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Leo tried to ignore the pain and charged forward, the old man surprised at the sudden outburst. With each step he took, the tentacles continued to smash against him. They struck at his legs and head, in a desperate attempt to take him down.

He ignored them long enough to get into range of the man. Leo reached out to grab him right as the man’s eyes flashed with darkness and he shot a blast of magic from his staff. Leo felt something suddenly writhing on top of his face, blocking his senses. He could only hear a grotesque squirming and see nothing but void in front of him.

Leo put his hand to his face and felt some sort of insect attached to him. Thankfully, all it took was a simple pull to rip it off. When he did, though, he saw the broken claws on the shadow monster’s sides. If his skin hadn’t been so durable, it would have ripped off his face once removed.

He looked at the man, who had taken a few steps back. His staff was pointed at Leo, with a slight tremble in his hands. Leo hurled the bug at the man, but it disappeared in a puff of shadowy whispers before it made contact. Leo saw that Marem was still on the ground, but the swarm of arms had disappeared. The tentacles smashing against him made it clear that he wasn’t so lucky.

“What is your name, barbarian,” called out the old man.

“Leo. Could you stop with this shit?”

“You are certainly a worthy opponent. I rarely meet an individual that can handle two of my spells, even if you’re barely hanging on. Feel pride, Leo, for you have been recognized by Venox,” he proclaimed.

Leo was in too much agony to care. He ripped out another shadow tentacle, wincing at the pain. While he always enjoyed the idea of fun villain banter, it was far less enjoyable when you’re getting beaten up and brutalized.

“I don’t care who you are.”

“Pardon?”

Leo didn’t give the man a response, as he charged forward once more. He saw the wizard seem surprised, as if he expected the two of them to have a calm chat while Leo was being practically tortured. The wizard didn’t waste long, however, as his eyes began to violently glow once more.

This time, Leo was prepared. Before Venox could cast whatever spell he had charged up, Leo smashed his foot against the ground. The force from the breaking floor was enough to throw Venox off balance, causing him to launch an errant shot into the roof. Leo saw what appeared to be a writhing mass of darkness fly off into the stars that adorned the sky above.

He lunged forward, tackling the legend onto the ground. Leo heard him cry out in pain, and the sound of cracked bones echoed throughout the room. He tried to control himself, but the anger and pain demanded for him to keep beating Venox.

While he was nearly blinded in pain, Venox had the experience to ignore it. Leo was unaware that he still had his staff clutched tightly in his palm. The skull of the staff was placed directly against Leo’s face, and Venox’s eye glowed once again.

Leo noticed the staff to his head, but the odd movements below distracted him for far too long. Something had grown from behind the man, the pinned legend was no longer alone. There was a shadowy figure next to him, with a human skull visible through the haze.

“How much are you offering?” asked the shadowy demon.

“One week,” offered Venox.

Leo felt a violent burst erupt against the side of his head. The world went black as he went flying across the room. His head pounded with such intensity that he barely felt himself collide against one of the golden statues. Chunks of gold fell to the ground, only a fractured base managed to hold Leo.

The tentacles that had beaten down on him and drew his attention were gone, they seemed to be destroyed by the attack that he’d been hit with. Leo felt blood pour from his back, his flesh ripped and raw. There was a ringing in his ears accompanying the violent pain in his head.

He lay there, collapsed in the midst of the debris, taking desperate ragged breaths. Eventually, his eyes were able to bear the light that filled the room. Everything was fuzzy, nondescript shapes moved through the glittering throne room.

He recognized the dark figure standing in the center of the room as Venox. The blob of red and gold by his side had to be king Raegis, likely having dashed to escape the throne after Leo was thrown in that direction. The last figure was Marem, standing up with her arms raised.

Leo saw Venox approach her, his staff lowered to the side. Once Venox was a few steps away, Marem threw a punch squarely at the old man’s face. Leo struggled to see the conflict, as the two seemed to blend together in the midst of a brutal brawl.

The fight between the two grew more aggressive, with Venox struggling to find a break in between Marem’s assault. Leo saw the fight move them across the room, a back and forth of blows and hits. Any attempt by Venox to raise his staff was met with a quick blow to his undefended side.

Once they’d moved across the throne room, Marem suddenly lunged away from Venox. Leo saw her grab something on the floor, and Venox raised his staff at her in the same moment. Suddenly, a flash of pink became visible.

He felt a soothing warmth wash over him, as if he’d been submerged in a hot spring. The pain that ripped across his back began to calm, and his vision and senses returned. They were back just in time for him to see Marem pointing her outstretched staff at him, and to witness a blast of darkness strike her in the back.