The group collapsed against the jagged stone walls of the new chamber, each of them gasping for breath. The heavy door they had just slammed shut muffled the sound of the monstrous crab’s enraged thrashing on the other side, but the tension in the air was palpable. Sweat dripped down Warren’s face as he leaned forward, hands on his knees, trying to steady his ragged breathing.


    But his thoughts were far from the present moment.


    In the chaos of their escape, he had seen it all—every calculated action, every split-second decision. Rudiger, trying to freeze Zabo in place, offering him as bait to save himself. Then Sabir, pulling Zabo to safety, only to shove Rudiger back into the crab’s deadly claws.


    It was survival, brutal and unflinching. But the question gnawed at Warren’s mind, refusing to let go: Who was truly in the wrong?


    Rudiger had acted out of desperation. That much was clear. But Sabir’s retaliation… Was it justice? Or simply vengeance disguised as necessity? The moral line blurred the more Warren thought about it, and the knot in his stomach tightened.


    Zabo, seated against the wall, stared at the boy who had saved his life. His chains lay coiled around his forearm like a serpent, still faintly glowing from the aura he had used. Sabir sat nearby, his expression unreadable, but Zabo couldn’t tear his gaze away.


    The memory of Rudiger’s betrayal burned in his mind, but more than that, the image of Sabir pulling him free from certain death lingered. Zabo’s fists clenched, his heart pounding as he made an unspoken vow.


    I owe him my life.


    Zabo swore silently, a deep and unshakable loyalty forming in his chest. Whatever happened from this point on, he would stand by Sabir.


    The silence didn’t last long. Maize was the first to break it, stepping forward with narrowed eyes. Elektra stood beside her, the crackle of electricity faintly humming around her body.


    “You killed Rudiger,” Maize said, her voice sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade.


    Sabir looked up, his exhaustion evident. “I didn’t have a choice.”


    “Didn’t have a choice?” Elektra’s tone was venomous. “You shoved a noble—one of our leaders—into the maw of that monster!”


    “He tried to kill Zabo!” Sabir shot back, rising to his feet despite his trembling legs. “If I hadn’t done it, we’d all be dead by now!”


    “That doesn’t justify what you did!” Elektra’s voice rose, sparks flaring around her. Electricity crackled to life around her, dancing across her arms and shoulders. “A useless kid who’s spent his entire life rotting in the Limbo—you had the audacity to kill a noble? The sheer blasphemy—”


    “Wait, Elektra!” Maize stepped between them, holding up a hand. Her calm demeanor wavered as she glanced between the two, unsure of how to deescalate the situation.


    But before Maize could say more, a guttural scream rang out.


    “YOU KILLED HIM!”


    All eyes turned to Saliba, who stood trembling near the corner of the room. His hands twitched violently, and his wide, bloodshot eyes were fixed on Sabir. Sweat poured down his face, mixing with tears as he stumbled forward.


    “You… You killed my friend!” Saliba’s voice cracked, rising into a near-shriek. “You… You’re a monster!”


    Sabir barely had time to react before Saliba’s chest heaved, and a thick glob of corrosive acid shot toward him. He sidestepped it just in time, the acid splattering against the stone wall and sizzling ominously.


    “So, it’s gonna be like this, huh?” Sabir said, dropping into a fighting stance. His body was worn and battered, but his eyes were sharp and focused.


    Saliba was shaking, his breath coming in short, erratic bursts. “You… You’re dead! I’ll make you pay!”


    Before Sabir could respond, Saliba lunged, another spray of acid spewing from his mouth. Sabir ducked and rolled, narrowly avoiding the attack. The acidic saliva hit the ground, hissing and bubbling as it ate away at the stone.


    “Saliba, stop!” Maize shouted, but it was no use.


    Saliba’s erratic movements grew wilder, his rage overtaking him. His eyes bulged unnaturally, veins standing out on his forehead as he charged again. Sabir braced himself, ready to retaliate, when vines suddenly shot out from the floor.


    Maize stood with her hands outstretched, her brow furrowed in concentration. The vines wrapped around Saliba’s limbs, tightening with each thrash of his body.


    “That’s enough!” Maize’s voice was firm, commanding.


    Saliba let out a feral scream, straining against the vines with inhuman strength. Maize’s face twisted in effort as she pulled another seed from her pouch. She tossed it onto the ground, and a vibrant flower bloomed almost instantly.


    The petals glowed faintly, releasing a cloud of purple pollen into the air.


    Saliba’s thrashing slowed as he inhaled the pollen, his movements growing sluggish. Within moments, his body went limp, the vines holding him upright as his head lolled to the side.


    “He’s asleep,” Maize said, her voice softer now. She waved her hand, and the vines lowered Saliba gently to the ground.


    A suffocating silence settling over the chamber after Maize subdued Saliba. Sabir stood tall despite his bruised body, his breath labored but steady. Elektra’s eyes burned with fury, the faint hum of electricity radiating from her skin growing louder as her anger deepened.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    “You think you’re untouchable, don’t you?” Elektra growled, stepping forward. “You killed Rudiger, and now you’re standing here acting like you didn’t just defile a greater being!”


    Sabir raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a faint smirk. “What’s so great about you nobles? Rudiger was a snake and you’re a bitch.”


    “You arrogant brat!” Elektra roared, the electricity around her sparking to life. In a flash, she lunged toward Sabir, her hand crackling with energy as she prepared to strike.


    Before she could reach him, a shadow moved. Zabo stepped between them, his fist cocked back, and with a devastating blow, he punched Elektra square in the chest. The impact was like an explosion. Elektra’s body shot backward, slamming into the chamber wall with a deafening crack.


    Dust and debris fell from the ceiling as the group stared in stunned silence. Warren, caught between the escalating chaos, froze. His eyes darted from Elektra’s crumpled form to Zabo, who stood tall and defiant.


    “What… What are you doing?” Warren stammered, his voice trembling. “We’re supposed to be on the same side!”


    Elektra groaned as she pushed herself off the wall, her body visibly shaking. She clutched her ribs, glaring daggers at Zabo. “You dare get in my way?”


    Zabo met her glare with one of his own, his stance unwavering. “If you want to get to Sabir, you’ll have to go through me.”


    Elektra straightened up, her aura flaring brighter despite her injuries. “Step aside Gopher, this doesn’t involve you.”


    An unexpected sound crashed through the growing tension. Sabir laughed.


    It wasn’t a nervous chuckle or a sarcastic scoff—it was a genuine, hearty laugh. He doubled over slightly, his hand clutching his side as he let out another burst of mirth.


    Everyone turned to him, their expressions a mix of confusion and annoyance.


    “What the hell is so funny?” Elektra snapped, though her anger was momentarily replaced by bewilderment.


    Sabir wiped a tear from the corner of his eye, still grinning. “You know, I’ve been waiting for this. I was starting to wonder if you’d ever stop pretending to tolerate me.”


    “What are you talking about?” Elektra hissed, though her anger wavered as her confusion grew.


    Sabir straightened up, his smirk turning into a wolfish grin. “Elektra, care for another fight?”


    Her eyes narrowed, the glow of her electricity intensifying. “Gladly,” she growled, stepping forward, her fists clenched.


    “Sabir, what are you doing?!” Warren yelled, stepping toward him. “This is insane! Stop this now!”


    Sabir raised a hand to silence him, his gaze locked on Elektra. “Zabo, stand down,” he said, his voice firm.


    Zabo hesitated for a moment, then stepped back reluctantly, though his fists remained clenched.


    Maize, standing off to the side, frowned deeply. “Elektra, this isn’t necessary. We’re already fractured enough as it is—”


    “This needs to be done,” Elektra interrupted, not taking her eyes off Sabir.


    Sabir rolled his shoulders, stepping into the open space of the chamber. He moved with an air of confidence, though every step sent a jolt of pain through his battered body.


    “Let’s get this over with,” Sabir said, his tone casual despite the intensity in his eyes.


    Elektra wasted no time. Her body surged with electricity, the blue light wrapping around her like living armor. The air grew thick with static, each step she took crackling against the stone floor. Then she moved—a blur of motion too fast for the untrained eye to follow, her feet barely touching the ground as she closed the distance between them.


    Her first kick came like a cannon shot, the force behind it generating a concussive gust that rattled the walls. Sabir’s reflexes kicked in just in time. He threw himself backward, narrowly avoiding her shin as it whipped through the air. The displaced wind brushed past his face, leaving his hair disheveled and a faint ringing in his ears.


    Elektra didn’t stop. Pivoting on her heel, she swung her arm forward, a bolt of electricity crackling from her fingertips. The light was blinding, and the heat of it grazed Sabir’s skin as he dropped to the ground, rolling beneath the sizzling arc of energy.


    He sprang to his feet, his body coiled with tension. Elektra was relentless. She closed the gap again, her hands glowing with raw power as she unleashed a flurry of strikes. Sabir sidestepped a punch aimed for his ribs, feeling the faint shockwave ripple through the air as her knuckles missed him by inches.


    Her attacks were precise and unrelenting, her movements seamless as she shifted from one form of assault to the next. A roundhouse kick flowed into a lightning-infused jab, the arcs of electricity leaving faint scorch marks where they struck the ground. Sabir moved like water, weaving between her strikes with a dancer’s grace, his breaths sharp and measured.


    Elektra’s attacks only grew faster, her frustration fueling her power. Her foot slammed into the ground as she pivoted once more, sending a web of crackling electricity outward. Sabir leaped over the web, landing lightly on the balls of his feet before darting to the side to avoid her next kick.


    The chamber was a symphony of chaos—thunderous blows, sizzling arcs of electricity, and the sharp intake of breath as Sabir narrowly avoided one deadly strike after another. Each movement was calculated, his body reacting on instinct as he stayed just out of reach.


    But the fight was only just beginning. Elektra’s intensity burned brighter, her golden aura pulsing as she pushed herself further, determined to bring him down.


    Elektra snarled in frustration, increasing her speed. Her full-speed attacks were invisible to the naked eye, yet Sabir continued to evade her strikes.


    For a moment, Elektra’s frustration was replaced by surprise. “He’s faster than before.” She had fought Sabir before, but back then, he had barely kept up with her, using only a small percentage of her power. Now, he was dodging her full-speed assaults, something no one had done before.


    But Sabir’s stamina was wearing thin. Each dodge took more effort, and his breathing grew heavier. Sweat dripped down his face as his movements became less fluid.


    Elektra noticed the shift and seized the opportunity. She feinted from a punch, then unleashed a blast of electricity at point-blank range.


    The bolt struck Sabir in the chest, sending him flying backward. He hit the ground hard, his body convulsing from the residual electricity.


    “Sabir!” Warren shouted, but Sabir raised a shaky hand to stop him from interfering.


    Sabir writhed on the ground, pain coursing through every nerve in his body. Yet, somehow, he forced himself to stand. His legs wobbled, and his vision blurred, but he stood tall, a defiant smile on his face.


    Elektra walked toward him, her hand crackling with another charge. “You’re finished,” she said coldly, raising her hand for the final blow.


    But Sabir smiled wider, his teeth stained with blood. “You know,” he said, his voice raspy but steady, “after you, there’s only a couple of you left.”


    Elektra froze, her hand hovering mid-air. Her eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”


    Sabir’s smile didn’t falter. “I’m talking about the downfall of the Voltaire’s,” he said, his voice low and menacing.


    Elektra’s eyes widened, her body stiffening. Before she could react, Sabir suddenly vanished.


    The room fell silent, the crackle of Elektra’s electricity the only sound. She spun around, searching for him, but he was gone.


    “Where…?” Elektra muttered, her voice unsteady for the first time.