Sunny lay on the ground, gulping air like a dying fish. It felt as though he was drowning.
His body was a map of pain. He couldn't even remember how many injuries he had received… there was the gash in his side left by Caster's jian, the gruesome wound that almost severed his clavicle, the long cut across his ribs… and many smaller ones.
But he was still alive.
He was still able to fight.
He was still not willing to give up.
…All around him, the Crimson Spire was trembling and groaning, slowly starting to collapse.
Gritting his teeth, Sunny tiredly pushed himself off the ground. His body protested, but he forced it into silence and slowly rose to his feet. The blade of the Midnight Shard scraped against the stones as he pulled it up.
Nephis was doing the same.
The young woman stood up and staggered, then regained her balance and grew still. Her posture was slumped, with one hand pressed tightly against the deep wound on her abdomen.
