Warning: violence and some pretty dark dialogue.

Scott's Perspective-

Scott fell limp in his father's arms and Wallis set him down on the ground.

The demon walked over, corruption dripping from his smile.

Wallis narrowed his eyes, seeing Xornoth's familiar sparkle in his eyes.

"I'll give you until midnight. If he can stand up and put up a fight, then a fight we shall have. If he can't, then the world is mine." The demon smirks, causing corruption to seep from the crystal, destroying it.

Scott's horns broke and Wallis held him close.

The demon smiled and he teleported away.

-

Scott groaned as he woke up. He sat up and saw his parents looking worried.

"What happened?" He whispered.

"Scott, I need you to listen to me." Wallis said in a hurried voice, holding his son's hand.

Scott looked worried but nodded.

"Your magic is disappearing. You don't have much of it left in your body."

Scott's eyes widened and he tried to make some ice, some snow, anything.

...

Scott gasped as he realized he could barely even feel the cold reach his hands.

"What am I going to do?"

-

At midnight, the red moon rose into the sky. Corruption grew across the empires, seeking to destroy what once contained it.

Under the eerie glow of the red moon, shadows twisted and stretched over the empires, their once-proud spires now obscured by creeping corruption.

The moon, a bringer of doom, cast an unsettling crimson light that seemed to seep into every corner of the land.

Within the heart of the empires, corruption took root, unraveling the delicate balance that had long held the realms in check. Once noble institutions fell into decay, leaving everything in ruins.

Scott stood outside of the library tower which was now circling with red vines leaking the fears people hold dearest.

The demon appeared, smiling.

"Ah, early I see! How punctual of you."

Scott frowned and he stared the demon down.

"Bold of you to try and scare me when in seconds your head is going to be on my wall."

"Let's just get this over with." Scott said in a quiet tone.

"Yes," The demon snapped, causing a wall of corruption to surround them so no one could enter. "Let's."

The demon launched at Scott who quickly dodged and tried to make an ice wall, failing.

The demon laughed, "What're you gonna do, wave your hands at me? You're nothing without Aeor behind your back. You're just a whiny little guy who can't do anything for himself."

"Is that how you win? By talking? You don't even attack?" Scott snapped back.

The demon growled and shot vines at Scott, slamming him down against the crumbled library tower.

Scott yelled, trying to use his owl wings as protection, but failing.

"How's that for an attack?" The demon smirked, walking over.

Scott kicked his shoulders, pushing him back. The demon stumbled and fell back, giving Scott enough time to slash the vines down.

The demon, momentarily taken aback by Scott's renewed aggression, quickly regained his composure. With a sinister grin, he began to weave new strands of corruption from the shadows, forcing Scott to stay on the defensive.

Scott's breathing was heavy as he slashed at the encroaching vines, each swing of his dagger feeling like it was draining more of his energy.

"You think you can win with that pathetic dagger?" the demon taunted, his voice echoing through the corrupted air. "You need more than just resolve to defeat me."

Scott, grit in his teeth, focused on his own strategy. He knew he had to outthink the demon, not just outfight him. His mind raced as he dodged another set of vines.

One hit his face, hard, pushing Scott back on the ground. The dagger flew out of his hand, and he struggled to pick himself up. Scott grunted as he felt the corruption swell on his face, entering his body.

"Down goes the king." The demon whispered, walking over and kicking Scott.

The demon's eyes widened as he saw The Ruined Blade in Scott's scabbard.

"You- "

Scott smiled as he shakily stood up. He grabbed the sword and leaned on it a bit. His eye was purple and swelling and his cheek was bleeding with corruption.

"I'm sorry Xornoth, you've protected me from everything my whole life. And now the only way I can protect you," Scott held the sword up to his chest, "is by killing myself."

The demon shouted and ran up, trying to stop him, but Scott stabbed the sword into his heart.