61: The Beginning of the End

Sara watched in shock as the monsters that had been attacking them moments ago began to bleed out and collapse lifelessly onto the ground. They hadn't been defeated—rather, it was as if something essential had been stripped away from them, as if their very existence had been extinguished.

What's happening…?

Her body ached. The steel armor protecting her was cracked, punctured, and torn by the beasts' claws, yet she still stood. Beside her, Effie had barely survived the brutal battle and now looked just as bewildered, staring at the remains of the creatures with a deep frown.

"Effie, what's going on?" Sara asked, her voice shaky from exhaustion.

The huntress, just as worn out, clicked her tongue.

"Kid, I have no idea."

Sara scanned the battlefield. The remaining Dreamers looked just as lost. They had fought to the death, expecting the worst… and yet, all of a sudden, their enemies lay motionless on the ground.

"Where's the princess?" Effie muttered, raising a hand to shield her eyes from the glaring sunlight. "She might know what's happening."

Before Sara could respond, a wave of nausea struck her. Her stomach twisted, as if something deep inside her sensed that something was terribly wrong.

But before she could warn Effie, a sound cut through the air.

Ding!

The chime of a bell echoed across the battlefield. Every Dreamer turned toward the source of the noise.

Atop a mound of coral, with the great doors of the tower open behind him, stood Sunless.

His lips moved, but the chaos around them drowned out his voice.

Then, a shout erupted behind them.

"Everyone, run to the tower and take shelter! NOW!"

Nephis' voice rang out with unquestionable authority. The Dreamers, still in shock, reacted as one and sprinted desperately toward the entrance of the crimson tower.

"Come on, kid!" Effie shouted, grabbing Sara's arm and pulling her along.

The young woman nodded and ran alongside the huntress, following the crowd. Yet, with each step she took, the sunlight seemed to grow more intense, more suffocating, more oppressive…

And then, suddenly, the nausea vanished.

Sara barely had time to process it before reaching the tower entrance, where Sunless and Caster waited, with Kai's semi-unconscious body at their feet.

But something else caught her attention.

Everyone's shadows stretched and extended into the depths of the tower, as if they were being sucked in by an invisible force.

And then, they saw it.

A second sun burned in the skies of the Forgotten Shore.

Sara's blood ran cold.

What the hell is happening in this damned nightmare?

"Everyone, don't waste time! Find the portal, quick!" Nephis arrived, carrying the blind seer on her back, her tone firm yet urgent.

Her command snapped the Dreamers out of their daze.

"Sunny, lead the way!"

Sunless locked eyes with Nephis for a brief moment, then nodded and bolted toward the corals, his shadow sliding unnaturally ahead of him.

"Follow me!"

Without hesitation, they all obeyed.

Sara ran as well, but before stepping into the coral maze, she caught sight of Nephis stopping for a moment, staring at the radiant sky with a stoic expression.

Then, without a word, she turned and followed them.

---

In the heavens, two suns roared.

The air trembled, as if the world itself were holding its breath before the impending clash.

The Aerial Terror hovered with majesty, its golden feathers gleaming like molten metal. In front of its beak, a radiant sphere grew without end, burning as though a miniature sun was being born within it.

Each beat of its wings unleashed furious gusts of wind, ripping chunks of the coral labyrinth apart and hurling them into the distance.

Below, Grey panted. His body felt heavy, as if the very atmosphere was crushing him. The air was suffocating, scorching. His Ascended armor shielded him from the extreme heat, but it could do nothing against the oppressive weight pressing down on his chest.

Shit, shit, shit… what the hell is this thing?

Every time he tried to move, the wind pushed him in different directions, as if he were a ragdoll at the mercy of a raging storm.

And then, he saw it.

The creature was both magnificent and terrifying. Its avian body was covered in golden liquid feathers, and sharp spines jutted from its back, giving it the aura of a vengeful deity. Four wings extended from its torso, radiating pure light.

And on its head…

A sphere of light grew endlessly, pulsing with indescribable power.

Grey barely had time to curse before a blinding radiance illuminated the sky.

The attack had been unleashed.

...

Across the labyrinth, the sun above the Crimson Tower flared with an overwhelming brilliance.

The Tower Terror had responded.

From the crimson star that ruled the Forgotten Shore, a pillar of light descended like the wrath of a god. Its target: the radiant eagle that had dared to challenge its reign.

The two lights clashed in the heart of the sky.

The impact was indescribable.

A wave of energy swept across the labyrinth, toppling walls and splitting cliffs in two. The shockwave hurled debris in all directions, and a deafening roar reverberated through the Forgotten Shore like the cry of a cataclysm.

At the core of the storm of light, the two titans continued to measure their strength, their energies battling for supremacy.

For an instant, the Forgotten Shore seemed to transform into a battlefield between two suns.

The battle for dominion over the Forgotten Shore had begun.

______

Note: Sorry for the short chapter, but I want to leave space for one or two more chapters for the battle between the Crimson Terror and the Radiant Terror.

By the way, as you may have noticed, I've started uploading chapters for this fanfic again. I'd like to take it at least to the end of the Forgotten Shore, which means we're now in the final stretch before the end of the volume.

I might continue it after that or bring it to a close there—I'm still not sure.

Also, the chapters won't be daily, not even close. I'll only upload when I have one written, and I'll write when I feel like it. So I won't promise any number of chapters per week, but I'll do my best to bring them.

With nothing more to say—good morning, good afternoon, and good night.