He's dying.
The demon general lay broken before him, its four arms twitching as life ebbed away. But even in defeat, it managed to speak.
"You call us monsters..." Black ichor bubbled from its mouth. "You burned away your own soul to win. You're the real monster here."
A smile played across its dying features.
"And it was all for nothing. Your princess... She'll never know the truth."
The demon's eyes went dark.
Regulus knelt beside its corpse, his own body beginning to shut down. The life force conversion was reversing now, his accelerated ageing catching up with no mercy.
He won. But at what cost?
Outside the dome, Arthur could see the false Nikolas maintaining his performance. Pounding against the barrier with fake desperation while the princess wept for her doomed husband.
Perfect acting. He'll comfort her afterward. Play the grieving friend.
