Chapter 4: Confrontation and Redemption
Outside the castle, Aran and Shade clashed against numerous armed monsters as they tried to overwhelm them but, "Swinging away!" Aran cheered as she swung her polearm with power sending lots of them flying. "Ha! Ha! Just like at the temple ruins back then!"
"The one where we held off a demon army at the Nihal Desert?" Shade asked as he summoned a spirit to attack some monsters.
"You guessed right!" Aran cheered as she struck a Reindeer.
Inside the castle...
"This is too easy!" Phantom cheered for the remaining heroes just slew down some more monsters. "Don't let your guard down. I suspect the Black Witch sent most of the monsters outside leaving a few powerful ones to guard the inside." Luminous warned him. "Thanks for the advice nerd. Now shut up so that we won't alert anyone in the castle." Phantom replied when an army of Caslte Golems appeared. "Ugh...you were saying..." Luminous groaned when Mir fired his Dragon Breath incinerating them all. As they regrouped, "Okay, let's split up. Luminous, try to find the spinning wheel and destroy it. The rest of us will confront the Black Witch." Evan ordered. "Alright. Be careful." Luminous reminded them as they split up.
And so...
From towers to dungeons and hallways to corridors, Evan, Mir and Phantom fought their way to the audience room. This was where Von Leon dwells alone and it's expected that Eleanor the Black Witch will be there.
"Hey Evan. Can I ask you something?" Phantom asked as right now, they're on their way to the throne room. "What is it?" Evan asked. "I wonder what Von Leon saw in you? From what I can tell, he was moved by you for some reason. It's no wonder he aided us." said Phantom. "Well...it's kinda complicated but-"
"Master! We've arrived!" Mir reported. "Later after this Phantom." Evan then used Mana Burst on the door.
"BOOM!"
Whoa, that's a big explosion. "That was fun." Phantom added as they went inside and there on the throne. "Took you long enough to find me heroes."
"Eleanor the Black Witch..." Evan thought as his anger is rising. "Why? Why Mercedes?! Why did you do this to her!?" He asked. "No reason. I just liked doing things." Eleanor replied taunting him. "Since the Black Wings are disbanded, all the members ended up doing what they like freely." She began. "For my case, I was just 'helping' someone put that pathetic and worthless elven queen out of the picture."
"Mercedes is not pathetic and worthless!" Evan shouted. "Whoa chill my man! Don't let her get on your nerves." Phantom warned him. "Master! She's ripping her off!" Mir exclaimed as, "I grow tired of waiting. Knowing that her fate is sealed, I'll just be nice enough to make you join her in death!" Eleanor then summoned an army of Enraged Golems as they charged. "KILL THEM ALL!" She ordered as the heroes braced themselves for battle.
Meanwhile...
"I've retraced my steps to search the towers and dungeons but no sign of the spinning wheel..." Luminous thought as he did some thinking. "What if this castle has secret rooms? I better gamble my way through." He placed his hand on the castle walls hoping to feel something.
And then, "CLICK!"
"Finally!" But when he looked down. "Oh no. AHHHHHHHHHH!" Luminous fell right through a trap door as he slid down and out crashing onto the ground. "KSH!"
"Who would have guessed...that there will be booby traps in this castle." Luminous spoke to himself as he used his shining rod to emit some light lighting up the area. "A secret room..." He noticed as he came across a desk. "A journal?" He took it and flipped through. "It can't be...so that's why the Black Witch is doing this!" He thought as he decided to take the journal with him. "Now all I need to is-" He then caught a glimpse of something. Using his shining rod, he walked closer to what he saw and then, "At last..." He thought with a smile.
Back at the Audience Room...
Eleanor sure is playing a dangerous game as already, she just summoned 5 Castle Golems and the mini ones. Already, "That's the last of them!" said Evan for he's referring to the Enraged Golems summoned just now when, "Look out master!" Mir called out as, "BAM!" Evan was sent flying and crashed onto the wall. "Well that was not very nice." said Phantom as he launched magic cards at the mini ones eliminating them. Then, a Castle Golem grabbed him as, "Oh come on! I was just-"
"KSH!"
Out of nowhere, a spirit sliced the arm off freeing him. The one armed Castle Golem growled from it as, "Heh. You guys arrived in the nick of time." Phantom spoke as the next scene shows Aran and Shade as they jumped in for battle. Aran jumped up onto the golem and used her polearm to poke one of it's eyes with it's shaft and then, she beheaded it. Shade executed multiple spirit attacks on the next one destroying it. While the 2 of them engaged the remaining enemies, Phantom went to check on Evan and Mir. "He's hanging on?" He asked Mir. "My master got slammed but still, he's standing." Mir replied as Evan regained himself and used Dark Fog on the Mini Castle Golems eliminating them. Phantom then fired more magic cards and after that, switched to his cane and used Shroud Walk as magic cards warped him out and then, he reappeared on top of a Castle Golem and struck it multiple times as it fell defeated. Only one remains and
Seeing this, "I didn't expect this game to be short. But now, it's time I get serious!" Eleanor then summoned Prison Guard Ani and then, used her magic on the monster. "Yikes! It's getting bigger!" Phantom exclaimed. "It's like she's using some sort of enhancement magic amplifying it's size and strength!" Evan exclaimed as the monster grew into a giant and his mace became spiked. Eleanor then flew in on her broom. "The real fight begins now heroes! Waste them!" She ordered her giant minion as Prison Guard Ani raised his club and slammed it down releasing a shockwave as all were pushed by it and, "BAM!" All crashed onto the wall. "Ah...how much power does it have..." Shade asked. "I got this!" Phantom used Carte Rose Finale as he tossed a bouquet of cards into the air that drop down into large magic cards for continuous damage but somehow, "Nothing happened?" He noticed. "Let me try!" Aran leapt towards it with her polearm ready. "Wait Aran! Soemthing's not right! Cease the attack!" Maha ordered sensing danger because when Aran swung her Polearm down, "TNK!"
"You got to be kidding me!" She exclaimed as Ani grabbed her and threw her onto the wall. Shade had a spirit save her in time. "It seems physical attacks can't scratch it." He noticed. "And magic attacks won't work!" said Evan. "Yeah...my cards can't do anything." said Phantom as Ani slammed the ground for another shockwave as Eleanor laughed and fired magic blasts from her staff. "You can't do anything heroes! With my enhancement magic, this monster can resist everything! All you can do is waste your time!" She mocked gleefully. "Drat! How are we gonna defeat the monster and save Mercedes in time?!" Aran asked as Ani got ready to maul the heores when, "SHING!"
Something zipped past it and, "What? It can't be..." All looked to see...
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"VON LEON!?" The heroes exclaimed as he turned his attention to Eleanor. "You took my castle! Drove me out of it! Defiled it! And even turned my army over to your command! For that...I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!"
All watched as he channelled his power and then, "He's going monster mode!" Phantom exclaimed as Von Leon transformed into his ultimate lion form as the giant lion monster punched Prison Guard Ani and he crashed onto the wall forming cracks. "What? He took damage?" Eleanor was surprised by this as the 2 colossal giants engaged each other.
"What is going on master?" Mir asked. "I wish I knew..." Evan replied. "Unless..."
"Unless the monster's weakness is that it can only take damage from any opponent who's of the same size as it." All looked to see Luminous smiling. "What took you so long nerd?" Phantom called. "Took me long enough to 'steal' this petty thief." Luminous then channelled used the powers of darkness opening a rift and something fell through and, "KSH!"
"WHAT THE..." Eleanor saw it destroyed into pieces. "NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! How did you find the spinning wheel!? It doesn't make any sense! I hid it so well..."
"Too bad." Luminous replied as he used Spectral Light firing beams of it as one of them hit the broom Eleanor was riding on. "AHHHHH!" She screamed and fell onto the ground as the heroes walked to her. "You've lost Eleanor!" Evan told her but she smirked. "You think so? You may have won but in the end...you're too late!" She then warped out of the castle leaving her monstrous prison guard to eradicate Von Leon and the heroes.
Speaking of which, Von Leon was able to give it a brutal beating with punches. "Only he can transform into this size big enough to go head to head with this monster." Luminous explained to the heroes as Ani grabbed his neck and punched him back. Von Leon growled and used his power lion claws to slash it. It took damage pissing it off. "Yeah! He's got the advantage!" Aran cheered when Ani got pissed off and rammed onto Von Leon crashing him onto the other wall. It then swung it's spiked mace and, "KSH!"
"Ooooh...critical hit!" Phantom described as Von Leon roared in pain and blood is oozing out of his chest as Ani grabbed him and slammed him onto the ground and started stomping him with his feet. "He can't last long! We have to do something!" Evan exclaimed. "But master, our attacks won't work! Only he can fight him due to his size!" Mir reminded him. "Oh yeah...but what if..." An idea struck him as he took action. "Everyone! Attack him with everything you got and whatever you do, draw his attention around!" All nodded in agreement as Evan rode on Mir and they made the first move as mana burst is used and it hit his arm. Ani turned away from Von Leon and tried to attack the duo when Phantom hurled cards at his legs. The monster then switched to a new target but before could make a move, Luminous shot a mixture of light and darkness angering it as he moved to attack but then, Aran and Shade took actions as they unleashed their attacks together in different areas leaving Ani confused and angry as it tried to attack any of the heroes that made their moves.
As all 5 heroes executed their attacks while moving about, the prison guard ended up focusing on too much not even noticing that, "I...will...not...lose!" Free from Ani's attacks, Von Leon got up despite his bleeding chest and unleashed a powerful roar surprising everyone as Evan ordered the heroes to withdraw. Now back on his feet, "This is where I'll have to put you out of your misery!" Von Leon then channelled all of his remaining power as his paws were energized with the colour red and he fired the beams onto the prison guard directly on his face and, "IOOM!"
Wow, that was devastating but finally, Prison Guard Ani was slain as Von Leon who had pushed himself to the limit transformed back to his human form as he slumped down in relief.
After that...
"Finally...it's over." said Aran. "But Eleanor got away before we can subdue her." said Shade. And then, "Von Leon!" Evan ran to the Lion King who was severely wounded due to the spiked mace attack on his chest as he coughed up some blood. Hoping to treat his wounds, "Hold on! Let me-"
"No...let...me be..." Von Leon replied as he coughed again. "Evan...I have...not much...time...left...but one thing's...for sure...I don't...deserve...to be...redeemed..."
"But you did redeem yourself." Evan replied. "You told us how we can get inside your castle and you fought by our side against Eleanor even in your true form."
"I...I admit...I had done...great...and terrible...things in...the...Black Mage's...name..." Von Leon groaned and coughed. "I...was so...cold...bitter...merciless and ruthless...and to...think...that I...aided...you...I...don't know why..."
"You know, when I was hoping that you can help me, I also hoped that you have a heart to do so. A glimpse of your old personality still resides in your heart despite your cold-hearted attitude." said Evan. "Even though you once served the Black Mage, there is still a bit of the goodness in you though you do not know yet. And also, I can see it in your heart." Von Leon then coughed again and looked at Evan for a moment. "If that's...what...you see in me...I ask... of you one last thing..." Evan is all ears for this. "Go to the...rose garden...there...you will find..a rare flower...called...the snow rose...sealed in a glass jar...with snow inside to...preserve it..." Von Leon coughed some more knowing that he's near his end as he continued. "I want you...to take care it...treasure it...for it...represents my everlasting love...to...Ifia...Now...it will represent your everlasting love...for the woman...you want to...save..." Von Leon then coughed again as the others watched and heard. "Everlasting love...for the woman Evan wanted to save..." Phantom then realized it. "Evan likes Mercedes?!"
"WHAT?!" The others were shocked as Evan cringed feeling red as, "This was unexpected." said Shade. "Ohhhhh! Evan and Mercedes sitting on a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Aran teased and Mir laughed. "Only now they knew..." Luminous thought as back to Von Leon, "One...last...thing..."
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"Th-Thank y-y-you..." These were Von Leon's last words as he breathe his last and is left lifeless. As the heroes gathered to honour him, his body suddenly faded away. "Indeed. He has redeemed himself." said Luminous. "So now what?"
"Follow me. We have one last thing to do before we head back to Elluel." Evan stated as all followed him.
Unknown area...
"W-Wh-Where am I?" Von Leon looked around. He appeared to be in some field where the grass is green and the flowers bloomed. "Wait...yes, I breathed my last after the battle. And I recall tasking-" He apparently stopped because someone is materializing in front of him. As it took form, he could not believe his eyes...
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"Ifia..." He stretched out his hand for her and then, "Von Leon...my love!" She embraced her lover with tears as he returned the favour with tears also. "At long last...I have waited for your redemption...and finally, we are together again!" Ifia spoke. "Indeed. Till death do us apart. And literally, we are together...in death..." Von Leon replied when suddenly, materializing took place and he found himself surrounded by his people and subjects especially Luden and Cecilia. "With your redemption, the spirits that can't leave the castle are finally free." Luden told him. "We've waited for years to see it and indeed, Luden and I witnessed your final battle in which you aided the Heroes of the Maple World against the evil that took over the castle and drove you out." Cecilia added. Von Leon smiled...for once. "I miss your smile." Ifia told him. "I know...and in the end...we can all rest in peace." After saying these words, everybody vanished peacefully...
Back to the present...
"There it is!" Evan and the other heroes have arrived. "So this is the rose garden? Nice! Let me make a bouquet." Phantom started gathering roses as, "Okay let me get this straight, Von Leon told you to come here and do his dying wish or errand?" Aran asked as Evan looked around the garden and, "Look master!" Mir pointed at something in some small building. Evan went in alone and, "So this is it...the snow rose." This rare and snow white rose still has life in it and is contained in some glass jar. It is set on a mound of snow as due t it's name, it thrives on snow. (I can imagine something like this for a rare flower)
Taking the jar, "I promise Von Leon. I'll take care of the snow rose. I'll treasure it just like how you treasured your love life and so will I..."
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"For Mercedes."
He kept the jar and once he met up with the others, "We're done here."
"Just in time!" Phantom agreed as he's holding a bouquet of roses. "What are you gonna do with it?" Aran asked. "Use it for date night who knows?" Phantom replied as Luminous shook his head in annoyance. "We got no time to waste. We need to head back to Elluel fast to check on Mercedes." said Shade. "Right! Good thing I brought this with me the whole time!" Evan took out a VIP Teleport Rock as all gathered together. Once ready, Evan used it and all teleported out of the castle now empty and abandoned.
To Be Continued...