Chapter 115 - The Pulse of Betrayal

Date: April X788 — Late Morning, Continued

Location: Chimera Forge Core Corridor

The hallway past the glyph wall felt alive, almost like a throat swallowing her deeper. The floor pulsed under Teresa's boots, copying her heartbeat — but off, like a distorted echo. The air felt heavy and stuck to her skin, thick with blood and burned magic.

Her eyes glowed faintly gold in the dim light. She stretched her senses forward, reading every movement and hidden magic ahead.

She kept moving, step by step. Her focus stayed sharp, each breath steady. Behind her, The Edge faded into her Requip space, leaving only the quiet sound of her steps.

The Heart Chamber

The hallway opened into a huge room. Broken pods lined the walls like empty shells. In the middle sat a large, living heart, beating slowly. It was wrapped in black veins and was full of broken relic pieces and mage cores. The veins spread outward like roots.

In front of it stood a tall, thin figure in tattered robes. Its face was covered by a bone mask covered in strange glyphs symbols.

It turned slowly to face Teresa.

"Silent Blade," it rasped. "Outside, you cut so cleanly. But in here… can you cut yourself?"

Teresa didn't react. She just gripped her sword tightly.

"You are the root," she said quietly, her voice calm and sharp.

The figure tilted its head and let out a thin laugh.

"Root? No… I am the result. The fruit of your legend. You chose restraint instead of full awakening. That gave me shape. I am your echo, given life."

A small flicker passed in Teresa's eyes, but it disappeared as fast as it came.

The figure raised an arm. The heart behind it shook. Dark tendrils pulled up more twisted creatures — half-finished, part-human, part-machine guardians. One even had a broken mask and a single human eye that looked terrified.

Teresa took a slow breath. The gold glow in her eyes grew stronger.

The first guardian ran at her. Teresa disappeared and reappeared behind it. Her sword lowered as the creature fell, sliced clean from shoulder to hip.

A second guardian rushed forward, swinging glowing whip-like arms. Teresa ducked low and moved inside its swing. She cut from the stomach to the chest. It collapsed in a burst of sparks.

The third one moved more slowly, holding a spear arm full of relic energy. Teresa stepped forward, hit the spear near its base, and made the energy bounce back into its body. It shook violently, then fell.

The masked figure started to laugh, a thin, broken sound.

"Yes! Cut them! Let your real power come out! You deny it, but it will eat you alive!"

Teresa looked up calmly. She still breathed evenly, though her golden glow brightened.

"You think rage is strength," she said. "You think awakening is giving in."

The figure trembled.

"It is evolution! The only truth!"

Teresa shook her head just slightly.

"No. I choose my center."

She took a deep stance. Her energy wrapped tightly around her, not wild but focused.

The figure lunged, sending out dark tendrils. The heart behind it screamed like a wild animal.

Teresa moved forward. She cut the tendrils with clean, small movements. Each step broke more roots. She slipped under one strike, sliced upward. Dodged another, elbowed it away, and finished with a clean cut.

She reached the figure in one quick rush. It froze, wide-eyed behind its mask.

Her blade stopped just short of its throat. The heart behind it pulsed wildly, veins flashing like a last scream.

"You do not deserve an echo," she whispered.

Then she swung — one clean, horizontal slice.

The mask split. The chest opened. The heart behind it burst at the same moment. The heart's final cry turned into a quiet mist that sank into the ground.

The room went completely silent.

Watching from Above

Romeo staggered backward, gasping for air like he'd been holding his breath. Tears welled in his eyes without him fully knowing why.

Kinana let out a shaky breath.

"She did it," she whispered.

Romeo swallowed hard, hands shaking around his wooden sword.

"She never screamed," he said. "She just… chose."

Kinana nodded, her eyes soft.

"That's why she's stronger than any monster."

The Aftermath

Teresa stood still for a long moment, her sword lowered. Dust spun around her like a quiet dance. The air felt open and light, like the whole valley had finally exhaled.

Behind her, The Edge appeared again, rolling up silently. She placed her hand on it; it hummed lightly and then disappeared back into her Requip space.

She turned toward the exit, her shoulders lowering as the golden light faded from her eyes. Her steps were slow and certain.

She didn't smile.

But her silence felt stronger than any victory roar.