Chapter 99 THE DEVIL'S UPHOLDER

Chapter 99 THE DEVIL'S UPHOLDER
Xyra was so lost in thought that she didn't notice where she was walking until the crowd began to thin out. The bustling market noise faded, replaced by an eerie quiet. The buildings here looked broken and neglected. Realizing she had wandered into the slums — a place she definitely shouldn't be — panic kicked in. She spun around to retrace her steps, but her path was already blocked by five hooded figures. The shadows hid most of their faces, leaving only mocking smirks visible.

"Well, what do we have here?" one asked, his voice a low, greasy hiss. "It’s dangerous to wander down here all alone."

"You might get hurt," another sneered.

As they stepped closer, Xyra didn’t hesitate. She bolted down a side street, desperately trying to shake them. She ducked into a maze of alleyways, but her panic threw off her sense of direction, and she ended up circling right back to where she started. Before she could try another route, something caught her ankle.

She hit the dirty ground hard, the impact knocking the breath from her lungs. Before she could even process what happened, she was lifted into the air. Thick vines were tightly bound around her legs, and more were quickly pinning her arms to her sides. Suspended upright with her arms stretched out, she was completely helpless. She couldn’t even reach her khukuri. This was exactly the kind of fight she needed it for; she was dealing with sorcerers.

The five men approached, chuckling at her restraint. The leader smirked up at her, and for a fraction of a second, Xyra thought she saw a flash of crimson beneath his hood. She blinked, telling herself it was impossible. Human eyes weren't red. Even dragons in human form didn't have eyes like that. Red irises belonged to demons. But these men didn't look like monsters... or did they? It was too hard to tell with their faces hidden.

"You really shouldn't have come here," the leader said, his voice sounding even less human than before. It had a strange, reptilian rattle to it.

"Are you..." Xyra choked out, wanting to voice her worst fear, "...hybrids?"

Meanwhile, Magnus was sprinting through the streets, his chest heaving as he searched for his companion. He had scoured almost the entire city, but Xyra was nowhere to be found. The few locals he questioned either ignored him or were too wrapped up in their own lives to notice a missing girl. Knowing where she had been didn't help him figure out where she was now.

He tried to tell himself he was just being paranoid. Maybe she was already back at the inn with Darren, laughing at how worked up he was getting. But a stubborn knot in his gut refused to accept that. He knew he had to check every corner. If he rushed, he might miss something critical. Xyra was his friend, and he wasn't giving up.

Suddenly, a warm pulse against his chest made him slide to a halt. He pulled out his pendant. The stone was glowing a faint, dull blue. That meant a demonic presence was nearby — either very far away, or weak. It was the exact same reading he got around hybrids, whose human halves masked their darker nature. If there were hybrids in this town, he needed to investigate. With any luck, he might find Xyra along the way — though he prayed she wasn’t anywhere near whatever was triggering the pendant.

He took off again, using the pulse of the pendant as a compass. The light grew steadily brighter, though the weak glimmer made it difficult to judge the exact distance. Still, it was a solid lead.

Eventually, the path led him onto the dilapidated, quiet edge of the city. The streets were empty, flanked by crumbling, abandoned buildings. It was a wretched place, and he hoped Xyra had possessed enough sense to avoid it. The pendant flared to life, signaling he was right on top of the target.

Rounding a sharp corner, Magnus froze. Shock hit him like a physical blow, instantly melting into a white-hot rage. Five hooded men stood in a semi-circle, and trapped in the center was Xyra. The blazing light from his amulet confirmed everything he needed to know. They were hybrids.

Without warning, Magnus slammed his palm against the ground and channeled his magic as he cast a spell. The earth erupted beneath the group in a shower of shattered rock. Unfortunately, they were fast. They scattered in a flash, leaping clear of the blast radius before the spikes could impale them.

Magnus didn’t care about the missed strike; he used the distraction to reach Xyra. Skidding to a halt beside her, he gripped the binding vines. Without uttering a single incantation, he pushed his magic spell forward. The vines instantly withered, turning to ash and crumbling away. Xyra dropped, landing safely on her feet. In a seamless movement, Magnus stepped in front of her, leveling a lethal stare at the regrouping men.

"A sorcerer, huh?" one of the hybrids spat, crossing his arms. "Thanks for ruining the fun. We were just getting started."

"Hogging the girl all to yourself," another scowled. "Selfish brat. Why not share?"

"We promise we'll treat her right," the snake-voiced leader added, licking his lips.

Xyra shrank back, pressing herself against Magnus's back. He kept his body positioned firmly between her and the threat, his muscles tightening with every disgusting word they spoke.

"Damn hybrids," Magnus snarled, his knuckles turning white as he balled his hands into fists. "You'll pay for even looking at her."

Before they could react, Magnus vanished from his spot. He reappeared right in front of the nearest hybrid. The creature didn't even have time to raise a hand before Magnus's palm clamped onto his hooded forehead. Magnus wasn't smiling; his jade eyes were entirely devoid of warmth.

"Incendia," he whispered.

White-hot flames instantly engulfed the hybrid. The creature didn't even have time to scream before it was reduced to ash. Magnus casually tossed the charred remains aside and turned his terrifying gaze toward the remaining four.

"Human!" one of them roared, thrusting an arm forward. "You'll burn for that!"

A jagged crackle of lightning shot from his fingertips, slamming directly into Magnus. The sorcerer didn't even flinch. He absorbed the full force of the electric current, standing completely unfazed as the sparks dissipated.

"My turn," Magnus said coldly.

He dropped to one knee and touched the ground. The lightning-wielder quickly threw up a magical barrier to protect himself. But Magnus hadn't targeted him. A pillar of fire erupted directly behind the defender, swallowing one of his comrades. A single agonizing shriek cut through the alley, and then there were three. Magnus rose, his expression entirely merciless.

"That man," one of the surviving hybrids whispered, his voice trembling. "Look at his eyes. Do you think... could he be him?"

"Who, Albus?" the other muttered, his eyes widening in horror as he stared at Magnus. The sorcerer looked like a specter of death. Stories called Albus the Devil's Upholder for a reason — he was said to be as unyielding and cruel as the underworld itself. Looking at him now, the rumors seemed entirely true.

"Is it true, then?" asked the only hybrid among them who could cast spells. He dropped his defensive barrier and stepped forward. "Are you the Devil's Upholder?"

"What if I am?" Magnus's voice was dangerously low.

"Then we have to kill you. Boss's orders."

"And who exactly is your boss?"

"The only man alive who can engineer a hybrid," the sorcerer smirked. "Mr. Nixon... leader of the Sorcerer's League."

Magnus's breath caught. He stared at the man, making sure he hadn't misheard. Nixon. That name belonged to the person he hated above all others — the man who had ruined his life and placed a bounty on his head, along with hundreds of other innocent sorcerers. If these monsters belonged to the League, he didn't need to show a shred of restraint.

"You shouldn't have told me that," Magnus said, cracking his knuckles as a dark, vengeful energy took over. "Now, none of you are leaving here alive."

"I would like to see you try."

The hybrid sorcerer stood tall, and two swirling, dark maroon orbs of light materialized at his sides. Magnus recognized the spell immediately: the Ventus. Without warning, the two glowing spheres sank into the ground. Magnus kept his eyes locked on the ground, searching for the telltale shadows of an underground strike. Seeing nothing near his feet, realization struck him like a physical blow. The sorcerer wasn't aiming at him.

With blinding speed, Magnus spun around and raised his arm. A shimmering barrier snapped into existence around Xyra just as the ground beneath her feet exploded into dark magic. Holding the shield against the violent spell strained his focus, but he refused to let it drop. If it broke, Xyra would be torn apart. As the explosion finally subsided, Magnus exhaled, but a sudden vibration right beneath his boots made his stomach drop. He looked down. A second dark shadow was swirling directly under him.

Before he could form a shield for himself, the ground erupted in a torrent of maroon light.

Magnus screamed as jagged shards of dark energy tore through his body, slicing deep gashes into his arms, legs, chest, and face. Blood sprayed from the wounds instantly. The agony was blinding, shattering his concentration and leaving him completely unable to counter the spell.

When the magic finally burnt out, Magnus's screams stopped abruptly. He stood swaying, his clothes in tatters and his skin covered in deep, bleeding lacerations. It was a miracle he was still upright.

"Magnus!" Xyra cried, running toward him in terror.

Magnus dropped to his knees, his bloody hand striking the ground one last time. A massive, concussive explosion detonated directly beneath the remaining hybrids. Their screams were cut short as the inferno consumed them entirely. Magnus didn't watch. His eyes, though heavy with exhaustion, remained dead and cold until the fire faded.

With the threat finally gone, Magnus collapsed onto his side, the adrenaline fading as pain flooded his senses. He was bleeding heavily; if he didn't stop the flow soon, he would pass out and never wake up. Fighting to stay conscious, his trembling fingers fumbled through his pouch for a healing talisman.

Xyra dropped to her knees beside him, tears of panic in her eyes. She looked at him as if he were already a ghost.

"Don't worry," he rasped, pressing a hand to his chest. "I'm not dying here."

A soft white light began to emanate from his palm. As his fingers wrapped around the correct talisman, the glow intensified, washing over his body. The deep gashes began to knit together, closing rapidly. Within moments, the pain receded, leaving only ruined clothing and heavy bloodstains as proof of the attack. Every single wound vanished... except for one.

During the explosion, the fabric wrapped around his forehead had been torn away. The shredded headband lay nearby, revealing the secret he had kept hidden for so long. On his forehead sat a thick, jagged scar. Unlike the other cuts, this one hadn't healed. It remained a vivid, angry red, looking as fresh as the day he received it.

"What is this?" Xyra whispered, her fingers gently brushing the mark. She pulled back quickly when Magnus flinched at her touch.

"Just an old scar," he said quietly.

"But you're a sorcerer," she argued softly. "Your magic can heal anything. Why is this still here?"

"I don't know. No matter what magic I use, it stays. I don't even remember how I got it... but it's a part of me now."

Slowly, Magnus pushed himself up, his legs shaking beneath him. Xyra was instantly there to catch him, catching his weight and letting him lean heavily against her as they turned back toward the main street.

A faint, genuine smile touched Magnus's lips. He leaned into her just a little bit more than he strictly needed to, finding a quiet comfort in her warmth. Despite all the danger he dragged her into, and all the pain they faced, she hadn't run away. She was still there, protecting him, worrying over him, and keeping him grounded. In a world where people constantly walked out of his life, Xyra was the only constant he had left.