Kaelzar lay on the ground, battered and bruised after taking the full force of Mixarnt’s radiant attack. His body trembled, but his grin remained, defiant even in defeat. On the other hand, Mixarnt collapsed to the floor, his muscles screaming in agony. The strain of using Enigma Enhancement at 100% had pushed his body to its absolute limit.

"I’m fine... you talk with that dude... ahe...hehe," Mixarnt said, trying to lighten the mood despite the pain. Every movement made his muscles feel like they were being torn apart, and he realized he wouldn’t be moving anytime soon. Carlos nodded, his expression softening as he turned to Kaelzar.

"It’s over, Kael..." Carlos said, his voice gentle but firm.

Kaelzar, however, only smiled wider. "Ah! It’s almost time for the rain of darkness to destroy the Naeva Kingdom," he said, his voice filled with eerie calm. With a flick of his finger, the destroyed walls of the room lit up with glowing magic circles. The scene around them shifted rapidly, the ground beneath them vanishing as they were transported to a new location.

"A dimension teleportation magic!?" Carlos exclaimed, his eyes wide with shock.

Mixarnt, despite being unable to move, realized what was happening. Kaelzar had been buying time, always one step ahead. Now, they found themselves high in the sky above Naeva, free-falling through the air.

Carlos reacted instantly, using his wind magic to propel himself forward. His kicks created explosive bursts of air, allowing him to charge at Kaelzar mid-air. "You’re not getting away with this, Kael!" he shouted, his voice filled with determination.

"W-what the heck!" Mixarnt yelled as he plummeted toward the ground. Panic surged through him, but he quickly focused. Summoning the last of his strength, he swung Enigma downward, unleashing a burst of mana that slowed his fall just enough to cushion the impact. He hit the ground hard, but the mana wave had saved him from serious injury.

Above, Carlos and Kaelzar clashed in mid-air. Kaelzar’s dark energy clashed with Carlos’ wind magic, creating shockwaves that rippled through the sky.

"You’re too late, Carlos!" Kaelzar laughed, his voice echoing as he dodged Carlos’ attacks. "The rain of darkness is already beginning!"

Mixarnt struggled to his feet, his body still screaming in pain. He looked up at the sky, where dark clouds were gathering, swirling with malevolent energy. The rain of darkness was about to fall, and Naeva would be destroyed if they didn’t stop it.

"Carlos! We have to stop him!" Mixarnt shouted, his voice strained but determined.

Carlos nodded, his eyes locked on Kaelzar. "We’ll end this together!"

"Gah! Aghh..." Mixarnt forced himself to his feet, but his vision blurred, and his legs threatened to give out. His body screamed in protest, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to collapse. "Not yet!" he muttered, his voice trembling but determined.

The citizens of Naeva stared in shock and fear as the bloodied, injured boy stumbled forward. The early morning sun was quickly overshadowed by the sound of a massive crash—Kaelzar and Carlos had slammed into the ground, their powers colliding and destroying nearby houses. The citizens panicked, their screams filling the air as chaos erupted.

"This is more like it! Dark Explosions!" Kaelzar shouted, scattering dark orbs of energy everywhere. The knights and soldiers who rushed to respond were engulfed in the explosions, their cries drowned out by the deafening blasts. Houses crumbled, streets were torn apart, and pandemonium spread through the city.

"Kael!!!!" Carlos roared, charging at Kaelzar with everything he had. The two clashed again, their blades meeting in a storm of wind and dark energy. Each strike destroyed more of the city, their powers propelling them through the streets as they fought.

"Carlos!!! Look up! Do you see it!? The cloud of darkness! Soon it will rain down on Naeva!!!! KAHAHAHHAHAHA!" Kaelzar laughed maniacally, his voice filled with twisted joy.

In a brutal move, Kaelzar stabbed his demonic dagger into Carlos’ side. Carlos gritted his teeth, his face contorted in pain, but he didn’t falter. With a fierce roar, he slashed at Kaelzar, his sword cutting deep into the bandit leader’s shoulder. Kaelzar didn’t even flinch, his grin never fading as he reveled in the chaos.

Kaelzar unleashed a sphere of dark magic, slamming it into Carlos and sending him crashing to the ground. Without hesitation, Kaelzar soared high into the air, his body glowing with an ominous dark aura. The dark catalyst in his heart activated, transforming his hair into a stark, pure white. Behind him, the dark clouds churned and swirled, casting a shadow over the entire kingdom of Naeva.

The people below looked up in terror. Children clung to their parents, their small bodies trembling. Women screamed, and men shouted in panic as they ran for cover. The streets, once bustling with life, were now filled with chaos and fear.

In the castle, the king and queen stood on a balcony, their faces pale with horror. Beside them, their 11-year-old daughter, Alyssia, clung to the queen’s embrace, her small body shaking uncontrollably. "Mother... Father... what’s happening?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

The king could only stare at the sky, his hands clenched into fists. "Kaelzar..." he muttered, his voice filled with dread.

High above, Kaelzar spread his arms, his voice booming across the kingdom. "Now... people of Naeva, grieve! Cower! Your useless king, and all of you citizens, are sinners. All of you will die. ALL OF YOU WILL DIE!!!"

His words echoed like thunder, sending waves of fear through the city. The dark clouds loomed closer, their malevolent energy crackling in the air. The rain of darkness was ready to fall, and Kaelzar’s twisted grin widened as he reveled in the chaos he had created.

"Kaelzar, stop!!!!" Carlos shouted from below, his voice filled with desperation. He struggled to his feet, his body battered but his resolve unbroken. "This isn’t the way! Mikaela wouldn’t want this!"

Kaelzar’s eyes flickered with something—pain, regret, or perhaps just madness—but his grin didn’t falter. "Mikaela is gone, Carlos! And this kingdom took her from me! Now, they’ll pay!"

Mixarnt, still on the ground, forced himself to look up. His body screamed in pain, but his mind was clear. He couldn’t let this happen. He couldn’t let Kaelzar destroy Naeva.

"Mikaela! She loved her kind and protective brother!!!" Carlos's voice echoed across the battlefield, filled with desperation and sorrow. His cry pierced through the chaos, reaching Kaelzar just as he prepared to unleash a devastating torrent of darkness. For a brief moment, Kaelzar hesitated, his hand trembling as the shadows swirled around him. That fleeting hesitation was all Mixarnt needed.

With the last vestiges of his strength, Mixarnt held his spirit weapon high up and summoned the ultimate power of Enigma. The sky above Kaelzar split open, revealing a vast expanse of stars and swirling cosmos. The heavens themselves seemed to bow to Mixarnt's will as he whispered, "Radiant... Judgement." The words were barely audible, but their power was undeniable. As Mixarnt lost consciousness, the celestial rift unleashed a blinding beam of radiant energy, descending with the speed of light. The beam tore through the darkness, banishing the clouds of shadow and striking Kaelzar with a radiant torrent.

The hole in the sky closed as quickly as it had opened, leaving behind an eerie silence. The battlefield was bathed in an otherworldly glow, and for a moment, it seemed as though the world itself had held its breath.

Kaelzar collapsed to the ground with a thunderous crash. Blood poured from his wounds, staining the battlefield crimson. Yet, even in his weakened state, he rose once more, his voice a guttural roar. "Not yet... I am Kaelzar, the one who will destroy everything!" His declaration sent shivers through the hearts of the cowering citizens and soldiers who watched in horror. The dark clouds began to gather behind him once more, a swirling maelstrom of destruction.

Carlos, standing amidst the chaos, realized the grim truth. The only way to end the darkness was to destroy its source. With a heavy heart, he gripped his blade tightly and charged toward his former friend, his steps resolute. He expected a fierce clash, a final battle between them. But as he closed the distance, he saw something that slowed him in his tracks—Kaelzar's eyes, once filled with malice, now softened with kindness. A small, almost imperceptible smile played on Kaelzar's lips as he lowered his guard and charge, allowing Carlos's blade to pierce his heart.

The dark clouds dissipated, the battlefield fell silent, and Kaelzar's body crumpled to the ground. Carlos stood over his fallen friend, tears streaming down his face. In that final moment, Kaelzar had chosen redemption over destruction, sacrificing himself to save the kingdom he once sought to destroy.

"Why...?" Carlos asks as he kneels beside Kaelzar, his voice trembling with a mix of sorrow and confusion. He searches Kaelzar's face for answers, trying to comprehend the weaken figure before him.

In that final, intimate moment, Carlos glimpses the person Kaelzar once was - the loyal companion, the loving sibling, the protector. The darkness that consumed him seems to recede, allowing the genuine emotions beneath to shine through.

As Kaelzar's life ebbs away, he started talking, his voice barely audible over the wind.

"I... hated... it... I truly... hated Naeva... for what they did to... Mikaela... For abandoning her... after she... serve this kingdom... with... all her heart..." Kaelzar said, his voice breaking as he spoke. "But... I also can’t... forgive them... for making us... criminals... Just... because we wanted... to save Mikaela..."

He paused, his breathing shallow, his strength fading.

"With this... you will... now be seen as... a hero..." Kaelzar continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "A hero... who defeated... the villain... who tried to destroy... Naeva..."

He closed his eyes, a small, satisfied smile spreading across his face. "Live well... Carlos..."

With those final words, Kaelzar’s body went still. The dark energy surrounding him vanished completely, and the remaining dark clouds above began to dissolve, the sunlight breaking through once more.

Carlos stood frozen, his sword trembling in his hand. Tears streamed down his face as he stared at Kaelzar’s lifeless body. "Kael..." he whispered, his voice filled with grief and regret. His sword slipping from his hand. "It didn’t have to end like this..." he muttered, his voice choked with emotion as he embrace the lifeless body of his friend.

The citizens of Naeva, who had been cowering in fear, slowly emerged from their hiding places. They looked up at the sky, now clear and bright.