I stand up and take in the night sky again.
"That moon is bright."
I look at Erin and smile, knowing she is at my side.
"I want you to run to Robert's house and keep an eye on Robin."
Erin placed her hands on her sides and pouted.
"What are you going to do?"
I grabbed my sword and held it into the night sky as I noticed the moon reflecting off of it.
"I'm going to kill Hagen once and for all, and then I'm going to start rebuilding this town."
Erin nodded but looked at me one more time.
"You sure you won't need me around?"
I laughed but smiled.
"I am sure, Erin. For the first time in a long time, I feel very calm, almost like the raging storm inside me is finally clearing up and telling me this is my mission now."
Erin nodded and started dashing toward Robert's house, knowing she could trust me to finish the fight.
I turned and started walking toward the bar.
It was rather quiet at eleven at night. Usually, the noise from Hagen's band of rejects did not start until midnight when they wanted to keep everyone awake.
I pushed open the bar doors and walked inside.
The bartender was standing at the front.
I pulled out a chair and sat down.
"Give me an old fashioned and your most expensive bottle, and make sure to put it on Hagen's tab."
The bartender looked at me like I was crazy, but he still grabbed a bottle from the back room. He walked over, opened it, and poured me a glass.
I picked it up, spun the drink around in my cup, and drank it in one sip.
"Damn, that hits the spot, especially when I ain't paying for it."
I heard a grunt as the large bar doors opened again.
In walked Hagen.
His eyes locked with mine immediately.
"Get out, brat."
He pointed at me, but I stayed seated.
"Nah. I'll keep myself here."
He sighed and sat next to me.
"Whatever."
The bartender quickly ran to grab Hagen's favorite bottle.
I watched Hagen's hand movements carefully, waiting for the perfect time to strike.
The moment he placed his hand on the table, I pulled out a small knife and slammed it straight through his hand.
Hagen growled in pain.
For a second, he looked stunned.
Then with brute strength, he ripped the knife back out and slammed it into the table.
"Well, there goes my knife."
I laughed as I drew my sword and stood up.
Hagen stood as well, reaching behind his back and pulling out his massive axe.
He traced a magic circle and enchanted the blade with ice.
"Okay, brat. For the first time in a long time, you're going to see my true fighting form."
Hagen charged at me.
I did not back down.
I stood my ground and swung my sword at the perfect moment, catching his axe mid-slash.
"Cute. I thought for a big guy you'd be stronger."
I pushed him back and made him stumble.
But the giant brute did not fall.
Instead, he launched an ice shard straight at my head.
I quickly summoned a small fireball.
The ice melted into water before it could touch me.
"Shame. Fire beats ice."
Hagen scoffed and charged again.
This time, he was just swinging to kill.
I jumped out of the way as his axe slammed through one of his own bandits.
I looked to my right.
The poor bastard had been cut clean in half, his stomach lining spilling onto the floor.
It almost made me sick.
Almost.
But I could not lose focus.
Not now.
Not for Erin.
Not for Robert.
I remembered Robert's words.
Aim for the legs.
I dashed forward and used shadow step.
In an instant, I appeared behind Hagen and stabbed him in the knee.
He roared in pain and spun around, throwing a knife at me.
I smirked and caught it by the blade.
"Cute trick."
He charged again and slammed his axe into my sword.
The vibration nearly made me drop it, but I held on.
Hagen looked around the room and suddenly fired ice into the floor.
The entire bar froze beneath our feet.
"No more running around."
I looked down.
"My shadow step will be useless here. He wants this fight as clean as possible."
Using the frozen floor to his advantage, Hagen slid toward me and slammed his axe into my sword again.
This time, I lost my grip.
My sword clattered across the floor.
"Not good."
The ring on my finger suddenly glowed a fiery red.
Its voice echoed in my mind.
"Kill him, Ren. Aim for the neck and make him bleed."
I backed away and quickly traced a magic circle, summoning several fireballs at once.
I launched them toward Hagen to distract him while I ran to recover my sword.
As soon as I grabbed it, the ring glowed again.
This time, my sword turned bright red.
I stared at it in awe.
Then I charged.
Hagen copied my movement and summoned his own magic.
Ice came flying at me.
But now, I cut through it with ease.
I swung my sword and slashed his shoulder.
Blood spilled from the wound.
Finally.
I smiled.
I hope Robert is watching this.
I will avenge you.
Hagen looked worried now.
Angry too.
He charged at me with his axe and swung with everything he had.
I clashed with him.
No vibration this time.
Just pure blood and sweat packed into my swings.
I kicked him in the knee again, forcing him backward.
As I stood there staring at him, I tapped deeper into the ring's power.
This time, the aura changed.
Orange.
A dim glow pulsed from it.
Power surged through my body.
Without tracing a magic circle, I fired a fireball straight at Hagen.
His eyes widened.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement outside.
Erin had stepped closer, watching through the smoke.
Knowing she was there gave me even more strength.
Back inside the bar, I walked toward Hagen with pure killing intent.
My eyes burned red.
All I could picture was his body laying on the icy floor when this was over.
Hagen was scared now.
I could see it.
His arms were shaking so badly that even his axe trembled.
Then he made a desperate move.
He threw his axe aside and raised both hands.
"You've pushed me far enough."
A dark magic circle appeared beneath him.
He screamed in anger.
"Glacial Grasp of the Void."
I hurriedly covered myself with a magical barrier.
The room froze instantly.
The bodies around us turned stiff like statues.
It was uncanny.
It did not even feel real.
I tried to move.
My legs would not budge.
Ice had frozen them in place.
I was not scared.
Just trapped.
Hagen smirked and charged straight at me.
I closed my eyes.
I cleared my mind.
I snapped back into focus.
Hagen swung.
I raised my sword and blocked his axe.
My blade was still burning with fire, slowly melting the ice around my feet.
Outside, Erin said nothing.
She simply watched.
Knowing she was there gave me the boost of energy I needed.
The ice around my legs finally melted.
I moved.
Fast.
I went back on the attack, swinging left and right.
Each strike cracked Hagen's armor.
Each strike made him bleed more.
Finally, I cut into his legs again.
He dropped to his knees.
"Hagen, you are defeated."
I placed my sword against his neck.
"Any wrong move, and I'll slit your throat open."
Hagen closed his eyes.
Then his lips started moving.
He was chanting.
Trying to cast one final spell.
I felt my sword beginning to freeze.
No.
Not this time.
Before he could finish, I drove my blade straight into his throat.
His eyes shot open.
Shock.
Fear.
Regret.
I twisted the sword and pulled it free.
Blood poured from the wound and spilled onto the frozen floor.
Hagen collapsed.
The ice around the room began to melt.
Silence filled the bar.
For the first time all night, everything was still.
I stood there breathing heavily.
My arm hurt.
My chest hurt.
My entire body felt like it was about to collapse.
But it was over.
Hagen was dead.
Robert had been avenged.
Compound City was finally free.