Karl stood over his brother, claws dripping red. Kael’s body twitched faintly, golden sparks flickering and dying like embers in ash. One more strike, one more push of fire, and it would all be over. Years of rage, years of silence, finished in one blow.
He raised his claw. The flames crawled higher, coiling tight along his arm.
Then the air shifted.
Boots struck stone. The sound was sharp, deliberate. Not one pair—several.
Figures stepped through the smoke.
Three of them. Newest update provided by noᴠelfire.net
Karl froze, his claw still raised. His eyes narrowed as he turned his head, fire flaring brighter in irritation. "You’re late," he spat.
The first figure moved into view—a wolf with silver scars running down his jaw, armor strapped across his chest. His aura pressed heavy, steady, a soldier’s discipline wrapped tight around him.
The second was taller, a serpent-woman draped in black scales, her eyes glowing faint green. Her tongue flicked out once, tasting the heat of Karl’s flames.
The last was a boar, tusks broken and regrown in jagged hooks, his body bulked with muscle, his axe resting easy against his shoulder.
All three bore the mark of the King’s chosen. Not dukes, not generals—shadows meant to move when the King’s eyes were elsewhere.
Karl’s smirk returned, though it was thin, forced through the ragged edge of his breathing. "So he finally sends the scraps to clean up after his favorite son."
The wolf’s gaze flicked to Kael’s body on the ground, then back to Karl. His voice was low, flat. "Step away."
Karl barked a laugh, the sound harsh. "Step away? From this? No. He’s mine." His flames burst higher, licking across the ruined road. "You want him? You’ll have to take me too."
The serpent tilted her head, voice soft but sharp. "You’re bleeding."
Karl looked down. She was right—blood streaked across his ribs, dripping down his arm. The fight with Kael had cut deeper than he cared to admit. His body screamed, but the fire inside drowned it.
"Doesn’t matter," he muttered, lifting his claws again. "I’ll burn louder than all of you."
The boar’s tusks gleamed as he grinned. "Then let’s test that fire."
The wolf came first, claws flashing as he darted low, aiming for Karl’s legs. Karl blocked with a burst of flame, the heat searing against steel, but the wolf’s strength pushed him back a step.
The serpent followed, her body twisting around the flame, green energy snapping from her fingers. It struck Karl’s side, burning cold against his fire. He hissed, staggering, his flames faltering for a breath.
Then the boar was there, axe swinging down with the weight of a hammer. Karl barely rolled aside, the blade smashing into stone, shattering it into dust and sparks.
Karl rose, laughing through the pain, his grin wild now. "Good! At least you’re not boring!"
He lunged at the wolf, claws tearing across his chest, sparks flying as armor split. The wolf snarled, shoving back, but Karl caught his jaw with a burning fist, smashing him sideways into the wall.
The serpent struck again, coils snapping around Karl’s arm, her energy digging into his skin. He roared, fire exploding outward, forcing her back. She slid across the rubble, hissing, smoke curling off her scales.
The boar swung again, faster this time. Karl ducked under the arc, claws ripping across the boar’s side. Blood sprayed, the giant grunting in pain but refusing to fall. He slammed his head forward, tusks cracking against Karl’s shoulder.
Karl stumbled, coughing blood. His flames flickered.
For the first time, he felt the weight of numbers pressing him down.
Still, he laughed. Broken, ragged, but real. "Three against one, huh? That’s fair."
The wolf rose from the rubble, blood streaking his jaw, eyes blazing with fury. He charged again, faster this time. The serpent coiled from the other side, her green energy pulsing. The boar hefted his axe, dragging it across the ground with sparks.
Karl’s grin twisted. His flames surged higher, wrapping around him like a second skin. The heat boiled the air, stone cracking underfoot. "Come then!" he roared. "Let’s see how much I can take before I fall!"
The wolf’s claws ripped across Karl’s arm, tearing flesh even as the flames burned his own skin. The serpent’s strike hit Karl’s ribs, energy searing through his bones. The boar’s axe came down, splitting stone and slicing across Karl’s shoulder.
Karl screamed, but it wasn’t pain—it was fury. He shoved back, claws blazing, slashing across the wolf’s throat, cutting deep. The serpent struck his leg, her coils dragging him down, but he ripped free with a burst of fire that sent her sprawling.
The boar’s axe swung again, but Karl caught the blade in his burning claws, flames eating into the steel. He pushed forward, snarling, until the axe shattered in half. His claws sank into the boar’s chest, ripping across muscle and bone.
Blood sprayed. The boar staggered, coughing, but slammed his fist into Karl’s jaw even as he fell.
Karl stumbled back, spitting blood. His flames dimmed for a breath, his body trembling.
The wolf rose again, clutching his torn throat, refusing to fall. The serpent hissed, green light swirling tighter around her arms. The boar groaned on the ground, still reaching for Karl with broken hands.
Karl panted, flames flickering weak, his claws dripping red. His smirk was gone now. His eyes burned, sharp and savage.
"You think you can stop me?" he growled, his voice raw. "You think this ends here?"
The serpent met his glare, her voice low. "You’re not the King’s son anymore. You’re just fire burning out."
Karl’s body shook. His flames surged again, wild, uncontrolled. His laugh was hoarse, broken. "Then I’ll take you all with me!"
He lunged once more, flames roaring higher, the street shattering under his charge.
The three stood their ground, ready to drag him down together.
And the night filled again with fire and steel.