The streets of Eldrath were, once again, full of screaming, fighting, and things exploding. Kaelen really thought he'd earned at least a month off before another world-ending threat appeared.
But no.
Here he was. Again.
Dodging the swipes of a monstrous shadow creature while trying not to trip over a loose brick, Kaelen risked a glance at Lyria. She was busy flipping over a smaller shadowborn, stabbing it repeatedly while muttering something that sounded suspiciously like a recipe for apple pie.
"You okay over there?" he called.
She ducked a clawed swipe and stabbed the creature in the face. "I'd be better if these things would just DIE ALREADY."
"Same." Kaelen sidestepped as another beast lunged at him. He swung his sword, expecting the usual clean kill—except this time, the shadowborn dodged.
Kaelen blinked. "Wait, you guys can dodge now?"
The creature tilted its head. Then it flipped him off.
"Oh, come on."
From atop the ruined Citadel steps, Malakar watched the chaos unfold, arms crossed. His shadowy robes billowed in the wind, making him look dramatically evil, which Kaelen was sure he practiced in a mirror.
Malakar sighed. "Honestly, I expected more from you, Kaelen."
Kaelen dusted himself off. "Yeah, well, I expected a nap, so I guess we're both disappointed."
Malakar narrowed his eyes. "I was going to offer you a chance to surrender."
Kaelen snorted. "Really? You? Offering mercy?"
Malakar shrugged. "I mean, you could kneel and swear allegiance to the coming darkness."
Lyria scoffed. "Pfft. Hard pass."
Malakar sighed dramatically. "Fine. Have it your way."
He raised his hands, and the shadows around him churned like an angry storm. The ground trembled. The sky darkened further.
Lightning crackled.
The shadowborn roared.
And then—
A loud CRACK echoed through the battlefield.
Malakar froze. His swirling darkness flickered. Then—
Boom.
The stage he'd been standing on—because of course he had a dramatic villain stage—completely collapsed. Malakar yelped as he disappeared into the rubble.
Silence.
Lyria blinked. "Did… did that just happen?"
Kaelen sheathed his sword. "I'm choosing to believe yes."
A groan came from the rubble. "I hate this city," Malakar muttered.
Kaelen grinned. "Feeling less intimidating now, aren't you?"
The pile of debris shuddered. Then, very slowly, Malakar dragged himself out, brushing dust off his ominous robes.
"…I meant to do that."
Lyria burst out laughing. "Oh, yeah. Super graceful."
Malakar pointed at them angrily. "Enough! You—" He coughed. A brick fell off his shoulder. "You will suffer for this."
Kaelen exchanged a look with Lyria.
Then they both turned and ran.
"Cowards!" Malakar shouted after them.
"YEP!" Kaelen called back.
Because honestly? Kaelen was absolutely fine with letting Malakar be someone else's problem for a little while.