Yet, even as the flames consumed him,Hadeon'spower remained undiminished.Witha roar of defiance, he unleashed another barrage of purple lightning, the crackling bolts searing through the air with lethal precision.Theycut open my skin, and blood ran down my face, obstructing my vision.
Idanced through the storm, my sword weaving a deadly path asIdeflected each bolt with precise skill.Theground trembled beneath us, the very earth groaning in protest at the intensity of our clash.
Hadeonthrew me back with a burst of power.Igathered dragonfire in my hands and launched a barrage of projectiles at him.Heslashed through each one with his sword of lightning, deflecting them past him.
Ipulled the flames back to me, and they arched in the air, returning to their maker.Theyhit him, one after the other, building until they erupted in a percussive explosion.Aflash of lightning flew at me as he cut through the fireball and leaped toward me.
Imet his assault head-on, our blades colliding with explosive force.Theimpact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, knocking everyone around us down with raw power.
“Ikilled him.Iwill kill you, too,Abraxas!”
Hewas desperate now, unable to overcome me with raw power.Istruck again and again.Hadeon'sparries slowed as hewas forced back.Hestumbled, andIkicked him.Heflew back, crashing into the city wall so hard it cracked.
Ilet the tip of my sword slide along the ground asIapproached.Themetallic screech caused his eyes to widen as blood leaked from his mouth.
Thenhe threw himself off the wall with his power, launching himself into the air.Hecareened across the sky, trying to escape.Fool.Thesky was mine.Icalled down my bond toTori, but a magical barrier separated us.Nomatter.Ireached into that knot of mana she had stored in my heart.Ifelt her there with it; it was all her strength, the only strengthIneeded.Flamespumped from my mouth asIgrew, fragile fae skin giving way to impenetrable scales.
Iflew after him.Hesensed my pursuit and threw his magic back at me.Thewind shifted as his power reflected off harmlessly.Twomore pumps of my wings, andIwas on him.Idrank in how his eyes grew wide with fear asItowered over him.
Hisface was ugly with rage as he continually threw bolts at me.Theystung, some even ripped off scales, but the taste of his fear drove away any pain.
Isee you,Hadeon, the little boy that you have always been.Isee your fears.Deepin the night, when you would call out in terror, it was always me who was watching you from the darkness.
Hisentire being glowed an erratic violet as his rage consumed him. “Thisworld belongs to me!”
NotwhileIstill breathe.Ilunged, ready to swallow him whole.Hethrew his power wide, holding my jaws open, each of his hands pressed into a fang on opposite sides.Hegroaned, and his blood ran onto my tongue.Beforethis momentI’dnever wounded him like this, and his blood fueled the revenge thatIno longer repressedin my heart.
Ichuckled darkly.Youtaste delicious, old friend.Hisfear spiked, and he threw me back with an outpouring of power.
“Enough!I’mtheGreatHero!I’mwhat the prophecy foretold!Youare nothing!NOTHING!”Darkstorm clouds swirled between us, and lightning struck me from every direction at once until allIsaw was blinding violet light.
Chapter 70
Tori
Mychest heaved as my breath left me in violent spurts.Kaleos,Raula,Noki, andIcut through dozens of men on our way through the dungeons whileJunprotectedPallasandAvlyn.Wewere drenched, andIcould feel the bloodlust trying to take over my mind.Igripped the pommel of each half of my sword hard, trying to stay grounded.Itwas all so similar to last time, andIcould not fail again.
Thehalls were deathly quiet, andIstood before those great doors, but this time,Iwas not alone.Iclicked my sword back together and sheathed it.Icalled a ball of viridian fire into my hand and pulled it back, ready to strike.
“Don’teven think about it,”Pallasscolded, stepping between me and the door. “Unlessyou want to kill us all.”
Shewalked up to the door and slowly placed her hand on the wood, and it flared to life with glyphs etched in a deep, violent purple.Herbrow furrowed, andIsaw a shimmer of light blue magic ghost over the runes.Theyquickly returned to purple, and she frowned.
“Gotsome new trick there, huh, hellcat?”Avlyngave her a proud smile.Isaw the faintest blush onPallas’ cheeks.
“Notenough tricks, it seems.EvenwithTori,Jun, andItogether, this could take hours.”Wedidn’t have that kind of time.Sheheld her hand out to me without looking back. “Mightas well try out our gift.”
Islipped my hand into the pack at my waist and was greeted by a horrible, caustic sensation as the gem touched my fingers.Ipulled it out, carefully placed it inPallas’ hand, and saw her flinch.Sheset the gem against the wood of the door, and the glyphs there sputtered and disappeared.
Pallas’ eyes widened. “Couldit really be that easy?”
“Don’tlook a giftNykurin the mouth.”Avlynplaced their hand on her shoulder, andJunnodded.
“Now, doIget to burn it down?”
Icould tellPallaswanted to object, but she nodded.Shehad to hold the gem in place, soIcouldn’t just blast the wood as much fun as that would have been.Instead,Ifocused my mind as she had taught me and called a single tendril of fire, honing it into an edge like a knife.Isliced aKaleos-sized hole out of the center of the two doors.Ikicked, and the interior pieces fell flat against the stone floor with a loud thud.
Imoved to pass through the hole when the violet enchantment flared again, andPallashissed.
