The heat e filled Viander Kris Huntsmaster, rising within his heart, flowing beyond into every pore of his body. This pce ce full of hope, and though the figures from Life’s Rose had stepped away retly, it was with the promise to send the First Hope instead. This pce, which was a stohrow away from Rock Hill, was to remind them all what was at stake.

  That stake did not include the likes of a goblin or a demon!

  “Sir Melinda, with me!” Kris shouted, as their bdes moved in unison, ready to strike at the half elf.

  “Yes!” Melinda shouted, her body having already moved from the words of her master, who had trained her since she was a little girl. Under his guidahe guidance of the First Viander of the Thousand Hunts, she had gained great insight and abilities, to the point that those who stood beside her could feel a warmth which guarded them from the might of great magics.

  She was certain she would have nded a blow, but it bounced off against an invisible force, but thankfully her master’s bde struck true, the glowing bde exploding against the young man’s side, thunderous force rog through his body, the fsh of holy magics bursting through his body. Had the young mahe average Expert, he would have surely fallen from such a mighty blow, though he at least stepped back, coughing out.

  “You should have stepped back when you had the ce, boy,” Kris stated, pressing forward, swinging his bde, which cttered against the half elf’s armour and magic.

  “You know what really hurts?” Adam asked, his voice barely a whisper. “My daughter has a really good memory…”

  Kris’ magic flowed through his bde, a slight fusion filling him, a chill running through his spine.

  “So make sure you watch carefully,” Adam stated.

  Adam inhaled deeply, fog, before he swung his axe. This was not just any axe he swung.

  It was Vengeance.

  The axe was the most dangerous on he had created, so dangerous, he had promised to return back to the Iyr once he was done.

  Fighting Spirit: 3 -> 2Health: 68 -> 73

  Attack: Vengeance (Advantage)D20 + 10 = 12 (2)D20 + 10 = 16 (6)

  The Divines were truly poking fun of Adam. The young woman, Melinda, was wearing breastpte hter . The Defence of su armour was one higher than mail, mail itself was 16.

  The Divine could not ugh, however, for Adam could feel another hand upon his, and pushed his axe forward.

  “Where are you looking?” His cherry bde locked within the Priest’s bde, feeling a slight annoyahat his oppo had dared to go the side.

  “I have guara,” Dunes said, before his eentioo the Oathsworn before him, who hadn’t realised just how much Dunes had held back. It was then the Priest of War decided to Critical Hit twice, oh a typical attack, another spurred by the will of his Lady, but each Critical Hit was thanks to the bde within his hand.

  D20 + 10 = 16 (6)Ability: Lady Arya’s Blessing16 + 10 = 26Hit! Ability: Vengeance (on)Mana: 24 -> 21Ability: Divine SmiteMana: 21 -> 202D6 + 6D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 45 (6 + 19 + 11) 45 damage!

  Attack: Vengeance (Advantage)D20 + 10 = 24 (14)D20 + 10 = 27 (17)Ability: Vengeance (on)Mana: 20 -> 17Ability: Divine SmiteMana: 17 -> 162D6 + 6D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 44 (7 + 23 + 5)44 damage!

  Adam could only think of attag in that moment, and though he didn’t want to hold back, there was still the issue to survive once he was done. Even though he had taken a Critical Hit, he still had most of his Health, and thanks to his plentiful Mana supply, he had more than enough Mana to get out of the situation if it was needed.

  Except, right now, if nothing else, if he could only kill one person, and leave after that, it o be her.

  “Watch carefully,” Adam said, as his axe struck between the k of her helmet to her neck, and his bde fshed white hot, and bck cold, peeling away her skin. The woman screamed, but it was quickly silenced as Adam dug his bde further into her neck, crushing against her throat. He hoisted out his axe, his axe shaking slightly as the bone ched. Kris cried out, and swung his bde towards the half elf, as the gehump broke through the noise of the bat.

  “No,” Adam said. “I’m not do.”

  Onward Soar: 1 -> 0

  Tough Spirit: 1 -> 02D6 + 8 = 15 (7)Health: 73 -> 88

  “Even if I die this day,” Adam said, his body tensing up and rexing in an instant, the half elf pushing forward through his limits. “I hope yhtmares don’t cease, you bastard.”

  Attack: Vengeance (Advantage)D20 + 10 = 19 (9)D20 + 10 = 20 (10)Ability: Vengeance (on)Mana: 16 -> 13Ability: Divine SmiteMana: 13 -> 122D6 + 6D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 35 (4 + 16 + 6)36 damage!

  Attack: Vengeance (Advantage)D20 + 10 = 12 (2)D20 + 10 = 26 (16)Ability: Vengeance (on)Mana: 13 -> 10Ability: Divine SmiteMana: 13 -> 92D6 + 6D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 35 (4 + 18 + 4)35 damage!

  The half elf and the Oathsworn cshed again, Vengeance against his magical bde. Adam’s bde fshed hot and cold as he pushed the Viander back, who could barely feel his skin fking away, or the heat within his bones.

  “You wicked fiend! How dare you!” Kris roared, his bde growing heavier with each blow, boung off Adam’s shield.

  “ you feel it?” Adam asked. “The fever? The rage? The feeling of powerlessness?”

  Kris called forth his magic, his bde shaking violently, exploding with magic as he swung towards the half elf.

  Defence: 25

  The ces of Kris bypassing Adam’s Defence was roughly a quarter. With two blows, in one round, he had half a ce for o.

  His bde bounced off Adam’s shield.

  “What? Did you think I’d be as easy to kill as a child?” Adam whispered.

  Kris could barely uood what the half elf was saying, so ed by his rage. “There will be no pce for you in Lord Sozain’s embrace, you demon!”

  “You should have lowered yaze, just like the First Hope, you fucker.”

  “You incible beast!” Kris snarled, still barely uanding what Adam said.

  Fighting Spirit: 2 -> 1Health: 88 -> 93

  Attack: Vengeance (Advantage)D20 + 10 = 24 (1)D20 + 10 = 27 (17)Ability: Vengeance (on)Mana: 13 -> 10Ability: Divine SmiteMana: 13 -> 92D6 + 6D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 46 (10 + 16 + 11)46 damage!

  Attack: Vengeance (Advantage)D20 + 10 = 24 (2)D20 + 10 = 27 (18)Ability: Vengeance (on)Harm: 33D6 = 4 (1, 1, 2)Health: 93 -> 89Ability: Divine SmiteMana: 9 -> 82D6 + 6D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 44 (7 + 25 + 3)44 damage!

  “Give Lord Zadhin my apologies, and Baktu my regards,” Adam said, his heart beating slowly, his entire body full of a deep warmth. A ess filled the half elf as he focused, and his bde struck with such a might, Kris stumbled backwards. Adam thought to add more fuel to the fire, but he exhaled. As his axe slipped through the gap between the First Viander’s armour, Adam closed his eyes, feeling the gentle pain which slipped through him, the flow of his Mana, and the memories.

  Time fell still.

  There was only a lightness against his chest. A lightness formed of the two bundles, each of whom sucked their thumbs. They held one another’s hands, for without Jirot, there was no Jarot, and without Jarot, there was no Jirot.

  He could feel the lightness against his p. It was that of a boy who gred at the world in annoyance. Even so, he ate from the spoon so peacefully.

  Yet, even as the body piled against the other, would that stop the nightmares?

  Would Jarot begin to eat again?

  Adam had repyed the se a thousand times in his head. No matter what happehat day, he was going to kill Melinda first.

  He had do.

  Not only did he kill Melinda, he had killed Kris too. Even as the words of prayer tried t Kris back, there was no way, for he was certainly dead.

  Wisdom SaveD20 + 4 = 14 (10)

  The emptiness filled Adam. A heaviness pressed against his shoulders, pushing down his chest, his gut, his legs, and his feet began to sink.

  He k.

  He khat killing them wouldn’t make things better.

  Elder Peace stared at the half elf, who had fallen still, while the battle raged all around him. It only stopped when Adam’s grief filled the air, the half elf screaming into the void that swallowed him, falling onto his knees, with the uanding that no matter what he had do didn’t ge the fact that his children had been killed thanks to his negligence.

  Death could not wash away his shame.

  The fighting paused for a moment, and the shock filled the air. It hadn’t been long sihe fight had started, and many had focused upoher fights, those of King Merryweather, the Bearded Dragon, and the Mad Dog. There was something else Elder Peace had realised during the fight, something, to her, which was even more terrifying.

  Dunes, you're a real one.