Everyone emerges from hiding to see Victor and Derek still on the ground. “Can you still hear Victor’s heart?” Superior Jackie asks Madame Jeanette.
“Oui, he’s still alive, as well as Derek,” Madame Jeanette responds.
Victor starts fluttering his eyes open. His eyes are back to normal. He shifts his eyes around, remembering where he is. Victor snaps his head over and spots Derek struggling to get up. Once Victor remembers the artifact inside Derek’s jacket, his eyes return to black.
Victor pounces on top of Derek and grabs hold of the part of his jacket where the artifact is hiding. He rips a vast chunk of Derek’s jacket and holds it above his head.
“GIVE THAT BACK!” Derek shouts as he tries reaching for Victor’s hand.
Victor holds Derek down by the throat, keeping him firmly on the ground. He sets the object in his hand ablaze. Victor opens his hand when the flame vanishes, letting the ash fall.
Derek is enraged and hurls Victor several feet through the air. “YOU SON OF A BITCH! YOU’RE FUCKING DEAD!” Derek charges after and grabs Victor’s sword off the ground.
As Victor regains his balance, he sees Derek charging at him. Before Victor can conjure his magic, Derek swings Victor’s sword, decapitating Victor.
Everyone screams in horror. Leo is so angry; he is about to conjure his Fire Magic. “The blood oath!” Superior Charles shouts, grabbing hold of Leo’s arms.
Derek starts to laugh hysterically. “What a worthless piece of shit. He couldn’t even stop- “ Derek looks back and notices Victor’s body hasn’t fallen to the ground. “. . . The fuck?”
Victor starts laughing, a deep, echoing sound that reverberates through the battlefield. Derek looks back and forth between Victor’s head and Victor’s body, his confusion turning into horror. Victor’s hand shoots out, grabbing Derek by the neck and lifting him effortlessly off the ground. As Victor’s laughter fades, his severed head on the ground begins to pixelate, disintegrating into tiny shards of light that swirl into the air before reappearing seamlessly atop his shoulders.
Victor’s eyes are solid black, with a dark, shimmery glow that extends outward. The glow resembles smoke. Derek is dumbfounded by what has taken place.
“What type of fuckery is this?!” Derek shouts, thrashing in Victor’s iron grip, desperately chopping at Victor’s shoulder with Victor’s sword.
Victor catches Derek’s fist with ease, wrenching the sword from his grasp. “This sword belongs to me. And as long as it has a connection with me, I cannot be harmed by it.” With a casual flick of his wrist, Victor sends Derek hurtling backward, crashing into the ground several yards away like a rag doll.
Victor strides purposefully towards Derek, who struggles to his feet, only to be knocked aside again by a swift swipe ofVictor’s sword. As Derek rises, Victor calls upon his Earth Magic. The ground beneath Derek trembles and shifts, throwing him off balance. Massive walls of lava rock erupt from the earth, forcing Derek to bounce between them, each impact leaving him more battered.
Victor raises his hand, and Derek is lifted into the air, invisible forces tightening around his neck like a noose. With a disdainful flick, Victor sends Derek crashing through the nearby trees. Derek’s body snaps branches like twigs as he plummets to the forest floor below. Blood trickles from his nose, and multiple gashes cover his face. He rolls off his back, coughing, and gets to his knees, glaring at Victor with bloodshot eyes.
Summoning every ounce of his remaining strength, Derek charges at Victor, screaming in defiance. Victor doesn’t flinch. With a mere flick of his fingers, a torrent of enormous fireballs rains down upon Derek. Derek tries to shield himself, but the force of the impact slams him into the ground, leaving him groaning in agony.
Victor’s shadow looms over Derek as he approaches. Derek, lying in a crater of scorched earth, turns and looks up at him. “There’s only one way to kill me in the challenge, and your sword won’t work because it’s too short.”
Victor raises an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. “I’m a grower, not a shower.”
“What?” Derek gasps, grimacing in confusion.
With a flourish, Victor twirls his sword, and with a jerk of his arm, the blade extends, doubling in length. Black flames burst from the blade, and the embedded pearl glows with an eerie light. Derek’s eyes widen in terror.
“Fuck me,” Derek mutters.
Victor swings the elongated sword over his shoulder, the black flames dancing along its edge. “You’re not my type.” With a swift, backhanded strike, Victor decapitates Derek, sending hishead flying toward the lava flow. The head lands with a sizzle, and Derek’s body erupts in flames, a piercing shriek of agony escaping from the burning neck. The body burns intensely, turning into a pile of ash within seconds.
Victor drops his sword after it returns to its smaller size, and the flame is extinguished. Victor stumbles backward, exhausted from the fight. He blinks a few times, allowing his eyes to return to normal.
Before Victor could react, Leo wraps his arms around him. After a moment of shock and awe, Victor smiles as he returns Leo’s tight embrace. Leo pulls back and looks at Victor in the eyes. He cups Victor’s cheeks, pulling him in for a deep, passionate kiss.
After a moment has passed, Leo pulls away and slaps Victor in the face.
“The fuck was that for?” Victor asks as he rubs his cheek with a bewildered, yet cheerful expression.
“Don’t you ever pull that shit again,” Leo demands before pulling Victor in for anotherkiss.
As they break apart, Victor says sarcastically, “Then maybe next time, don’t do a bloodoath while getting married.”
They laugh as they walk hand in hand back toward the group. Victor is covered with everyone’s embrace. While Victor is enjoying the attention, his smile fades away. His eyes turn black as he scans the area.
