A/n : Ik it's not fair but please ignore if there are some typos, I couldn't proof check this chapter.

<Choi Palace>

The palace was decorated beautifully and extravagantly. Dino's birthday was meant to be celebrated with extreme joy but still, they couldn't really enjoy the party with their whole heart, knowing that there was a danger looming over them.

Mingyu and Dino were always around Taeri to keep her safe while the others had their keen observant eyes on the surroundings.

"Seungcheol." Jeonghan whispered to the older, "Someone is here, to harm us but I can't exactly point out who."

"Same." Seungcheol retorted, "The spells aren't working to figure out the exact person."

"We've to do something really soon." Joshua joined.

"And that too, silently." Seokmin added.

Soon enough, their attention diverted to Mingyu and Dino who were trying to wake up an unconscious Taeri.

"No way." All of them rushed towards her. The female staff members and medic were summoned as she was taken away to a safer place along with her mother.

"Guys, alert!" Seungcheol declared and it was that moment when the lights went off.

"Seungcheol and Jeonghan, you guys stay here and the rest of us will spread out in different directions." Joshua suggested as the eleven of them and several guards left the hall.

"Seungcheol- Seungcheol?! You hear me??" Jeonghan worded out several times, "We can't hear anyone? What the hell is happening?!"

Seungcheol squinted his brows, "C'mon reply, at least!!"

Everyone was lost in the dark room where they couldn't hear each other.

"It's a spell." Seungcheol muttered beneath his breath as he reached for Sunwoo and Ara to check on them first and foremost while Jeonghan was trying to do the same.

"What-" Seungcheol couldn't complete when he felt a pair of arms wrapped around his shoulders from the back.

Seungcheol frowned as he turned around to witness Jeonghan, his face pale and his eyes welled up with tears while he whimpered out a small cry as his sword fell off his hands.

It was when Seungcheol noticed, a small blue sword struck into Jeonghan's back.

Seungcheol's eyes widened, "JEONGHAN?!"

The spell finally seemed to end as everyone could hear the loud scream that left Seungcheol's mouth. The lights were back as all the attention was on the duo.

Jeonghan's legs wobbled as he began to stumble down. Both of them collapsed on the floor as Seungcheol rested the younger's head on his lap, tears streaming down his eyes.

"Seungcheol-" Jeonghan choked out, "I-"

Everyone in the hall couldn't process the scenario for the first few minutes after which they quickly rushed towards both of them, circling around. Jeonghan's name was like a chant on everyone's mouth as they began to crumble down one by one.

For a moment, they rushed everything to do anything and everything to save Jeonghan. But deep down, everyone knew that there was no way out of it.

The other eleven of the group were still out, looking for the security of the palace, unaware of the storm that had already did its work.

The guards rushed to find the culprits of the incident as the entire palace was whirled with a new havoc.

"I'm sorry." Jeonghan quietly whispered, the blood from his body painting his husband's embrace, "I- I won't be- ab-able to st-stay."

Seungcheol couldn't accept what was happening, his mind frantic, his heart aching as Jeonghan tried to speak, "No!" Seungcheol choked out.

"Yes." Jeonghan managed to speak, "It- it hurts. I- I can't- endure it- any-mor-e."

"Please." Seungcheol begged, his voice thick with tears, "Please don't leave me. I can't lose you, I can't!"

Jeonghan's trembling hand, which was drowned in blood, reached the older's cheeks, "Don't cry pl-ease. I- please smile, I want to s-see you smile, for one last time."

Seungcheol's tears continued to fall, his hands clenching around Jeonghan's, holding it tightly against his cheek, yet his forced a weak smile, "I'll smile but you- you aren't going anywhere. I won't let you."

Jeonghan whimpered in pain, "Hurts."

"I know, love. But please, hold on just a while, for me." Seungcheol looked up, "MOM!! DAD!! Do something, this-"

Ara held his shoulders from the back, trying to control her tears, "Son- it's not possible."

"It is!" Seungcheol protested, "How can you say this-"

"Seung-cheol." Jeonghan clutched his shirt tightly, "Don't waste our last moments, ju-st st-stay with me."

Seungcheol froze in his place, reality slapping him with the harsh truth. He knew that the younger's fate was already sealed but he couldn't believe it, just like that.

Seungcheol gently cupped the younger's face, "I'm staying. I'll stay with you until the very end."

"Thank you." Jeonghan choked out, "For everything. I wish we could- we- stay- lon-ger."

Seungcheol's heart shattered into a million pieces as Jeonghan thanked him, those two words carrying the weight of all the future they would never have. His eyes filled with fresh tears as he brought the younger's hand to his lips, kissing it tenderly.

"I wish the same." Seungcheol mumbled, "I would give anything to have just a little longer with you."

"I-" Jeonghan tried to breath, "I love you, I always did, okay?"

Seungcheol nodded while sobbing, "I love you too, I forever will."

"Don't- don't be stubborn to weep over me forever." Jeonghan breathed out, "Don't cry while remembering me, please."

"I can't promise that-"

"Please." Jeonghan squeezed his hands with the little strength he had, "Please Seungcheol."

"I'll- I'll try." Seungcheol whispered shakily.

"And- and I'm sorry." Jeonghan further managed to word out, "I- couldn't fulfil my- my promises. You'll for-give me, ri-right?"

"No, don't say that." Seungcheol begged, "You've nothing to apologize for, you've given me so much, more than I could ever ask for."

Jeonghan managed to smile, "Don't cry, stupid. I'm not- leaving you th-that easily. I'll annoy you as t-the rain, wi-wind, sunrays an-and all."

"You better." Seungcheol spoke between his sobs, "You better haunt me, annoy me every day for the rest of my life. I won't accept anything less, you hear?"

"Ye-yes." Jeonghan coughed as he spat blood, "I lo-ve y-you, Seungcheol." With that, his eyes were shut and breaths stopped.

Seungcheol's world shattered as Jeonghan's eyes closed and his breaths ceased, the younger's final declaration of love echoing in his ears. He clutched Jeonghan's hand tightly, his body shuddering with uncontrollable sobs.

"No!" Seungcheol whispered, "No, no, no, no, Jeonghan, don't leave me! Please, don't leave me alone. Come back, please, come back to me."

A loud lightening echoed as it began to rain severely.

The emperor cried and so did the sky, as, both of them knew that their suns weren't going to shine again.

Seungcheol ignored the onlookers, the concerned voices around him that tried to reach him. All his attention was fixed on Jeonghan, the man that had brought so much light into his life and had been cruelly taken away far too soon.

Isn't it lovely? All alone
Heart made of glass, my mind of stone
Tear me into pieces, skin to bone
Hello, welcome home

It was when the eleven others arrived back at the hall, all drenched in rain. They were disappointed for not being able to find anyone, but their souls definitely left their bodies when they saw the scenario in front of them.

"Jeonghan-" Joshua's eyes widened. They quickly rushed towards the duo, not being able to believe a single piece of the situation.

"Hyung-" Seokmin looked at Seungcheol, "What-"

Seungcheol couldn't bring himself to speak. He inhaled a deep breath, "He's gone. And- And I couldn't do anything to save him."

"WHAT?!" Everyone gasped altogether.

"What do you mean?" Joshua clutched his chest tightly, "No- no please NO!"

Seungcheol looked down, blankly staring at Jeonghan's serene face.

Seokmin embraced his husband, "Shua-"

"No what is all this?" Joshua cried out, "This can't be true!! I refuse to believe this crap."

"Hyung-" Mingyu gently shook Seungcheol who seemed to be as lifeless as Jeonghan.

Seungcheol's eyes, red-rimmed from tears he had shed, met Mingyu's gaze but he couldn't find the strength to speak.

Mingyu embraced his from the side, trying to console him but everyone knew, it was useless.

Seungcheol continued to hold Jeonghan's lifeless body, his mind replaying their memories together, each one a bittersweet reminder of what they had shared, and what he had now lost.

Dino fiddled with Jeonghan's fingers tenderly as if they were way too delicate, "Hyung, please wake up." But the stark reality was that there would be no response.

"What's even happening?" Jun mumbled out while holding back his tears. Minghao wiped his own cheeks while Wonwoo was staring at Jeonghan with emptiness in his eyes. Woozi and Hoshi were holding onto each other while crying.

Vernon was consoling Seungkwan when in fact he couldn't even console himself.

"SON?!" Jaebyeom arrived. He hurried towards them as he got a hold of Jeonghan's hand. He looked up at Seungcheol with horror in his eyes, "What is this?" He turned back to look at Joshua who was a crying mess, getting comforted by Seokmin.

"Seungcheol, what is this?!!" Jaebyeom's lips quivered as he couldn't hold back his tears.

"Sorry dad." Seungcheol whispered quietly while looking down.

Sunwoo approached Jaebyeom, holding his hands as both of them cried, "I'm sorry. Your son was our responsibility, but this happened-"

Before the conversation could proceed, a few guards stepped in while thrashing a male on the floor who was already very wounded.

"Your majesty, he's Jang Junwoo." The lead defense guard stated, "He knows something. It was all planned by Phoenix."

Seungcheol looked up, his eyes which were earlier filled with pain and agony were now replaced by a dangerous determination.

Ignoring the shock gasps around him, he rose, laying Jeonghan's body gently on the floor before walking towards the man who had been brought before him.

Seungcheol grabbed him by his throat, "What did you all do to him?"

Junwoo struggled to speak, "S-spare me! Me-mercy!"

"You think you deserve one?" Seungcheol's grip on his throat only tightened.

"I'll speak-" Junwoo managed to mumble out.

Seungcheol left his throat as the man collapsed on the floor while coughing harshly.

"SPEAK." Seungcheol's loud command echoed through the hall, sending shivers to every single person present in the room.

"The- the attack was planned for you but he meddled out of nowhere." Junwoo confessed, "We've been staying in the palace as workers for a week. After all this happened, they ran away but I got stuck here. They didn't help me to save themselves.

This sword, is the blue-gem sword which works exactly as it's mentioned in the legends. You can revive him if you get the gem within 24 hours."

"And where's the gem?" Seungcheol asked, a flicker of hope in his as well as everyone's eyes.

"They took it back to Phoenix Ashes." Junwoo replied, "Now please spare me, I told you everything."

"Spare you?" Seungcheol laughed like a maniac, "Spare a person because of whom Jeonghan is lying there?"

"I-"

Before letting him complete, Seungcheol summoned out his sword, piercing it into his stomach and twisting it brutally.

"Every drop of blood he has shed, every second of pain he has endured, every stream of tear that escaped his eyes, I'll avenge all of it. ALL. OF. IT." Seungcheol glared at Junwoo who was visibly struggling.

Junwoo whimpered out a cry, hanging between the cruel line of life and death.

The others watched in a mixture of shock and satisfaction; the rare but obvious anger visible in Seungcheol's actions.

Seungcheol pulled out his sword bathed in blood only to pierce it into Junwoo's body once again, "You all will watch what happens when someone touches my love, my life, my world."

He repeated the action as Junwoo's shrilling cries echoed in the hall, giving goosebumps to everyone, "I'LL BURN YOU ALL DOWN, YOU HEAR ME?!! BURN ALL OF YOU ALIVE!!"

"And I still won't kill you." Seungcheol twisted the blade brutally, "I'll make you cry for death. You'll feel yourself dying several times before I actually kill you!"

The others could only watch, frozen in a mixture of awe and horror. The violent side of Seungcheol was coming out after ages. People might have already forgot, his demonic side.

Seungcheol finally pulled out his sword only to start punching Junwoo's wound again and again. He kicked him to let him fall on the floor, the man being already dead.

"Hyung, stop." Mingyu and Hoshi held him back, "He's dead."

"So what?!" Seungcheol tried to escape their grip, "He needs to endure more pain. It was nothing!"

"Hyung, please!" Hoshi insisted.

"NO! It's not enough." Seungcheol yelled, "He has to suffer even after dying. ALL OF THEM HAVE TO!!"

"You heard what he said right? The gem." Mingyu reminded.

Seungcheol was temporarily out of the haze of anger and revenge as he recalled the statement made by Junwoo. He frowned, processing the information once again.

Everyone stared at him, all covered with blood. Some of it belonged to Jeonghan but most of it was because of the justice he did to Junwoo.

Seungcheol turned back, reaching Jeonghan once again. He crouched down to kiss his forehead, "I'll either save you or come with you, I promise. Please, hang on for a while."

He stood up again as Ara asked, "Where are you going?"

"Phoenix. To bring the gem." Seungcheol stated, "And to ruin them all."

"We're coming with you!" The others immediately followed.

A/n : It's ending soon!!

Anyways take care everyone!
-Jeonghanneyonghaseyo