Wasting no time, the three headed serpent rushed towards the panicked recruits.


    Kenny''s body suddenly filled with adrenaline at the sight of the oncoming enemy, making his heart race and his muscles suddenly heighten in efficiency.


    Kenny looked over at both Will and Claire. Just like Kenny, they both looked terrified. He looked back at the serpent and saw that it would most definitely catch up with them before they made it to the pathway.


    Kenny clenched his teeth, and stopped. Since both Kenny and Will had been running with terror they had not noticed Kenny''s sudden halt, which Kenny was sort of thankful for.


    He turned around and drew his sword. He wanted to buy time for his friends to escape to safety.


    Now, there was no going back, even if he regretted his decision and started to run, there was a 100% chance that he would be the first to die among the rest of the group.


    "Come forth."


    The same red portal appeared behind Kenny and his one and only servant walked out of it.


    Kenny took his stance. But it was different, he no longer had the same as before. It seems like Kenny had finally understood what the General had meant when he said "do what ever you want". He took a stance that was most comfortable to him.


    His foot placement was the same, the only thing that had changed was his sword position. Instead of resting it on his back, he positioned it horizontally facing the serpent. His King Arachnid stood beside him, he knew that this would be his last battle, he regretted leaving his mother behind and alone. But, he also knew that his sacrifice would give the group a higher chance of survival, even if just a mere second.


    He took a deep breath, then exhaled. Since this is his end, he decided that he would do everything in his power to buy time for his friends to make their escape.


    Kenny''s servant charged towards the serpent head on as Kenny himself waited behind the King Arachnid, waiting for a chance to attack.


    Though, the King Arachnid was instantly mauled by the serpent. Although he did feel bad, this was Kenny''s only chance of attacking.


    Since it''s scales were probably way tougher than the other previous demons, there was only one spot that Kenny could aim for. While the serpent was busy ripping the King Arachnid to shreds, Kenny swooped in from its left stabbing it right in its eye.


    The serpent screeched in pain as it one of its heads aimed its mouth toward Kenny. Kenny quickly removed his sword and jumped off the angered demon.


    Kenny took a few hops backwards in order to creat distance.


    Now that his King Arachnid was killed, he no longer had any type of plan. He could only fight the demon head on.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Upon arriving at the pathway, Claire looked around and was unable to find Kenny. Her face suddenly drained and paled. She looked behind her and in the distance, she saw Kenny fighting the demon head on. She felt a sudden sorrow and fear.


    William noticed Claire and looked towards where she was looking. He too felt his heart drop to his stomach and his face pale. Claire slowly moved towards Kenny’s direction. She was trying to run to him, but was stopped by William.


    "What are you doing?! we have to help him!" Yelled Claire as she looked back at William with the a dread and sorrful expression.


    William gave Claire the very same expression.


    "It''s clear that he''s trying to buy time for us! It''s sad and I want to help him just as much as you do! But we can''t let this chance go down the drain! If we do, Kenny will have died for nothing! This was his intention! He’s trying to buy time for us! So please, let’s go!"


    Claire looked back at Kenny. Streams of tears flowed down her face. She was hesitant, but she knew that William was right. Even if she were to go help him, she would only die with him, which was what Kenny was hoping to prevent. She turned around and walked into the pathway with a pained look and tears running down her cheeks. Then, the pathway was sealed, trapping Kenny in purgatory.


    Kenny was still fighting for his life. He turned his head towards the pathway and saw that it had disappeared. He felt relieved, but regretful. He didn''t want to die, he wanted to keep on living his life and continue to stay happy with the company of his friends and mother.


    ''Damn it…''


    When sealing the pathway, Claire and William were still trying to process what had just happened, many things going through their heads like the B-Rank demon, but mostly, Kenny.


    The realization of Kenny''s inevitable death had finally reached them after a few seconds. Claire began to shed even more tears. Then, so did William.


    ***


    The news of an entire elite team being wiped out in a white pathway would soon spred throughout the entire kingdom. But news about Kenny had yet to reach his mother. There was only one suitable person to give the news.


    Claire knocked on the door of Kenny''s small home. Martha opened the door with a faint smile on her face. Claire could tell she was worried.


    Up to this point, Martha had still been recovering from her husband''s death, which will only make the new even more excruciating.


    "Hey Claire, what''s going on? Why are you here?"


    "May I come in?"


    Martha nodded and made way for Claire. She sat down on the kitchen table, Martha followed her and sat down aswell.


    "What''s going on Claire?"


    Claire sat quite for a few seconds, not knowing how to give Martha the news. With a sorrowful expression she said:


    "I''m sorry, uhh… I-I’m very sorry…”


    Martha lightly laughed with hesitation, not wanting the conversation to lead to where she thought it was going.


    “Haha… W-What are you talking about Claire…”


    “Please… don’t make this hard ma’am…”


    Martha’s heart began to ache with unimaginable pain and sorrow. Her eyes began to redden as she soon shed tears. She had lost her husband only a few weeks prior, now her only family that she had left also was taken away from her.


    She fell to the floor, her body began to feel weak. She then let it all out, a river of tears. The agony she had felt at that moment was unbearable. Claire stood up and gave Martha a comforting hug.


    “I''m sorry." Claire shakily whispered as her eyes began to water.


    Martha couldn''t stop her tears from flowing as she cried in unimaginable and unbearable pain.


    “P-Please, I need to be alone for a while. So please leave.”


    Claire nodded and said:


    “I understand.”


    Leaving would be a decision Claire would regret with all her being for the rest of her life.


    Just after Claire''s leave, in the corner of her eye, Martha had spotted a kitchen knife. She then slowly reached her arm out and grabbed it. She clenched the knife''s handle, then lifted it up to her throat. Her hands began to shake as her eyes soon lost their light.


    A tear ran down her cheek.