Jahim walked through the now all-too-familiar opening in the woods, into the clearing of the Emerald. He entered the clearing alone, his weapon on his back, and no one at his side, though he was not alone. Around the edge of the clearing, the members of Kasbah's High Priest stood, closing in to block his exit as he walked through it. In the center of the area, Warchief Dahabi stood, some sort of weapon slung on his back, his golden armour shimmering in the moonlight. Next to him was Tahir, still in his prison uniform, and his arm in a sling, broken from when Ruby Rose fired through it to save Jay. Jahim stopped at the midway point between his entrance and his foes, taking a deep breath.

"I'm here," Jahim said, his tone angry and growling. "I thought Headmaster Arc made it clear that you wouldn't hurt any of our friends anymore."

Dahabi merely chuckled. "My condolences for the injured woman-"

"Her name is Jay Merletta," Jahim said, noticing Tahir tense at her name's mention, "and your archer's arrow was aimed right at where her head was. If she hadn't seen it coming, she would be dead." Jahim shook his head. "Tell me what you want, so you can be out of my life forever."

"I want my children safe in my home, like any father would," Dahabi said, outstretching his arms. "Is that too much to ask?"

"It's far too much!" Jahim shouted. "You're not my father, you never were! I've seen you more today than I ever did in that manor. All you are is a controlling, power hungry man, who knows something's slipped out of his grasp."

"You'll watch your tone in front of the Warchief, girl," Tahir spat, making Jahim fume. Apparently, he'd regressed to mere muttering from Tahir's perspective.

"Calm yourself, my Mansur," Dahabi said, placing his hand on his shoulder. "Mr. Arc is here on my good will right now."

Mr.? Jahim thought, flabbergasted that it would be Dahabi to show him respect first. "Well, I'm not coming with you. Can I leave now?"

"I thought you might still hold animosity, so I took the liberty of attaining, oh, what's the word in common?" He snapped his fingers, and two more armoured knights broke the line, carrying a bruised, beaten Nero Rose by his shoulders, making Jahim gasp in shock. "Ah, that's it. Leverage."

"Let him go!" Jahim shouted, fighting his every instinct to sprint at Nero. "Let him go, please!"

"You have two choices," Dahabi said, raising one arm. "You can walk out of here, and I take this boy back to Kasbah in your stead. He would fetch a decent price on the black market, his features and name would make him desirable to the deviants that hide in my Jewel in the Desert." He raised his other hand. "Or you come with me. You can repay your crimes to me with slave labour, a token of my generosity as your father rather than throwing you to the sex slave pits like your lover. Nero would be released, sent back to the others."

Jahim was quiet for a moment. "And if I refuse?"

"I take you both, by force," Dahabi said, lowering both hands. "You know there is only one option here."

Jahim paused again, before clenching his fists. "There is a third option."

"Hm?" Dahabi said, his eyebrows piquing.

Jahim took a deep breath, before pointing at Dahabi. "In the name of Kasbah, and in the name of the Creator, I challenge you, Dahabi Farid, for the right to rule Kasbah!"

There were gasps of surprise from the High Priest's members, and Tahir's fury seemed to boil over. "Ignorant whore! You would dare challenge the Warchief?"

"ENOUGH, Tahir," Dahabi said, all trace of humour gone from his voice. "Return to the line. Ensure no one breaks it." Tahir started to protest, but held his tongue, and regressed to the line around the clearing. "Your terms? Surely you do not want Kasbah's rule for yourself."

Jahim shook his head. "If... no, when I defeat you, Kasbah surrenders its sovereignty to Vale. It will abide by its regulations and laws, and answer to our leader."

"And when you lose," Dahabi said, "you shall surrender to my will?"

Jahim nodded. "I only request Nero Rose be released regardless of the outcome of our fight. He is uninvolved in this conflict."

Dahabi nodded, and the knights holding Nero up set him on his feet. Nero ran to Jahim, hugging him. "Jahim," he said, his voice weak, "please, don't. He'll kill you…"

"No," Jahim said, holding Nero tight, "no he won't."

"Promise me," Nero said. "Promise me you'll win. Not for me, but for everyone."

"I promise you," Jahim said, before leaning down and kissing Jahim. He lingered for what felt like both forever and not nearly long enough, before breaking off. "Please, go to the hospital. I'll meet you there."

Nero nodded, and limped off, the wall of knights parting to allow him through until he vanished into the trees. Jahim returned his attention to Dahabi, his gaze now smoldering to match the Warchief's.

"If we are to fight this battle, it must be by tradition." Dahabi undid the clasps around his shoulders and waist, his golden cuirass clattering to the ground around him. He shed his greaves and boots, and eventually his leather shirt, leaving him barefoot, clad only in loose leather pants that flapped with the breeze. "I shed my armour, and fight as a man, not a shell." He looked at Jahim. "You have no armour in need of shedding, it seems. You may, if you wish-"

Dahabi was cut off by the fluttering of cloth, Jahim's shirt and coat discarded to the wind. His midsection was bare, save for bandages tightly wound around his chest, which he quickly slashed off with his drawn blade. "I will fight you on equal terms, Warchief. I have no shame. Not anymore." He held his weapon in sword forme, assuming his usual stance. "Raise your weapon."

Dahabi grasped the handle of the weapon that had fallen to the ground with his armour, hefting a giant, two handed axe with both of his hands. The weapon, uncharacteristically, was rather drab; the shaft plain black metal, the blade rectangular and blocked around the head of the axe. He raised the weapon in his right hand, pointing the head at his opponent. "Jahim Arc, I accept your challenge!" he shouted, before beginning to lumber forward, and placing his axe into both of his hands. Jahim held his stance, as Dahabi raised the axe, swiftly bringing it down with all of his force. Jahim rolled between his legs, making a slash that glanced off Dahabi's aura as the axe crashed into the ground. As the blade made landfall, the earth beneath them shook noticeably, and Jahim turned in time to meet Dahabi's fist, the Warchief punching him as he yanked his axe from the ground.

"Do you feel that?" Dahabi asked, chuckling to himself. "Even the ground trembles!" Dahabi made another slash, Jahim ducking and making a wide strike across Dahabi's abdomen, further stressing his aura. Dahabi raised his foot, and attempted to kick Jahim. Jahim again rolled, this time turning and quickly reconfiguring his weapon to fire an explosive shot directly into Dahabi's back, finally knocking Dahabi off his feet. As he landed on his knees, Jahim returned his weapon to sword forme, and slashed several times at Dahabi's back, each one stressing his aura to the point of near fracture. Dahabi suddenly shot up, and rapidly spun, catching Jahim in the flank with his axe. Jahim's aura thankfully dulled the bite, but the impact sent him tumbling sideways into a tree. He felt blood begin to pool in his mouth, but quickly spat it out as he rose to his feet.

"You're stronger than I imagined you would be," Dahabi said. "You've certainly held your composure the longest of anyone who's fought me before. That alone deserves congratulation."

"I'm fighting for more than just me," Jahim said, his grip on his sword tightening. "I can't afford to be afraid."

Dahabi guffawed at the response. He outstretched his hands, leaving himself open. "Come on then, punish my hubris. Strike me, for those others you fight for!"

Jahim smirked, before spinning his weapon in his hand as he primed the bolt of the rifle. The barrel extended, and a fiery blast roared out of the gun and directly into Dahabi's head. The goliath fell to the ground with a thud, his aura flickering and dissipating with the impact. Dahabi continued to chuckle as he rose to his feet. Soot covered his face, and he spit out his own mouthful of blood. "This is the greatest fight of my life!" Dahabi shouted, before running and slashing at Jahim. The blow was ducked, and Jahim's blade tasted flesh as it carved through Dahabi's abdomen. As his sword traveled, the gash knitted itself back together almost instantly. Jahim's awe at the spectacle left him vulnerable, with Dahabi grasping his head with his large hand, and lobbing him backward towards the center of the clearing. "Haha, you can't even scratch me!" Dahabi slashed again, the blow glancing off of Jahim's block with enough force to still stagger him. Jahim quickly found his footing again, and spied Dahabi's left fist surging toward him. He readied himself, before rolling and slashing, and for the first time, hearing Dahabi roar in pain as his severed hand fell to the ground. Jahim turned back to look, and caught a boot to his head, knocking him backward. He looked at Dahabi as he rose, the flesh and bone of his stump beginning to grow.

"Okay," Dahabi said, "now I'm mad." He screamed as the flesh and bone of his hand regenerated, his fingers flexing and testing themselves before gripping his axe, and charging forward. He bellowed as he slashed rapidly, Jahim defending from the slow, powerful strikes before backstepping away from a vertical chop that left Dahabi's axe buried in the ground. He took the opportunity, and with a yell, slashed both of his hands off at the wrist. Dahabi screamed as he stumbled backward, and Jahim followed, slashing his chest as he pushed him backward. With one final shout, Jahim thrust his blade forward, burying it in Dahabi's chest to the hilt. Jahim looked into Dahabi's eyes, breathing heavily as the Warchief's breath hitched from the cold steel piercing his flesh. Suddenly, where there was brief surprise, anger returned, and a freshly regenerated hand grabbed onto Jahim's head, throwing him away. Jahim returned to his feet, but looked in shock and the giant, lumbering beast moving toward him, with his sword still lodged in his chest.

"Tell me, Jahim," he said, his tone wrathful. "Is this truly what passes for war here?" A powerful fist impacted into Jahim's guard, effortlessly knocking him backward. "You are strong, I will admit that." Another blow, this time to Jahim's stomach, making him double over. "But you're still vermin!" A hand closed around Jahim's throat, hoisting him into the air. "You don't know when to give up!" A harsh blow shattered the rest of Jahim's aura, as well as at least one of his ribs. "You face the Immortal Son of the Moon, Najl Khalidat Alqamar, yet you do not show any fear. There's bravery, and then there is simple stupidity!" Dahabi let go of Jahim's throat, letting him fall to the ground. Jahim quickly rolled away, rising to his feet and raising his hands. "Still, you persist?"

"I've had worse, far worse. This hurts, but isn't anything compared to Kasbah."

"You have proven yourself here tonight," Dahabi said, with a chuckle. "Perhaps I mischose my Mansur."

"I have no desire of being your blade, Warchief." Jahim spat.

"You truly think so low of your people? Of you family?"

"My… family?" Jahim said, feeling his anger rise. His blood began to boil, feeling hotter than anything. "You dare… call yourself my family?" His voice raised to a scream, continuing onto a bellow as Jahim's hair erupted into flame. The fire atop his head burned, as wings of flickering orange fire manifested on his back. Jahim breathed hard, before looking at Dahabi. He raised his hand, conjuring fire in it, before pointing it at the Warchief. "You call yourself the Immortal Son of the Moon, the man who can survive anything?" He flicked his hand, and the ball of flame in it flew past Dahabi's head. "Heh." Jahim conjured flame in both his hands, and stretched them both outward. "Then you can call me Jahim Arc, Reborn Phoenix of the Sun. The man who survived everything!" Jahim united his hands, and outstretched them, a sphere of fire appearing in front of him. "Burn to cinders!"

Jahim loosed a torrent of fire, which licked every inch of Dahabi's body. The Warchief screamed at the pain, his breathing heavy as the flames subsided, and his body attempted to regenerate the burns. "This changes nothing!" Dahabi said, running forward, and attempting to strike Jahim. Jahim caught the blow in his hand with almost no effort.

"You're right, it doesn't" Jahim said, before lighting the hand that caught the blow, while gripping the handle of his weapon that was still lodged in Dahabi's chest. "I'll still beat you." He planted his foot on Dahabi's abdomen, and shoved off, the charred limb and sword coming loose and pulling free as the Warchief stumbled backward. Jahim conjured spheres of flame near Dahabi's knees, jets of flame shooting out and eradicating the flesh holding him up. The Warchief collapsed to the ground, pillars of flame preventing his limbs from reforming. As Dahabi lied on the ground, grimacing as his limbs were consistently seared off, Jahim pointed the tip of his sword at Dahabi's neck. "I could kill you right now. I could lop off your piece of shit head, or burn you to ashes."

"Then do it," Dahabi spat. "Finish what you started."

"No." Jahim lowered his sword. "I could kill you here. I could kill you ten times over, without even trying. But I won't because that's what you want. I want you to live out the rest of your time knowing that you were invincible, unkillable, unbeatable, except for the person you least respect. I want you to remember you were bested by your son." Jahim replaced his sword on his back. "I want you to remember that I beat the Immortal Son of the Moon."

"I… I…" Dahabi managed a smile. "I yield. The victory is yours."

Jahim made the fire cease, and Dahabi's limbs slowly began to regenerate. Jahim breathed deep, and the fiery wings at his back flickered away, though his burning hair lingered. He retrieved his shirt and coat from the ground, quietly putting them back on as Dahabi stood up on his fresh legs, turning to him.

"You have won, the day is yours. These men," he said, gesturing around to the High Priest, "are as much yours as they are mine now. You are now my Warchief, Jahim Arc." He kneeled, facing Jahim, and all of the knights around him followed his example, bowing to their new leader. Only Tahir still stood, and he began walking towards Jahim.

"I am not yours," he spat. "I do not serve dogs who were let off their leashes." Jahim merely stared at him, further boiling his blood. "You will address me! You will face me!"

"No." Jahim coldly said. "I will not fight an injured man. Additionally, you're a wanted escapee criminal." He turned to Dahabi. "Return this man to his prison cell."

"As you wish," Dahabi said, before beckoning two knights over.

Tahir turned to the knights, and then to Jahim. "You are not safe. Not now, not ever." Tahir then vanished, the wind howling as it filled the space he tore through to escape.

"We will find him," Dahabi said. "You have my word." He rose to his feet. "Tomorrow, I will talk to Arc about making a meeting with your Kingdom's leader and negotiating joining Vale."

"Good," Jahim said, "I'll follow the news, and keep you to your words."

As Jahim walked to the opening in the woods, Dahabi spoke up once more. "I realize this opinion may not be worth much, but your strength fills me with pride."

Jahim stopped, but didn't turn to Dahabi. "After what you've said and done in the past 24 hours, to me and my friends, your pride is worth less to me than almost anything."

Without another word, Jahim walked out of the clearing, and back towards Nikos.

It was into the wee hours of the morning when Jahim reached the Nikos infirmary, and entered to see Nero on one of the beds, sleeping peacefully. Jay was nowhere to be seen, and Jahim assumed she must have had biotics and been discharged already. Jahim made sure his hair was covered by the red skullcap he had pulled from his closet, before sitting next to Nero's bed, and gently rousing him from his sleep. Nero's eyes fluttered open, and he immediately smiled as they fell on Jahim.

"You're okay," Nero said, his voice quiet from tiredness.

"Of course I am," Jahim said, "I made a promise."

Nero sat up in his bed, and hugged Jahim tight. "You did it, you actually did it."

Jahim hugged him back, tears beginning to form in his eyes. "Kasbah won't try to hurt any of us anymore. It's over, it's finally over."

Nero scooted back, still holding onto Jahim. "Come here," he said, pulling Jahim onto the small cot next to him, both boys lying down while still tangled into each other. "I'm so glad you're okay."

"I'm sorry," Jahim said. "I'm sorry they hurt you."

"It's not your fault," Nero said.

"It is!" Jahim said, pulling Nero in tighter. "They hurt you to try to get to me."

"And it didn't work," Nero said, softly, "because you're so strong. You've always been strong. It's one of the things I love most about you."

Jahim smiled at Nero. "I have someone to fight for other than me now." He closed the distance, and kissed Nero, breaking off and smiling at him. Nero returned the smile, and pressed his forehead into Jahim's, before closing his eyes. It wasn't long before Nero fell back asleep, and Jahim followed suit, exhaustion combining with the comfort of being held by his boyfriend soothing him to sleep.