Pain & Promises
He will never give up. He can't give up. There are too many people counting on him. He will continue to fight. It's what he vowed to do. And he will keep that vow until he no longer can.
His body is torn. He has lost too much blood. Still he fights. Doesn't he feel the pain? How does it not crush him? He keeps moving in spite of countless injuries, letting the pain wash over him but never overtake him.
His right hand is crushed. His left arm won't move. He is dizzy from blood loss. His movements should be clumsy and uncoordinated. But every strike, every contraction of muscle is precision defined.
How much longer can he last like this? He will reach his limit soon. But he still won't stop.
A death wish? No. No, he knows he must live. If he dies who will protect them? Who will destroy the evil in time to save them? No one. There isn't anyone he can rely on.
Failure is not an option. If he fails they won't be safe. If he fails they will die. So he will not fail. He will not stop.
He strikes: once, twice, three times. It's over. They are safe.
He stops. He falls. He is broken beyond repair. He closes his eyes. Darkness consumers him. He no longer knows pain. He smiles. He kept his promise.