She drew her weapon—a long, slender blade that seemed to shimmer with an unnatural light, reflecting the flickering torches that lined the stone walls. Her stance was graceful yet deadly, like a viper poised to strike.
Padrino readied himself. He knew this would be no ordinary duel.
"Darius," Padrino said, not taking his eyes off the Black Widow, "I'm getting you out of here. Stay low."
Darius, still bound but regaining consciousness, gave a faint nod, his eyes filled with the fire of defiance. He had been through hell, but the hope of freedom stirred within him.
The Black Widow tilted her head slightly, her amusement clear. "You're bold, I'll give you that. But you're not leaving here alive."
Without warning, she lunged, her blade cutting through the air with blinding speed. Padrino barely managed to parry the strike, the force of the blow sending a shockwave through his arm. The Black Widow's skill was undeniable. Her movements were precise, almost inhumanly so, as if she could predict his every move.
They clashed again, their swords ringing out in the small chamber. Each strike from the Black Widow was a test of Padrino's reflexes and strength, and though he was a seasoned warrior, he quickly realized that she was not to be underestimated. She was faster, more agile, and her strikes carried a venomous intent.
"You can't win," she hissed, her blade narrowly missing his throat. "You're just a pawn in a game you don't understand."
Padrino gritted his teeth and pushed forward, forcing her back with a series of powerful blows. "Then I'll change the game," he growled.
For a moment, it seemed as if he had the upper hand. But the Black Widow was quick to adapt, spinning out of reach and countering with a deadly thrust aimed at his chest. Padrino sidestepped just in time, but the blade grazed his side, drawing a thin line of blood.
Pain flared, but he couldn't afford to focus on it. He had to end this quickly.
The Black Widow's eyes gleamed as she circled him, like a predator toying with its prey. "You think you're special, don't you? That your destiny makes you invincible? Let me teach you something—destiny is nothing but a myth we use to comfort ourselves."
Padrino's mind raced. He couldn't let her get into his head, couldn't let doubt take hold. He had come too far. He had to focus on what mattered—saving Darius, stopping Galdros, protecting everything he had built.
The Black Widow struck again, her blade a blur of lethal intent. This time, Padrino was ready. He parried, then countered with a swift upward slash that caught her off guard, slicing through the fabric of her sleeve and drawing blood.
She hissed in pain, her composure momentarily broken. "You'll pay for that," she snarled, her eyes burning with fury.
But Padrino didn't give her the chance to recover. He pressed the attack, his movements fueled by determination. Each strike was calculated, aimed not just at disarming her but at breaking her will. The Black Widow, for all her skill, was now on the defensive, her once-perfect form beginning to falter.
"You're finished," Padrino said, his voice low and cold.
With a final, decisive blow, he knocked the sword from her hand, sending it clattering across the stone floor. The Black Widow stumbled back, her eyes wide with disbelief. For the first time, fear flickered across her face.
Padrino leveled his sword at her throat. "Surrender."
She stared at him, breathing heavily, blood dripping from her arm. But instead of begging for mercy, she laughed—a low, bitter sound that echoed in the chamber.
"You think this is over?" she said, her voice laced with venom. "You think killing me will change anything? Galdros will rise. Your little kingdom will burn."
Padrino's jaw tightened. He knew she was right, in part. Defeating her wouldn't end the war. But it was a step—a crucial step.
Before he could respond, the chamber door burst open, and Grendar stormed in, his axe in hand. "We've got company," he said urgently. "Galdrosian reinforcements are on their way. We need to go. Now."
Padrino spared one last glance at the Black Widow, then turned to Darius. He quickly cut the ropes that bound him, helping him to his feet.
"Can you walk?" Padrino asked.
Darius nodded weakly. "I'll manage."
"Good. Let's move."
As they made their way toward the exit, the Black Widow's voice called out after them, filled with spite and hatred. "Run while you can, Padrino Penduko. But know this—you can't escape your fate. Galdros will have its revenge."
Padrino didn't look back. He had no time for threats. They had to get out of Blackrock before the reinforcements closed in.
The fortress was in chaos as they emerged from the chamber. Alarms blared, and soldiers were rushing through the halls, but Grendar's distraction near the main gate had caused enough confusion to give them a fighting chance.
They fought their way through the maze of corridors, dodging patrols and cutting down any guards who got in their way. The weight of the mission, the tension of the duel, and the ever-present danger bore down on Padrino, but he kept moving. There was no room for hesitation.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they burst through the fortress's outer doors and into the open air. The dark woods that had once felt so ominous now offered a path to freedom.
"We need to get to the extraction point," Niko said, appearing from the shadows, his bow slung over his shoulder. "The others are waiting."
They sprinted into the forest, the sounds of pursuit growing fainter behind them. But Padrino knew this was far from over. Blackrock might be behind them, but the war with Galdros was just beginning.
And as long as the Black Widow lived, her shadow would loom over them all.