Rain walked out of Chiel Burley's private residence after single-handedly defeating the ripping demons. A few steps after crossing the street, Chiel's house exploded. Enormous flames soared into the night sky. Rain grinned while wiping the blood dripping down her forehead.
"The ripping demon must be buried with their maker. They must be ripped apart together and put into the deepest hell."
Gazing up at the dark sky, the full moon shone brightly above her head. Black clouds rolled across the sky. Rain felt a very strong magical energy coming from somewhere.
Erica had just arrived at the city of darkness, where she met West and briefly explained everything. Point in seconds, the entire army of darkness from the city of darkness rose and appeared at the border box together; they attacked the pack of wolves trying to protect the city. War is unavoidable.
A large, dark creature with wide wings landed right before Rain. Rain had never seen this creature before, but she often heard its name being mentioned.
"Is this the dragon? No wonder Samantha always mentions his name and makes him proud. He is very dashing."
The dragon with wide wings bowed and lowered its head before Rain. The dragon saluted Rain in its way.
"You are very much like your mom, Rain. Get on my back, and I'll take you to where Jace is."
"You're female? I thought you were a male dragon." Rain felt embarrassed. "And you know my mom?" the girl was even more surprised. In her memory, Rain never saw an image of a dragon there.
"It was Alyssa who created and cared for me. I am her favorite ride. Maybe you never noticed my existence at that time. You're still very young."
"I remember you!" shouted Rain happily. "I used to think you were a dinosaur?"
The dragon nodded. Perhaps a smile would have spread across her lips if she could smile. Rain jumped onto the dragon's back. The dragon started to flap its wings until it knocked down the trees around Chiel's path. They flew off toward the center of the city.
"Where is Jace at?"
"Mayor Flynn kept him at the sacred altar. The altar was built over Alyssa's execution site. He wanted to capture the moment of Alyssa's death and harness the energy of her anger for himself. Mayor Flynn wants to rip apart Jace's cursed heart and yours to immortalize him with invincible magical powers."
Rain clenched her fists on the dragon's back. They flew towards the city's center, where the holy altar was located. In the distance on the boundary between the Darkwood forest and Westlake City, Rain saw many flames rising.
"What happened there?"
"The wolves and warlocks are trying to fend off the forces of darkness. But I'm sure it won't take long. The army of darkness has abilities that no other army in this country has. They came to save their king. This event reminds me of the last rebellion."
***
"There is no other way. Revive him with blood magic!" Markus said to Benjamin.
"What do you mean? Blood magic was used to awaken vampire powers in a person. How could that apply to Jace?"
"Do you have another way? It's the only chance for all of us to survive. Your stepfather will rip Jace's heart out if he doesn't resurrect soon. If that happened, it would be even more troublesome. No one can beat Danniel Flynn, not without my powers. We should raise a slightly vicious monster than let Flynn rise with all his greed."
"Not!" Ben refused. "We will never know what will happen to Jace if he is resurrected by blood magic. It's too risky. We could have killed him!"
"Go for it! I know you can, Benjamin. You have learned a lot of magic from your father and me. I don't have the ability right now; only you are our last hope. If Jace's revival becomes a problem, we must kill him. But don't let your stepfather get his heart."
Benjamin growled softly. He had to make a quick decision. He looked around, and the silver cage that contained him was floating in the air. The silver cage made him very claustrophobic and weak. But Benjamin has to find a way to get out of there.
The peak full moon night is only minutes away. Benjamin and Mark, trapped in the cage, could only look down. Mayor Flynn has prepared all the equipment that will be used for the ritual that night. He had also prepared a black bone dagger that would be used to slit Jace's chest and extract his heart. A cup made of gold is available beside Jace's head.
Mayor Flynn began to cast spells. He gripped his staff tightly and tapped the floor a few times. He used the wand's tip to create runes over Jace's body and sealed him. Before Mayor Flynn inscribed the last rune, the glass attached to the sanctuary exploded into shards. On reflex, Mayor Flynn backed up and shielded himself from the shattered glass.
Randall and Samantha came at their maximum speed and dashed off in shadow form. A thick black fog enveloped their bodies. They both have no face. Then materialized under a dark brown hooded coat. Spears and scythes of death clasped in their respective hands.
"Damn army of darkness!" shouted Mayor Flynn. "You guys ruined my precious ritual."
Mayor Flynn casts his destructive magic ability. He ensnares Samantha in a veil of magic and tries to crush Samantha's body into shadowy shards. The woman struggled several times to avoid it until it melted into gray sand.
Randall, who saw Sam's defeat, became very angry. Randall's body no longer emitted black mist but flames. He continues to attack Mayor Flynn with his flaming death scythe. The two floated and somersaulted in the air to avoid each other's attacks.
During one of the scythe swings, it accidentally hits the cage. Benjamin is entangled. The silver cage split open, and Ben could get out of it. In wolf form, he jumps out of the cage and lunges at Mayor Flynn, who is hunting Randall.
Randall tries to distract Mayor Flynn and buy time. Their magic attacks could have hurt Jace, and they were dangerous.
Benjamin took that opportunity to grab a black bone dagger from the side of the altar and slit his wrist until it bled. The werewolf blood from his hands dripped onto Jace's pale lips.
"What are you doing, bastard?"
Mayor Flynn is furious. He brought out a single attack of his magic and sent Benjamin crashing into the wall after hitting the wall hard. Benjamin groaned after spitting out fresh blood. He's unconscious.
Mayor Flynn immediately grabbed the black bone dagger and tried to plunge it into Jace's chest. He wanted to rip apart the young man's chest immediately before Benjamin's blood seeped into Jace's organs. But Randall confronted him by throwing himself at Mayor Flynn. So they roll on the surface of the marble floor.
Mayor Flynn snapped his wand and sent Randal flying just like Samantha. Randall's body shattered into pieces and turned into bits of sand.
"Randall," Jace whispered as he watched Randall melt into dust.
Anger suddenly welled up inside Jace. His heart was beating very fast. Benjamin's werewolf blood had seeped into his veins and bathed Jace's, accursed heart. Jace's heart was now beating very fast with incredible reaction force.
Jace growled like a wild animal. His body slowly turned into a terrifying monster. Mayor Flynn, tired of swearing silently, saw that his efforts were now almost in vain.
"Not! It is not over. Yes, turn into a monster. The more you become strong, the more the heart will also provide additional strength for me. Show all your power. I will rip out your heart and combine it with my strength if it reaches its peak." Mayor Flynn grinned.
Jace completely turned into a monster with rough scales and claws with a pair of broad wings on his back. His body grew. Anger completely overcame Jace. Nothing was left of Jace's handsome face inside the monster's body. He attacked Mayor Flynn in a thunderous rage.
Mayor Flynn, who was trying to get up with the help of the cane in his hand, grinned. Blood spurted from his mouth. He wiped off the blood and gathered his magic again to attack Jace's monster.
Jace staggered backward. His large body accidentally hit the glass cage that held Markus. The enchanted cage fell to the sound of glass shards rattling on the floor. Markus was freed though he had to avoid being hit by Jace's fist.
From the broken glass window, Mayor Flynn stared at the peak of the full moon night. He picked up a black bone sword that had been enchanted so that it had many times over the power. While Jace was preoccupied with Markus, Mayor Flynn tried to put the sword into Jace's back.
"Not!"
Rain shouted along with the dragon when the dragon crashed into the sanctuary wall, leaving a large hole. Rain jumped into the air and tried to block Mayor Flynn's sword attack on Jace.
The blade tore Rain's arm. But Rain manages to thwart Mayor Flynn's efforts.
The uncontrollable Monster Jace heard the commotion. He turned his head and saw Rain fighting Mayor Flynn there. Monster Jace can't tell friends from foes at all. In front of his eyes, all are prey that must be destroyed.
The newly resurrected monster was very thirsty and hungry. It wanted flesh and blood. Right then, the monster Jace tried to attack Rain with its long claws.
Instead of avoiding it, Rain challenged Jace with her gaze. Rain could feel the sadness and pain in Jace's eyes from the curse she had given.
"Rain, run!" shouted Markus.
Rain didn't listen. The monster's claws were almost touching Rain's chest. Just then, Markus jumped to become a shield for Rain.
"Dad! Not...."
Markus fell with a big gash in his chest. Blood pooled and came out profusely from the wounds on his body. Marcus couldn't speak. His eyes widened, and he grabbed Rain's hand, and Markus died.
Monster Jace was still wailing. He attacks everything that is near him.
"Jace, stop it!" shouted Rain.
Behind them, Mayor Flynn was ecstatic. He never imagined getting two targets at once in one place.
"This is interesting. Surrender both of your hearts to me!"
When Jace was about to attack Mayor Flynn, Flynn suddenly dragged Rain and used the girl as a shield. Mayor Flynn ensnares Rain's body with magic so the girl can't move. Mayor Flynn's right hand held a black bone dagger coated with poison magic.
Jace, who was already raging, suddenly stopped. It was as if consciousness had taken over his mind.
"You want to save this girl?" said Mayor Flynn. "Give up your heart for me!" he smirked. "Or I will pull out this girl's heart before eating yours."
"Listen to me, Jace. The monster within you must not control you! That body is yours!" shouted Rain. "I know you've changed. I know you are different now. I know you have fought hard to protect the people of this country for the last five years. That is enough. You have paid for all your past mistakes.
"Stop!" Mayor Flynn hissed. "You won't be able to lift the curse off him." Mayor Flynn plunged a black bone dagger into Rain's shoulder, causing the girl to scream in pain and fall to the floor.
Seeing Rain, who was lying down, suddenly Jace's consciousness returned. Jace had trained himself many times in the City of Darkness to control the monster within him. When he saw Rain falling with wounds and blood that kept coming out, Jace could finally fight the monster inside him. Even though Jace's body is still that of a monster, he can control everything with a sane mind.
Jace jumped and lunged at Mayor Flynn. No matter how strong the magic that Mayor Flynn threw, it did not affect Jace. In the next three steps, Jace had managed to grab Mayor Flynn by the neck like he was clutching a doll in his grip.
Mayor Flynn lost his wand. The man couldn't even breathe. Jace's big hands, with their sharp nails, held Flynn's neck so tightly that his bones cracked.
Jace's body is still that of a monster. But tears started welling up in his eyes. He could talk and pronounce Rain's name as normally as a normal human. After killing Mayor Flynn, Jace knelt to grab Rain's slumped body.
"Rain! Get up and open your eyes. I don't care about this curse anymore. I'm willing to accept this curse for the rest of my life. But, I beg you, wake up."
The girl was limp, and blood continued to flow from her body. Jace roared and howled like a wild animal at the height of the full moon. Jace lost the girl he'd been waiting for the last five years.
"I have loved you since I first met you in the forest. I'm mad at myself for falling in love with you at first sight. Because of my arrogance, that does not admit these feelings to you."
Jace continued to roar. Rain was still unconscious. With his big and strong monster body, Jace held Rain, who looked fragile, in his arms.
The entire army of darkness in their hundreds was marching around the Westlake town hall when they saw Jace come out holding Rain in his arms. They had just battled an army of wolves and warlocks. They all knelt and hummed their deep sorrow.
Jace walked with waddle steps, and Rain was still protected in his arms. Jace was crying, howling, and wailing. In the next second, Jace's wings spread wide. He flew away from Westlake City and back to the east tower of Darkwood Palace with Rain in his arms.
Jace returns to his room in the ruined east tower. He laid the almost-dead Rain on his soft bed. The girl's blood continued to flow from her injured shoulder. The poison spreads wider and wider. Rain's face turned pale because she had lost a lot of blood.
There was nothing Jace could do but kneel beside the bed. He was still roaring and howling. His voice echoed to the farthest depths of the forest. All the shadow creatures in the Darkwood forest wept at the sad news. Even Ralph's twin trees were bowed down with branches and leaves that kept falling.
"I would die to take your place. Get up, Rain. Open your eyes!" whispered Jace desperately.
The girl was still unconscious. Jace grabbed Rain in a hug, and the howling stopped. The terrifying monster form grabbed Rain's extremely cold and pale lips. Then a push from within made Jace land a small kiss on Rain's lips.
"I lift the curse from you and the entire Darkwood Kingdom," Rain whispered.
When in Jace's arms and getting a very sad and deep kiss, Rain seemed to wake up from a long dream. And suddenly, Jace's body returned to human form as before.
Jace wasn't wearing any clothes because his clothes were torn apart when his body grew and turned into a monster.
"You hurt me," Rain whispered once again.
Jace was surprised. He opened his eyes and saw that he was not wearing any clothes. While Rain in her lap smiled with her eyes still closed.
"You're not dead?" shouted Jace happily.
"I always wait for that kiss," Rain smirked. "I always look forward to it. All my life."
Once again, Jace planted his kiss on Rain's lips. This time hotter and deeper. Their love slowly but surely began to change the darkness of the Darkwood palace and forest into the light.
Slowly the sparkling silver light of the moon illuminates the kingdom and the entire city. All the furniture in the palace all turned back into humans. They were the waiters and guests on the night of Jace's 17th birthday party. They have all returned to being human after being cursed by Rain.
The mist of eternal damnation in the Darkwood forest has also dissipated. The forest is back to normal. Animals that were previously asleep are now alive again. Beauty and happiness enveloped the Darkwood Kingdom and all its people.
 
- THE END -