Chapter 80: Fire Punch
The ruined streets of the Land of Sovereignty blurred around Xyenn as he darted forward, leaping from rooftop to rooftop with inhuman speed. His feet barely touched the crumbling tiles before he propelled himself to the next building, his movements so fast they left streaks of black and crimson in the air. His bloodied chest heaved as he pushed himself harder, his cursed left arm screaming in pain with every motion.
The golden light of the city was a blur around him, its once-pristine streets now drenched in chaos. Fires burned, debris rained down from above, and the Serpent's violent thrashing echoed in the distance. Xyenn's eyes burned with desperation, scanning every corner of the city as he searched for the brazier.
'Where is it? Where is it?' His thoughts raced as his body moved faster than ever, darting across narrow alleys and shattered towers. His claws dug into walls as he scaled them in seconds, his movements erratic and animalistic. Blood dripped from his wounds, leaving a faint trail behind him, but he didn't care. He couldn't stop.
The Serpent's roar shook the ground beneath him, and Xyenn's gaze darted upward for a split second. Its massive, corrupted body writhed in the distance, tearing through the city like a force of nature. The Sirens were engaging it, their glowing forms clashing against the beast's overwhelming darkness.
Xyenn's focus snapped back to his mission. 'The brazier. Find the brazier!'
He darted into the streets, his feet pounding against the ground as he weaved through the wreckage. His speed was blinding, his form a blur as he tore through the chaos, his black dragon tail trailing behind him. His breaths came in ragged gasps, his dark red eyes scanning every corner of the city for his target.
And then he saw it.
At the far end of the Land of Sovereignty, atop a massive golden dome that gleamed faintly in the chaos, the brazier stood. Its flames burned bright white and gold, a beacon of purity amidst the destruction. The dome's surface shimmered with intricate carvings of Lancelot's sigils, glowing faintly beneath the brazier's light.
Xyenn's heart pounded as he locked onto it. 'There it is!'
He crouched low, preparing to launch himself toward it, but before he could move, a sudden burst of energy surged behind him. Two of the Sirens—Olnir Vast and Belith Corsai—appeared in a flash of light, their glowing forms closing in on him with terrifying speed.
"Stop him." Olnir's deep voice boomed, his gauntleted claws crackling with golden energy as he lunged toward Xyenn.
Belith followed closely, his smirk gone, his golden eyes narrowed with deadly focus. The tattoos on his arm pulsed with energy as he raised his hand, summoning a blade of pure light. "You're not going anywhere, 'boy of darkness.'"
But before they could reach him, the ground beneath them erupted.
The Serpent's massive body burst from the earth, its corrupted scales tearing through the golden streets in an explosion of rubble and debris. Its glowing eyes locked onto the Sirens as it roared, its voice a guttural mix of fury and malice.
The beast's tail lashed out, forcing Olnir and Belith to dodge as chunks of stone and golden dust filled the air. The Sirens turned their attention to the creature, their glowing forms darting toward it as they prepared to suppress it.
The distraction was all Xyenn needed.
'Idiots..'
He darted upward, his body a flicker of speed as he scaled the dome with desperate speed. His claws dug into the shimmering surface, his blood smearing against the golden carvings as he climbed. His vision blurred from exhaustion, but he forced himself forward, his gaze locked on the brazier above.
But just as he reached the halfway point, a sudden, searing pain erupted inside him.
A burst of destructive light exploded within his chest, sending him reeling. Blood erupted from his mouth, ears, and nose as his body convulsed violently. His claws slipped, and he screamed, his voice raw and guttural as he tried to regain control.
"AGHH!"
'Where..is he looking at me from?!'
The pain was unbearable, burning through him like molten fire. His vision swam as he fought to steady himself, but his body betrayed him. With a final burst of pain, he fell.
Xyenn plummeted through the dome, crashing through its golden surface in a shower of debris. He hit the ground hard, the impact sending a shockwave through the massive chamber below.
Groaning, Xyenn slowly sat up, his body trembling. Blood dripped from his mouth as he clutched his weapons, his breaths ragged and shallow. The chamber around him was vast, its walls rusty and grey, covered in faint, glowing runes. The air was thick with the scent of iron and decay, and every breath felt like swallowing ash.
In the center of the chamber, the ritual circle glowed an ominous red. Its intricate patterns pulsed like a heartbeat, each second growing stronger and more menacing. Black blood seeped from the runes, pooling around the circle as unholy screams echoed from within it. The sound was a chorus of Hell itself, a cacophony of torment and despair that clawed at Xyenn's mind.
Around the circle, clerics knelt in broken, contorted positions. Their faces were pale and lifeless, black blood streaming from their eyes as they chanted in low, guttural voices. Their words were incomprehensible, but the power behind them was undeniable, feeding the ritual with every syllable.
Xyenn's eyes widened in horror as he struggled to stand. "No… wait… stop it! You don't know what you're doing! You—."
Before he could move, a quick motion shot toward him.
Sugred.
The man appeared in front of Xyenn in an instant, his glowing form a mix of divine power and madness. His hand shot out, grabbing Xyenn by the throat and lifting him off the ground with terrifying ease.
Xyenn choked, his hands clawing at Sugred's grip as his feet dangled above the ground. He raised his weapons, slashing wildly at Sugred's chest and stomach. The Dark Sun Blade tore through his flesh, and Yuuna's scythe left deep, burning gashes, but Sugred didn't flinch.
"AGHHHH!" Xyenn roared as he slashed and slashed.
Instead, Sugred laughed.
The sound was broken, unhinged—a mix of manic joy and deep sorrow. Tears streamed down Sugred's face, mixing with the blood pouring from his wounds.
But Sugred wasn't crying.
"…The Holy Land…" Sugred muttered, his voice trembling. "Do you see it, boy? The power of the light… what Samuel expects of me… what I must do…"
Xyenn screamed, slashing again and again, his weapons carving through Sugred's flesh. Blood sprayed across the chamber, but Sugred didn't falter. His grip on Xyenn's throat tightened, his glowing eyes flickering with madness.
"I see it now!" Sugred laughed, his voice rising. "The visions of Hell… they claw at me, they tear at me, but I will replace them! I will replace them with light!"
The clerics' chanting grew louder, their voices echoing through the chamber as the ritual circle pulsed violently. The screams of Hell intensified, shaking the walls as the red glow grew brighter.
Xyenn's vision blurred as Sugred's grip crushed the air from his lungs. His arms trembled as he continued to slash, his guttural cries echoing through the chamber. Desperation consumed him.
"Stop… it…" Xyenn rasped, his voice barely audible. "If you even open it for one second…you'll unleash Hell in Kyrrin…you already risked the lives of your clerics to perform the ritual..you'll only be risking more after this."
Sugred's laughter turned into sobs as he stared into Xyenn's eyes. "The Holy Land will rise… I will not fail them… I will not fail him! Not after everything we've been through…to make this dream a reality. It's like..it's like he knew all along. That day he asked me what I would do if I was a leader? It's like he foresaw everything! He trusted me! I can't let this fail..he was the only one who actually had time to spend with me, as a friend. My parents were no exception. They even told me they wouldn't want anything to go with me if I wasn't chosen as Lancelot's vessel. Look how far I've come.."
"So you would..unleash Hell just to prove a point?! People would die..it'll be an apocalypse.."
"I am not King Haldrek! I am not a broken father like him! I am not doing this to prove a point or to get revenge! It's for getting rid of the darkness! The Holy Land will make Hell into a land of light! It was Samuel's dream after all..and it was mine. I wasn't chosen at first, but I was chosen for this. That counts for something…boy. I don't do this to prove a point, that's how people get caught up with themselves and end up failing, I do this because I'm worthy of it. I've worked too hard, slaughtered so many witches, and even tried to sacrifice my former wife, just to get Lancelot's approval before..but now I don't care. It made me see that proving a point is worthless. Humans do it to seem egotistical, and it makes them prideful. That's how you fail. I won't be a failure anymore..I'm saving the world. And you dare try and stop me? Are you sure you're not the villain?"
"Don't lump me in with you…there's no telling what's gonna jump out the portal once the ritual finishes!"
Sugred's tears mixed with his blood as he screamed, his voice filled with equal parts agony and joy. The mask on the Serpent was still affecting Sugred's vision, shoving dark visions into his head.
And Xyenn, still held by the throat, could do nothing but watch in horror.
'This is insane….'
The chamber was tense, the air thick with blood, heat, and the stench of despair. Xyenn's body convulsed in Sugred's crushing grip, his weapons still frantically slashing at Sugred's chest and stomach, though his swings grew slower and weaker. His strength was fading, his vision blurred by exhaustion and blood loss, but he refused to stop.
Sugred, however, remained calm. His pale, bloodstreaked face softened as he released a long, shuddering sigh of relief. His grip loosened slightly, though Xyenn's body still dangled limply in his hand like a broken doll.
"I've severed it," Sugred murmured to himself, his voice hollow. He tilted his head back, closing his glowing eyes as his body shuddered. "The Serpent… it's no longer tied to me. I've done it…"
Xyenn, barely able to breathe, still forced himself to act. He raised the Dark Sun Blade weakly, slashing at Sugred's ribs, but the strike was slow, barely grazing him. Sugred looked at him with a strange mix of pity and amusement.
"You don't give up, do you?" Sugred said, his voice soft, almost wistful. He studied Xyenn's bloodied, battered face and let out a faint chuckle. "You remind me of him… of Samuel. So young, yet so brave. So stubborn. So full of strength, even when you have nothing left."
"Fuck you…stop the ritual!"
With that, Sugred released his grip, dropping Xyenn unceremoniously to the ground. Xyenn hit the rusty floor hard, his body crumpling. His weapons clattered beside him, but he immediately began crawling away, his bloodied hands leaving streaks of crimson on the cold surface.
"I need…" Xyenn rasped, his voice barely audible over the chanting of the clerics. "I need… to light the brazier…"
Sugred turned, walking slowly toward the glowing ritual circle in the chamber's center. The runes on the floor pulsed brighter with each passing second, and the screams of Hell emanating from the circle grew louder and more chaotic. The clerics kneeling around it were slumped forward, their faces pale and lifeless as black blood streamed from their eyes and mouths.
"They did me a great service. Now they will rest in peaceful death—."
Xyenn yelled, "You asshole! They're in hell…you made them create the ritual..and now they're bound to it! Anyone who prepares a ritual will have to bind the slaves to the dark magic like the witches do..their souls already bound to the darkness and the First Monarch's control…"
"It doesn't matter! Because once I conquer Hell and the First Monarch, they'll be in the Holy Land!"
Sugred tilted his head slightly, his smile widening as he regarded the glowing circle. "And for Yuuna… I had a feeling she'd cause havoc," he murmured, half to himself. "That girl is clever, I'll give her that. But it doesn't matter. I won't chase her. My Sirens will handle her."
He turned to glance at Xyenn, who was still crawling weakly toward the chamber's edge, dragging his broken body forward with sheer willpower.
"No…" Xyenn rasped, his voice hoarse with desperation. "No… you don't… understand…"
Sugred's expression darkened, and in a flash, he appeared beside Xyenn, grabbing him by the back of his neck and lifting him off the ground with ease. Xyenn groaned in pain, his body limp, but his eyes still burned with defiance.
"You'll do just fine," Sugred said with a smile, his tone disturbingly calm. "Yuuna may have been my first choice, but you… you'll suffice. In fact, I think you might even be better."
Xyenn snarled weakly, his claws twitching as he tried to swing his weapons, but his strength was gone.
Sugred continued, his voice taking on a reverent tone. "I can't leave this place. The ritual is already nearing its peak. The bridge to Hell will open for one second… and one second only. That's all the time I have. I can't risk missing it. I don't have time for distractions or mistakes."
He leaned closer, his glowing eyes locking onto Xyenn's. "But you… you can guide me through Hell. If you can't, I'll use you to lure the First Monarch to me. Either way, you'll serve me. You'll serve Samuel's dream."
Sugred's smile widened, but Xyenn's bloody lips curled back in a weak snarl. "Why don't… you include Lancelot?" Xyenn hissed, his voice filled with venom. "You… worship Samuel more than Lancelot, don't you?"
The words struck a nerve. Sugred's smile vanished, replaced by a cold, furious glare. His grip on Xyenn tightened.
"I am only Lancelot's vessel," Sugred growled, his voice low and dangerous. "Do you know why? Because Samuel chose me. Samuel, the former vessel of Lancelot himself, told the Dragon God that if anything were to happen to him, I would be his successor. Lancelot agreed, but hated it. That's why I stand here now, carrying Samuel's will. Fuck Lancelot. He's scared..no matter how strong he is, for some reason he hates being near Yuuna."
Sugred's voice grew louder, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "And Lancelot? He fears Yuuna. His own granddaughter. He wants to use her first, then to kill her, because he knows she's a threat to his plans. But now I think…" He paused, his glowing eyes narrowing. "I think you'll suffice. You'll be my tool."
"You must be stupid…I'm not your tool…"
"The weakest things in life are the tools we use to build, but the tools can be used to destroy. You let a demonic goddess turn you into a weapon. It has gotten to your head, to defy me, a vessel of an elder dragon god whom I can't stand!"
Xyenn's chest heaved as his body trembled, his bloodied hands twitching weakly. His weapons slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground.
Sugred's smile returned, soft and approving. "Good," he said, his voice calm again. "You're finally being reasonable."
For a moment, silence filled the chamber, save for the faint chanting of the clerics and the pulsing hum of the ritual circle. Sugred turned slightly, preparing to continue his speech—
But in an instant, Xyenn's knee shot upward with brutal force, slamming into Sugred's chin.
The impact was devastating. Sugred's head snapped back, blood spraying from his mouth as his body staggered. Xyenn dropped to the ground, landing heavily on his knees, but he immediately pushed himself upright, his fists igniting with flames.
The black-and-pink flames of Yuuna's scythe combined with the dark yellow-and-black sun flames from the Dark Sun Blade, coating Xyenn's fists in an inferno of destruction. With a guttural roar, Xyenn swung his flaming fist into Sugred's face, the force of the punch sending him flying.
Sugred's body smashed through the dome, tearing through the walls in a shower of debris and smoke.
Xyenn stood there, panting heavily, his chest heaving as he watched the destruction. But before he could catch his breath, a burst of light erupted in front of him, and Xyenn found himself teleported outside of the dome in the air.
Sugred appeared, his face calm and smiling, though blood dripped from his lips. Without hesitation, the two charged at each other.
Their fists collided mid-air in a devastating explosion of energy, the sheer force breaking the sound barrier. The shockwave tore through the surrounding ruins, sending debris flying in all directions.
Sugred pressed his palm forward, a glowing rune of light forming on his hand. With a sudden burst of force, he slammed his palm into Xyenn's chest, sending him hurtling back into the dome.
Xyenn's body smashed into the ground, the impact shaking the chamber as smoke filled the air.
High above, Sugred floated in the air, his expression calm and thoughtful. He glanced down at his arm—or rather, where his arm used to be. His right arm was gone, severed cleanly at the shoulder.
Sugred tilted his head slightly, unfazed. "You're really odd…" he murmured, his voice tinged with curiosity.
He teleported back into the chamber, his glowing form appearing amidst the smoke. As the dust cleared, his gaze locked onto Xyenn.
Xyenn stood slowly, his body trembling but defiant. His face was twisted into a menacing snarl, blood dripping from his mouth and nose. His sharp teeth were clamped tightly around Sugred's severed arm, holding it sideways in his jaws like a predator savoring its prey.
The sight was monstrous. Xyenn's black dragon horn glinted in the dim light, his third vertical eye glowing faintly. His scales shimmered with a dark, deadly energy, and his bloodied form exuded raw malice.
Sugred smiled faintly, his eyes narrowing. "Menacing," he said softly, his tone both amused and intrigued.
…
The vast chamber was silent, save for the faint echo of Yuuna's footsteps against the cold stone floor. The space was immense, a cavernous emptiness cocooned in ancient stone walls that stretched high above. Dust particles floated lazily in the air, illuminated by the faint blue glow of astral magic that pulsed softly from the figure at the center of the room.
King Samuel's sealed body stood there, encased in stone, its surface rough and cracked with age. Yet, despite the wear, there was an undeniable majesty to it. Samuel stood tall—slightly taller than Yuuna—with his head held high and his arms at his sides, his posture proud even in stasis. The faint sparkling magic wrapped around his stone form like a veil, shimmering in waves. The air around him hummed lightly, heavy with power and history.
Yuuna moved closer, her dark aura fading as her expression softened. Her sharp pink eyes studied the statue, taking in every detail. The room was eerily clean in terms of illumination, bathed in astral light, but the ground was filthy—dirt and debris scattered everywhere, as if no one had dared to clean this sacred yet forsaken place in years.
Behind her, Rye was crawling, struggling to push herself up. Blood dripped down her chest from the wound Yuuna had inflicted earlier, and her silver-feathered wings hung limply behind her. She managed to stand, though her legs wobbled beneath her.
"You should leave," Yuuna said without turning to face her. Her voice was cold but not harsh. "You don't stand a chance against me. Fighting would only make things worse for you."
Rye glared at her, hatred and desperation flashing across her face. Her fists tightened at her sides, trembling. "You think you've already won?" she spat, her voice hoarse. "You think dragging me here means you get to tell me what to do? No. I demand you fight me!"
Yuuna's shoulders tensed briefly, but she still didn't turn around. Instead, her voice rose, sharp and commanding. "Go!" The single word echoed throughout the chamber, reverberating off the walls like a warning bell.
Rye flinched, her defiance faltering.
Yuuna exhaled deeply, her next words quieter, almost as if she were trying to reason with Rye. "I'm trying to be decent with you. I don't want to kill you. Because I said I wouldn't, since you helped me. Do you even understand what Sugred sent the Sirens to do all those years ago? You hunted down the clerics who followed Illyana like they were animals. You don't stand a chance against me, and I don't want to make things worse for you. Please…I'm giving you an option." Yuuna said with sorrow. "But if you keep trying to fight me, I'll have to end you."
Rye's fists lowered slightly, but her jaw clenched tightly. Her wings drooped further as she took a shaky step back.
Her voice cracked as she spoke. "…I hate that I'm this weak. I hate that I led you here. I hate myself for doing it." Her knees buckled, and she fell to the ground. She reached a trembling hand into her chest, her fingers closing around the glowing shard embedded within her.
Yuuna turned slightly, just enough to see Rye out of the corner of her eye.
Rye's voice was barely above a whisper now, bitter and full of regret. "I wanted to see the Holy Land. That's all I ever wanted. But now…" She let out a hollow laugh, tears streaming down her face. "I'm no better than Illyana, am I? A traitor. A failure."
Her fingers tightened around the shard, and with a sickening crunch, she crushed it.
The light in her chest dimmed, and her body convulsed as the energy holding her together faded. Blood trickled from her mouth as she looked up at Yuuna one last time. "I… I thought I could kill you. Sneak up on you, use my speed, call for help… But I couldn't. I couldn't even try. I don't know why, but even with all the darkness in you, I knew you wouldn't kill me. And yet… Sugred won't spare me either."
She coughed, her voice growing weaker. "A failure in every sense of the word…"
Yuuna turned fully to face her now, her expression blank. She stared at Rye for a long moment before finally speaking. "You don't deserve pity." Her voice was cold, cutting. "You don't deserve mercy either. You're a murderer. So are the rest of the Sirens. You killed innocent clerics. You hunted down anyone who didn't bow to your light."
Rye looked down, her hands trembling.
Yuuna's tone softened slightly, though it was no less bitter. "But..I don't deserve pity either. I was evil once too. Worse than you could imagine. You and all you other clerics know this about me already, that I did terrible things, and I've had to live with them every day. I don't deserve mercy, and I don't ask for it. I'm just trying to outweigh all the wrong I've done with something better. That's all I can do. I don't deserve happiness…that feeling is supposed to be foreign to me. But for some reason, I'm happier than I ever been.."
Rye blinked slowly, her lips curling into a faint, sad smile. "Then… we should've gone with Illyana, shouldn't we? Are we really even happy here? Or forced to be? For power? Light? Promises? We're we desperate..?"
Yuuna's expression didn't change.
"How is she?" Rye asked softly. "Is she… alive?"
"She's better," Yuuna replied. "She's free now. Not bound to any bullshit light. She's not being sacrificed to your god, or anyone else, for some ritual."
Rye chuckled weakly, her smile growing faintly brighter. "I'm glad… I guess you're building your own Holy Land, aren't you?"
Her voice trailed off as her body slumped forward, lifeless.
Yuuna stared at Rye's fallen form for a moment, her expression unreadable. She didn't say a word. Slowly, she turned back toward Samuel's sealed body.
The statue of the king loomed over her, its presence both powerful and solemn. The faint astral magic surrounding it pulsed gently, like the heartbeat of a sleeping giant. Yuuna stepped closer, her dark aura fading completely as she reached the base of the statue.
She tilted her head back, her dark pink eyes gazing up at Samuel's face. His features were strong, regal, even in stone.
Yuuna took a deep breath, steadying herself. This was it.
She prepared to sing.
The air was heavy and still as Yuuna stood before the sealed, stone body of King Samuel. She stared at the figure, her chest rising and falling as she took a steadying breath. Her pink eyes softened as she gazed at him, his form encased in the astral magic that shimmered faintly like a starry veil.
She closed her eyes, and the words came to her, soft at first, then growing stronger as her voice echoed through the chamber.
🎵 "In the fields where roses bloom,
Under skies of bronze and gold,
A song of light, a heart of flame,
A story waiting to be told." 🎵
🎵 "Through the dark, where shadows stay,
We ride to chase the night away,
A sword of light, a bond of kin,
A love that burns within." 🎵
Her voice carried through the vast space, bouncing off the ancient stone walls and filling the void with its haunting melody. She sang the lyrics again, her tone unwavering, her heart steady.
As the song flowed, she felt something behind her. It was faint, almost imperceptible at first—a warmth, a light, like the touch of someone gently placing their hands on her shoulders. It felt peaceful, comforting. She could almost hear a faint whisper of encouragement, but Yuuna didn't turn. She didn't acknowledge it. Her focus couldn't falter now.
🎵 "In the fields where roses bloom,
Under skies of bronze and gold,
A song of light, a heart of flame,
A story waiting to be told." 🎵
🎵 "Through the dark, where shadows stay,
We ride to chase the night away,
A sword of light, a bond of kin,
A love that burns within." 🎵
As the last note faded into silence, Yuuna opened her eyes and stared at the stone figure. The air remained still. Nothing happened.
Her chest tightened, and a flicker of doubt crept into her expression. Her lips moved silently before she whispered, "No way… it didn't work?"
But then, a faint crack echoed through the chamber.
Her breath caught as she saw a thin fracture spiderweb its way across the stone surface. The crack widened, and from it, a piercing beam of white light shot out, illuminating the room. More cracks began to spread, each one glowing with a blinding brilliance.
The astral magic surrounding the statue pulsed violently, sparking in all directions as if responding to an ancient call. A powerful gust of wind erupted from the figure, swirling through the chamber with such force that Yuuna had to shield her face. Dust and debris whipped around her, and her hair flared wildly in the storm of power.
The cracks deepened, and the light intensified, its brightness so overwhelming that it bathed the entire chamber in white. Yuuna stumbled back slightly, sliding across the dusty floor as the force pushed her, but she caught herself, digging her heels in.
The statue began to crumble, pieces of stone breaking away and falling to the ground in bursts of light and astral magic. The debris dissolved into nothingness before it even hit the floor. The winds grew stronger, howling through the chamber, and Yuuna could only watch in awe as the ancient power of King Samuel began to awaken.
Finally, with a deafening BOOM, the stone exploded outward, releasing a shockwave of energy that rattled the entire chamber. Yuuna skidded back once more, shielding her eyes from the blinding light.
And then… silence.
The room was still again, save for the faint shimmer of lingering astral magic that drifted like embers in the air. A thick veil of smoke and dust obscured the center of the room, swirling slowly before it began to clear.
Yuuna lowered her arm and blinked through the haze. As the smoke dissipated, her breath hitched.
There he stood.
King Samuel.
His royal attire was pristine—white and gold robes that flowed gracefully around him, bearing intricate patterns of light and runes. A long white cape draped from his shoulders, its edges glowing faintly. His short, flowing white hair shimmered as if kissed by divine light, and his golden eyes burned with a quiet intensity. Dust clung to parts of his skin, remnants of his long imprisonment, but his presence was undeniable.
Yuuna's lips slowly curled into a small smile as she whispered, "King Samuel…"
Samuel's eyes locked onto her, his expression unreadable. He didn't say a word, simply standing there, his posture regal and imposing.
Yuuna stepped forward quickly, her voice urgent. "We need to stop Sugred! He's about to unleash Hell!"
At her words, Samuel raised his hand slowly. Yuuna's voice faltered as she watched, her eyes widening. From the air itself, the Sword of Sovereignty began to form in his grip.
The blade was breathtaking. Its hilt was adorned with brilliant jewels that glinted in the faint light, and runes etched along the length of the blade glowed softly, shifting like liquid light. The blade itself was radiant, a pure beam of light given form, its edges sharp enough to cut through the very fabric of existence.
Yuuna gasped, her heart racing. "That—" she stammered. "That's supposed to be in the Ohnupilath Tree!"
Samuel didn't respond. Instead, he moved.
In an instant, he was in front of her.
The sheer speed of his movement caught Yuuna completely off guard. One moment, he was across the room; the next, he was inches from her, his golden eyes boring into hers.
Before she could react, he raised the Sword of Sovereignty high, its blade glowing with blinding light as magic swirled around it.
Yuuna's breath caught as she realized his intent. The blade descended quickly, cutting through the air toward her.
Time seemed to slow as Yuuna's mind raced.
Her lips trembled as another thought struck her. 'I'm split… Xyenn will die. His soul is tied to the same darkness. It's always deadly…I'm happy because he's a part of my life, and the Tyrants are with me.'
Her brow furrowed, and her heart ached as she thought of the Tyrants, of Xyenn, of everything they'd been through. Her chest tightened as the weight of the decision pressed down on her. 'I want to outweigh my bad deeds with good ones. I want to use the power I once terrorized the world with and turn it into salvation.'
"Because I've been saved…"
She closed her eyes briefly, a single tear slipping down her cheek. "I'm sorry, Mother…" she whispered.
'Thank you, for thinking of me..'
At the last second, Yuuna dodged, twisting her body and leaping away from the blade.
The Sword of Sovereignty struck the ground.
The impact was catastrophic.
A catastrophic KATHOOM erupted as the blade connected with the stone floor, releasing a blinding wave of light magic that tore through the chamber. The ground split apart violently, massive cracks ripping through the floor in jagged patterns. Entire sections of the ground collapsed, sending debris tumbling into the dark abyss below.
The walls shook, chunks of stone breaking away and crashing to the floor. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the air, creating powerful gusts that threw dust and debris everywhere.
Yuuna hovered in the air above the destruction, her dark aura flaring to steady herself. She looked down at the devastation, her breath shaky as she tried to process the sheer power of Samuel's strike.
Samuel slowly lifted his gaze to her, his golden eyes calm but unrelenting. His body rose from the ground, hovering effortlessly as he leveled his sword toward her.
Yuuna's voice was steady, but her heart pounded in her chest. "Why…" she asked, her voice sharp. "Why is he swinging at me the second he's freed?!"