Three

Elder Lorthan had always revered those who bonded with higher-tier spirits, and Kaelan was one of them. But at this moment, none of that mattered.

A bitter smile graced Elder Lorthan's lips as his gaze shifted to his spirit, the magnificent behemoth that had stood beside him in all its glory.

In that fleeting moment, he found peace. For all the betrayal, for all the wrongs he had done, at least he had served the spirits he worshipped to the very end.

A faint glow began to envelop his body and his spirit, thin lines of bluish-purple light spreading like veins across their forms. With a soft sigh, Elder Lorthan whispered his final thought.

"At least I served them… to the end."

The slash appeared without warning.

It tore through Elder Lorthan and his spirit simultaneously, clean and precise. His body split neatly in two, each half collapsing to the ground in silence.