Chapter 60: The Fall of Lila

Claire’s POV

There was anarchy on the battlefield. The air was tainted by blood and ash, and distant warrior cries could be heard. However, all I could see at the time was Lila, her evil force bending the universe around her, shadows moving like living tendrils across the shattered earth.

Derek's golden eyes were deadly focused on her as he stood just outside the gap she had made. He had already spread his claws, his body hunched like a predator awaiting the ideal opportunity to attack.

A sneer formed on Lila's lips. "Derek, you were always predictable."

Then she suddenly snapped. As it moved, a wave of shadow swept towards him, consuming the light. Derek, however, was quicker. With unnatural grace, he ducked and sprang over the earth's fissure. He lunged as soon as his feet made contact with firm ground.

The battlefield shook as a result of their collision. Strength met sorcery, claws met darkness. Shadows hardened into armour around Lila's body as she twisted away from Derek's blow. He grabbed her wrist in mid-air and brutally twisted her arm as she stabbed at him with her blackened claws.

Lila let out a screech that was not quite human. Before she broke free and landed a few feet away, she writhed, her form flickering like a broken illusion.

"You believe that using physical force will help you?" She hissed. "You believe you can murder me?"

Derek did not answer. He did not have to. Before she could hit again, his body was already in motion, reducing the gap between them.

With darkness coiling around her like a viper ready to strike, Lila raised her hands. Derek was there before she could let it go, though. Grabbing her by the throat, he slammed her with bone-shattering power against the ground.

Lila coughed up blood as she gasped. Her shadows shifted, shaky. Her eyes were wild as she rasped, "No." "It does not end like this."

Derek flashed his teeth. "Yes, it is."

He swung his claws into her chest in a single stroke.

Lila's mouth opened in a quiet cry as her body arched fiercely. It appeared for a minute as though the darkness itself was fighting to keep her alive. But gradually, like mist in the breeze, the shadows surrounding her started to fade.

Once, her body trembled. Then it became motionless.

There was an uncanny silence on the battlefield. The enemy and ally warriors froze in place as the shadows that had afflicted Redwater dissipated. For the first time, Lila's followers' expressions showed genuine terror.

Their leader had passed away.

I was unable to breathe for a while. I was unable to comprehend what had just transpired. This demon, Lila, who had tortured me and sworn to destroy all I held dear, was no longer with me.

Derek was standing over her, his hands covered in blackened blood, his chest heaving. He glanced up at the battlefield with his bright eyes.

It broke the silence.

Lila's supporters cried out in rage and agony. Others, more fervent and fiercer, surged at us in reckless desperation, while others turned and ran away, disappearing into the trees.

A huge warrior sprang towards Derek's back before I could even react.

"Derek!" I let out a yell.

He dodged the blow and slashed across the warrior's chest with a single, smooth stroke, spinning just in time. But there was more to come. With Lila's remaining forces striking out in blind rage, the battlefield erupted in carnage once more.

Derek swung for me, and I fought my way towards him, taking down an enemy. My arms splashed with blood, yet I continued. I was unable to.

Derek's motions were strained but deadly as he faced three fighters at once. He was so worn out from his battle with Lila that he was sluggish enough to risk every strike.

I arrived just as another adversary attempted to exploit his fatigue. With a shriek of strangulation, the warrior crumpled as my blade flashed and sliced deep into his side.

Derek's eyes were dark with something unreadable when he looked at me. He snarled, "You should not be here."

I retorted, "I am not going to abandon you."

There was no time to argue, but his jaw tensed. Despite their initial rage, it was evident that Lila's forces were losing the battle that raged all around us. They were breaking in the absence of their leader. While some were starting to back off, others were still fighting.

Then there was a horn—a deep, resonant cry from the far tree line.

After hesitating, Lila's remaining warriors turned and ran away, vanishing into the night.

The ragged breathing of Redwater's troops was the only sound to break the silence that had returned to the battlefield. There were dead all over the ground, and the blood was seeping into the earth.

Derek let out a deep breath, his shoulders stiff. His gaze strayed to mine, probing. "Are you in pain?"

Even though my whole body hurt, I shook my head. "I am all right. You?

He brushed a palm across his face, scattering dirt and blood. “It’s over.”

I swallowed, staring down at Lila’s motionless figure. "Is it?"

Derek's countenance was unreadable as he followed my eyes. He paused for a long moment, then turned away. “Burn her body.”

The order caused the warriors surrounding us to stir. Some of them paused, as though they thought Lila would get up again. However, she didn't.

I experienced an odd feeling of unease as they proceeded to fulfil Derek's instruction.

Lila had passed away. It should have been the end of the conflict.

However, something was not quite right.

Lila's forces were not the source of the horn that had announced the withdrawal. The trees were the source of it. From another location.

Derek's body stayed tight, his eyes searching the distance, so he must have sensed it too.

Then out of the shadows came a voice.

"You idiots."

I felt every muscle in my body contract.

The warriors surrounding us whirled, their faces cautious.

A figure stepped out of the darkness. Clad in black, with eyes of piercing silver that appeared to shine through the last of the light.

Something about him chilled me, even though I had never seen him before.

Derek's whole body froze. For the first time since the combat started, his breathing became laboured.

The guy moved forward and looked straight at Derek. His lips curled into a slow, pleased smile.

"All right, Alpha Derek," he sneered. "Did you truly believe that Lila was the most troublesome of your issues?"