Chapter 8: Bloodline Legacy

The flames roared ferociously, climbing high in front of Dio. His face remained stoic, devoid of emotion, but his heart trembled. The incantation he had just uttered felt heavy on his tongue—a grim reminder of the power he rarely wielded.

"Ah... I've finally used it again. Nagini will be furious," he muttered to himself, his gaze fixed on the raging fire consuming the creature that had dared to block his way.

Elsewhere, Rika struggled to carry Arya's unconscious body. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, and each step felt heavier than the last. Blood trickled from a small cut on her temple, but she pressed on.

"Arya... hang in there," she whispered, almost like a prayer. But before she could take another step, a chilling voice cut through the air behind her.

"Finally, I've found you, little girl," said Nagini, her voice sharp as a knife slicing through the night.

Rika stumbled back, her gaze locking onto the woman in the red dress whose eyes brimmed with menace. She tried to stand her ground, though her knees trembled.

"What do you want? I'm trying to save him, can't you see?" Rika tried to sound defiant, but her voice quivered.

Nagini's piercing gaze narrowed. "What can you even do?" she mocked, her tone dripping with disdain.

Rika clenched her fists. "Whatever it takes, I'm taking him to my mother. She'll know how to save him. Don't stop me!" she shouted, her voice cracking with anger and desperation.

Nagini raised an eyebrow. "Mother? Who are you even talking about?" she asked skeptically.

Tears welled up in Rika's eyes as she stared back fiercely. "Don't stop me! I've lost too much already. I can't lose anyone else!" she cried, her voice breaking the stillness of the night.

Nagini remained unmoved. In a flash, she struck Rika, slamming her against the wall with brutal force. Rika collapsed to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of her lips.

"Enough of this drama. You don't even know who you are," Nagini said coldly. But before she could continue, Rika's faint voice interrupted her.

"I don't care who I am. All I know is that I have to save him. If you want to stop me, then I'll fight you," Rika declared, her voice trembling but resolute.

Nagini smirked. "Try, little girl. But I warn you, I won't hold back."

The fight erupted. Rika tried to land punches and kicks, but each strike missed its target. Nagini moved like the wind, evading effortlessly. Yet something within Rika began to shift.

Her golden-yellow eyes turned a fiery crimson. The voice that came from her lips was no longer her own.

"Stop interfering with me," she said, her tone layered with two distinct voices.

Nagini narrowed her eyes. "So, you've finally surfaced," she muttered. "But I won't back down. I'll destroy you and every puppet you control."

Their battle intensified. This time, Rika wielded magic she had never possessed before. Explosions echoed through the air, shaking the city. Despite her newfound strength, Nagini remained superior. Eventually, Rika lay motionless on the ground, her body unable to move.

Nagini approached her. "It ends here," she declared, drawing a kris from her sash, ready to finish it. But as she neared, a sudden flash of memories flooded her mind. Rika's life unfolded before her like the pages of an open book.

Nagini saw a young girl smiling despite enduring cruelty. She saw Rika's struggles, her pain, and her unwavering kindness. Unnoticed, tears streamed down Nagini's cheeks.

"Mother lied," Rika murmured weakly, her voice barely audible. Yet those words pierced Nagini's heart like a dagger.

Nagini looked up, holding back her tears. The image of her first master surfaced in her thoughts. She remembered the promise she had made—a vow she had upheld despite the passage of time.

"Leave this place," Nagini said suddenly, her voice tired yet firm. "Take that human boy to the great tree in the center of the city. Do not take him anywhere else."

Rika stared at her, confused, but she didn't argue. With the last of her strength, she lifted Arya's body and began to move. Her steps were unsteady, but she kept going. Before disappearing into the fog, she turned back.

"Thank you," she said softly, her gentle smile radiating sincerity.

Nagini stood frozen. Her hardened heart began to soften. Rika's gaze and smile reminded her of a past she had long buried.

"Am I doing the right thing, my Lord?" she whispered, her eyes lingering on Rika's retreating figure as it vanished into the mist.

Note:

A "Bloodline Legacy" refers to individuals possessing heightened spiritual energy, making them highly sought after by supernatural beings. Each drop of their blood can amplify the strength and magic of those who consume it. This gift is inherited from ancestors who underwent sacred rituals, bearing the burden and responsibility of maintaining balance between the spirit world and the human realm.