Chapter 19: The Ruby Annihilation - last part

[ ] = Doruuk thoughts

< > = Lillia thoughts

{ } = system message

"So, here's the plan," I say decisively, my eyes fixed on the tired faces of my companions. "First, we need to kill Doomclawe. Frenya, I'm giving you my crossbow. There's only one arrow left, soaked in the confusion potion."

I hand the weapon to Frenya, my hands still dirty with blood and mud.

"Your job is to hit the boss in any way possible. Once he's confused, he'll lose his ability to think clearly. Doomclawe will focus on healing Magnaror, and that will be our only chance." I pause, making sure both of them understand the gravity of the plan. "I'll climb onto Magnaror's back until I reach Doomclawe. He's not that strong on his own; his power lies only in his healing ability. I'll try to kill him by any means necessary."

Frenya looks at me with doubtful eyes, gripping the crossbow tightly. "But are you sure this will work?"

"It's the only thing we can do," I respond curtly, leaving no room for unjustified optimism. I turn to Lillia. "And you will help us with your magic."

At that precise moment, Doomclawe lets out a shrill cry that instantly dissipates all the smoke surrounding us, revealing our position.

"What was that?" Lillia asks, terror evident in her trembling voice.

"It's Doomclawe's active ability, called 'No Pain,'" I explain quickly. "It purifies every type of weakness or magic and grants immunity for ten seconds. Its cooldown time is two minutes." I turn toward the horizon, from where we can already hear the heavy footsteps approaching. "Prepare yourselves quickly! Magnaror is coming!"

Magnaror runs toward us like a crazed train. We dodge him by a hair's breadth, feeling the displacement of air caused by his enormous body.

"Let's wait another four seconds, then proceed with the plan!" I shout, counting mentally.

[One second, two, three, four...]

Frenya begins to scream with all the strength of her lungs, attracting Magnaror's attention. Doomclawe tries to warn the giant, but it's useless: Magnaror is immersed in blind fury and doesn't listen. When he rushes toward Frenya, Lillia casts a wind of fire on his face, distracting him further.

Frenya seizes the perfect opportunity and shoots the arrow, precisely hitting the boss's feet.

Magnaror staggers, entering a state of total confusion. His eyes lose focus, and his movements become uncoordinated. Doomclawe, immediately noticing the situation, prepares to heal him.

This is my moment.

I activate "Escape" and launch myself onto the boss's massive body. My muscles burn as I climb quickly, reaching the healer on his back.

Without hesitation, I begin stabbing him with my daggers, plunging them into his body repeatedly. Doomclawe desperately tries to push me away, to throw me off, but he's too weak compared to my fierce determination.

[Come on, die! Quick, die!]

I continue stabbing, harder and faster. Doomclawe's green blood sprays everywhere, staining my skin, my clothes. The smell is horrible, metallic and putrid at the same time, while his screams of pain fill the air.

[Just a bit more, hurry!]

With one last, violent thrust, I plunge both daggers into his neck. Blood gushes like a dark river. With a swift motion, I separate his head from his body and throw it far away.

Exhausted, I too fall from Magnaror's back, landing heavily on the ground.

Meanwhile, Lillia, quickly flipping through the book I had given her, finds the confusion spell and casts it again on Magnaror. The effect is immediate: the giant remains motionless, frozen in his position, trapped in the fog of his confused mind.

[Magnaror himself is stupid. He was only strong thanks to Doomclawe.]

As I struggle to get up, my eyes are drawn to an intense light. From Doomclawe's decapitated body emerges a luminous sphere, pulsating with pure energy.

"It's the Luminousa!" exclaims Frenya, incredulous.

"Yes!" confirms Lillia, her eyes wide with wonder.

[Who will be the one to take it?]

The Luminousa floats in the air, silently analyzing, seeking its ideal possessor.

After a few moments that seem eternal, the light intensifies and reveals a name.

It's Frenya.

"It chose me!" she exclaims, her voice vibrating with joy and disbelief.

"Congratulations," says Lillia, smiling sincerely.

"Congratulations," I mutter too, but the words come out heavy as lead.

[It should have been me.]

Frenya looks at me, sensing my discomfort. "You don't seem very happy. You wanted it, didn't you? I'm sorry it didn't choose you."

I don't respond. I watch in silence as Frenya absorbs the Luminousa, her body momentarily glowing with golden light.

"What are its abilities, Frenya?" asks Lillia, curious.

"As a passive, I have 'Continuous Regeneration,' which means I regenerate every time I'm wounded and it keeps me in shape without exhausting me," explains Frenya, examining the new sensations. "And as an active ability, I have 'No Pain,' which purifies any weakness present on me or my allies, with a cooldown of two minutes."

"That's wonderful!" exclaims Lillia, clapping her hands. "You'll become stronger, your defense will improve significantly."

[I hoped to have it myself. It should have been me.]

"Yes, it's fantastic," says Frenya, then turns toward the motionless giant. "But what do we do with him?"

"There's no need to fight him," I explain, returning to reality. "If during the effects of confusion you wound the victim, the effect breaks immediately. And anyway, we wouldn't be able to kill him; his hide is too tough, and he's much stronger than us." I turn to Lillia. "We just need you to renew the effect every time it wears off, until your family calls us back."

"I agree with you," nods Lillia. "But can we say then that we've won?"

A tired smile forms on my face. "Yes, we've won."

Lillia begins to jump for joy, her face illuminated by a radiant smile.

"Yes, we've won!" laughs Frenya, joining Lillia's enthusiasm.

[Yes, we can say we've won. At least that.]

I let myself fall to the ground, lying with my arms spread, and stare at the red sky above us. The dark clouds dance slowly, like silent witnesses to our battle.

"What are you doing, Doruuk?" asks Lillia, tilting her head with curiosity.

"Nothing," I reply softly. "I'm happy to be alive."

"Yes, thanks to you we're alive too, I have to admit it," says Frenya, with unexpected sincerity.

"You're alive because of my selfishness and nothing else," I respond coldly, my eyes still fixed on the sky.

Frenya sighs. "Can't you speak a little more kindly?"

"I'm speaking like a normal person."

Time passes slowly. Magnaror remains under the effect of confusion, motionless as a statue. Every time the spell is about to wear off, Lillia promptly casts a new one, keeping him in a state of perpetual unconsciousness.

And finally...

{Lillia Silverweyyn is about to execute "Immediate Recall". Get ready.}

"Quick, come here!" exclaims Lillia, her face lit up with relief. "We're about to return. Take my hand!"

[This adventure has also come to an end. Finally.]

{3}

{2}

{1}

{Initiating "Immediate Recall"}

A light so bright appears before our eyes that we are forced to close them, protecting ourselves with our arms.

{Transport in progress}

{Welcome back Lillia Silverweyyn to the city}

When I reopen my eyes, I find myself in the great hall of the guild. The air is fresh and clean, so different from the oppressive atmosphere of the world we just left.

[I'm back in the city. Alive.]

In front of us are several people. At the center stands an old man with long white hair and a thick beard. Next to him, a tall and robust barbarian, his face marked by battle scars, smiles at us, looking with surprise and admiration.

"Lillia, my daughter! You're alive!" exclaims the old man, his eyes filling with tears.

"Sweetheart, we came as quickly as possible," he responds, his voice broken with emotion. "But since time inside the portal flows much faster than here, we couldn't call you sooner. I apologize."

Lillia runs into her father's arms, holding him tight as if fearing to lose him again.

Even the barbarian, who I guess is Frenya's father, calls her to him. "Frenya, my warrior! You've returned! You're truly a lioness!" he laughs, opening his arms. "Come here and give your father a hug!"

While the daughters reunite with their families, I feel the gazes of the other men settling on me, studying me with curiosity and suspicion.

I remain motionless, the solitary figure in the middle of the hall. A man dressed in a long black coat, polished leather shoes, and a top hat on his head. My eyes are deep and impenetrable, my hands still stained with the blood of enemies. My face is almost devoid of emotion, impassive, while my clothes emit the smell of blood and death from the various monsters faced. My cutting gaze meets anyone who dares to look at me directly.

A heavy silence falls in the hall. No one speaks, but everyone observes me. In their eyes, I see contrasting emotions: disgust, surprise, confusion, fear.

"Lillia, who is he?" her father finally asks, breaking the oppressive silence.

"Dad, this is Doruuk, Doruuk Velor," Lillia responds, detaching from the embrace. "He's the one who helped us. Thanks to him, we managed to survive."

"Yes, Lillia speaks the truth," intervenes Frenya. "If it weren't for him, I don't know if we would have returned alive. Everyone died in there, except for us three, and that's only thanks to him."

People begin to murmur among themselves, incredulous. How could we have survived when all the other warriors had died? Some whisper that it must be just a lie, that it's impossible.

Right at that moment, a guard bursts into the hall, announcing loudly:

"In World 2, in the Void Prairie, a catastrophic event has occurred in which everyone died! We will soon bring their bodies. Anyone who wants to claim the body of their loved one, come with me and pay the fee for the service!"

At these words, everyone remains open-mouthed. The gazes return to me, more intense, more questioning. Who am I, who has defied death and emerged victorious?

My lips curve into a slight smile, almost imperceptible.

[I am Doruuk Velor. Remember this name from now on.]

Chapter-End.