Chapter 116: A rift to escape

Melissa’s POV

Eldric stood in the middle of the circle, his voice rising in an old chant, and the air crackled with energy. With their hands clasped together and their eyes closed in intense concentration, the pack encircled him. A glistening gap that glowed dimly like a tear, in reality, itself started to form in front of them.

My breathing was labored, and I gripped my chest. Weaker than ever, my Celestial Flame dimmed. I was exhausted from the battle.

Damon stood next to me, his teeth clenched. "We need to move now, Melissa."

A dreadful scream reverberated throughout the domain of the Void. The twisted forms of the shadows writhed in rage as they slithered closer.

The voice of the Void bellowed. "You believe you can get away from me?"

A wave of darkness smashed upon us, and I flinched. With his claws cutting through the closest shadow creatures, Damon jumped in front of me. "I'm sick of these things!" he snarled.

Eldric's gaze flickered. "Avoid them! The rift is still unstable.

My fingertips gripped the luminous surface of the artifact as I turned to face it. It throbbed under my hold, bucking me. I felt sick to my stomach.

"No, not right now," I muttered.

The Void chuckled. "Girl, you have power that you do not comprehend. The artifact is mine.

In my hands, the light grew dimmer. I was losing strength.

With a worried expression, Damon turned to face me. Melissa?

I shook my head in an attempt to regain my vigor. "It's... opposing me."

The fissure flickered and shimmered, barely maintaining its shape.

Eldric's voice was heard. You have to keep it under control, Melissa! The divide will eventually end.

However, the Void's existence felt like a crushing weight pressing down on me. I resisted, gritting my teeth.

Out of the whirling shadows, a dark form twisted and changed shape. The very void.

"No one goes," it growled.

The rift shuddered.

Damon drew me in. "We must leave now, Melissa!"

The weight of the Void increased, its might oppressive. I was aware that I needed to decide.

I gazed at the fissure, my hands shaking. To keep the Void away, should you flee or remain behind?

Damon's hand gripped my wrist more tightly. "Don't even consider staying behind, Melissa!"

With its tendrils reaching out toward us, the Void rushed forward. "You can't escape me."

Eldric's hands released a burst of golden light that pushed the blackness away. "Go! The rift is being maintained by the pack, but not for long!

I paused. I could feel the crushing power of the Void whispering doubts and pressing against my mind.

Damon turned to face me, resolve to shine in his blue eyes. "I won't abandon you."

I felt a searing pain in my chest. I could hear the pack's voices as their mental link pulsed.

"We are with you, Melissa."

I took a deep breath. I wasn't alone myself.

I took Damon's hand and nodded. "Leave now."

We ran to the rift, but before we could get there, a huge figure—a hideous shadow beast—rose from the earth and fixed us with its luminous eyes.

The laughing of the Void reverberated. "You'll never be at liberty."

The animal lunged.

With a growl, Damon moved in midair and struck the enormous creature with his claws. In a tornado of silver fur and blackness, they rolled across the earth.

"Damon!" I sobbed.

As the beast's jaws sank perilously close, he fought under its crushing weight.

My Celestial Flame flickered back to life as I sensed my strength rising.

The rift started to falter. We had run out of time.

I clenched my hands, bringing forth all of my remaining light.

I let out a shout and let forth a dazzling blast that hit the beast square in the face.

It staggered back, shrieking.

The way to the rift was clear as the haze dissipated, but the dark energy of the Void still loomed, more powerful than before.

The rift's glow was the sole light in the oppressive blackness as it tugged at us like a strong wind. With my heart pounding in my chest, Damon and I jumped through.

There was silence for a minute. Then—whoa!

We rolled past grass and dirt and slammed onto firm ground. My lungs filled with the aroma of fresh air, but something didn't feel right.

I pushed myself up and moaned. Damon lay next to me, gasping for air. With a mixture of relief and concern in their expressions, the pack surrounded us.

"Damon! Melissa!" Kayla hurried over to assist me in sitting up. "You succeeded!"

I gave a feeble nod. "Hardly..."

Damon grimaced and sat up. "Where is Eldric?"

A recognizable voice responded. "This is it." Eldric took a step forward, but his face was grim. "The fight isn't over, but we made it out alive."

I looked up at the sky after him. I felt sick to my stomach.

Above, the moon was obscured by swirling, thick, inky clouds. A wind blew through the trees, cold and strange. A slight blackness pulsed through the ground under us, as if the taint of the Void had crept into the very soil.

"The energy of the Void followed us," Eldric remarked somberly. "We might have left its domain, but we didn't vanquish it."

Damon's fists clenched. "We must then put an end to it before it spreads."

I forcefully swallowed, attempting to call forth my light, but it only responded with a feeble glimmer. I let out a gasp.

"My power is diminishing."

A whisper swept across the group. Fear began to seep in. How were we going to combat the Void here without my Celestial Flame at full power?

Eldric took a step forward and spoke softly. It might have been enraged by the rift. The Void isn't finished with us yet, I fear.

A shiver went through my body.

A low, rumbling growl reverberated over the country as the sky grew even darker, indicating that the Void had started to descend into the mortal world.

As the air grew heavier, the pack scurried into action, their eyes searching the sky.

"We must get ready," Damon ordered. "Whatever is on the way... it won't wait."

Even though my legs shook, I made myself stand. Even when my light was getting dimmer, I said, "I can still fight."

Eldric scowled. Melissa, you need to take a break. Back there, you gave it your all.

I gave a headshake. "We have no time to rest if the Void is invading this world."

The air was split by a sharp crack.

Everybody froze.

Below us, the ground shook. Darkness glowed in a long, jagged fracture that ripped through the ground. The ominous murmur of the Void was carried by a gust of wind that howled past.

"You can't get away from me."

The pack went into a panic. Not only was the Void pursuing us, but it was also penetrating.

Damon snarled. "This is where we fight."

Eldric had a somber expression. "This might be our final defense."

I glanced at my family and pack. There was power beneath the terror that filled their eyes.

I turned to them after taking a long breath. "We stand together, no matter what."

A hideous silhouette emerged from the crevice, its shape changing and contorting until it wa

s taller than the trees.

My heart was racing.

The luminous eyes of the Void's shape locked on me as it loomed over us. The last fight was underway.