Narrated by Dwayne Renlanton

  In the evening, as the snow blanketed the ground, all I could hear were the screams of soldiers drawing near. The only thing I could do was summon all the beasts I had tamed in the past, for once tamed, I could call upon them again.

  The soldiers came into view. There were far too many—perhaps over a million. But I had once tamed a hundred thousand beasts and demons, so maybe, just maybe, we stood a chance. Still, I was lying to myself. There was no winning this battle. Not unless we were willing to sacrifice ourselves.

  I looked at Stalin and said, “You know what time it is, don’t you?”

  He tore the gloves from his hands and, with a furious face, replied, “Time to burn these bastards!”

  We charged forward, shouting at the top of our lungs. I drew my twin swords from my belt and began to spin through the middle of their ranks. I watched heads fly into the air, and just as one fell, my army charged in behind me—an army of a hundred thousand beasts and demons.

  Stalin and I led the attack.

  but sheer numbers weren’t in our favor. Our forces dwindled, bit by bit, until only Stalin and I remained against a hundred thousand enemies.

  He dropped to his knees, slamming the ground in frustration. “Damn it… if only I had been born with a better body.”

  I patted his back gently. “You know what we have to do now, don’t you?”

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  He looked into my eyes. “Yeah, you idiot. I’m going to end myself, and you’re leaving—because you’re dying anyway.”

  I knew he would say that. But I couldn’t accept it. My eyes welled with tears. I didn’t know what to do. A hundred thousand soldiers were coming, and all we had left was time.

  “No! You have to live! I’ll be the one to stay… or no—none of us have to die! We’ll find another way!”

  I broke down crying. I didn’t know what to do. I was about to lose my brothers, lose my life… lose everything.

  Stalin held my face, headbutted me lightly, and smiled. It was the first time I’d ever seen him smile.

  “We’re going to die no matter what we do... Look at yourself. You’re covered in wounds—you’re going to die, and so am I. Now go. You have someone who cares about you. You have someone you love. Spend your last moments with them.”

  I stared at him. That smile… it was the first time, and I didn’t want it to be the last.

  “Just promise me,” I said as I wiped my tears, “you’ll join us in the afterlife.”

  He smiled back. “No way. I’m chasing those bastards to the deepest hell. Now go.”

  I dragged myself away, to the place I wanted to die. But suddenly, I couldn’t move my legs. They had stopped working. I began to crawl, but hands rose from the earth and grabbed me, holding me back.

  I turned around. It was Stalin. He was sacrificing himself. A dark aura began to rise from his body—it was terrifying. I started crying again. I couldn’t move. I could only watch as my brother killed himself.

  The hands let go. I crawled toward him, tears falling endlessly. I looked on in horror as my brother stared into the enemy ranks. With every glance he cast, soldiers turned to ash.

  I was terrified. But more than that, I was heartbroken. I was watching my brother’s final moments.

  Within seconds, every enemy was gone. Stalin turned toward the rest, tried to run, and collapsed—dead—right into my arms.

  I looked down at him. He wasn’t smiling anymore.

  I held him tighter, hoping he'd smile just once more… but he was already gone.

  So I placed him on my back and began to crawl, taking him to the only place where he could smile again.

  To the place where he might find peace.