Page 70 of Our Final Game

“Ty… I don’t know if we can take him. Even together.”

Rohan grabs my hand.

I think it’s to stop his trembling.

And I would give anything to take away the fear in his eyes.

Chapter 32

Rohan

Ihave no idea how this is happening, but this is where we are. My hands shake in Tyson’s tight grip. He feels like an anchor when the world is seemingly crashing down all around us. I’ve never seen a sky so dark in my life. My heart thrashes against my chest, thinking of a way out of this for us. We both dash farther away behind the larger scattered debris, using it as a shield.

“Tyson … I have a plan, but please just listen to me,” I swallow.

“Yeah?”

“We have to distract him … and you’re the only one who has an attack powerful enough to make any significant damage. So, I’ll run out. He clearly wants to take me down first.”

“Rohan, no. Absolutely not,” Tyson says, his voice firm and sound.

“But Tyson, this is the only…”

“No!” he snaps, grabbing my arm. “Don’t fucking do that.”

I can see it, that he’s not afraid for himself, it’s not the plan itself. He’s scared to death of losing me.

“I’ll be okay, Ty, please just let me do this. Let me help.”

“You can help me by staying alive!” he yells at me. “As long as we’re together, Rohan. Please.” His chest is heaving.

“Tyson … It’s the only way,” I say quietly, pleading with my eyes.

He knows I’m right. Tyson’s brows furrow as I slip out of his hold, nodding at him. I just need him to let me do this. To trust me.

“Rohan, don’t get hurt.”

“I won’t,” I say, my voice shaking.

I’m scared.

But I’m scared of Tyson having to walk into what’s obviously inevitable even more. He can’t take him alone, and he definitely can’t keep shielding me at the same time. It’s time I shield him.

I run out into the open, dashing far across the map. Leon zones in on me, immediately sending black flames chasing behind me. I dodge away, making him fully turn his body away from Tyson. This is our first opening, and Tyson takes it. Shadows violently whistle through the air, sharpening into spears. And they don’t miss their target, Leon stumbles over, choking out some blood onto the ground. His HP falls a third of the way to zero. We just need to do this two more times.

“I keep forgetting how smart you boys are,” Leon chuckles, his wings beating wildly, making me shield my eyes from the dust.

I dash back closer to Tyson and replenish his MP.

“It’s working, Ty.”

“But I’m sure he’s on to us. He’s not a pre-programmed NPC.” Tyson says.

“Yeah, let’s try it one more time from a different angle. We just need to get his HP down and melee the rest.”

“Okay, one more time, Rohan. That’s it.”

“Alright.” I take a deep breath before running to the other side of the map. Choosing to catch his attention from his other side. Leon smiles, performing the same move, sending more flames after me. But as I get farther away, trying to make more distance, Leon flies into the sky, suddenly nosediving toward me. His weapon is summoned, sharp and too quick for me to dodge.