Chapter 118 THE FRIEND I REFUSE TO KILL

Chapter 118 THE FRIEND I REFUSE TO KILL
Darren moved with brutal speed, dragging the sorcerer over his shoulder and slamming him toward the solid ground. Magnus plummeted back-first toward the hard dirt, but a rapid surge of his levitation spell halted his fall inches from the ground. He barely had time to look up before he darted sideways, narrowly avoiding a punch that could have driven straight through his chest.

Dust exploded as Darren's fist shattered the ground. Yanking his arm free from the crater, the half-dragon stood tall, his dark gaze locking onto Magnus. He paused, but only for a second. His attention snapped toward Xyra, a cruel smirk twisting his face as he launched himself at the defenseless girl.  

Xyra froze. Her hand reached for her khukuri, but there was no time to draw it and even if she could, would she actually use it? Could she really strike her own friend? Monster or not, Darren was still in there somewhere.

Magnus saw the attack coming and didn't hesitate. Thrusting both hands forward, he summoned a barrier just as Darren's clawed hand lunged for Xyra's chest. Sharp white light flashed at the impact. The shockwave rattled Magnus in midair, but he gritted his teeth and held the spell tight. If he faltered for a second, Xyra would die. He just had to hold out until Darren gave up on her.

Xyra stared through the shimmering barrier, tears spilling down her cheeks. It was terrifying to see him like this. Darren's red eyes burned with a mindless, feral need to kill, his claws scraping against the force field as he tried to tear it apart.

"Darren, please!" she cried out. "Snap out of it! Don't you know who I am?!"

He didn't hear her. He smashed his other fist against the barrier, desperate to break through.

"Darren…" she sobbed, her heart breaking at the sight of her friend turned into a bloodthirsty beast.

Frustrated, Darren stopped hammering the barrier, though he kept one clawed hand pressed against it. He looked back over his shoulder, locking eyes with Magnus. Despite losing his humanity, his tactical mind was still intact; he knew exactly where the barrier was coming from. A cold grin spread across Darren's face as he raised his free hand, spawning a crackling ball of fire. He hurled the fiery sphere straight at Magnus.

Magnus panicked. If he shielded himself, Xyra's barrier would collapse. If he tried to move or cast a counter-spell, he risked losing concentration. Forced to choose between his own life and Xyra's, he stayed still. The fireball engulfed him in a blinding burst of heat. But when the smoke cleared, Magnus was still floating there, completely unharmed except for a few singed threads on his clothing. The barrier around Xyra hadn't even flickered.

Magnus blinked, totally confused. Darren didn't care about the outcome, while Xyra and Raheem likely assumed Magnus had used a second shield. I should be dead, Magnus thought, staring at his hands. That didn't even hurt. Was that a full-strength fire spell? Am I... immune to fire? But Raheem's fire spell hurt me before... He didn't have time to process it. 

Annoyed, Darren abandoned Xyra and lunged straight for Magnus. Magnus dropped the barrier and stopped his levitation, dropping like a stone to avoid the midair strike. Darren tailed him down, landing heavily on the dirt. The moment their feet hit the ground, a desperate fist fight broke out. Darren unleashed a furious barrage of punches and kicks, forcing Magnus to duck and weave just to stay alive.

"Darren, stop!" Magnus yelled, dodging a strike aimed at his temple. When the next fist flew toward him, Magnus caught it, gripping it with all his strength. Darren threw another punch, and Magnus caught that one too. Locked together, the two pushed against each other in a test of raw force. Slowly, Darren began to overpower him, a low growl rising from his throat.

Magnus's boots slid across the dirt. He dug his heels in, straining every muscle. Darren was vastly stronger in this form, and it took everything Magnus had just to hold his ground. He knew Darren could easily kick him in the chest, but the half-dragon’s hunter pride wouldn't let him. He wanted to break Magnus through sheer physical force.

"Darren, come on!" Magnus yelled, his muscles shaking. "Is your damn pride the only thing left? Fight this!"

No answer came, only an increase in pressure. Pain shot through Magnus's back as his posture gave out. Darren's red eyes held no trace of recognition, only the primal urge to tear him apart.

"Please," Magnus begged. "It's me! Magnus! We've been traveling together for months. You're my friend!"

Darren growled, irritated by the struggle. The faint glimmer of pride in his eyes vanished, replaced by the wild fury of a berserker who saw only an enemy to slaughter. Without warning, he ripped one hand free, flared his claws, and drove his fingers forward. The sharp points pierced straight through Magnus's chest.

Magnus gasped, the breath rushing out of him as unimaginable pain flooded his mind. His body went limp, slumping forward against Darren. A low, rumbling laugh vibrated in the half-dragon's throat. Stunned, Magnus forced himself to pull back, gasping as the claws slid painfully out of his flesh. He staggered, pressing a hand over the bleeding wounds. Pain filled his senses, but the look in his eyes was pure heartbreak.

"Darren..." he choked out, watching his friend admire the fresh blood dripping from his claws. "You really can't hear me... can you?"

Darren turned his gaze back to Magnus, the scent of blood driving his frenzy higher. He lunged again. This time, Magnus didn't try to reason with him. Raising his free palm, he summoned a sphere of brilliant red and white light and chanted a quick few words. Please work. I have only one shot at this. 

"Flamare!" 

A blinding light exploded between them. Darren screeched and recoiled, his sensitive eyes overwhelmed by the flash. Using the distraction, Magnus reached into his cloak and pulled out a healing talisman. Speller-crafting on instinct, he activated the spell while casting a low-level levitation spell, drifting backward through the air to put distance between them. Thankfully, the claw marks had missed his vital organs.

What should I do? Magnus thought desperately as he floated away. He can't hear me. Words won't work. If I can't stop him, Xyra and I are dead... but I can't bring myself to kill him either!

He paused in midair to focus on the healing spell, but Darren was already recovering. The half-dragon lunged upward, giving chase. Magnus shot higher into the sky, weaving frantically, but Darren matched him turn for turn. The second his chest wounds sealed, Magnus spun around and thrust his hand down, firing a gust of compressed wind. Darren shredded straight through the blast with his claws, barely slowing down. He swiped his clawed hand as he closed the distance, tearing a deep gash across Magnus's arm.

Crimson sprayed into the air. Magnus clutched his arm, forced to drop back toward the ground. The constant healing spells were rapidly draining his energy, and he knew he couldn't keep running forever. Landing on the grass, Magnus ignored the stinging pain in his arm and joined his hands to weave a stronger spell. Whispering a rapid chant, he channeled his energy before Darren could strike again.

"Haram!" 

A surge of dark magic erupted from Magnus's hands. Darren side-stepped the initial blast, but Magnus guided the energy, looping it around to strike Darren from behind. The shadow wave slammed into the half-dragon’s back, sending him plunging toward the ground. Before hitting the dirt, Darren snapped his wings wide, catching the air and hovering in place. He glared up at Magnus, his red eyes burning with absolute hatred.

Magnus didn't wait. He took off into the sky, with Darren pursuing right behind him. They circled one another in a chaotic dance — trading spells, dodging strikes, and trading blows in midair. Magnus held back, doing everything he could to avoid dealing with a lethal strike, but Darren felt no such restraint.

As blood dripped from the fresh cuts on Magnus's arm and leg, the sorcerer pushed the pain aside and kept fighting, searching desperately for a way to save them both.