Jake looked around, watching his soldiers fall one by one. Many of them weren’t even getting up anymore, their bodies were so grievously injured.
“He is attacking just like the mercenary did,” Lawrance said. “He is just faster and more powerful.”
“I will handle the shield,” Jake said. “You guys have to take him down.”
Jake could hear Lawrance protesting, but he ran off. He weaved through the lightning bolts as fast as he could, his powers as an alpha giving him the advantage over his clan. But Mundus was faster. He had realized what Jake could do and he reacted just before Jake reached him.
He sent a pure black wave that ravaged through the battlefield. The instant Jake was hit, his body started screaming in pure agony and pain. He howled in pain as he was flung back far away. He collapsed on the floor, his rib cage cracking because of the black wave.
Jake got up, panting hard. He tried to run, but Mundus sent another black wave that once again shattered through his army. Jake fell once more, feeling more of his bones crack under the force of black magic.
He looked around him, his vision dimming. The entire field was filled with the bodies of his soldiers. Most of them lay on the floor, barely breathing. The floor was covered in blood, as many of the soldiers had deep gashes that ran across their bodies.
Mundus screamed once more, the kind of scream that penetrated through Jake’s ears, deafening him. With the torturous scream came the wind of daggers. It erupted from Mundus, spreading all around the field. The wind was strong and sharp, as if there were a thousand daggers being carried by it. Jake roared in pain as the wind tore up many small cuts all over his body. He saw blood dripping down, pooling around him.
He looked up and saw Lawrance lying on the floor barely moving. Bane had his chest completely torn out and Jake could see his ribcage inside. He stumbled, his vision dimming, and he saw Hanna, once of his best warriors, lying on the floor with her eyes vacant.
Jake felt whatever hope was in his heart, leave him. He collapsed on the floor, closing his tired eyes. He couldn't fight anymore. He had failed as a leader and as a lover. His clan has suffered, and his Jazz was gone.
“Jake!” a voice groaned, and he opened his eyes. A grievously injured Elder Vince stood there.
“Don’t give up,” Elder Vince said, barely able to speak due to his injuries. “You vowed to protect this clan. You cannot give up. You must keep fighting until you die.”
Jake knew that Vince was right. That was the promise he made at the ceremony of the heirs. He vowed to protect this clan until his death, and he wasn’t dead yet. He got up, his legs trembling as he did. He saw that Mundus was fighting what little of the army remained.
“Sara?” Jake called out to one of his strongest soldiers who was still standing.
“Yes, sir!” she said, instantly.
“I am going after the shield. Back me up!” Jake shouted.
“Yes, sir!” she replied and instantly starting running towards Mundus. Jake ran behind her as fast as he could, dodging the beams and the bolts. He had a feeling that Mundus wouldn’t be repeating the black wave or the wind because of the high amount of energy such spells demanded. He reached the shield and he instantly concentrated his power. The bear inside him howled as he balled all his power and then thrust it towards the shield.
Jake’s power, which was normally strong enough to crush the bones of his opponent, only managed to shatter the shield. The shield broke apart into many small pieces before dissolving into the air.
Mundus howled, throwing another beam towards Sara, who had been distracting him, and turned towards Jake.
“I have had enough of you!” He howled, raising his staff. Jake knew he would never be able to get away in time. He closed his eyes, hoping that one of his soldiers would eventually be able to finish what he started.
“I am sorry, Jazz,” he whispered to himself. But the blow never came. Jake opened his eyes to realize that Lawrence had jumped in front of him, taking the blow for him.
“Lawrance!” Jake shouted, as his friend collapsed in front of his very eyes.
“Now,” Lawrance gasped. “Now!”
Jake looked up and realized that the last attack had taken a lot of Mundus’s energy. He was trying to recover from it and mustering all his strength into another blow. Jake knew he had seconds to act; otherwise, all was lost.
He jumped once more towards his enemy, once again concentrating his power. His skill required such a high demand of energy that he could only do it once without risking his life. Yet, he knew that was his only chance.
Jake thrust out his power with all his force and might towards Mundus, who screamed. Jake could hear his bones crushing and he smiled to himself. He fell on the floor, his body far too weak to move. He knew that he had finally overdone it and he wouldn’t be able to survive pushing his body so far.
Mundus lay on the floor, howling in pain, unable to move as his every bone was completely crushed. Jake felt his vision dimming and he closed his eyes. He could feel the life draining from his destroyed and wrecked body. He just hoped that one of his soldiers would be able to finish Mundus once and for all.
“You won’t have to wait for me too long,” Jake thought to himself. “I am coming, Jazz.”
This was his last thought as darkness surrounded him and he faded away.
Chapter 20
