A Battle with the Fate of All at Stake

"Nefion? What are you doing here? How did you recover your powers?"

Barion could not believe it when he saw Nefion. They fought a long, long time ago. Nefion lost its powers after the battle, but somehow Barion lived. Well, it was no longer the corrupted Barion but the demon itself who possessed his body.

"Did you think a demon like you could win against someone like me? What a joke. You are trash, and you'll not leave this place alive.

"If I'm trash, how did your son lose his body to me? He is even trashier."

"I know demons are stupid, but this much? Barion wasn't even my real son."

Arthur gazed at the pile of corpses around him and the discussion between Barion and Nefion. He was surprised to get to know that. But it was funny that most of the royal family did not know about Nefion's existence. All of the princes and princesses were kids when he was around. Guards and servants changed now and then, so no one knew about him.

"It doesn't matter. You'll still lose again, Nefion. What made you think you could win against me this time?" Barion was not afraid. He won the last time they fought, and he was growing his power over the past years.

"Hahaha. You'll see."

Nefion dashed toward Barion, wielding his mighty sword. Everyone else inside the room left, afraid to get hurt in the combat. Only the guards stood behind to 'protect' the king, but they all died as soon as they got closer to Nefion.

Once both swords met, a wave of impact swiped across the room. Arthur, who stood far from the fight, retreated a few steps due to the clash of swords.

They were on a different level of power. It was a fight Arthur could not help in any way. But he still could help by protecting Jane once they fled.

Barion smirked when they clashed their swords, sure that he would get the upper hand. But that was not the case. He got sent flying with the impact, like a ragdoll.

"This is impossible. We were equal the last time, but now I'm stronger, and you starved inside the cell for years."

"What makes you think I was in my best shape at the time? Just die already."

Nefion did not want to stop and give Barion a chance to escape. He exerted so much strength in his legs that the floor collapsed. It was a speed out of this world, and even Barion, who was strong, could not see him.

Another slash, but this time, it was so fast that Barion could not defend, resulting in him losing his left arm. Blood came like a waterfall, painting the throne room red.

The incredulous look on Barion's face was hilarious. He acted mighty as if he had won the fight, but now, he was like a puppy. Nefion was not joking when he said he would kill the king.

"How can a human be as strong as a demon? It is a dream. It has to be."

They kept clashing, but Barion was losing after each exchange. First, he lost his arm, then his leg. At that stage, he couldn't fight.

"You made me do this. NEFION, YOU'RE A FUCKING BASTARD."

Barion dropped his sword and yelled, "Demonic Transformation.'

All the blood near him got sucked into his body, healing his wounds and regrowing his lost limbs. Nefion watched everything with a calm gaze. He thought it was a useless attempt. All he had to do was cut Barion into pieces again, and again, and again.

But the Demonic Transformation was a technique with more uses than just healing. Barion changed from his weak human appearance into one of a demon. All of his body had a black substance covering it, and both of his eyes turned red. Not only that, but claws grew in the place of nails, and two wings opened at his back. Two horns appeared above his head, creating a scene of extreme horror.

It was not over. The skin of all bodies inside the throne room ripped and flew toward Barion. An armor of flesh formed around the black substance.

"What the hell? Disgusting. Grandpa Nefion, please kill this bastard."

Arthur called Nefion grandpa more of a joke and respect towards him. But Barion did not know that and thought maybe Arthur was his real grandson. So, instead of fighting against Nefion using his new form, he went in Arthur's direction.

Nefion was not expecting it and had to use other means to stop Barion.

"You're dead, kid."

The demonic black claw was getting closer to Arthur, and he was incapable of dodging it. Amidst that, Nefion's eyes shone blue, and a translucent dragon form appeared behind him.

Roaring, Nefion flew in front of Arthur, blocking the claw. Everything happened so fast Arthur could not understand any of it.

"You, you--" Before Barion could even finish, Nefion cut him into pieces, ending his life.

"Are you okay, kid?"

"I am, but what exactly happened?" Arthur had many questions, but it was not the time to be asking them.

"We need to find Jane. Let's go."

~~~~

The palace was a mess. People ran around, scared of what happened. They thought a madman showed up and tried to kill the king. But with all of the guards inside the throne room, there was no way the king died.

Once the reinforcements entered the throne room, they saw Barion, cut into pieces. He was no longer in his demonic form, so all they saw was a human, dead.

"FIND THE CHEF, AND KILL HIM," they yelled.

There weren't only regular guards looking for them but also powerful mages. Everyone that was inside the room when the fight broke up died, so no one knew that the one who killed everyone was not Arthur but Nefion.

The west tower was not far, and with Nefion speed, he carried Arthur throughout the palace without anyone noticing them. It was crazy how much stronger he was in comparison to the rest.

It was a big tower made of marble. The surroundings of it had many magical barriers as protection, but none mattered when facing Nefion. He destroyed every single one of them, and they climbed the tower, going straight to the room Jane was being locked.

Arthur's heart raced, and he busted the door wide open. Jane was startled. She was watching the birds fly through her balcony, and once she turned around, Arthur was running at her.

"ARTHUR!" tears streamed down her face, and they hugged. Nefion knew they did not have much time, but he would not spoil their reunion by rushing them.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to save you. There is so much we need to talk about. To start, this crazy old man right there, he is your grandfather who was locked."

Nefion waved. He was not part of the royal family by blood, but he still cared deeply for Jane and considered her to be his granddaughter.

"Wait?" Jane rushed and also hugged Nefion.

"I always asked dad where my grandfather was, and he always came up with an excuse. Ah, it is so nice to see you."

"Speaking of your dad, there is something hard for you to hear."

Nefion explained everything to her, as he was the best of them with words.

~~~~

Jane hated her father, but she still saw him as her father. It was hard for her, and she did not release Arthur's hand up until Nefion's room. She got to know from Nefion that her real father died a long time ago, and all that was left was his appearance. It explained why her father treated everyone badly.

Hily was waiting inside the room with all the supplies they would need for their trip.

"Finally. I was starting to get worried," Hily got up from the chair, relieved that they were alive and well.

"Hily, this is Jane. Jane, this is Hily. We don't have much time, so we can chat on our way out of here," said Arthur.

"Brat, this is the time we will part ways."

"I'll get you time so you can escape."

"But Nefion."

"Don't worry, kid. You saw how strong I am. There is no way they will kill me,"

"Protect all of the people that mattered to you. Don't make the same mistake as me,"

"And kid, hear me out."

Nefion was saying goodbye to all of them, but there was a special thing he needed to say directly to Arthur.

"It will happen soon, or later, but your true nature will show up. Don't hide from it, and please, feel prideful. You'll become one of the few remaining, and when I get the chance, I'll come looking for you. Bye!"

Nefion vanished, leaving Arthur confused about what his words meant. But as their time was running short, they entered the secret tunnel, leaving the palace, going directly to the port.