Rex stood at the edge of the forest, staring up at the dark silhouette of Nate’s lair. The oppressive gloom of Nocturnus seemed to gather around it, a vortex of despair and malevolent energy. Rex’s heart pounded with fear and determination. He had lost too much—first Anthony, now Sarah—and he couldn’t bear the thought of losing Nate too. But this was different. He wasn’t here just to save Nate. He was here to end the madness, one way or another.
Rex had always been the pragmatist of the group, the one who thought things through and calculated the risks. But this time, he felt that reason had failed. The drugs and dark magic had twisted Nate beyond recognition, turning him into a shadow of the friend they all once knew. Rex knew he had to try, but if saving Nate meant risking everything, he was ready to pay that price.
The forest around him was eerily silent as he approached the entrance to the lair. The trees, once vibrant with life, now stood as lifeless sentinels, their branches gnarled and twisted. The ground beneath his feet was hard and cold, devoid of the warmth it once held. Rex could feel the weight of the darkness pressing down on him, but he pushed forward, his resolve unbroken.
Inside, the lair was much like he remembered—only now, it was a reflection of the darkness that had consumed Nate. The walls, once adorned with memories of their past victories, were now bare, crumbling under the weight of shadow. Rex could feel the presence of the lair itself, as if it were alive, watching his every move with a malevolent gaze.
He made his way through the twisting corridors, each step bringing him closer to the throne room. His mind raced with memories of their past—training together, laughing, dreaming of a better world. But those memories were tinged with sorrow now, knowing what Nate had become.
Finally, Rex reached the massive doors of the throne room. He took a deep breath, bracing himself for the confrontation that lay ahead. With a firm push, he opened the doors and stepped inside.
The throne room was a vast chamber, the air thick with darkness. Nate sat on his throne, his eyes glowing red with the dark magic that had consumed him. The shadows around him seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat, a living entity that mirrored his corrupted soul.
"Nate," Rex called out, his voice echoing through the chamber. "It’s me, Rex. We need to talk."
Nate’s gaze shifted to Rex, his expression unreadable. For a moment, there was silence between them, the air thick with tension. Then, slowly, Nate rose from his throne, his eyes fixed on Rex.
"You’re here to finish what the others started, aren’t you?" Nate’s voice was cold, devoid of emotion. "To try and save me from myself?"
Rex swallowed hard, his heart heavy with the weight of his task. "I’m here because I care about you, Nate. Because I refuse to believe that the friend I knew is truly gone. But if this darkness is all that’s left, then I’ll do whatever it takes to stop it."
Nate’s eyes flared with anger, the shadows around him growing darker, more intense. "You think you can stop me? The drugs have given me power beyond anything we ever dreamed of. Anthony and Sarah—" He paused, his voice thick with bitterness. "They couldn’t save me, and neither can you."
Rex felt a surge of grief at the mention of their fallen friends, but he didn’t let it sway him. "They believed in you, Nate. We all did. This isn’t just about power—it’s about who you are, who you were. The drugs have twisted your mind, but deep down, you’re still in there. I know it."
Nate’s expression hardened, and with a swift motion, he summoned a wave of dark magic that surged toward Rex. Rex braced himself, his own magic flaring to life as he countered the attack. The two forces collided in a burst of energy, filling the room with a blinding light.
When the light faded, Rex was still standing, his resolve unshaken. "This isn’t you, Nate. I won’t fight you, not unless I have to. But I will protect the people of Nocturnus, even if it means—" His voice broke, but he forced himself to continue. "Even if it means stopping you."
Nate’s eyes narrowed, and the air around them crackled with tension. "You’re a fool, Rex. You always were. If you won’t join me, then you’re just another obstacle in my way."
The shadows surged again, but this time, Rex was ready. He countered with a blast of light, pushing the darkness back. The two friends, now enemies, stood locked in a deadly stalemate, their powers clashing in a battle of wills.
As they fought, Rex’s mind raced, searching for a way to break through to Nate. The darkness was strong, but Rex knew there had to be a way to reach the man he once called his brother. He could see the strain in Nate’s eyes, the flicker of doubt that he tried so hard to suppress.
"Nate, please," Rex pleaded, his voice raw with emotion. "Think about what you’re doing. The people you’ve hurt, the friends you’ve lost. This isn’t who you are."
But Nate’s eyes burned with rage, and the darkness surged once more. "They were weak, just like you. I’ve embraced my true power, Rex. There’s no going back."
Rex felt the weight of those words and their finality, and his heart broke. But he knew what had to be done. With a deep breath, he drew on all the magic he had left, focusing it into a single, powerful spell. It was a gamble, but it was their only chance.
He unleashed the spell, a blinding light that filled the chamber, pushing back the shadows and enveloping Nate in its warmth. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as the light surrounded them both, and Rex could see the conflict in Nate’s eyes, the battle between light and darkness.
But when the light faded, Nate was still standing, his eyes blazing with the red glow of dark magic. The spell had failed. Rex’s heart sank as he realized that Nate was too far gone.
With a heavy heart, Rex knew there was only one choice left. He summoned his magic one last time, not to fight, but to protect—to shield the people of Nocturnus from the monster that Nate had become.
The final battle began, a clash of light and darkness that shook the very foundations of the lair. But deep down, Rex knew this was the end—not just for Nate, but for their friendship.
As the battle raged on, Rex whispered a silent farewell to his friend, to the man he once knew, and steeled himself for the fight that would decide the fate of Nocturnus.
By @Mexican_man
