I BECAME A ZOMPIREWOLF

755  A Brother's Sacrifice

The battlefield had turned into chaos as Astaroth stepped up against Kro'Han for the final time, buying precious moments for Ashton to charge his [Revenge Strike] skill.

Since Ashton had accumulated an ungodly amount of damage, it was taking a while. Besides, considering Ashton's lousy health situation, Astaroth decided to buy him as much time as he possibly could. With a wave, Astaroth called Raphael in his hands, which also freed Kro'Han from his agony. While the move seemed unnecessary at first, Astaroth knew with his trusty sword by his side, his chances of survival doubled. With sword gleaming in the dim moonlit sky, Astaroth charged towards Kro'Han. The Precursor sensed the attack coming and struck Astaroth. However, Astaroth dodged and weaved through Kro'Han's relentless attacks. The god-like being, now with only one eye remaining, bore the scars of a previous encounter with Astaroth, who had deftly taken out the other eye.

"Having trouble finding me with one eye?" Astaroth taunted Kro'Han. "I can only imagine how fun this fight would be if you were completely blind!"

"...I will kill you, EVEN IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO!"

"Yeah, yeah, land a hit on me first."

Astaroth moved with an agility that defied his burly frame, all the while striking Kro'Han with precision. Each blow the golden sword delivered left a light trail in its wake. While Astaroth knew his attacks were similar to an ant sting to a mammoth, it was the best he could do while Ashton recharged his stamina and strength. However, even in his desperate state, Kro'Han fought back with a ferocity that betrayed his wounded condition. Astaroth, though skilled, wasn't immune to Kro'Han's counterattacks.

Kro'Han managed to land a few blows on Astaroth, exploiting the openings in his defences. The god-like being's attacks slowly took their toll, leaving Astaroth battered and bruised. Yet, Astaroth pushed through. He knew he was the last wall between the universe's destruction and Kro'Han. Besides, the thought that every second bought was a step closer to Ashton unleashing the [Revenge Strike] gave him a rush like never before, numbing all the pain he was going through.

Suddenly, Astaroth closed the distance between them, executing a series of rapid strikes. Raphael shimmered as it sliced through the air. Kro'Han, despite his diminished vision, managed to block some attacks, but Astaroth's relentless assault pushed Kro'Han on the backfoot.

However, it only lasted for a moment before Kro'Han recovered and landed a powerful blow on Astaroth. The force of the impact sent Astaroth staggering backwards as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Meanwhile, concealed within the cover of trees, Ashton focused his energy. His body ached from the previous encounter with Kro'Han. His fists clenched, a red aura pulsating ominously around them.

Upon seeing that kro'Han had pushed Astaroth away, Ashton burst from his hiding spot, charging towards Kro'Han with a ferocity like never before. Ashton knew it was the moment that would define the course of the universe's future, and he wasn't going to let it go down the drain. "You're too slow," Kro'Han mumbled, turning towards Ashton. "Did you think that the energy you accumulated would go unnoticed?"

Ashton gritted his teeth but didn't stop. He had already accumulated all the energy. It wouldn't make sense for him to stop just because Kro'Han was aware of his plan. As Ashton's fist shot towards the Precursor, Kro'Han attempted to evade the attack. It seemed like Kro'Han would avoid the attack until he heard a voice from behind.

"Did you think I'd let you dodge the attack so easily?" Astaroth roared.

Before Kro'Han could realise what was happening, it was already too late. Astaroth's one hand closed around Kro'Han's nape while the other folded Kro'Han's remaining arm behind his back. Kro'Han, momentarily incapacitated, was unable to evade the impending strike.

"DO IT NOW, ASHTON!"

Ashton's punch landed with a force that shook the very ground. The impact created an explosive shockwave, sending both Ashton and Astaroth hurtling away from Kro'Han's location. The cloud of dust and debris covered the battlefield, and for a moment, hope surged among the people of Earth and everyone fighting against Kro'Han. The prayers for Kro'Han's demise echoed through the air.

However, the hope of victory was short-lived as Kro'Han emerged from the remnants of the explosion, battered and severely wounded but alive. Half of his torso was gone, revealing the extent of the damage inflicted upon him. Despite the injuries, Kro'Han's shone with strength to continue the fight.

On the other hand, the situation for the hero wasn't looking that good. Ashton was on the ground, his hand blown off from the explosion. Blood seeped from the wound, staining the ground beneath him. It seemed his body couldn't take the brunt of his irrational moves and had given up. He was weakened, unable to move, but his eyes still glowed with an unwavering resolve to put an end to Kro'Han.

"So... close..." Ashton weakly mumbled, staring into Kro'Han's blown-away torso. "A bit... more... and we'll... win."

"I got this," Astaroth replied. Astaroth, thanks to Kro'Han taking most of the force, was the one who managed to get away with less harm. He stood, watching as Kro'Han defied the odds and rose again. Astaroth knew the battle was far from over, and the time had come to make a crucial decision. Neither he nor Ashton wanted it to come to this, but now that it had, there was nothing else they could do to stop Kro'Han. Ashton mustered the strength to speak, struggling with the pain and realisation of what he had to do. "Astaroth," he called out, his voice strained. "The Grim Reaper Scythe, bring it to me."

With a nod, Astaroth soared through the battlefield, retrieving the Grim Reaper Scythe that lay amidst the debris. The weapon, once wielded by Ashton's father, held the power to tip the scales in their favour, but the price for unleashing the scythe's true strength meant certain death.

Jo'Han had warned Ashton about the scythe's power and the price of unleashing it. But now that they had tried everything to defeat Kro'Han, he had no choice but to do the unthinkable.

"Asta... the scythe..."

Astaroth, however, shook his head. "There's another way, brother."

However, instead of handing the scythe to Ashton, he looked into Ashton's eyes and smiled. "I'll finish this," Astaroth declared, gripping the scythe with determination.

Before Ashton could comprehend Astaroth's intentions, the Xyran unleashed the true power of the Grim Reaper's Scythe. The air around Astaroth crackled with energy as the scythe slowly melted into the pure aura of death, its dark aura enveloping Astaroth. "What are you doing, Astaroth?" Ashton, confused, reached out weakly. "Give me the scythe!"

"I've done too much wrong in my life, and this might be the only way to make amends," Astaroth shook his head; his gaze felt strangely peaceful. "Even if you forgive me, others won't. Besides, you have an unborn child and a family to care for. You should live on."

Ashton, torn between gratitude and sorrow, tried to protest, "But what about Linea, your sister? What about Ibis? They need you, too!"

"They've lived without me before," Astaroth scoffed, a bitter smile on his lips. "They'll adjust to my absence again. Besides, I'm sure they'll understand my reasons."

With those words, Astaroth raised what remained of the Grim Reaper's Scythe high. While Ashton, helpless on the ground, watched as Astaroth willingly embraced the darkness.

The scythe's power consumed Astaroth, transforming him into a proper Grim Reaper. His form changed, becoming an embodiment of death itself. Astaroth, now the Grim Reaper, looked down at Ashton with serenity. "Live on, Ashton. Your journey doesn't end here."

"No... this can't be happening..." Kro'Han shrieked.

Kro'Han, battered and broken, staggered back as Astaroth approached him with an unnatural calmness. The realisation dawned upon him as he witnessed Astaroth's transformation into death itself.

"What treachery is this?" Kro'Han's voice trembled with rage and desperation. "How could a mere mortal become Death incarnate?"

Astaroth remained silent, his gaze fixed on Kro'Han like a predator to its prey. The dark aura surrounding him seemed to intensify with each step, casting a shadow that swallowed all life in his path.

"NO! STOP!" He stumbled over his words, wondering where his grand plan had gone astray. "This was not how it was supposed to end. I WAS MEANT TO BE A GOD, INVINCIBLE RULER OF THE UNIVERSE!"

Astaroth continued his pursuit, ignoring Kro'Han's lamentations. The Precursor's breaths grew frantic as he tried to distance himself from the approaching darkness. However, in an attempt to flee, he stumbled over fallen debris, revealing his movements to be clumsy and desperate. In the final moments, Kro'Han's desperate cries echoed through the battlefield. "No! This cannot be! I was meant for greatness!"

But death cared not for the ambitions of mortals. Astaroth, having become one with the cosmic force, extended a skeletal hand, grasping the Precursor's face, and at that moment, death took Kro'Han away, leaving nothing behind.

The once-mighty god-like being vanished into the void, and even Astaroth, the Grim Reaper, dissolved into the darkness, leaving no trace of his presence. Once a stage for chaos and conflict, the battlefield fell silent in the aftermath of death's quiet passage.

Happy New Year everyone! The next chapter would mark the end of the series' main story. I will, however, update a couple of side stories to bind any and all loose ends. 

The side stories will be published 1-2 a week or more if I feel like I have the energy. So yeah... that's it. 

Oh, and before I forget. I'll be publishing a new novel under this year's Spirity Awards (whenever it goes online) called *Chimaera's Conquest* or, as I like to call it *I Became A Chimaera*

But since it's not a part of Porter-verse, I decided to name it *Chimaera's Conquest*. Hopefully, you all will like it, and I'll inform you more about *The Rise of A Porter's sequel* when I start writing it, so that's it! 

Hope you all have a prosperous and happy new year!