Chapter 106: The plan of the void

Melissa’s POV

The eerie brightness emanated from the misty, shifting form of the Void, which towered over me. Its words reverberated in my thoughts like a chilly whisper.

It snarled mockingly, "Melissa, did you think you were meant to stop me?"

As the fear clawed at my chest, I clenched my hands. "You won’t win," I whispered, my voice faltering, yet my legs shook, but I firmly planted my feet on the dark, unending surface beneath me. "I’ll find a way to defeat you."

The sound of the Void laughing chilled me to my core. "Defeat me? Oh, child of light, you misunderstand. You were never meant to defeat me. You are my key, my vessel."

I went cold. As the words set in, my heart pounded in my chest. I said, "What are you talking about?"

Dark tendrils reached out and coiled around me like suffocating chains as they moved closer. "Your light is the purest in existence. With it, I will shatter the celestial barrier and bring the mortal realm to its knees."

I struggled against the dark force that was tightening around me and screamed, "No!" "I won't let you use me!"

The air vibrated with the depth of the Void's laugh. "You don’t have a choice. Your fate was sealed the moment you were born. Your precious light will be mine, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it."

I battled as hard as I could, calling forth my light to drive it away. My energy surged, but the Void's hold remained firm. My body began to lose its warmth as it began to tug at my very core.

As my light started to dim, I collapsed to my knees and gasped. My strength wavered and my vision became blurry. "No... I can’t let this happen..."

Damon's voice broke through the fog of hopelessness from behind. "Melissa! Don’t give up!"

Weakly, I turned my head to see him struggle to stand up, injured and battered. His hands were shaking as he grasped his sword, and his eyes were flaming with resolve.

"Damon, no! Stay back!" I yelled in a raspy voice.

Ignoring me, he roared toward the humanoid form of the Void. A ripple went through the shadowy form of the dark creature when his blade struck it.

Distracted for a minute, the Void growled. "Insolent mortal!"

I grabbed the opportunity and pushed myself up, using what final strength I had left. I triggered the shield of the blazing sphere of ancient power that was the item in my grasp. All around us, a shield of light burst forth.

Its laughter reverberated, but the Void flinched back. "Futile. Your defiance only prolongs the inevitable."

I held on to the relic, but the light flickered. Like spiderwebs, cracks appeared all over its surface. The barrier flashed, and my chest constricted with fear.

"Damon," my voice trembled as I gasped. "The shield... it’s breaking."

His face was white but determined as he turned to face me. He responded, "We’ll figure it out," but his voice showed the worry he was trying to conceal.

The dark shape of the Void pressed against the crumbling barrier as it came closer. "You cannot escape your destiny, Melissa. Your light belongs to me."

I shouted as the darkness of the Void poured toward us, shattering the barrier.

The relic shattered in my hands, exposing us to the fury of the Void with a shattering sound.

I grabbed his arm, yelling, "Damon, we have to move!" and dragged him along.

As we dashed farther into the Void's limitless domain, we heard its laugh. Around us, shadows squirmed, muttering dire prophecies and threats. My legs felt like they were floating through the water, and the air was oppressive, nearly stifling.

Damon gasped and looked back into the whirling darkness. "Melissa, the Void’s too powerful here," he said. "We need a plan!"

I clenched my teeth and muttered, "I know," even though my head was spinning. The artefact was gone, and my light was fading. Now what were we meant to do?

We staggered into a clearing, an odd, luminous area with ancient inscriptions. The walls and floor were covered in symbols that I couldn't make out, pulsing with dim light.

With a quiet voice, Damon questioned, "What is this place?"

I crouched down and used my fingertips to trace the markings. I whispered, "These symbols... they’re celestial," because they felt alive and warm like they were calling to me.

Damon squatted next to me, frowning as he studied them. "What do they say?"

"I don’t know. But they’re pointing to something... a weapon, maybe?" I said, shaking my head in despair.

Damon narrowed his brows and said, "A weapon?" "If it’s here, it could be our only chance."

My chest constricted as I hesitated. "But what if it’s a trap? The Void controls this realm. It could be leading us right where it wants us."

With a steady glance, he put a hand on my shoulder. "Melissa, we don’t have any other options. If there’s even a chance this weapon can help, we have to try."

I nodded and swallowed hard. However, the shadows grew thicker before we could move. An ominous figure arose from the shadows as a deep growl reverberated through the atmosphere.

As it got closer, its enormous claws scraped the earth and its eyes blazed crimson. Damon raised his sword and stood guard in front of me. He said, "Stay behind me," with firmness.

Damon confronted the beast as it lunged. Shockwaves from their collision sent me reeling back, barely able to stay upright.

Panic building, I said, "Damon!" as I saw him battle against the creature's strength.

He shouted, "I’ve got this!" but his voice sounded strained.

Damon was knocked to the ground by the monster's roar. My blood froze as it turned its luminous eyes on me.

I lifted my hands and called forth all the last light I possessed. Before disappearing into the darkness, the beast gave an ear-splitting howl as a brilliant flash filled the clearing.

With laboured breathing, Damon stumbled to his feet. He whispered, "That was close," as he wiped blood off his lip.

I stared at my hands and nodded, but my heart sank. My light was quickly going out, and the markings surrounding us were becoming less bright.

"We need to keep moving," I murmured, vocally trembling.

We started onward but were stopped in our tracks by a loud voice. "The weapon you seek will cost you everything, child of light."

The ground below us started to collapse, exposing a chasm of whirling darkness, and I gasped.

My ears rang with the foreboding words, "The weapon you seek will cost you everything, child of light."

I looked at Damon, who shared my face of apprehension and resolve. With a quivering voice, I said, "Did you hear that?"

With a tight grip on his sword, he nodded. "Yeah. Doesn’t sound promising, but we don’t have a choice."

The earth underneath us ceased to tremble, leaving behind fissures that gave off a dim, foreboding glow. With every step we took, the air became thicker and colder. Around us, shadows swirled and whispered in a language I didn't comprehend.

I broke the stillness by asking, "What if the voice is right?" "What if this weapon comes with a price we can’t pay?"

Damon turned to face me and slowed. Weary yet unwavering, his blue eyes met mine. "Melissa, whatever the price is, we’ll face it together. But if we don’t try, the Void wins. Is that a price you’re willing to pay?"

With doubt weighing heavily on my heart, I bit my lip. "No," I shook my head and muttered. "I’m just scared, Damon. Scared of losing everything."

His hand settled firmly and comfortingly on my shoulder. "You won’t lose everything. Not while I’m here."

I felt a spark of warmth ignite in my chest, which gave me the willpower to continue. We advanced farther into the Void's domain together. We followed the wavy pattern as the marks on the walls grew brighter.

However, a tall figure blocked our way as we turned a corner. With its body composed of writhing shadows and glaring crimson eyes, it was a horrific creature. It growled low, staring at us, the ground trembling under its weight.

Damon mumbled, "Another servant of the Void," and moved ahead of me.

Unexpectedly, the beast rushed, its claws cutting through the air. Damon used his blade to counter its strike, sending sparks flying as metal and evil force collided.

"Go, Melissa!" he yelled, fighting to stay upright. "Find the weapon!"

I screamed back, "No!" and wouldn't leave him. I used the last of my remaining light to shoot the beast in the side. The glowing eyes narrowed at me as it retreated momentarily but soon recovered.

Damon said, "Melissa, I can handle this!" as he barely stopped another blow with his sword.

With tears hurting my eyes, I shook my head. "I’m not leaving you, Damon!"

With a roar, the creature's strength almost overpowered us both. In a desperate attempt to summon the last remaining glimmer of light within me, I closed my eyes and reached deep inside. The beast was engulfed in a searing glow as a brilliant explosion exploded from my palms.

The monster was gone when the light went out, but the exertion had cost them. I fell to my knees, unable to breathe. With a worried expression on his face, Damon hurried to join me.

He helped me stand up and asked, "Melissa, are you okay?"

I gave a feeble nod, although I could sense my power rapidly ebbing. "We have to keep going. The weapon... it must be close."

Following the now-dim markers, we staggered ahead. However, when we came to the end of the trail, we were in front of a huge, shining door.

With wonder in his voice, Damon questioned, "Is this it?"

The booming voice reappeared before I could respond, this time more frightening and louder. "To open the door, you must sacrifice what you hold most dear."

As the door's illumination increased, I experienced a sharp anguish in my chest, as though the Void itself were attempting to grab hold of my heart.

Before we loomed the luminous door, its light pulsing in time with my heartbeat. The voice's icy remarks lingered in the air as Damon's hold on my arm grew tighter.

I gripped my chest, where the anguish ached, and said, "What does it mean?" "What do I have to sacrifice?"

Damon tightened his jaw. "It’s a trap. Don’t listen to it. There has to be another way."

We both staggered as a wave of energy swept through the ground and the door seemed to hum in response. The door's luminous marks changed, creating archaic symbols that I somehow recognized but couldn't decode.

As I realized, I whispered, "It's not a trap. It's the truth. The weapon requires... a price."

A low snarl roared from behind us before Damon could answer. Another hideous apparition, bigger and more terrifying than the last, loomed out of the darkness as I turned around. As it moved forward, its crimson eyes glowed with ill intent.

Damon mumbled, "Not again," and moved ahead of me.

Damon faced the beast as it attacked. The ground shook beneath them as they fought, their clash deafening. I retreated, my thoughts whirling.

Behind that door was the weapon. It might be appealing to me, but the price... What was most important to me?

As he fought the beast, Damon said, "Melissa, go!" in a strained voice.

My vision was obscured by tears. "I can’t leave you!"

He shouted, "You have to!" and stopped the creature's enormous claws from snagging. "This is bigger than me. Bigger than both of us. You’re the only one who can stop this!"

I knew he was right, but his comments broke my heart. I turned to the door and mustered the rest of my bravery. As I got closer and the anguish in my chest grew more intense, the markings flashed brighter.

The voice spoke again, softer but no less icy, as I put my hands on the door. "What you hold most dear... your light, your heart, your very essence. Are you willing to give it up to save them?"

I pressed my trembling hands to the bright, frigid surface. I knew time was running out when Damon screamed behind me.

"Yes," I muttered, my eyes welling with tears. "If it will save them, I’ll do it."

The markings were so vivid that I had to close my eyes when the door started to shift. The room was filled with a dazzling light, and I felt as though the whole essence of who I was was being pulled away.

Damon's voice shoute

d out, "Melissa!" but it seemed so distant.

My entire being was engulfed in light, and the last sound I heard was the Void's victorious laughing resonating through the night.