Jesse never asked to be a hero. It was thrust upon him—a mantle he never sought, a burden he never desired. He never wanted to lose Reuben, his loyal companion. He never wanted to find himself stranded in an unfamiliar world, with his only chance of escape held by a sworn enemy. Jesse never wanted any of this.

He never wanted to die.

The massive doors to the throne room slammed open as Jesse burst through, his diamond sword gripped tightly in his hand. The clang echoed through the grand hall, drawing the attention of everyone present.

On the throne sat Aiden, the usurper, barking orders with a twisted grin on his face.

“Back down and get outta my face, Reggie!”

Aiden’s tone was mocking, his use of the nickname dripping with contempt. He was pure scum, trying to steal someone else’s world simply because he couldn’t have it all in his own.

“You’re delusional, Aiden! The people of Sky City will NEVER bow to you! You killed the Founder!”

Reginald, the head of the guard, stood defiantly, his voice echoing with righteous anger. Jesse had always respected Reginald; he was the one who saw through Aiden’s lies and helped Jesse, Lukas, and Ivor escape from the prison cell.

“Yeah? Well YOU’RE gonna be next if you don’t SHUT. UP.”

Aiden’s rage blinded him, so much so that he didn’t notice Jesse standing in the doorway, witnessing the entire exchange.

“N-Now you listen here! I’m the Captain of the Guard! You can’t just talk to me that way!”

Jesse’s heart ached for Reginald. A man who had served the Founder loyally for years, now being treated like dirt by an outsider.

“I’ll talk to you however I want, Reggie.”

Aiden chuckled darkly, tossing a green spawn egg into the air and catching it—a dangerous game. If it hatched on him and exploded, Jesse wouldn’t mind.

“Aiden, you’ve lost.”

Jesse’s voice cut through the tension. He was tired of the games. He just wanted to leave.

Aiden’s eyes widened in shock as he turned to face Jesse.

“I-I saw you fall! You went DOWN!”

Reginald’s face lit up with relief at Jesse’s appearance.

“You’re alive! You’re alive! Is the Founder with you? I heard—”

“HRRNG!!”

Aiden hurled the creeper egg at Reginald. The creature spawned instantly, its hissing building rapidly.

BOOM!

The explosion sent Reginald flying backward, landing hard and groaning as he rubbed his head.

“REGINALD!”

Jesse’s fury ignited. This tyrant had caused enough pain.

“NOT ONE MORE STEP. I KILLED YOU ONCE!! I’LL DO IT AGAIN.”

Jesse scoffed at the absurdity. Aiden truly believed he could eliminate Jesse that easily?

“You thought you could just kick me off the edge? Hate to break it to you, Aiden. But I’m difficult to kill.”

Aiden’s face turned crimson with anger. He reached into his inventory and pulled out a golden spawn egg—a blaze.

“Just… DIE ALREADY!”

He threw the egg at Jesse, summoning the fiery Nether creature into the throne room.

“You should’ve just LEFT when you had the chance!”

The blaze hissed and spat fireballs at Jesse, who ducked and rolled to avoid the scorching attacks. Reginald, seizing the opportunity, escaped the building—presumably to get backup. Jesse appreciated the move.

Dodging and blocking the blaze’s relentless attacks, Jesse managed to plunge his diamond sword into the creature, extinguishing it with a single, decisive blow.

Suddenly, Aiden attacked from behind, his sword grazing Jesse’s side. Jesse gritted his teeth against the pain, ducked, and swung his sword at Aiden’s legs. The tyrant stepped back, holding his weapon defensively.

“This was supposed to be MY world! And you RUINED IT!”

Aiden’s hands trembled—whether from rage or fear, Jesse didn’t care. He was ending this.

“Listen to yourself! That’s insane!”

Aiden lunged at Jesse with his sword. Jesse raised his own blade defensively, and the diamond swords clashed with a resounding CLANG!

“Why can’t you just LEAVE me alone!”

Jesse used his foot to kick Aiden back toward the throne, causing the brunette to drop his sword. Aiden scrambled to pick up another blaze egg, throwing it directly at Jesse. As Jesse dealt with the new blaze, Aiden rearmed himself.

“Hnng— Get… BACK HERE!”

Jesse shouted, dodging the blaze’s fireballs. He rolled, causing the blaze to float outside, where the rain extinguished it instantly. Jesse pursued Aiden, who had foolishly retreated onto a bridge.

“You just can’t stand to see someone else in the spotlight, can you? You just can’t let anyone else win! It just drives you crazy to see someone else succeed, doesn’t it?”

Aiden’s words no longer affected Jesse. He had a world to save, friends to help, people who cared about him. He wouldn’t let this scumbag take it all away.

“I’m going to kick your ass, Aiden.”

Aiden adjusted his stance, adopting a more offensive posture.

“I’d love to see you try.”

Aiden took the first swing, lunging at Jesse with his sword. Jesse blocked the attack, sending Aiden tumbling back. Jesse smirked and advanced, but Aiden scrambled for his sword, standing up, consumed by rage.

Their swords locked again. Jesse tried to push down, but he was too slow. Aiden kicked Jesse’s legs, sending him tumbling back onto the bridge, his sword falling over the edge.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

Aiden stomped on Jesse’s wrist, eliciting a scream of agony.

“This is MY world, Jesse. And you can’t have it.”

Aiden plunged his sword into Jesse’s chest. The armor could only withstand so much.

Jesse sobbed beneath the blade, feeling the blood pooling under his armor, his body shutting down.

Aiden twisted the sword, sealing Jesse’s fate. Jesse lay limp on the bridge, blood seeping from his chest.

Aiden pulled out his sword, kneeling beside Jesse.

“Pathetic.”

The brunette stepped over Jesse’s lifeless body without a second thought.

“—this way! Hurry!”

Aiden turned at the familiar voice. Reginald had returned, this time with company.

Lukas, Petra, Ivor, Isa, and Reginald stood at the doorway, each armed and ready.

It didn’t take long for someone to notice the blood on Aiden’s sword.

Unfortunately for Aiden, Petra was the one who realized it.

“What… the fuck…? Is that blood ?”

The ginger stepped forward, her stance defensive.

Lukas spoke up, his voice trembling.

“Where’s Jesse?”

Aiden chuckled, swinging his blood-stained sword before pointing it at Lukas.

“If I can kill Jesse, I can kill all of you!”

The group gasped. Ivor looked out to the bridge, spotting Jesse’s body. He rushed over, fumbling with his potions.

“Y-you… what…?”

Lukas stumbled over his words, unable to comprehend it.

Aiden had killed Jesse.

And he showed no remorse.

Something snapped in Lukas. Petra noticed it immediately. She tried to reach out, but Lukas couldn’t hear her. He wouldn’t hear her. He was consumed by what he was about to do.

He drew his bow and arrow, aiming straight at Aiden’s head. Aiden dodged, but Lukas wasn’t done. He grabbed another arrow and stabbed it into Aiden’s side, causing him to drop his sword. Lukas kicked him back, again and again.

He knelt beside the brunette, tears streaming down his face, a mix of grief and rage fueling his every move. Lukas punched Aiden repeatedly, unable to stop.

Aiden’s face was a bloody mess, his body twitching. Lukas had nearly killed him. But it wasn’t enough.

Petra, stronger than she looked, pulled Lukas back, pleading for him to stop.

Lukas stood, shaking, his hands soaked in blood, his face splattered.

As Aiden tried to push himself upright, groaning in pain, Lukas’s eyes locked onto him—empty and burning with cold, broken fury. He stepped forward again, towering over the gasping tyrant.

Then—

CRACK.

Lukas brought his boot down with finality, stomping on Aiden’s chest. The sound of something breaking—a rib, maybe more—rang out, sickening and sharp. Aiden screamed, but Lukas didn’t flinch. His face was unreadable, a mask carved out of despair and hatred.

“ LUKAS! ”

The scream tore through the air, cutting past the haze in his mind like a knife. His ears rang. His vision swam. Only now, after so many terrible seconds, did Lukas register that Petra had been yelling at him—screaming for him to stop.

He blinked slowly, the fury still twitching in his fists.

He turned his head to her. Petra’s arms were out, her expression torn between horror and fear.

Blood splattered Lukas’s pale face like warpaint. His hands trembled at his sides, fingers still curled like claws.

“…”

“ Lukas…? ”

Petra’s voice cracked.

Without a word, Lukas staggered forward. Then—suddenly, like the weight of the entire world collapsing onto him—he threw himself into Petra’s arms, choking out a raw, ragged sob. His entire body shook as he collapsed against her.

He held her like he was trying to hold the earth together. Petra, never one for hugs, never one to show weakness, immediately wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close, as if she could protect him from the horror they’d just witnessed.

Neither knew who they were comforting more—him or her. Because Jesse was gone. Their leader. Their best friend.

Their heart.

She squeezed her eyes shut, silent tears escaping down her face.

“ Blonde boy. Come here. ”

Ivor’s voice was softer than usual—strained, shaking, but clear enough to cut through Lukas’s grief-stricken haze. The old alchemist stood near Jesse’s body, crouched low, a golden apple in one hand, a splash potion of healing in the other, his trembling fingers unsure which one to even try first.

Lukas lifted his head slowly. He stepped forward as if his legs had turned to obsidian. Petra let go gently, steadying him as he moved.

He walked across the bridge—across the bloodstained wood—and dropped to his knees beside Jesse.

There he was.

Still.

Cold.

His chestplate was dented, cracked where the sword had pierced it. Blood leaked through the seams, pooling beneath him. His lips were pale. His eyes half-lidded and unfocused.

Lukas leaned down and gently pulled Jesse into his lap, holding him tight, as if that warmth he always brought might return if Lukas just held him long enough.

He pressed his forehead to Jesse’s shoulder. No heat. No heartbeat. No breath.

Just silence.

Empty, echoing silence.

“Please…” he whispered, his voice splintering. “Please, please wake up. Jesse… you can’t… not like this…”

He rocked him gently, as if Jesse was just sleeping. As if he might blink awake and flash that stupid grin again.

But he didn’t.

Jesse was dead.

And Lukas had never told him how he felt.

He never would.

Behind him, Isa stood in quiet disbelief, hands pressed to her lips. Ivor was still fumbling with potions, eyes wide with desperation—calculating if there was anything he could do. Petra had knelt nearby, one hand over her mouth, the other gripping her sword like a crutch to keep from falling apart completely.

And Aiden?

He groaned in the background, trying to crawl away, but no one looked at him.

Not anymore.

He was nothing now.

A villain. A footnote.

Jesse had been everything.

Lukas didn’t even look up when he spoke again.

His voice was just a whisper, but it was sharp and final.

”I love you.”