Chapter130

Chad's POV

"Omnes in pulverem redeant, Ignis et tempestas regnant, Mors tibi et mihi veniat!"

Her voice rang out like a thunderclap, reverberating through the air. Deborah's sudden cry shattered the fragile moment between us, the words of the incantation rolling off her tongue with a force that sent chills through me.

I froze. I didn't understand the meaning of her words, but I knew with every instinct I had that it was dangerous—for her, for Lugh, for everyone.

I reached out, trying to stop her, but it was already too late.

The final word of her spell seemed to freeze the very air around us.

A pulse of energy rippled outward from her, distorting the atmosphere with a power so immense it felt as though it could consume the entire world.

And then, she collapsed.

Her body went limp, falling toward the ground like a marionette whose strings had been cut.

"Deborah!" I shouted, catching her just before she hit the ground.

Her weight sagged into my arms, and I cradled her close. For a brief moment, I thought she might still be conscious—but when I looked down, my breath caught in my throat.

Her pale, beautiful face was now streaked with crimson. Blood poured from her eyes, nose, and mouth, staining her skin with terrifying streaks.

Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but more blood gushed from her mouth instead, choking any words she might have spoken.

"Deborah!" I called her name again, my voice trembling with panic. "Deborah, can you hear me? Please, say something!"

She stirred faintly, her lips forming shapes that I couldn't decipher.

Blood bubbled from her throat as she tried to speak, the wet, gurgling sound crawling up my spine like icy fingers.

"Stop, don't try to talk!" I pleaded. "I'll help you—I'll fix this! Just stay with me, okay?"

But I didn't know how to help her.

I was utterly powerless, and it tore me apart.

I watched, helpless, as her life seemed to drain away before my very eyes.

Her blood ran hot over my hands, dripping onto the ground in a relentless rhythm. It burned through my skin, branding the memory of this moment into my soul.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps.

"Deborah!"

Matthew's voice rang out, sharp and desperate.

He appeared at my side in an instant, his eyes wide with panic as he knelt down and reached for her.

Before I could react, he had taken her from my arms.

He held her tightly against his chest, his hands trembling as he called her name over and over again, his voice thick with anguish.

But I couldn't hear him clearly.

There was a piercing ringing in my ears, drowning out every other sound.

The world seemed distant, its sounds muffled and its colors drained.

I could only watch as Deborah continued to choke on her own blood, her body jerking weakly in Matthew's arms.

Her movements slowed.

Her breaths grew shallower.

And then, they stopped.

She went still, her body lifeless in his embrace.

Matthew bowed his head, his forehead pressing gently against hers as if offering a final, silent prayer.

His shoulders shook, but whether it was from grief or anger, I couldn't tell.

I stood there, frozen.

The weight of her absence settled over me like a suffocating fog, and for a moment, I couldn't move.

Deborah was gone.

I turned my head slightly, my gaze falling on Lugh's corpse nearby.

He lay sprawled on the ground, his face contorted in a grotesque mask of fury and disbelief. His lifeless eyes stared blankly ahead, unseeing.

Even in death, he looked monstrous.

I stared at him, hatred boiling in my chest.

His death brought no relief, no closure—only an overwhelming bitterness.

Everything he had done, every twisted scheme, had led us to this moment.

He was the reason for all this suffering.

I tore my gaze away from him and slowly rose to my feet.

I couldn't stay here. Not like this.

Deborah had sacrificed everything to ensure this battle would end in victory.

Her death couldn't be in vain.

I turned and began walking toward the garden, my steps heavy but purposeful.

The flying vessel we'd prepared earlier was still there, waiting quietly amid the chaos.

I climbed into the cockpit, the familiar contours of the controls grounding me, however fleetingly.

My hands moved automatically, activating the systems and closing the hatch.

The noise outside faded into silence as the engines roared to life.

I gripped the controls tightly, my knuckles white, and pulled the ship into the air.

As we lifted off, I glanced out at the battlefield one last time.

"Deborah," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the hum of the engines. "This isn't over."

I set my sights on the distant horizon, where Hybrasil awaited.

She had fought for peace, for a future free of Lugh's tyranny.

And now, it was up to me to make sure her sacrifice wasn't wasted.