The cheers still rolled across the beach like waves that never wanted to stop.
I took one slow step forward, boots sinking into the wet sand, and glanced at the broken sword piece sticking out of the ground thirty feet away. The red glow had finally died, leaving just dull metal under the moonlight.
"Seems like that swing did the trick," I said to myself, chuckling low. "Hehe."
Behind me, the crowd was a living thing jumping, screaming, hugging, crying, laughing. Phones flashed non-stop. Someone had started a drum beat on an empty cooler, and half the beach was singing my name like it was the best song they'd ever heard.
Alaric lay half in the shallow water, waves lapping at his chest and hips. His green-black skin looked dull now, no red aura flickering, no movement at all.
Then a familiar voice cut through everything.
"OIII, ZERO!!"
