“Now,” he hissed, brandishing the blade, “let’s finish this.”
I stepped forward, my magic swirling around me, stronger than ever.
“You made a mistake betraying me, Izo,” I growled.
Izo unleashed the full force of his power, water rising like serpents around him, crashing toward me in waves. But my shadows met him head-on, slicing through his attacks with precision and fury. He was no match for me.
“You stole my wife,” I snarled, dodging a spike of water that narrowly missed my head.
“And I’ll take everything else you hold dear,” Izo spat back, summoning whirlpools at my feet.
I leapt forward, slamming my fist into his jaw. The force sent Izo reeling, his balance faltering for the briefest moment before he retaliated. A wall of water rose with a deafening roar, slamming into my chest and propelling me backward across thearena floor. Pain lanced through my ribs as I skidded to a stop, but I didn’t stay down. I surged to my feet, my shadows coiling around me like armor.
The crowd’s cries faded into the background, their bloodlust now mingled with fear and confusion as the arena became a battlefield of elemental fury. Every strike and counterstrike between us carried the weight of years of hatred and grief. My shadows lashed out, wrapping around Izo’s legs and yanking him down, his face twisting in rage.
He countered just as quickly, water exploding outward and sending me flying backward again.
“Guards,” Izo bellowed, his voice cracking with desperation. The call echoed across the arena, summoning the reinforcements he so clearly relied on.
I shot a glance toward the edges of the arena, where more Ashen guards began to converge, their iridescent armor shimmering as they rushed toward us.
“Luca!” I roared, my shadows surging as I pointed toward the perimeter.
Luca’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade. “On it!”
He extended his arms, his own shadows erupting outward, crawling up the dome of the arena. The translucent barrier, once a shimmering blue from Izo’s power, now darkened as Luca’s shadows intertwined with it, sealing the arena completely.
The guards slammed against the reinforced dome, their weapons useless as they clawed and hammered at the barrier. Shouts of confusion and anger rang out as they realized they couldn’t penetrate it.
“No one’s coming to save you now,” I snarled at Izo.
His silver eyes darted toward the trapped guards, then back to me. For the first time, I saw true fear in his expression, the smug confidence crumbling.
“You think this changes anything?” Izo spat, his tone sharp but wavering. He raised his hands, the water around him surging once more, coiling into serpentine shapes that lashed out with precision and force.
I dodged the first strike, countering with a wall of shadows that dissipated the water with a violent hiss.
“You’re out of tricks, Izo,” I growled, advancing on him. My shadows lashed out like whips, slicing through the air as I forced him to retreat step by step.
Izo gritted his teeth, sweat glistening on his brow as he struggled to hold his ground. “You think you’ve won? You’re still just your father’s shadow, clinging to his power, his legacy?—”
“I amnotmy father,” I interrupted.
“You’re losing, Shadow,” he taunted, his voice laced with venom.
But I wasn’t losing. My power surged with every second, my connection to Vivian strengthening my resolve. I could feel her heartbeat, steady and strong, grounding me even as I fought. Izo’s movements grew more desperate, his attacks wild and uncoordinated. I dodged another blast of water and closed the distance between us, my shadows pinning him to the ground.
“This ends now,” I said.
I raised my hand for the killing blow, shadows coiling around my fingers, ready to strike. But Izo’s desperate voice cut through the chaos, strained but cunning.
“You think killing me will solve your problems?” he rasped, blood dripping from his mouth. “Fine. Do it. But know this—without me, you’ll never take the Crimson Dominion. Altair’s people won’t bow to you. They’ll scatter, taking their secrets and power with them. You’ll spend years fighting them, weakening your empire, and the other lords will pick you apart like vultures. You will never get whatever you seek there. Not without me.”
I hesitated, my hand hovering in the air.
“You need me,” Izo continued, his tone sharpening. “I’ve spent decades earning their trust, building relationships. I can deliver the Crimson Dominion to you, intact and loyal. Kill me, and you’ll lose everything. Use me, and it’s all yours.”
The crowd’s murmurs grew louder, but I tuned them out, my focus entirely on Izo.
