The Swordsman 4: The Final Book (Pt.1-2)

B4.2 Chapter 27: Uprising

Lanz sat at the edge of a cliff, the sun dipping below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the crashing waves. The rhythmic sound of the water resonated with his thoughts. Beside him, Janne took a deep breath, her expression a mix of gratitude and contemplation.

"Lanz, I want to say thank you again," she said softly, her voice barely rising above the sound of the waves.

He turned to her, his gaze lingering on her face. "It's nothing. How did you get caught?"

Janne's eyes clouded with memories. "My village was attacked. I was the only one captured," she explained, her voice faltering slightly.

As Lanz looked at her, he couldn't help but notice her beauty—her eyes sparkled with a unique light that drew him in, and everything about her seemed perfect in that moment.

"What is it, Lanz? Is there something on my face?" Janne asked, tilting her head slightly, catching him off guard.

Lanz quickly averted his gaze. "It's nothing. Sorry," he stammered, feeling heat rise to his cheeks.

Just then, Ariella approached, a teasing grin on her face. "You, my brother, are always stupid in love!"

Lanz's embarrassment flared, and he jumped to his feet, shouting, "I'm not—"

His foot slipped on the edge of the cliff, and he fell, tumbling down into the water below.

Ariella and Janne rushed to the edge, peering over to see Lanz swimming furiously to the surface. Laughter erupted between them, mixing with the sound of the waves.

As night fell, the three began walking back towards the village, Lanz still drenched. "Didn't you and Rean die?" he asked, curiosity piqued.

Ariella nodded, her expression turning serious. "We were stuck in the spirit world with Dian. The reason we couldn't return was that we didn't have any missions in this world anymore—until now."

"Rean can't be stuck in there! He doesn't have any powers," Lanz replied, disbelief etching his features.

"I gave half of mine," Ariella confessed, her voice firm yet soft.

Lanz was taken aback. "That is dangerous! You know that, right?"

"I didn't want the man I love to die because I couldn't protect myself," she said, her tone resolute.

"What is with everyone and their best friends?" Lanz grumbled, shaking his head in exasperation.

Ariella laughed lightly. "You're talking about Marco and Marielle?"

"Yeah," Lanz replied, sighing.

Ariella separated from them, allowing Lanz and Janne to walk together under the starry sky. The night air was cool, and a strong wind whipped around them. Lanz, noticing Janne shivering, immediately took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.

"Thank you, Lanz," she smiled, a soft blush creeping onto her cheeks.

His heart raced as he spoke her name. "Janne..."

She paused and turned to look at him, her eyes reflecting the starlight. Lanz reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering on her cheek. Their faces drew closer, and in a moment that felt suspended in time, their lips met in a tender kiss.

As they pulled away, Lanz grinned, the warmth of the moment flooding his senses. "This is the first time I've fallen in love in all my life."

"Me too," Janne replied, her smile brightening the darkness around them.

Reluctantly, they continued to walk, knowing their paths would soon diverge as their homes lay apart.

Meanwhile, Yuri sat alone on a bench, deep in thought, until Marielle joined him, her presence bringing a flicker of warmth.

"Are you happy that Marco is here?" Yuri asked, his voice laced with concern.

"I am," Marielle responded, though her gaze drifted off, lost in her thoughts. "But I don't have any feelings anymore. I let it go a long time ago."

Yuri nodded, trying to mask his disappointment. "It's good that you moved on," he replied, though the words felt heavy in his mouth.

Marielle took his hand, a gesture of comfort, but Yuri suddenly stood up, shaking his head. "It's already late. I have to go."

Meanwhile, Dian lay on his bed, reflecting on everything that had happened. "The letter Lanz showed us... How did Rein write it?" he pondered, lost in his thoughts.

Suddenly, a strong earthquake shook the ground beneath him, sending him tumbling out of bed. He scrambled to his feet and rushed outside, only to witness a fire portal forming above NewFound. It crackled ominously, sucking in everything around it, sending debris flying.

Panic erupted in the streets as the citizens of NewFound fled their homes, the air thick with fear.

Dian spotted a massive rock plummeting toward a crowd of people. In a flash, Lanz appeared, using his Force Phoenix power to disintegrate the rock before it could cause harm.

Dian gripped his sword, activating his White Eye, and dashed closer to the chaos when, without warning, he was pulled toward the portal's gaping maw. Lanz reached out, attempting to save him, but just as he grasped Dian's arm, the portal's pull intensified, threatening to consume them both.

In a desperate struggle, they were thrown back as debris rained down. Lanz managed to shield Dian just in time, but he was hit by a large piece of rock, burying him under a pile of rubble.

Dian, adrenaline surging, found a cover and sprinted toward it, narrowly avoiding more falling debris.

Suddenly, a purple fire erupted from the portal, crashing down like a meteor. Within it, a figure emerged, and Dian recognized him immediately.

"Rein!" he shouted, drawing his sword and charging forward.

Rein dodged Dian's strike effortlessly, preparing to counterattack when Yuri intervened, blocking the blow with his Freedom Phoenix. The impact sent both fighters rolling across the ground.

"Ariella?" she called out, worry etched on her face as she approached.

Rein looked at her, his expression shifting as the Dark Phoenix aura began to fade. He collapsed to the ground, exhaustion evident.

Marco stood nearby, his heart racing as he witnessed the scene unfold. Janne was beside him, their hands clasped tightly, the weight of the situation grounding them.

Ariella rushed to Rein's side, concern for her brother radiating from her. Lanz, finally free from the debris, joined them as Yuri struggled to his feet, shaking off the impact.

Suddenly, Rein locked eyes with Lanz and Yuri, activating the Supreme Phoenix power through both of them. The sheer force of the energy surged, making everyone cling to anything solid to avoid being blown away.

In an instant, Rein teleported them all, and they found themselves falling from the sky, disoriented. They landed in a strange, futuristic version of NewFound, the skyline dotted with unfamiliar buildings and technology.

"What just happened?" Lanz exclaimed, trying to get his bearings.

Rein, regaining his composure, reached for Yuri, absorbing the Freedom Phoenix's power from him. Yuri fell to the ground, drained and breathless.

As Lanz prepared to confront Rein, he was suddenly struck by an intense vision. He clutched his head, and in an instant, he was pulled into Rein's mind, the landscape shifting around them.

There, they found another version of Rein, chained and struggling against his bonds. His eyes widened as he recognized Lanz. "You got my message," he said, his voice filled with urgency and despair.