Valkus and Helga’s summoned Angel, Balsker, dashed in wielding their flaming weapons. They had no hesitation and cut off Agate's limbs on the spot while Urist controlled his flames to sear the wounds shut.

Agate’s limbless body fell to the ground as he screeched like a madman in utter agony.

“IT BURNS IT BURNS IT BURNS. WHY ISN’T MY MAGIC WORKING, WHY DIDN’T THEY EXPLODE!? HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN TO ME?!”

Bawling his eyes out, Agate threw a pain induced tantrum, not understanding how everything could go so wrong. Lost in anguish, he almost didn’t hear the footsteps coming his way. Tears flowed down his cheeks as terror overtook him. In his irrational state of mind Agate tried to wiggle away from his impending doom.

He only got a few inches before he got a kick to his side that flipped him over onto his back. Agate’s blood grew cold as Ubel, Urist, Kist, and finally, his brother Bishop came into his sights. The fear and pain on his face warped into pure hatred.

His voice, hoarse from all his screaming, smoldered with utter fury and hatred.

“So it was you, brother. Now it all makes sense.”

Ubel pushed up his glasses and cut in.

“Yes, your brother was a big help in taking you down. He tampered with the formations on your robe so that you couldn’t use your crystals effectively. He told us about your secondary detonators, allowing us to change the crystals’ frequency. It was thanks to your brother that your assassination was pulled off without a hitch.”

Trembling, Agate looked at his brother, “Why did you do it brother? Were all the things you said about joining me mere lies!?”

All eyes turned to the expressionless Bishop who slowly opened his mouth.

“Urist, Ubel. I’d like a little time with my brother. Alone.”

“Since you’ve been of great assistance I’ll give you five minutes. Remember that we need him alive for a bit, but you can end him afterwards if you wish.”

“Thanks for the time but I doubt I’ll need that much.”

The dwarfs gave the two some space, and soon Bishop stood over Agate, alone.

“Sound Barrier.”

Bishop cut off the outside noise with a formation, effortlessly picked up the fuming Agate, and leaned him against a large shard of ice. Bishop sat down next to Agate, not saying anything for a good minute until Agate broke the silence first.

“We could have been happy, Bishop. We could’ve easily taken over this place. When did you become such a coward?”

Bishop, still expressionless, stayed silent.

“Nothing to say? After all I did for you, you betray the one brother you always knew. For what? Some snobs that are going to treat you like a dog? You're a bandit Bishop. Always will be. But now you're trying to be a better person? With how much blood is on your hands? With my blood on your hands? You’ll never be normal.”

Bishop, after being berated by his brother, finally began to speak.

“I’ve grown tired, brother. I’ve been tired for a long time. I had to wipe your ass every time you got in trouble. I had to kill those who wished for your head. I killed and killed for you, all in the name of owing you a debt.

“I can never wash away the sins I’ve collected, but I can atone for all the heartache I’ve caused. You could’ve too, if you weren't such a selfish prick. So brother, this is goodbye. I hope that in your next life you can have a happy family.”

Bishop got up from the ground, disabled the sound barrier, and began to walk away.

As he left Agate screamed after him.

“YOU BETRAYED ME YET CAN’T BRING YOURSELF TO END MY LIFE? FUCKING COWARD, YOU WILL NEVER BE BETTER. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE A BANDIT! YOU’RE NOT MY BROTHER YOU’RE A FAKE, A FAKE WHO HAS LOST HIS BITE. A…”

On and on Agate roared at the top of his lungs, berating Bishop at the end of his life.

Bishop ignored his ranting and came to a stop before Ubel.

“One last selfish request. Please allow me to bury his corpse back home. I wish to drink with him from time to time.”

Ubel patted his shoulder.

“It’ll be done. Now go rest and gather yourself. The day after tomorrow we will be finishing this war.”

“Understood.”

Bishop left, never once looking back.

Urist, feeling crushed by guilt, turned to Vesi, “Vesi, can you do me a favor?”

“What?”

“Since you’re close to him, will you walk him home?”

“I… I can do that. Even if he’s an asshole.”

“Thank you.”

With them gone Urist turned to Ubel, “I’m calling them over to see this.”

“Sure. It’ll be good for them.”

Those that had been wounded by Agate’s actions during the battle were quickly called over. Even the legless Tänzer was brought over to watch his final moments.

Ubel and Kist walked over to the raging Agate. Since he wouldn’t shut up Ubel kicked him in the stomach to knock the wind out of him.

“I’m going to make your death painful. For all the trouble you caused I’m going to make you scream like a pig in your final moments. Because of you, I had to delay my plans for a day. Your life will never amount to the time you’ve wasted. Kist.”

“Yes?”

“Do it and make it painful. I want him a slobbering mess before I end him.”

“Understood.”

Agate finally managed to gain his breath back as Kist's hand descended upon him like a shadow.

“N-No. Don’t do it. Come on, just chop off my head. Anything but tha—”

Pain.

Pain, utter pain. Agate felt nothing but pain as his memories were taken, shifted through, sorted, and erased. One by one his screams became louder and longer, sounding more and more like that of a pig’s. The screams went on for minutes before they suddenly cut off.

When that happened Kist pulled his hand away and held his aching head.

“Fuck, this thing is a monster! An utter monster! How could Bishop let this psycho live?!”

“Will you be alright?”

Ubel asked. Kist looked at him with bloodshot eyes filled with bloodlust.

“I-I’ll be alright. I just need to erase what I saw. Fucking unholy abomination.”

“I’ll take it from here. Go rest.”

Ubel motioned a few people over to take Kist back to his room and monitor him in case something happened. With them out of the way Ubel unsheathed his knife. He kicked Agate to the ground and sat on his chest.

Ubel took a good hard look at Agate's face. His eyes were hollow, his face was distorted in horror, and his breathing was shallow.

“Just another corpse to the pile.”

Ubel mused as he stabbed his knife into Agate's throat, twisting it for good measure.