Extra's POV: My Obsessive Villainous Fiancee Is The Game's Final Boss-Chapter 227: The Promised Fight

The sky above was painted in hues of orange and purple as the sun dipped below the horizon.

A fire crackled in the center of the camp, the scent of roasting meat mingling with the cool evening breeze. Ren, Lilith, Thorn, Elias, and Valen sat in a loose circle, stretching out after a long day of travel.

"I don't think the idiot sent out any signal." Thorn joked, not taking his eyes off the meat. "We would've at least seen signs of the Church. And so far, there's nothing."

"Or maybe they're as good at hiding as we are and we missed each other." Lilith suggested, also not taking her eyes off the meat.

"There's that." Elias said. "Or maybe the reinforcements are at the prison and are still trying to figure out how it was destroyed."

Everyone turned to Valen in case he had his own theory, but he sat down with his usual quiet, eyes on the fire right below the chicken.

"Guys, guys." Ren spoke up, drawing their attention. "What's the use of speculating? We won't know what happened either way."

"And there you go." Thorn grumbled. "Sucking the joy out of a fun activity."

"He does know how to do that, right?" Lilith blushed.

"Yeah." Thorn nodded. "He even found a way to make fighting barbarians less fun."

"Err…" Lilith stammered, her face turning red. "I was talking about the sucking part."

A stunned silence filled the camp.

Then, Valen spoke. "Lord Ren."

Ren looked up, clearing his throat, grateful for the change in subject. "Yeah?"

"As we can all recall, I joined this group for one reason." Valen said, rising to his feet. "I wanted to spar with you. Now that Lady Lilith is stable, I believe there's no better time."

Ren raised an eyebrow. "You don't want to wait until after we storm the most secure city in Elnoria?"

Valen shook his head. "No. I need to know now, where I stand against you."

Ren glanced around at the others. Lilith nodded encouragingly. Thorn shrugged, already curious. Elias simply leaned back and closed his eyes, smirking.

Ren stood, dusting off his pants. "Alright."

For a moment, he considered saying no. He could hold the spar hostage, make Valen stay with them until the red plague had been destroyed. But that wouldn't work. Valen wasn't a fool. He'd already given them more than most would.

"Let's find a clearing." Ren said.

They moved to a nearby open stretch of flat dirt, the bright light of the full moon shining down on them.

Lilith, Thorn, and Elias positioned themselves at the edge of the space. They wouldn't miss this fight for anything. Not even the food currently roasting over the fire.

Ren cracked his knuckles. Valen unsheathed his twin swords, their edges catching the light.

Valen tilted his head as he stared at Ren. "Use Freedom."

Ren shook his head. "No. That sword can cut souls. I don't know how it'll interact with you or your Divine Gift. That's not a risk I'm willing to take."

Valen hesitated, then nodded. "Fair."

They faced each other in silence.

Then they moved.

Valen moved faster, lunging with both blades. Ren ducked under the attack and swept a leg out, but Valen leapt, flipping overhead and landing light on his feet.

Ren twisted mid-roll, pushing himself upward and swinging a wide punch that Valen deflected with the flat of a blade.

Then Valen twisted his swords, the both of them blurring after Ren, who danced backward, avoiding the slashes by inches. Valen followed after him, until Ren suddenly launched himself forward, slapping away Valen's blade.

Valen skipped backwards, trying to get his swords between himself and Ren, until Ren caught his wrist and threw him.

Valen hit the ground and rolled, coming back up in a crouch.

"You've gotten faster." He muttered, eyes narrowed.

Ren grinned. "You're not bad either."

Valen's Divine Gift buzzed under his skin, enhancing him as they collided again.

Ren used his superior strength to knock Valen back, but Valen turned the momentum into a spinning slash. Ren ducked and countered with an uppercut that sent Valen skidding back.

Valen planted a foot and lunged again, swords spinning before him. Ren weaved through them like water, countering with punches to Valen's ribs and shoulders.

Valen let each hit land but that didn't stop him. He moved just a bit faster, every attack getting closer and closer. He didn't speak. He didn't need to.

Ren dropped into a low stance, sweeping his leg again. Valen jumped, and Ren jumped with him, grabbing his collar in midair and twisting. They slammed to the ground, and Valen rolled, coming out on top.

Ren punched upward. Valen rolled off and came to his feet. Ren followed.

They blurred in the clearing, moving faster and hitting harder.

Ren's fist collided with Valen's jaw, and Valen's blade cut deeply into Ren's thigh.

Ren ducked under his next slash and grabbed Valen's wrist, pulling him forward, but Valen twisted and drove a knee into Ren's stomach.

Ren staggered.

Valen stabbed forward, his sword piercing straight through Ren's heart.

Ren stared at Valen for a second, then he fell down, dead.

Lilith took a step forward instantly, but Elias raised a hand before her. "Wait."

A beat passed.

Then another.

Then Ren laughed.

His body twitched, and his chest expanded with a breath. His wounds sealed, and his bones snapped back into place. His eyes opened, shining.

He sat up, grinning. "You got me."

Valen exhaled, stepping back. "That was..."

"Amazing." Ren finished. "You win."

On the sidelines, Thorn handed Elias a few silver coins.

"Why? Why did Ren choose today to lose?" He grumbled.

Lilith laughed. "Next time, bet on me."

Thorn glanced at her. "Nobody would take that bet."

With conversation filling the air, they returned to the fire to see their meat burning.

"Oh, fuck." Thorn groaned. "I lost a bet and now we have to eat burnt meat? Fuck me."

"Today's just not your day." Elias laughed.

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The camp was quiet, everybody having enjoyed themselves before drifting into sleep.

Everybody except Valen.

He lay awake, the spar replaying in his mind again and again.

It wasn't enough.

He'd won, yes. But not against Ren at his strongest. Ren hadn't used his Push resonance. Hadn't summoned vines. Hadn't drawn Freedom.

The fire in Valen's chest refused to go out.

He sat up quietly, glancing around the camp at the others. All asleep. Even Lilith, her arm draped lazily across Ren's chest.

Valen stood, grabbed his blades, and walked.

Minutes passed as he moved through the trees, his footsteps silent, until he came to a clearing.

He looked up into the trees around it.

"I'm back." He said.

And waited.