At the same time, Arthur stood in front of the purple line that showed which way Mayuri and Valdor had gone; Kael lay unconscious beside him.
"So that's where you went..." he said, then ran after the purple line.
Meanwhile, Mayuri and Valdor were sitting by the campfire; they were both exhausted.
"We have to go back for Kael," Mayuri said, but there was no determination in her voice, only a quiet, pitiful tone. "So what are you going to do? Are we going to leave him?" Mayuri asked, her voice low and spiteful. "Of course NOT," Valdor replied
Meanwhile, Arthur was standing in a tree not far from them; Mayuri had gone on a scouting mission, and Valdor had stayed by the campfire. As Mayuri was returning to Valdor, someone lunged at her from behind. It was another demon.
Valdor sensed that Mayuri was in trouble and immediately stood up, ran out of the forest, and began looking around, but he spotted Arthur standing in the tree. Arthur made eye contact with Valdor and stepped in front of him
"You've lost, Valdor," Arthur said, his voice as hard as steel. "And I'm going to prove it."
Valdor looked at Arthur, and there was fury in his eyes: "So be it," he replied, his voice as hard as steel.
They lunged at each other; Valdor swung his sword, Arthur parried, and his eyes began to glow red as they fell toward the river.
Meanwhile, Mayuri stood with the demon on the edge of the mountain. They were fighting. Mayuri sensed she was close to the edge of the mountain.
With her scythe and the power of her Shadow Step, Mayuri began running straight toward the demon, teleporting from all sides, and when she was close, she vanished and reappeared above the demon
"Arc of the Demon: Scythe of the Soul," Mayuri whispered, and the scythe began to glow purple, while purple energy wrapped around the demon, and its skin began to crack. At one point, while the demon was in the middle of the attack, Mayuri fell on top of him and plunged her scythe into his heart; the demon fell, and his body disintegrated into particles.
Valdor continued to fight Arthur. "Time to try out a new power," whispered Valdor, and using the Demon Arc ability, Energy Jump Pad, he began bouncing off the walls and landed on a river island. He looked at Arthur, who was standing upside down on a rock, smiling broadly. Using his Demon Arc power, Arthur shouted, "Energy beams!" and three energy beams flew toward Valdor.
"Damn, this isn't good," Valdor said, deflecting the energy beams with his sword, but more were coming.
"One will kill, and the other will hit," Valdor thought. "I have one way." He used the power of the Energy Jump Pad and leaped upward, and the energy beams struck the spot where he had been. "Where is he?" said an angry Arthur. Only a green beam emerged from the smoke. It was Valdor, who had bounced off the rocks and emerged from the ravine where the river was.
Valdor stopped next to Mayuri. "Valdor," said Mayuri.
"I lost Arthur," said Valdor.
"Be glad," replied Mayuri, and there was no joy in her voice, only sarcasm.
Just then, Arthur appeared before them. His face was contorted with rage. "Now you're both going to lose," he said, his eyes pulsing with red light.
Valdor and Mayuri backed away toward the precipice, and Arthur closed in on them.
"Now, Mayuri, jump," said Valdor.
"What? Why?" asked Mayuri.
"Everything will be okay," said Valdor, and Mayuri nodded.
Valdor and Mayuri jumped into the abyss, and Arthur watched them fly away, smiling broadly. "You were missing one thing," said Arthur, his eyes glowing red as the two of them seemed to fall into nothingness.
"Go on without me," Valdor said as he fell.
Mayuri looked at Valdor.
"No, I won't leave you!" Mayuri shouted.
"They're after me… not you," Valdor replied. "Go and find the others," Valdor added.
Valdor's green arc demon glowed, and then a green portal appeared. Mayuri rushed into it, screaming only, "Valdor!"
"I'm sorry, Mayuri," Valdor said quietly, and as he fell, he used his power, the Energy Jump Pad, to bounce off the rock walls and land on the ground
Arthur stood at the edge of the chasm where Mayuri and Valdor had jumped, and simply nodded.
"That was irresponsible, but I'll let the girl off the hook. Valdor is much better," said Arthur, his eyes darkening, and then he set off after Valdor.
Valdor began running along the river.
"I know you're chasing me, Arthur," — said Valdor. Arthur stood on a rock and watched as Valdor ran. "I found you," said Arthur.
Arthur grabbed his spear and lunged at Valdor, but Valdor managed to leap backward. When the smoke cleared, Arthur was standing sideways; he then turned to face Valdor and raised his spear. "You won't escape me, Valdor," — said Arthur, his voice filled with fury.
"I'm certain I'd rather face my former subordinates than a murderer," he replied. "But never mind."
Valdor smiled at Arthur, and there was nothing but fury in his eyes
"This is the end for you, Arthur," said Valdor, and his Demon Arc glowed green as he used his power, increasing his speed.
Valdor lunged at Arthur at the speed of light, and Arthur blocked him with his spear, but Valdor was already behind him, preparing for another strike.
Arthur had no choice but to attack; he spun around quickly, and his spear flew past Valdor, but Valdor managed to step back using an Energy Jump Pad. "Your power is damn annoying," Arthur said, his eyes pulsing with red light.
"You're too strong, Arthur. Why are you interested in me?" Valdor used his sword to attack Arthur, but Arthur managed to dodge it, then charged at Valdor.
"I'm too strong," he said, and in his eyes lay a quarter of a billion years of battle and the lives of mortals.
Valdor used the energy jump pad again and kicked Arthur in the stomach, sending him flying backward, but he came to a stop. "You're starting to piss me off," Arthur said, and his Demon Arc glowed red. Valdor started running toward him, but just as he was about to reach him, a spear emerged from the red light; Valdor blocked the spear with his sword, and Valdor was pushed back. "His power is different..." whispered Valdor as he raised his head. Arthur was nowhere to be seen. Valdor began to look around.
A red circle appeared on the ground in front of Valdor, and Arthur leaped out of it, ready to thrust his spear, but Valdor blocked it. Arthur used his left hand to strike Valdor and knock him back. "You're strong, but it's time to end this."
Valdor charged at him with an Energy Jump. In the blink of an eye, he was beside Arthur and sliced him with his blade. Arthur staggered, trying to regain his balance, but Valdor had already vanished from sight.
A moment later, he appeared behind him and struck again. Once. Twice. Three times. Arthur couldn't keep up with his movements. More wounds covered his body.
Finally, Arthur raised his spear in front of him, and his shields surrounded him on all sides. He could no longer move, but at least he had gained a moment's respite. "Tch… damn you…" he whispered.
"Dragon Slash!" roared Valdor, and green energy exploded around his body. The ground beneath his feet cracked, and the air howled from the sudden acceleration.
Arthur barely had time to look up.
The next moment, he appeared right in front of him, surrounded by a swirling emerald aura. He charged like a dragon diving from the sky. His sword sliced through the air, leaving a long green trail in its wake.
Arthur felt a powerful impact before he even saw the blow. Then a deep gash appeared on Arthur's body, and the shockwave sliced through the ground in its path. Arthur spat out blood and collapsed to one knee, while behind him stretched a long furrow left by the devastating Dragon Slash.
Arthur was sent flying several meters before he managed to regain his balance. His boots carved deep furrows into the ground, and clouds of dust swirled around him.
For a moment, there was silence.
Arthur stood motionless, his head bowed. He was breathing heavily. Drops of blood ran down his arm and dripped onto the path beneath his feet. "Guh…" a muffled groan escaped him.
His arms trembled, but despite his injuries, he did not fall. In the distance, Valdor watched him in silence.
"You're still standing?" Valdor said in disbelief.
Arthur stood motionless. Blood ran down his body, and the hand gripping the spear's shaft trembled with exhaustion. For a moment, it looked as though he might fall.
Arthur, however, raised his head, and his eyes turned black and red. A red aura exploded around him, blurring the image like flames. The ground shook beneath his feet. A cold smile appeared on his face. "My turn, Valdor." The crimson aura continued to swirl around Arthur.
He slowly straightened his back and raised the spear above his head.
The black blade seemed to absorb the light of the setting sun. Red energy flowed along its edge like liquid fire.
Arthur lowered his gaze. "Now I understand…" he said quietly. His fingers tightened around the spear. "If I want to defeat you, I can't hold back any longer."
The air around him trembled. Arthur swung the spear violently. Scarlet energy flowed down the black blade until the air around him began to quiver. "Die!" he roared.
In the next instant, he hurled the spear with all his might.
The weapon shot forward like a red bolt of lightning, tearing through the air. A fiery trail of energy trailed behind it, and the shockwave bent the grass and tore up clods of earth.
Arthur leaned forward from the force of the throw, and cracks spread out from beneath his feet.
The spear tore through the battlefield at a terrifying speed, heading straight for Valdor.
Its blade spun in flight, emitting a low, ominous whistle that echoed throughout the valley.
"What is that..." Valdor felt his heart stop in his chest. For the first time in a very long time, he felt fear.
For a split second, all he saw was a red light. Then came the impact. The spearhead pierced his chest. Valdor felt the weapon pierce his muscles, bones, and organs. A stifled scream escaped his lips. Blood spurted into the air. But the spear didn't stop even for a moment. Its momentum was too great. The blade pierced right through him. The red tip emerged from his back in an explosion of blood and energy.
Valdor's eyes widened as far as they could go. His hands limply released the sword. Valdor opened his mouth, but no sound came out; his body fell to the ground, and blood pooled beneath him.
Arthur walked over and retrieved his spear. "I told you…," he whispered. "…that I haven't lost yet." Then he turned and stepped into the magic circle that transported him to Azrok
Meanwhile, Luna clutched her heart: "Impossible, Valdor is dead…," she whispered. "Kael and Mayuri are still alive…" Luna left her chamber and went to Noah, who was in the middle of training. "Noah, I have a mission for you," Luna said
Noah stopped training and approached Luna: "What kind of mission?" Noah replied.
"Find the other warriors and join them," Luna blurted out. "I mean Mayuri, Kael, and Valdor… who… never mind."
"All right, Goddess Luna," Noah replied. "I'll find them," he added.
Luna smiled: "Thank you, you may go," she said.
Noah replied with a brief nod and stepped into the magic circle
"Kael is closest to Valdor; I'll contact him so he can gather the Valdor Demon Arc — it's our only chance," whispered Luna, then returned to her chamber
Noah appeared in a forest. "Time to find the others," he said, and set off