Chapter 134: Kane's Desperate Stand

Chapter 134: Kane's Desperate Stand
Chapter 134: Kane's Desperate Stand

Melissa’s POV

I sensed the ancient realm's icy hold tightening around me. I could hear the spooky sound of someone skulking through the ruins in the distance, and the ground shook fiercely beneath my feet. My chest was thumping with my heart. I was completely shocked by the vision Queen Elara had shown me. But I couldn't think about it just now. I was needed by Kane.

I made an effort to focus my mind and get rid of the confusion. Where was he? Where was Kane?

I tried crying out to him, but no answer came. The darkness surrounding me intensified, and a growl from the shadows made me freeze. I whirled around my blade already in my hand.

From the murky gloom, a thing appeared. It was huge, its eyes shining with an odd crimson light. A creature from the depths of this forsaken world, its body was twisted and incorrect. Its howl reverberated in the quiet as its claws scoured the earth like blades.

Kane was being pursued by this creature.

I had no time to waste. I accelerated my pace, but the beast seemed to be one step ahead of me at every turn. Then I heard a voice, through the shifting shadows. Kane's voice sounded frantic and strained.

"Please help me, Melissa."

I continued. I was unable to. The monster was swift, though. I had never seen anything move so quickly. Adrenaline propelled me forward as I followed the sound of Kane's voice, my pulse pounding.

I turned another corner and saw him, Kane, with his sword lifted feebly and his back to the disintegrating wall. He was dripping blood from his side, bruised, and fatigued.

What about the creature? It was getting closer to him.

"Kane!" I ran to him and screamed.

His eyes jerked to mine, dread and relief mixed. "No... It's too risky, Melissa."

I didn't pay attention. I was unable to. I couldn't possibly leave him behind.

As the creature lunged toward Kane, I quickly moved to stop it and slashed my sword at its side. The creature staggered back with an ear-splitting screech, but it did not back down.

I tightened my jaw. “Kane, stay back!”

He spoke in a low, nearly whispery voice. “Melissa, you can’t stop it... It's too powerful. It’ll kill us both.”

I shook my head, grasping my blade firmly. “Not today.”

With my sword blazing through the air, I stepped in and struck once again. However, the beast just seemed to become angrier and more cruel the more times I struck it.

Then it charged once more, more quickly this time. It crashed into me, knocking the air out of my lungs before I could even respond. When I blinked, the thing was back on Kane, its claws reaching for his throat as my eyesight briefly became blurry.

"No!" I let out a scream and pushed the beast away from him with my remaining might.

Kane's face was white, and he was having trouble breathing. Melissa, you have to go! You don’t know what you’re up against!”

But I didn’t leave. I was unable to. Not when I was required by him.

Time was not on our side.

My armor was scraped by the creature's claws, which pulled me back into the shadows of the shattered world. However, a voice cut through the jumble just when I thought I was lost. It was gentle, but it brought clarity to my thoughts.

You can't lose yourself.

Once more, it was Queen Elara's voice. I could hear her warning in my mind. They want you to be something you're not. This is not all that you are.

I had nearly lost myself in the vision. I was in danger of being overcome by the visions of reigning with the dark god and becoming the same thing I had struggled so hard to defeat. However, Queen Elara's remarks reminded me.

I concentrated on her voice, on what she had told me. I am not the vehicle of the dark god. I am not his queen.

With a strong breath, I jerked my eyes open, and the darkness surrounding me began to lift. I could feel the familiar pull of the world I knew as the ancient realm vanished into the distance. The one in which I stood up for the individuals I cared about.

Kane.

I dashed ahead, sprinting as hard as my legs would allow. The fear tore at me even though it felt like the air parted in front of me, the darkness giving way to brightness. My heart was racing. I couldn't disappoint him. Not right now.

As I arrived at the location where I had last seen him, the chilly wind battered my face. I looked around at the ruins, the splintered buildings, the sharp rocks. He was nowhere to be seen. The quiet was overwhelming.

No...

With increasing urgency in my chest, I cried out his name. "Kane!"

I heard it then, his voice, scratchy and feeble, but there.

Melissa, I'm here. I'm present.

I sprinted in the direction of his voice, but the sight that greeted me as I turned the corner chilled my blood.

Kane was barely holding the beast off, his blade slipping from his fingers, as it sat on top of him, its claws inches from his throat.

"Kane!" I screamed and grabbed my sword. However, it was too late. The beast was descending on him with its jaws.

I screamed like a beast and rushed at it, swinging my sword high.

Back in the world we once knew, Lydia and Zephyr had been seeking answers. But they were aware that it would be difficult. Returning to the battlefield was no easy task because of the dark god's power that spanned this fractured realm.

Lydia had a determined expression on her face. "Zephyr, we must not give up. We must return to them somehow. They require us.

Zephyr's brow was wrinkled in thought as he paced back and forth. Something about this location—something that keeps us here. We will never return if we don't break the hold.

Lydia froze for a while, staring at the deteriorating scenery with narrowed eyes. Her fists clenched. "I am aware of what we must do. A ritual that can create a rift back to the mortal world is concealed here. However,

Zephyr's eyebrow went up. "But what?"

Lydia paused. It calls for a sacrifice. We must leave one of us behind.

Zephyr's expression grew gloomy. “You can’t be serious.”

"I am," Lydia uttered quietly. "There is no other option. To maintain the rift, one of us must remain.

Zephyr shook his head, his voice low with frustration. "No. I will not allow you to.

Lydia softened her gaze. "Zephyr, we have no other option. Both you and I are aware of that.

The decision hovered between them, and there was a long wait. Lydia then decided what she wanted to do. "I'll carry it out. The person with the longest connection to this location is myself. I should be the one.

Zephyr reached out and grabbed her wrist. "I will not permit you to. We find another way.”

But Lydia smiled faintly. “There is no other way. We can’t keep running from this.”

Back in the ruins, I swung my sword with everything I had, slicing at the creature again and again. It staggered back, but it wasn’t enough. The beast lunged toward Kane once more, its claws poised to strike. He was too feeble to protect himself.

"No!" With my heart thumping in my chest, I let out a scream. But there was nothing I could do. I was too far away.

I could see the last blow coming as the creature's jaws widened.

"Kane!" I gave a final shout.

Everything then appeared to freeze.

The blazing eyes narrowed as the thing hesitated. I could see its hesitancy and bewilderment.

Then the earth shook again beneath our feet.

There was an impending event.

A worse thing.

As the air surrounding us changed, I whirled around, feeling a surge of panic in my chest. A wave of dark energy swept toward us as the sky above cracked again. As the wave of power swept over us all, the beast snapped its head back as if sensing it too.

I realized then that the fight was far from done.