Ch 85 - Thank you for all the support and patience. I am working hard to catch up.

The ground shook as the Cyclops thundered closer. I didn’t even have the strength to stand and face them. 

I wondered what death was going to feel like. Quick–I hoped. Then again, it had already been pretty damn painful up to this point. 

It was a strange feeling to accept my own death. On one hand, I was terrified. Would I still exist? Would my thoughts persist into the afterlife? Or would I fade into the void?

Soon enough I would find out. 

I closed my eyes and let the sun warm my face. The steps were getting closer. They’d be here soon. 

Strangely enough, a smile forced its way onto my lips.

I’m ready—

I waited. 

But the blow never came. Confused, I peeked open an eye. 

Each and every one of the Cyclops stood stone still. 

What were they waiting for? Did they just expect me to bleed out? They wouldn’t have to wait long. 

“Just get it—” I’m cut short as ragged wet coughs spew blood onto my already crimson robe. Did they get some kind of sick satisfaction from watching me die slowly? Stupid one eyed bastards.

I wanted to flip them off, but my arms wouldn’t move. So I settled on the only finger that still listened as my last act of defiance. 

Only–they weren’t looking at me. 

They were looking past me. I wanted to turn and see what had given them pause but my body wouldn’t cooperate.

Had Mischief come to save the day or was he still running around with those strange cat people? Maybe the other members of my faction had finally arrived? A spark of hope ignited in my mangled chest. 

The soft crunch of gravel reaches my ears. I perk up. Who was it? Alex? Durkil? It couldn’t be Mischief, there wouldn’t be any noise. 

A figure appears to my left. 

I blink. Tom?

Tom? The guy who’d been bawling under the stage? That flicker of hope snuffed out. Just a failed assassin. A sniveling henchman.

If it wasn’t for Mischief's manipulation he probably wouldn’t even have exposed Jordan like he did. 

I knew that Tom had achieved a class evolution, but there was little chance he was over level thirty. The cyclops were bigger, stronger and higher level.

Was he glowing? I blinked and tried to focus, it wasn’t easy. Even though I didn’t feel much pain anymore it felt like I was watching everything from somewhere else. 

To me it looked as though someone had shoved a lightbulb down Tom’s throat and its light illuminated his skin. 

He wasn’t crying anymore. That was good. He still hadn't drawn his weapon though. What was he thinking?

The Cyclops were losing interest and the surprise at the glowing newcomer was fading. 

“Layton” 

Tom didn’t look at me, he stared at the ground. 

“There is so much I wish I could take back.” He rested his hand on the hilt of the sword at his hip. He turned his head to my broken body. 

The cyclops began to move, they seemed to be in slow motion. Was this a skill Tom had hidden? The cyclops moved slowly but our world seemed normal. This had to be my mind betraying me. 

Tom’s brows were furrowed as he scrutinized my body. Then they softened.

“I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.” 

It wasn’t the time for this. The cyclops weren’t completely frozen, soon they would be upon us and all his sorry’s would just die with him. He should just run, he couldn’t stop any of this. 

Then he smiled. Sincere, hopeful and bright. Some of the light seemed to escape from behind his teeth. 

“Thank you Layton. You showed me a better way. A way to move forward, a higher path.”

I stared up at Tom. His smile confused me. Just run, I’m glad you found a better way. Now go and live it. 

“Tell me it’s not too late for me. Can you forgive me?”

The cyclops were so close I could see their sluggish movements from the corner of my eye. Forgive him?  

My brain felt fuzzy. I was painfully aware of the man that Tom was. He had aided a sociopath in the abduction and murder of innocent lives.

He had conspired to kill my friend, he had abandoned those who needed him most. He knew it was wrong. He did it anyway. 

It was time again. The current from my class had returned. Only it wasn't the crashing river of before. It was a gentle stream, enough to know it was there, but soft.

I wanted to punish Tom, his actions made me feel resentful towards him, even angry.

The anger simmered and died. He wasn’t a monster. He was a broken man trying to climb out of the wreckage.

The Giants were here. As the weapons fell I looked into his glowing face.

Tom just wanted hope.

“I forgive you.”

His eyes widened—

And the world exploded in light. 

-

Tom had become a second sun. The next five seconds all I knew was the blinding white. 

I couldn’t raise my arms. All I had were my eyelids—and they didn’t help much.

With a gasp I jerked my head away as the light faded–leaving colorful splotches in its wake. 

Blurred images mixed with the fading colors and stars danced in my vision. The images were accompanied with the clash of steel and soft grunts. 

My eyes worked to blink the stars away, the sounds of battle pressed on. Was Tom still fighting? Those Giants?

If it was Tom, it’d be over soon—then it’d be my turn.

I squinted and the bodies began to take shape. It was easy to tell who was who. Tom–stood out even though he was half the size of the other blurs. His body still held a subtle glow. 

The shapes still seemed like cotton balls stacked on top of each other. The light from Tom bobbed in and out of the writhing bodies. 

How was he still standing?

For a moment the light disappeared and I thought it was all over only to pop out again. 

I’d fought these monsters before. With my shields and levels, they were manageable—until that damn woman sabotaged me.

Without my shield? I would have died nearly right away. 

It didn’t make sense. Tom shouldn’t be capable of this.

As the fight wore on my vision gradually returned. And the more I saw the less I believed. 

Tom was not just surviving. He was winning. 

I stared, mouth agape, as he ducked a massive claymore swinging in. The attack had come from behind him. There is no way he could’ve seen it coming. 

It didn’t matter. 

A crossbow bolt whistled from his right. Tom stepped back and the shot went wide. 

Seven giants surrounded him each taking turns swiping at him. It was as though he was attached to a marionette, some divine being controlling his every move. 

His sword shot out, slicing through armor and gut.

The Cyclops stumbled back, clutching its midsection—then fell, joining the others Tom had already cut down.

I sucked in a breath after I realized I hadn’t this entire time.

At this rate he was going to do it. The giants reeled. They had no answer. A meager twenty remained from the hundred. I didn't want to believe but we might make it out. 

It wasn’t meant to be. The golden luster that had permeated from Tom dimmed. And with the fading light his movements returned to normal. 

My heart ached for the man. He had accomplished something incredible, but in the end whatever he had done wasn’t enough. 

“LAYYTTONNN!”

Yes! Never had I been so excited to hear Alex’s voice in my life. 

The cavalry had arrived. He was no doubt looking for me and he would see the fight. At his enhanced speed he would be here in no time.

Hang on Tom. Just a little longer. 

I wanted Him to live. I wanted him to be the man he craved, the one he had lost. Tom had risked his life for mine. He had to live. 

But life doesn’t work how we want. 

Something as simple as a wooden spear can change it all. The light was gone. Alex was only seconds away. It was all so close. 

He didn’t see it come. The spear entered into his chest out his back then into the ground. 

The blow spun Tom in a circle. His hands grasped at the spear that pinned him in place but he couldn’t keep himself from sliding down the shaft to his knees. 

I watched helplessly. 

“LAYYTTOONNN!”

Alex was right on top of me. I couldn’t tear my eyes from Tom. A hand rested on my shoulder, I ignored it. 

Tom raised his head. His cheeks were wet with tears. He looked scared.  Our eyes met. 

He smiled. Through the fear and the pain and loss—he smiled. The light in his eyes blinked out.