CHAPTER 56

CHAPTER 56
Raiden’s POV 

“Stay with me, Calla. “Please,” I whispered as my hands pressed against her side, attempting to stop the blood that flowed through my fingers like water.

Her breathing was shallow, her skin pale. I could feel her slipping. I could see it in her eyes. She wasn’t afraid. That made it worse. She had accepted it. I hadn’t. 

The ground behind us broke open anew and expanded further this time. From the rift emerged an entity surpassing the previous monster in both stature and darkness as it manifested from pure shadow and rage. Every second, the creature transformed between different shapes, which included claws and teeth as well as wings and seemed to consist of smoke and fire. It was the Shadow King. Not his puppet. Not his whispers. Him. 

He had come. 

And he was looking at Calla. 

I spun around to use my body as protection for her while his voice reverberated through the ruined field.

“She’s the key,” he said. “Her blood will break the final seal.” 

I stood up straight while my legs shook and my body felt like it was in agony. “You’ll have to go through me.” 

The Shadow King extended his hand, which held a swirling sphere of black energy. The dark energy orb in his hand pulsed with deadly force as if it mirrored a heartbeat. He was aiming it at her. I could feel it. 

Calla groaned behind me. I could see her desperately attempting to lift her arm and cast a protective spell, but her body refused to follow her commands.

“She’s mine,” the Shadow King said. 

I didn’t wait. 

I shifted partially to extend my claws and ignite my bones. My roar echoed from my soul's core as I hurtled towards him. From the pain. From the love. From the desperation. 

The blast struck. 

But not her. 

Me. 

The attack sliced through my body like a lightning bolt while sending me flying backwards through the air. My body slammed into the ground with force as I slid across the dirt while white light flashed before my eyes. The pain wasn’t like anything I’d known. The experience wasn't caused by fire or ice—it was total nothingness which consumed me from within.

But I stayed awake. 

I had to. 

I lifted my head. Calla was screaming my name now. She moved toward me by pulling herself with her arms while her blood left a trail behind her.

“No,” I choked. “Stay back.” 

I shifted my gaze to face the Shadow King. He didn’t look satisfied. His eyes narrowed. That blast should have killed me. He knew it. 

It had nearly done its job. 

But not enough. 

“You’re too stubborn,” he hissed. “That was meant for her.” 

My strength exceeds your estimate, I spat while coughing blood.

When he lifted his hand to attack again, a golden and sharp wave spread across the air. Calla’s magic. She’d finally summoned it. A radiant wave struck the King squarely in the chest, and he stumbled backwards, feeling more stunned than injured.

Calla collapsed again, spent. She was shaking, her eyes barely open. Her lips moved, but no sound came. 

I forced myself up. At first, my legs felt weak, but I managed to stabilise myself.

“She doesn’t belong to you,” I said softly.

He sneered as he asked me how I thought I could stop him. “Even dying?” 

I smiled, though it hurt. “Watch me.” 

I charged again, slower this time. Everything hurt. My vision doubled. My chest was burning from the inside. But I kept going. Because if I didn’t, she would die. My commitment to protect her existed before this moment, and I would protect her through any sacrifice.

His next attack came faster. 

The black sword appeared in his hand before he swung it forward. It wasn’t aimed at me. 

It was aimed at her heart. 

I threw myself in front of it. 

Pain. Real and final. The sword penetrated deeply into my back as it sliced through muscle and bone. I felt it exit through my chest. In that moment, it took away my breath and my thoughts along with everything else.

But I stayed on my feet. 

I turned toward Calla. 

Her face was frozen in horror. “Raiden…” 

I fell to my knees before leaning forward and using my hands to brace myself so I wouldn’t collapse on her. Blood poured from my mouth. 

“You’re safe,” I whispered. 

She shook her head, crawling to me. “No. No, you idiot—why would you do that?” 

I told her with a faint smile,e "I love you."

Calla pressed her hands against my chest while she tried to remove the blade and heal me, yet I gently restrained her wrists.

“Don’t waste your power,” I said. “He’s still out there.” 

Tears fell down her cheeks. “I don’t care. I need you. You’re not allowed to leave me, Raiden.” 

“I’ll never leave you,” I declared while my voice trailed away. “Even if I die, I’ll stay. I promise.” 

She sobbed, pressing her forehead to mine. 

From behind her, the Shadow King prepared to deliver his ultimate attack.

But I had one left too. 

With my hand raised, I uttered the word that remained a secret between us until that moment.

A sealing spell. 

A sacrifice spell. 

The golden emblem on my chest flared up while releasing magic that encased the King in fiery chains. He screamed, caught off guard. 

Calla gasped as she understood too late the consequences of my actions.

“No—Raiden, no, please—” 

The light exploded around us. 

And then— 

Darkness.