BETWEEN THE MONSTER AND MEN

Royer's confidence swelled at Sionis's words. "If what you say is true, then you know this means you will die too, right?" he challenged, his voice laced with a mixture of determination and defiance.

But Sionis remained unshaken. "You are indeed Fear, but you're just beginning to understand your powers. In that regard, you're no match for me, especially after the exhaustion of your earlier fights. This is more like a video game, and I am the last standing general," Sionis said with a grim smile.

"The final boss," Royer whispered, almost to himself.

"You're right, Prince," Isabella interjected, stepping closer. "You'll need help."

"No!" Royer's voice was firm, stopping her in her tracks. He turned to face her, his expression resolute. "If anyone has to do this, it's me. It makes the most sense that way. I'll stop him on my own, or I'll die trying."

Isabella looked at him, the concern clear in her eyes, but she saw the determination in Royer's stance. She nodded, understanding that there was no changing his mind. "Good luck, my love," she said softly.

Royer smiled at her, "Thanks, darling. I have a feeling I'm gonna need it."

Both men readied themselves for the final clash. Royer's fists clenched as a thick fog began to swirl around him, while Sionis levitated effortlessly, his wings beating softly and slowly, keeping him suspended in the air.

Just as they were about to launch their attacks, a voice echoed from the White House, commanding them to stop. "That's enough, Sion. Stop fighting—your battle is over," the voice declared.

Sionis immediately halted his attack, a sign of respect, even though the voice belonged to a teenager. Royer, puzzled by Sionis's reaction, couldn't fathom why such a powerful warrior would show such deference to a mere boy. But as he laid eyes on Michael, the undeniable aura of superiority radiating from him left Royer speechless, overwhelmed by the sheer pressure of his presence.

"But Lord Julius " Sionis began, trying to explain, but Michael cut him off.

"Julius is out of his mind if he thinks he can take on the Blind One alone and hope to win," Michael said dismissively.

"Even so, I cannot disobey him," Sionis insisted, his voice filled with conflict.

"So you'll disobey me instead?" Michael's gaze bore into Sionis, standing firm next to Pride's dying body.

"Of course not," Sionis replied, bowing his head slightly in submission.

"Good. Then take your brothers—the dead ones—they'll need a proper burial. After that, get out of here. This place is about to become an arena for the battle of wills," Michael ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Michael then turned his attention to Royer. "If you're smart, you'll do the same," he advised.

Royer's eyes narrowed as he responded defiantly, "You can't just decide to end the fight and expect both sides to agree."

Michael pointed to the entrance of the White House. "He's the reason you're here. Take him," he said, and as if on cue, the president emerged from where Michael had indicated.

Julia and Isabella rushed toward the president, escorting him to a nearby car. "Mission accomplished," Julia declared with relief as they headed to the vehicle.

But Royer wasn't satisfied. The sense of justice he felt was incomplete, and he wasn't about to let things end so easily. "Just because you released the president, you think we'll let you walk away?" he challenged.

Michael, with an innocent look that belied his true nature, nodded nonchalantly. "Honestly, yes," he replied, his casual demeanor infuriating everyone except Sionis.

"You monster!" Royer spat, his anger boiling over.

"Is that right?" Michael replied, his voice calm, almost amused.

Pride, still clinging to life, struggled to speak. "You insignificant quaky pest," he rasped. "You have no idea who you're speaking to. You should be on your knees, for you are in the presence of a god."

Summoning all the strength he had left, Pride raised his head to face Michael. "Let me kill him," he pleaded, his voice filled with desperation.

Michael looked down at Pride, recognizing that what was truly killing him was the ice infecting his heart, a pain so intense that his supernatural metabolic heat couldn't burn it away. Without a word, Michael placed his right hand on Pride's wounded chest, and within seconds, Pride began to heal rapidly.

As Pride recovered, Michael turned back to Royer, his eyes piercing. "Do you know why we are hated, feared, and killed?" he asked, but Royer remained silent.

"We are the accurate manifestation of humanity's most detestable self," Michael continued. "Simply put, we are the reminders of the parts of you that you so desperately seek to suppress. So, you tell yourselves stories to ensure you sleep well at night, but even then, the truth still haunts you. To avoid that guilt, you call us monsters, pretending you are different. But when you look deep within your heart, I am sure this is what you see," he said, gesturing to the hideous, monstrous forms that lay around them.

Royer, still reeling from Michael's words, muttered to himself, "Is it just me, or is this kid annoyingly mature?"

"Yeah, no kidding," Julia agreed, her voice a mix of frustration and disbelief.

Before leaving, Sionis, concerned about his brothers who were merely unconscious, asked Michael what would become of them since his orders only covered the dead.

"Don't worry about them," Michael replied, and with that, he vanished into thin air.

Moments after Michael's departure, the fallen soldiers began to stir, awakening from their unconscious state. There were more of them alive than dead, which made Royer and the others uneasy. The prospect of resuming the fight with so many of these formidable opponents left them feeling overwhelmed.

However, Sionis, respecting Michael's command, insisted that they leave Washington at once, stating that it was Lord Pain's wish. Reluctantly, the soldiers and the president took a long breath of relief, their anxiety ebbing away as they realized they had been spared another brutal confrontation.

In less than ten seconds, the soldiers were off the ground, heading out of the city as quickly as possible. Those who could fly carried the others, ensuring that no one was left behind, as it was the fastest way out.

Sionis remained behind, gathering the bodies of his fallen comrades. Royer and the other survivors watched him work, needing him to clear the path so they could safely escort the president out of Washington.

As they observed Sionis using his power to help others, they couldn't help but be struck by the beauty of the moment. It was as though they had stepped into an enchanted world and encountered the fairy king himself. The sight was mesmerizing, and in that moment, it became clear Sionis was no monster. He was a superior life form, another species of life far more adapted to living on Earth than any other creature.