The creature stood in front of the legion that had taken by storm every space at the front of the castle. Philip was standing by the bridge. At realizing the great disproportion of the number of fighters on his side, he addressed his rivals:

"Basnet wizards, everyone who truly belongs to the world of magic knows that our ancestors were the first magical beings to live on Earth. Thanks to their wisdom, many became advisers of great kings. At this moment, I urge everyone to rebel against your leader. He's nothing but a shame to our people, a traitor who infiltrated himself among you just to bring death by poisoning, traps, deception and treachery. It's time for you to stand up and honor yourselves, even in death."

They all stood still listening to the speech. The monks looked at each other as they tried to understand the strategy behind the Phantom Man's words.

"He's promised us eternal life!" Shouted one of them.

"We'll be wealthy and powerful," another one manifested, full of faith.

The Doppelgänger narrowed its eyes as it watched greed overcoming wisdom.

"If that's what you want, that's exactly what you'll get. You'll all return to your tombs in dishonor, carrying in your hearts the poison of false promises said by that infamous and immoral warlock whose only legacy is a trail of deaths and betrayals across the centuries."

As soon as Philip said his final words, Klaus' hordes began to run towards him and his friends. Juan was trying to recover from the previous fight when Silene appeared and put her pistol on his head, but the Phantom Man appeared behind her and stuck his sword in her back, hitting her heart. She began to squirm while the wizards kept on fighting the monks.

The beast saw when the woman who had sworn her love to it succumbed before the young man. He left his place of command to help her, but it was too late already.

"Silene, no!" It shouted in a sinister and sad voice as he held the woman in its arms. "Master, please help me bring Silene back to life. I promise I'll do anything you ask me to."

"Dumb creature, can't you see that I have important troubles to solve? You should be the one helping me destroy my enemies. I shall see what I can do for you when we're done here."

"I'm tired of your promises... I'm not helping you anymore," it approached the place where its lover had died and ignored everything around it.

"I don't really need you, idiot Fratello. I can always create another copy of myself and delete you from this world."

The monster, who seemed like it had developed feelings, came to his senses, and looked at his master, who was simply ignoring him. It was kneeling in the place where she had died. It saw her ashes being blown away by the wind that filled the spaces in the battlefield.

Its insides were feeling a deep grudge against Klaus for not helping him know he needed the most. He was only interested in using it to do the dirty job. It also nurtured anger for the young mage who had killed the love of its life.

The monks were losing the battle. Philip found himself surrounded by Klaus, the enraged monster who wanted revenge, and countless warlocks. Juan had gotten weary. His eyes felt the weight of ages of disillusionment for having lost what he had never actually gotten back.

The evil warlock created a whip of fire with which he fastened the young man while Fratello took his attention on the other side. He was pulled to the ground with the attack, letting his sword fall. Klaus took advantage of Juan's moment of weakness and cast a spell that made a vine stretch from a nearby tree and fasten the wizard's arms and hands against his body.

Meanwhile, the Basnet warlocks tied the hands and feet of the remaining monks, preventing them from reacting.

Before being totally tied up by the fire whip, Philip cast a spell. He stretched his right arm and, in deep concentration, conjured a final portal. It was the last hope for humanity. It seemed to him that someone was shouting words in German from the other side. Those words said to open the portal for the defenders of justice.

"Öffnen Sie das Portal für die Verteidiger der Gerechtigkeit!"

Not far away, the landscape split in two in a way that a portal was opened. Surrounded by howling winds, the walls opened to allow the arrival of those summoned by Philip.

Leading the way, Enzo Thyodar stormed into the castle's yard holding his double-edged blade.

"For the honor of Odin, I shall fight with bravery."

He was followed by the Mage King Agathor, who also had in hand his great sword, and then Queen Elheonora, who had her quiver on her back and her bow in her left hand.

"We are here to help you, son," the warrior mother said. She was next to the father, who had a smile on his face as he raised his sword and looked at the enemies.

On the other side of the battlefield, the rival sorcerers couldn't believe their eyes. How did the Phantom Man manage to perform such a powerful magic? Klaus and the creature were shocked. They were totally staggered as they saw all the people that were crossing the portal.

The good Basnet wizard Tyrone Weslley; Joseph Boyne, the Irish mage with the battle axe; Evelyn Hollyn, the brave sorceress; and all the members of the other clans.

"I thought I'd never see your hideous traitor face again, Klaus," Tyrone, the head of the Basnet clan, said.

"Likewise. But I'm sending you back to the other world again, you bet."

Tyrone laughed. He was decided to turn his rival's life into real hell. King Albert had also showed up. He was riding his horse as he carried his sword and his shield with the coat of arms of Germania. Behind him came the captain of the royal guard, the same one who trained Philip to be a warrior. Queen Mariele was on his right.

"I've come to fight for my son," the King said, making his son even prouder for the presence of all his parents.

"I'd never miss the chance to see my son again," the queen said as she looked at the young man.

The ancient monks also crossed the portal to assist the brotherhood in the recovering of the Book of the Dead.

Right behind them, a different figure appeared. Due to the darkness of the clouds, initially a pair of yellow eyes were the only thing that could be seen. Then, a furred body crossed the tunnel's walls. It was Dark Moon, Juan's wolf friend, who always helped him on his battles.

"My friend!" Juan shouted, smiling when he saw it.

Dark Moon first showed its fangs to the enemies, and then gazed back at its companion for so many years.

The Basnet warlock laughed full of arrogance as he saw the team that was arriving to help his adversaries.

"Have you all come to save the tied-up Phantom Boy? Or the feeble immortal old man who seems more dead than alive?"

Elheonora took a spear from another warrior and threw it at his direction, who held it with one hand.

"You'll need more than that to defeat me, fearless woman. However, since I'm the most powerful, I'll make sure to show it to everyone who dares to face me."

The battle began, now more balanced. The wolf ran towards Juan and bit the vines in which he had been trapped, releasing him. In a few minutes, the old wizard was free again. Then the animal went to help Philip. The Mage King Agathor brandished boldly his sword against Fratello's claws.

Tyrone cornered Klaus. They began to fight fiercely with their blades, which sparked each time they crossed in the air. In a crosscut, the chief of the Basnets hit the traitorous warlock in the arm. Blood gushed from the cut, and the wizard covered the wound with his hand, feeling a strong pain. But then he managed to strike back by hitting the opponent's leg. The battlefield was a true sea of blood.

Queen Mariele and the monarch Albert used their swords to release the monks from the ropes that had them tied up, with the help of the Royal Guard's captain. Soon they joined the Tibetan friends that had crossed the portal.

Dark Moon, the wolf, tore the warlock's fleshes with its ferocious jaw. There was no way to escape from such a strong animal.

Juan got up, and then he joined Philip. Together, they performed a spell that lifted many enemy wizards up in the air. Then, they just let them fall flat on the ground. Klaus' army was totally lost without Silene to guide them and without the creature to command them. It was engaged in a personal fight to revenge its beloved. Queen Mariele, with her sword in hand, and Elheonora stood up to defend their son from the creature while the young wizard was busy in another fight. There was no way they would let the creature get close to him. Both women were fighting bravely.

"Throw me the sword!" Enzo shouted to Philip. He got the weapon from the floor and then threw it to him, who grabbed it in the air despite the object's weight.

The viking warrior walked through the battlefield, slashing each adversary that crossed his way. Then he thrust the blade made of silver into their hearts, ending once and for all the existence of those hideous beings.

Klaus cast on Tyrone a spell that turned him into a statue. He could see the warlock's smile, but he could not move.

The battle raged on. Deaths were piling up on both sides. At a certain moment, Philip moved the palms of his hands one over the other and then began to move them in circles. This gesture produced a giant whirlpool. He pointed the winds towards the Basnet warlocks and everyone fighting his friends, and they were all engulfed by a strong channel of wind.

Then, he cast an enchantment that opened up a giant and endless crater on the ground. It was a passage back to the world of the dead.

Many fell and screamed as they returned to their spirit form. Klaus, full of hatred, approached the young mage. The two looked at each other almost breathlessly.

Juan cast a spell on the creature, which was one of the ones standing. A monster emerged from the crater. It stretched its black mudded hands towards the Doppelgänger, and then pulled it to the abysm.

"No! I must kill Klaus and Philip. Let me go..." The creature begged desperately for revenge, but it ended up being pulled and consumed by the colossal beast.

Klaus hoisted himself up to the atmosphere. He was followed by the Phantom Man. As they stared at the other, the ones who remained on the ground stopped to watch the ultimate clash.

A punch to Klaus' face showed him that Philip meant business. The warlock immediately retaliated, hitting him in the face. Then, he threw toxic dust on him, playing dirty, as usual. But this time his intents failed miserably.

The witch Janda had arrived, and she had brought a kind of powder that could neutralized the attack. Juan blew it towards them to make the antidote work faster.

"Good job, Janda," Juan said, pleased to see her again.

"Since we're playing dirty... I'll use my own dirt as well."

Juan created illusions that made Philip's image multiply many times. Klaus was confused and remembered that he had used this magic against Juan in the Castle of the Absents.

"I'm going to get rid of you and your replicas, Phantom Boy. Then I'll make sure to finish off the rest."

Suddenly, someone shouted from the ground:

"Take the sword, Philip!"

Night's Fury attached to the real Phantom Man's arm, and he immediately started a massive attack against his opponent, whose body, mistreated by the centuries, seemed to be finally failing. It was no longer strong enough to stand the power of a young man's rage. The enemy's sword broke in two when it was touched by the Viking silver. The boy's eyes were filled with fire. Klaus felt his soul burn. Philip lifted his left hand and cast a spell that left the warlock dazed for a split second, but it was long enough to strike him head-on and cut his corrupted flesh, reaching his vital organ. He held the warlock's neck, feeling the last pulses of his carotid artery.

The fire in the young mage's eyes entered Klaus' mouth, consuming his body, and pulverizing it into infinite particles.

"Do you really think you won, Phantom Man? Mark my words, I shall return... I've mastered death before, and I'll surely find a way to return to have my revenge. I shall exterminate all your descendants. I'm Klaus, the Immortal..."

And then his voice could no longer be heard. It faded, and so did his body. It was the end of the evil warlock.

Down on the ground, the last of his warriors were thrown to the crater. Philip finally closed it. A great celebration followed.

Everyone clapped and cheered the Phantom Man who slowly descended from the air and smiled as he greeted them. Good overcame evil once again. Humanity would be protected and the line that divides the worlds would remain unscathed.

Elheonora, Agathor, Mariele, Albert, Enzo and the other friends hugged the young one in a long embrace. He realized the good he had done, and that peace had been restored again. One of the elder monks walked toward him carrying the Book of the Dead. He had recovered it from the castle, and assured him that from that moment on the book would be kept in the other world, in a safe place where no one would ever steal it again. Then, he thanked him.

"All monks in both worlds are really glad that you have accomplished your mission, son. It makes me happy to know that the souls are now resting in peace again. The spiritual balance between nature and humanity shall be perpetuated now."

He bowed to the young man. Philip did the same in respect, glad to help. Juan patted Dark Moon's head as he said goodbye.

"Thank you, my loyal friend."

"Juan, I'd like to ask you to stay with me in this world. We need you at least until my son is born. Alexia would love if you stayed here with us," Philip said.

"Ok, I'll stay around for a while. Although I have this tired face, I still have lots of time to think. Plus, I'd love to see my grandson grow up."

The grandmothers smiled happily at the news of the new family member.

Then, a new portal opened, and everyone went back to their place of peace and rest. Philip waved along with Juan until the door closed.

As he said goodbye to his friends that came from the spiritual world, the Phantom Man, who had become more mature with the victory over evil, thought about his mentor's teachings. He finally understood that courage must be sided by wisdom.

His conclusion was that the strategy of calling his companions to join his cause had been more important than his bravery in battle. He smiled as he comprehended that friendship was more valuable than power.

Juan and Philip felt a mix of joy for having won the battle, and sadness for knowing that they would no longer meet their friends again. But the world was a safe place again, at least for now, and that was what really mattered.

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Also read #TheDeathMoon by #ChaieneSantos