Chapter 73: The Real Power of the Enemy
Melissa’s POV
I was motionless. My mind was having trouble processing what I was witnessing, and my body was motionless. The leader of the enemy stood in front of me, a strange, unnatural radiance flowing through their body. They were encircled by strands of dark energy that linked them to the broken Heart of Creation that was hovering over them.
Their voice echoed, twisted, as though it were overlaid with something alien. “You look surprised, Melissa,” they said. “Did you think you could stop us?”
My heart was racing. “What have you done?”
They held up a smirking hand. Beneath their skin pumped dark veins that glowed like molten lava. “I’ve evolved beyond my role as a leader. Power itself is who I am.
The earth shook under my feet. With its broken fragments still connected to them by unseen energy connections, the shattered crystal pulsed.
In a horrified voice, “You fused yourself with the Heart,” I said.
I got chills from their laughing. Fantastic, isn’t it? When the Heart was fractured, it was feeble, but now that I am its vessel, it is whole again. They stepped closer, the alien light blazing in their eyes. “And now, I am invincible.”
I tightened my jaw. No. They had to be stopped somehow. “You have no idea what you’ve done. That authority-”
“-is mine!” They raised their hands and interrupted me. I was thrown backward by a violent force that slammed into me. My body ached from the impact, and I barely made it to my feet.
“You feel that?” They grinned more broadly. “That was just a fraction of my strength.”
I tightened my hold on my dagger as I stabilized myself. “Then I’ll just have to take that strength away.”
I made a lunge.
As my blade cut through the air, a wall of dark energy surged outward, sending me flying across the chamber before it could reach them. Breathless, I slammed onto the stone floor.
“You’re an idiot,” they mocked. “Melissa, you cannot stop me. Nobody can.
With my eyes swimming, I forced myself to stand. “I’m not done yet.”
But I was secretly tortured by doubt. What could I do to combat something that had merged with the very Heart of Creation?
The room grew dark before I could move again. An icy presence permeated the atmosphere, and a gentle, melodious voice resounded all around us.
The goddess was here.
A person appeared out of the shadows as the air glistened. The goddess’s figure glowed with heavenly brightness as her presence filled the room. She met my gaze with her beautiful eyes.
“Melissa,” she continued in a soft yet firm voice, “you have to stop.”
I took a deep breath. “You’re not getting it. They will destroy everything if I don’t stop them right away.
The deity gave a headshake. “If you destroy them, you will destroy the Heart as well.”
I went cold. “What?”
She held out a hand, and all of a sudden, I saw images. The equilibrium was upset, the magical realm was disintegrating, and chaos was taking over.
“The Heart of Creation is more than just a source of power,” she said. “All realms are connected by this thread. Everything you know will also vanish if it does.
My stomach twisted. “What am I then expected to do? Let them win, please.
The goddess’ face grew serious. “No. However, you need to discover an alternative.
The opposing leader laughed behind me. Thus, even the goddess acknowledges that I am unbeatable. How lovely.
I balled my fists up. “There must be an alternative. Inform me.
The goddess’ eyes grew softer. “There is… but it comes at a cost.”
Before she could say another word, the chamber was torn apart by a violent burst of energy. As their power surged, the adversary chuckled.
They sneered, “You waste your time with riddles,” “Melissa, your fate is set. You will tumble with your pack.
My gaze returned to the goddess. “Tell me what I need to do!”
I met her golden gaze. “You must be willing to sacrifice everything.”
I gasped. Her words began to weigh heavily on me.
Another burst of dark energy surged toward me before I could react. My head racing, I just managed to evade.
A sacrifice?
If this war ended, what would I have to give up?
The enemy commander chuckled, their strength reverberating throughout the room, but a deep, well-known growl resounded behind me before they could attack again.
Kane stepped through the broken doorway just as I turned around. Some of the blood on him was his, and some wasn’t. His golden eyes blazed with rage, yet his left arm dangled at an odd angle and a large gash ran down his side.
“Melissa!” Despite the pain in his voice, he continued to walk in my direction.
I said, “You shouldn’t be here,” as my chest constricted.
As he stepped next to me, he smirked and winced. “And abandon you to battle this by yourself? No chance.
The leader of the adversary cocked their head in pleasure. “How honorable. And stupid.”
The muscles in Kane stiffened. “I don’t give a damn about your level of power. We’ll defeat you.”
The leader grinned. “You’re barely standing.”
Kane chuckled. Perhaps. But when I’m angry, I fight better.”
Kane lunged before they could respond. He struck the enemy’s dark energy barrier with his claws as they cut through the air. I had to cover my eyes because the hit sent shockwaves through the chamber.
“Kane!” As the power flung him back, I let out a cry.
With a roar, he pushed himself up after hitting the ground hard. “That all you got?”
The leader’s grin wavered just a bit. “You’re tenacious. But you won’t be saved by it.
Despite his labored breathing, Kane turned to face me, his eyes burning with resolve. “Tell me there’s a way to beat them.”
I paused. “The goddess said there is… but it requires a sacrifice.”
After cleaning his mouth of blood, Kane took a step forward. “Then we’ll do whatever it takes.”
I took a deep breath. I felt the weight of what he had said.
Whatever it takes.
The enemies lifted their hands and the chamber shook. A dark energy pulse shattered the stone beneath us and surged outward.
“I grow tired of this,” they replied impatiently. “Let’s end it.”
The ground abruptly split apart as a deep hum filled the air. At its center was a pulsating sphere of pure blackness, and a great stone pillar rose from the chamber’s depths.
Kane tensed. “What the hell is that?”
The adversary grinned. “Our final weapon.”
A chill of fear crept into my bones. Raw and unbridled, evil magic flowed through the sphere. If they let it loose
As though he could see my thoughts, the leader declared, “It will wipe out everything in its path,” “Your pack. Your supporters. Your whole world.
I balled my fists up. “You’re willing to destroy everything, including yourself?”
They grinned broadly. “If I cannot rule, then I will burn this world to the ground.”
With a roar, Kane moved forward. “Like hell, you will.”
He started to strike, but before he could get to them, he was struck by a surge of evil energy that sent him flying across the room. With a painful snap, he struck the wall and fell to the floor.
“Kane!” My heart was pounding when I screamed.
He remained still.
With fear and anger flooding through me, I turned back to the enemy. “You’ll pay for that.”
They raised their hands, the ball of blackness expanding, poised to be let loose.
I had to put an end to them.
Right now.
I ignored the agony in my body and hurried forward. The sphere crackled with energy, and the enemies laughed, lifting their arms higher.
“You’re too late, Melissa,” they mocked. “Watch as your world ends.”
Once, twice, the ball pulsed before exploding in a huge energy surge.
Everything went dark before I could even react.