Chapter 138: The Present Comes Back

Chapter 138: The Present Comes Back
Chapter 138: The Present Comes Back

Melissa’s POV

The cold hand of the evil deity seared into my skin, causing me to scream.

It felt like black, chilly fire burning into my wrist.

"Help, Kane!" I sobbed as I tried to distance myself.

His fingers became more tightly clasped.

"I own you," he snarled. "I will always have you."

"No!" I yelled, using every last bit of strength I had.

I blazed my light.

From my chest came a dazzling explosion of white.

The dark god let out a cry of pain and wrath. Kane's arms caught me as we plunged into the light after his hold broke, and I slid backwards into the portal.

With a loud boom, the gateway closed behind us.

Back in our world, we landed hard.

The grass underneath us was burned, the sky above shattered like a broken mirror. Shadows leaked through the wounds in the sky, swirling and stretching.

Next to me, Kane moaned.

My heart pounded. "Kane? Are you alright?

He didn't respond.

I quickly sat up.

He was heavily bleeding. His shirt was ripped, and blood was all over his chest. He had a pallid face.

I sobbed as I uttered the words, "No, no, no." "Remain with me, please."

I touched his wounds with my glowing hands, but my light flickered feebly.

His eyes opened a little. "Relax, Melissa."

“You saved me. Now I’m going to save you,” I whispered.

However, I secretly doubted that I could.

Then I looked at my wrist.

My skin was scorched with a dark mark. From where the evil god touched me, black veins flowed outward. His shadow seemed to have followed me.

I quickly went over it.

Kane shouldn't have seen.

Because even though I had managed to get away...

I had brought a piece of him with me.

I gave Kane a little nudge back when he attempted to sit up.

"You must take a break."

"I am unable to," he said. “Observe the sky.”

I pivoted.

The sky was rupturing.

Darkness was leaking into our world like poison, and purple fractures were visible through the clouds. We must have underestimated the damage caused by the portal.

"I'm to blame," I said.

With weakness, Kane touched my hand. "No, everything you did was correct."

I suppressed my tears. How are you able to say that? Look at you. "Observe the world!"

His voice trailed off as he said, "I trust you." "You're powerful. More powerful than anyone I've ever met.

I firmly grasped his hand. "Remain with me."

Even though his eyes were shutting once more, he said, "I'm not going anywhere."

I placed him gently on the ground and gave him a forehead kiss. Then I stood looking up at the shattered sky.

We were short on time.

The crack was getting wider. Shadow creatures were creeping through, flying, whispering, and crawling.

If I didn't stop this, our realm's citizens would be the next.

The sky needed to be sealed.

However, how?

I looked at my wrist's bright scar.

The mark of the dark god.

I sensed his strength within me.

I might be able to use it.

But at what price?

I headed for the highest hill. I could see the entire crack above the planet from there. It stretched across the heavens like a wound.

I raised my arms and let my might rise.

Light exploded from me. It touched the crack—and for a minute, it started to close.

But suddenly the blackness pressed back.

“No,” I said. “Not this time.”

I closed my eyes and dug deep.

All the training. The agony. Love to the fullest. Now it was all in me.

I allowed the light to follow my heart.

I added something new this time.

Pulling at the shadow he left behind, I delved inside the scar—the touch of the black deity. It was like using your bare hands to grab a snake.

It hissed.

It was ablaze.

But I refused to let go.

I pushed it all upward, light and dark swirling inside me.

The heavens cried out.

The crack shuddered.

My voice shook the clouds as I screamed.

"Get close!" I yelled. "Seal yourself!"

The darkness was penetrated by the light.

Slowly and painstakingly, the heavens stitched themselves shut.

But I could feel my strength ebbing away as it sealed.

My legs trembled.

My chest hurt.

If I put all into it... I may not return.

I looked down at Kane. He was watching from the grass, trying to creep toward me.

“Don’t!” he shouted. “Melissa, you’ll disappear!”

I smiled at him through my tears.

“If I don’t do this… we all disappear.”

The last crack in the sky closed with a final burst.

With a cry, the darkness disappeared into thin air.

Worldwide silence descended.

For the first time in days, the sun broke through the clouds.

I collapsed to my knees, gasping for air.

I remained here.

However, my arm hurt.

I looked at the dark scar as I drew back my sleeve. Now it was darker. Heat pulsed through it.

Then I heard it.

A murmur in my head.

Cruel, cold, and soft.

"Little queen, you can flee."

I gasped.

The voice went on, snake-like, encircling my mind.

"...but I am with you at all times."

"No," I said.

However, the voice merely chuckled.

Then, with a determined yet pallid face, Kane came to me. “What’s wrong, Melissa?”

I tried to remain strong as I stared into his eyes.

However, the voice said once more.

"You believe you have won... However, this is just the start.

I firmly grasped Kane's hand while trying to conceal my dread.

Because I knew…

The evil deity wasn’t gone.

He had left a bit of himself inside me.

And he was waiting.