I positioned myself, ready to reinitiate the battle. I could tell the spirit felt the same as it cried out in rage, the sound slamming my eardrums. We launched ourselves at each other, a flicker of energy sparked as both sides crashed against each other.
I evaded the sweep, launching myself at its leg. Cutting through it hadn't worked, but now there was no need for that. My body rammed straight into the leg, midnight cutting right through the hard bark like butter.
I immediately converted my momentum, using it to send myself soaring right at the treant's arm. Another limb came tearing off as I came out the other side, the roars from the monster being deafened from the crackling of the purple and blue energy around me.
The beast clearly realized it was outmatched, but did a king go down without a final stand?
The monster sunk its hand into the ground, the entire cave rumbling around me. Was he going to cave us in? Did he want to bring me down with him?
I realized there was no way to prevent the collapse. I appeared on the king's shoulder, its face turning to meet mine.
"Get down from there," I said, sparks of electricity exploding around me as I sliced through its head, eliminating its source of intelligence and life. The head toppled down, the king officially dethroned from his seat of power.
I leaped down onto the floor, resting my hands onto the ground and using the last of my strength to dig the earth. My hands clutched the earth from the sheer concentration required, my mind picturing a tunnel leading straight up to the surface.
I heard squeals of relief from the other side of the wall. I smiled, realizing I had molded one final escape for the rest of the party. The link broke, my body returning to its original state.
I collapsed immediately, not even being able to move a single limb.
So this was the toll of using Integrate?
I suspected I would be paralyzed for a few days at the very least, my eyes closing as I sighed.
Ah, looks like I managed to do something this time, I thought as I coughed weakly, blood spurting out of my mouth.
"Darck!"
A voice rang in my ears amidst the crumbling of the cave, a small figure appearing in my vision just as my eyes closed, my conscience drifting off to sleep.
My eyelids slowly rose.
I was standing on seamless black water, occasional ripples tickling my cut and bruised feet.
"Look who's become a hero," teased a voice I hadn't heard in ages, my head immediately turning around.
Asthia stood before me in her usual white gown, but she had changed. Her complexion was slightly more mature, her hair longer, her eyes filled with power while retaining the same excitement and childish nature I had come to treasure.
"Where are we?" I asked, uncertain whether or not this was a dream.
"I'm not sure. I passed out after feeling our opened link finally close, I'm guessing you did too?"
I nodded.
"I'm sorry for using Integrate like that," I added apologetically.
"Why are you apologizing?" she asked innocently, genuinely questioning me.
"Because-"
"Did you manage to save the others?" she asked suddenly, her eyes brimming with pride.
"I did," I finally said, smiling, "just not all of them."
My expression darkened as I recalled Mike's death, the guilt of not having used Integrate sooner ripping me apart.
Asthia approached me, bringing me into her arms. I could tell she was blushing from her own actions, but she persisted anyway.
"You did good," she comforted me. I returned her embrace, those three words imprinting themselves on my conscience.
I could feel myself waking up, realizing I hadn't died in those caverns.
I pulled away, Asthia nodding.
"Go on now, next time, let's see each other face to face, yea?" she asked hopefully, a warm smile spread across her face.
"Just don't be too let down when you realize how much stronger than you I am," I joked, something I never did with anyone other than Asthia. Had I attempted humor with Katherine? I couldn't remember, my memories of the outside world slightly fuzzy in this mysterious dimension.
"Are you challenging me?" she taunted, exaggerating a surprised expression.
"Haha, yea."
I felt my mind being wrenched out of the unknown world, my eyelids opening to a dark sky coated with stars.
I wonder, did people here know what space was? If there were stars, that meant that we were on a planet. That meant that there were potentially other living beings out there.
Was Earth out there?
I snapped out of the questions I didn't want to dwell on further, my eyes adjusting to the darkness. Considering I could see the sky, that meant that I had been saved from the domain. I looked around, immediately smiling at Katherine.
She was sprawled out on my legs, sleeping. Had I been knocked out for a few days? Had she been tending to me in the middle of the woods?
Carrying me back would've been an impossible feat, especially with my equipment, and I doubted Auroria had ambulances. Katherine had probably stayed here, looking after me while I regenerated passively. I looked at her condition, realizing it wasn't the greatest either.
I managed to move my body ever so slightly, deducing that I had been knocked out for at least forty-eight hours. Katherine reacted to the movement, looking up and seeing me looking back at her.
She smiled, tears appearing in her eyes.
"Thank god you're okay," she whispered, not knowing what else to say.
"Thanks for looking after me," I said, caressing her head as the girl wailed in happiness. I remembered why I had decided to fight, why I had decided to not give up, why I was ready to give my own life.
It was to protect the few people in this world that I cherished. Mom, Dad, Alice, Katherine, Asthia, Selena, Irox.
As long as they lived, as long as they were alright, I would be satisfied. I had lived my previous life solely for my own survival.
This new one would be given to others, given to the individuals that had helped me find happiness in my existence for the first time.