Chapter 88: The Unfinished Duel
"No, I do not agree!" shouted one of the nobles from Sky Lord.
Alice raised her hand, pointing at the old man. In just a single second, a laser pierced through his head. His body instantly collapsed to the floor with a hole in his skull. The old man was killed within seconds.
All the demi-humans of the Sky Bird race froze in silence. None of them dared to look directly into Alice’s eyes. A foreign demi-human who was never supposed to exist in the city of Sky Lord.
"I know you do not want my presence here, but there is one thing I must say." She smiled widely. A cunning smile full of ambition. "Starting today, I am the ruler of Sky Lord. Does anyone object?"
Two nobles wanted to open their mouths, but they held themselves back. In the end, everyone stayed silent. A city ruled by demi-humans of the Sky Bird race—now taken by a girl demi-human of the lizardman race.
Alice had not built her army overnight. She had disappeared for quite some time and returned with a great number of forces under her command, consisting of outcasts and fugitives from the kingdom. It could be said the army she brought was nothing but a group of criminals wanted by the capital.
She conquered the city of Sky Lord because the general of this city had already been killed. Not only that, some of the strongest individuals of Sky Lord were currently away in the capital. Seeing the chance, she moved swiftly and succeeded in capturing Sky Lord with her army. Although many of her own soldiers were killed, she did not care.
Alice did all of this for one purpose only—revenge for the death of her foster father, Zurath.
Her gaze was sharp, filled with hatred. "I will destroy you, humans. Just wait!" she said with burning rage.
***
Alvaric was pushed back. He turned, feeling as if someone had just called his name, but there was no one there. At the same time, his opponent appeared in front of him, raising his long staff and striking toward Alvaric.
"Die!" he roared.
Clang!
The blow was blocked by Alvaric. He was forced backward, but he was fine. Alvaric did not remain idle—he used his power. Dozens of blood spears materialized around him. He charged forward with his sword, yet at the same time, he prepared a backup strike.
The two fought intensely. At last, Alvaric found an opening. He lunged forward and swung, but his attack was already read by his opponent.
As Alvaric’s slash was about to be deflected, suddenly, from beneath, chains of blood bound his opponent’s feet. That slight imbalance cost him.
"Got you!" Alvaric said.
As his opponent tried to move, Alvaric dashed forward and clutched his body tightly. The demi-human could not move. In that instant, Alvaric flicked his fingers, and dozens of blood spears shot forward at blinding speed.
This time, the attack could not be avoided. Blood poured from Alvaric’s stomach, but he did not care. His focus was solely on killing his opponent.
"Damn it. I fell for a cheap trick," the demi-human sighed deeply. He knew it was nearly impossible to escape now. "I underestimated my opponent. Foolish. Such a stupid mistake."
He closed his eyes, ready to embrace death. Yet, seconds passed, and nothing happened. There was no pain at all. Confused, he opened his eyes, and at the same time, Alvaric’s grip on him loosened.
At last, Alvaric collapsed, falling to his knees. The demi-human instinctively stepped back, then noticed Alvaric’s condition. Blood was gushing from his mouth—too much. His hands were drenched in red.
"I should not have forced myself," Alvaric muttered weakly.
His vision blurred, his head pounded, and his entire body felt drained. Terrible. Even standing was beyond him. Truly terrible.
At the same time, the demi-human slowly walked toward him. Alvaric tried to lift his hand, reaching out toward his enemy, but it was difficult. Blood continued to spill from his lips, heavier with each passing moment.
Through his dim sight, he saw the demi-human raising his hand. This time, it was Alvaric who resigned to fate, powerless to resist.
"Ah, so this is the end for me," Alvaric whispered.
The demi-human’s large hand lifted high. Alvaric closed his eyes, ready for the final blow that would end his life. His breathing was ragged, blood dripping endlessly from his lips.
But...
Instead of a crushing strike, Alvaric felt something warm touching his palm.
With difficulty, he opened his eyes. Blurry as it was, he saw his opponent extending his hand. The demi-human’s face no longer burned with rage, but wore an expression hard to read—somewhere between respect, hesitation, and... recognition. Perhaps.
"I will not kill you," he said in a deep, firm voice.
Alvaric trembled, his battered body shaking. "What... do you mean?" he whispered weakly.
"I have already lost. There is nothing left to continue," the demi-human answered.
Alvaric could not understand his words. "But you are still standing. The fight can still go on. Just kill me!"
The demi-human shook his head. "I truly want to kill you, but my principles do not allow it. Once I have been defeated, then so be it. I still stand only because of the wound within your body. That is not my doing, so this fight cannot continue."
Alvaric was baffled, more confused than ever. He had never faced such a strange opponent. To him, battles only ended when one side was dead, or when both chose to stop. Yet this was neither.
"Perhaps this is strange, but I refuse to keep fighting after I’ve already lost." He crouched down, grabbing Alvaric’s bloodied hand. "The choice is yours!" he declared firmly.
That rough hand remained extended. He placed Alvaric’s own sword into his grip, turning the blade toward his own neck.
"My life is yours!" he repeated.
Alvaric gazed at him, his breathing uneven, consciousness slipping. His heart wavered—whether to accept or choose another path. With the last of his strength, Alvaric clenched tightly.
He nodded. "Very well."
The demi-human closed his eyes, but nothing happened. Opening them again, he saw Alvaric shaking his head. The sword slipped from his grip, clattering to the ground. At that same moment, Alvaric’s body collapsed. He had lost consciousness.
The demi-human, who had been ready to die, stood frozen for several seconds. Then he checked Alvaric’s pulse. Relief washed over him when he found it still beating. He lifted Alvaric onto his back and walked toward Serya and Velka.
"You must kill me!" the demi-human said.