Chapter 16: The Ruby Annihilation part 3

[ ] = main character thoughts

Another scream tore through the sky, so powerful that our hearts seemed to stop for a moment.

I rushed to the window, followed by Frenya and Lillia. It was happening again: the old portals were vanishing while new ones appeared, more menacing than before. This time, in addition to the riders who moved swiftly on horseback, there were monsters and flying creatures darkening the sky. the new monsters would arrive in just 10 minutes.

"Now comes the real challenge," I said, observing the infernal landscape. "Those flying creatures similar to pterosaurs... their job isn't to physically attack, but to cloud the mind. Their screams are so piercing they distract warriors, causing excruciating pain that makes fighting impossible. And the riders have become faster and deadlier on their horses."

Frenya turned pale. "Now we're dead! For sure."

I looked her in the eyes without softening the reality. "Perhaps. But there's a minimal chance of survival. Let's at least try."

"So, what do you have in mind?" asked Frenya, nervously gripping the hilt of her sword.

"Wait and you'll see very soon," I replied, my mind already focused on the plan I was developing.

Silence fell upon us as we scrutinized the approaching horde. I could hear Frenya's labored breathing beside me, while Lillia remained motionless, her hands already prepared to cast a spell.

"First of all, we need to eliminate the flying creatures," I explained, pointing to the monsters circling above us. "If we don't take them down, we'll be in trouble. Lillia, this is your task. Frenya and I will support you with crossbow and bow, but we don't have many arrows. Don't waste your mana, only strike those closest to us."

Lillia nodded, determined. "Understood."

I turned to Frenya, whose gaze betrayed concern. "Frenya, we won't stay here long. We'll soon have to abandon this position, so stay ready."

"Alright," she responded, "but then what do you intend to do?"

"Lillia," I continued, momentarily ignoring Frenya's question, "when I tell you, you'll need to throw a fireball toward me."

Lillia's eyes widened. "Fine... but why?"

"What are you planning?" insisted Frenya, grabbing my arm. "Tell me now."

I sighed, preparing to explain. "This march of horseback riders is practically impossible to face in direct combat. They're too fast and powerful on their steeds. If you find yourself against more than one rider, you have slim chances of surviving." I paused, observing their reactions. "I anticipated this possibility, so before coming up here, I gathered all the combustible material I could find, creating a small mountain of waste. First I'll set everything on fire, and when the monsters are close enough, Lillia will launch her fireball causing a massive explosion. The monsters within range will be disintegrated, allowing you two to get away as far as possible."

"And you?" asked Frenya, her voice cracked with worry.

"I'll join you later," I replied in a neutral tone.

"Are you crazy? How will you manage? I'm coming with you," protested Frenya.

"There's no need," I replied curtly.

"Weren't you the one obsessed with survival? Why this sudden change?" she insisted, her eyes fixed on mine.

"Who told you I'll die? I'll return," I answered with a confidence I didn't truly feel.

"Let me come with you," pleaded Frenya.

I turned to Lillia. "You need to take care of her."

"I can handle myself, I don't need a babysitter," retorted Lillia with a flash of pride in her eyes.

"Don't be stupid," I cut short.

"Then let us come with you," insisted Lillia, unexpectedly agreeing with Frenya.

[Ah, these women, they're not listening to me. Stubborn as mules.]

"Fine," I finally conceded. "But I take no responsibility if anything happens to you."

Frenya smiled bitterly. "You've never taken any responsibility, not even before."

Struck by those words, I didn't respond. We headed toward the place where I had prepared the trap.

Once we arrived, Frenya and Lillia were left speechless before the enormous pile of combustible waste that stood before us.

"How did you manage to collect all this?" asked Frenya, astonished.

"I examined every corpse I deemed useful," I explained without emotion. "I checked more than fifty, pushing beyond the castle, into the surrounding areas."

Frenya looked at me suspiciously. "How did you survive out there alone?"

A cold smile crossed my face. "That's a secret."

[In reality, I repeatedly used the "escape" ability to succeed, but they can't know that. Not yet.]

"Lillia," I said, bringing attention back to the plan, "I want you to duplicate this flammable mixture that I'll pour onto the waste."

"Alright," she replied, concentrating to perform the spell.

Lillia duplicated the liquid and I quickly poured it over the pile. Meanwhile, the first monsters began to emerge from the portals, moving at an impressive speed.

"They're incredibly fast," murmured Frenya, her voice tense. "In very little time they'll be here."

"Let's deal with the flying ones first," I ordered, gripping the crossbow.

We began to take down as many flying creatures as possible. Lillia proved extraordinarily effective with her magic, while Frenya and I used bow and crossbow, aware that our arrows were rapidly diminishing.

Soon we had to stop to save ammunition, letting Lillia advance alone to continue the offensive. The flying creatures didn't represent a serious danger thanks to Lillia's "Peace" spell, which temporarily neutralized most weaknesses.

"Enough, Lillia," I shouted when I saw it was time. "It's time to proceed with the plan."

I set fire to the combustible waste, which caught quickly. "Get away!" I yelled as the flames rose toward the sky.

In a few moments, a mountain of fire stood before us. The monsters, attracted by the flames, accelerated in our direction.

[Good, they're coming exactly where I wanted them.]

The riders approached at full speed, their armor glittering in the glow of the fire.

"Lillia, Frenya, start moving away as far as possible," I ordered, keeping my eyes fixed on the approaching horde.

"And you?" asked Frenya, hesitating.

"Do as I told you," I replied with a cutting voice.

"Fine," she finally yielded, and the two began to move away rapidly.

[Good, the riders will reach me in a minute. When Lillia throws the fireball, I'll use my ability to escape.]

[Just thirty more seconds...]

"Lillia, now!" I shouted with all the breath I had in my lungs.

No response.

"Lillia, now!" I cried again, desperate.

Still nothing.

[What's happening? Why aren't they responding?]

I turned and saw with horror that Frenya and Lillia were surrounded by monsters.

[No, this shouldn't happen right now!]

I ran toward them to help, eliminating some monsters with the last arrows of my crossbow.

"Lillia, wake up!" I yelled. "Throw the fireball! The riders are already in front of the fire!"

"I can't do it now," replied Lillia, panic in her voice. "If I throw it, we'll also end up in the explosion radius!"

[If we do nothing now, it will all be over.]

"Lillia, come into my arms! Frenya, hold onto me!" I ordered urgently.

"Hey! This is no time to fulfill your last wishes!" protested Frenya, incredulous.

"Don't talk nonsense and hurry up!" I cut short.

With embarrassment, both complied. "Lillia, throw the fireball," I ordered.

"But..." she hesitated.

"Do it!" I shouted, my eyes fixed on the riders rapidly approaching.

Lillia cast the spell while I began to run using my ability.

[Their bodies are heavy, especially Frenya's, but I must run, I must outrun the explosion radius!]

The fireball flew swiftly toward the flaming mountain, while I ran as fast as possible, my legs burning from the effort.

[Faster, Doruuk Velor, faster!]

My legs were now the only hope of survival for all of us.

With one last, desperate effort, I launched myself forward.

And then... BOOM!

A devastating explosion ripped through the air with a deafening roar. Everything within the explosion radius was disintegrated, reduced to ash in an instant.

We had saved ourselves by a hair's breadth.

I rose slowly, noting that Lillia had fainted from shock while Frenya was trying to get back on her feet. My eyes saw only fire and smoke everywhere, a vision of pure devastation. No soul had remained alive except us three and the monsters that had not yet been reached by the explosion. In my mind, only the desperate will to survive.

"Doruuk," said Frenya, staring at me suspiciously, "how did you manage to run so fast carrying both of us?"

"Nothing special, just adrenaline," I replied, looking away.

"Don't joke with me," she insisted. "I've never seen you run so fast."

I hesitated a moment before answering. "I have the Luminousa of a fast monster."

[I lied. I don't know what would happen if I revealed the truth about my ability.]

Frenya scrutinized me, unconvinced. "If you had it, you could have said so before."

"It wasn't necessary," I cut short. "Now wake Lillia, we're not finished yet."

The flying creatures and some riders had survived, despite the enormous number of casualties caused by the explosion. Fighting against them still seemed an impossible task.

Lillia awakened shortly after, confused and disoriented.

"And now what do we do? Fight?" asked Frenya, bow already ready.

I observed the situation, quickly evaluating the options. "I don't know, but for now let's do this: see those three riders approaching? Let's eliminate them and take their horses to get as far away as possible. The final boss has yet to arrive, and he's much more powerful. We need to focus on survival and hope that your family activates the 'immediate recall'."

"How can we be sure they will?" asked Frenya, doubtful.

I looked her in the eyes, trying to instill a determination I didn't completely feel. "We can't know. But to avoid giving up, let's create the illusion in our minds that they will."

Chapter-End.