The clattering resonance of the rock dominus reverberated in my ears as it charged forward, meticulously tracing The Miss's elusive path. The dominus tenaciously followed the lingering scent of Lady Montay, unyielding in its pursuit. No matter where she attempted to conceal herself, I was resolute in my relentless pursuit.
From the Meridio base, the cacophonous clash of powers reached my ears. The collision of rocks, the fracturing of the ground as if struck by titanic forces, sporadic explosions rupturing the silence, and anguished cries rending the uneasy tranquility of Mors.
Hope surged within me that this battle would conclude without any lives lost on our side. Stay vigilant and secure, camp Meridio, Kenru, and Killan.
But the present demanded my attention—a mightier foe awaited. The score demanded settling. After several minutes of intense search, Montay's presence was finally pinpointed with the aid of the dominus. Poised at the entrance of the Septen camp's base, she awaited my arrival.
Once towering structures, the towers now lay in ruins, shattered remnants of the past. Only the base persisted, crowned by the towering red crystal that steadfastly shimmered. Lady Montay's form remained there, an ominous smile curling her lips, as she calmly anticipated my approach.
Her laughter rippled—an amalgamation of derision and hubris—her malevolent gaze piercing through my very soul. "You're truly eager to escalate this, Idrish? Excited to embrace death, is that it?"
"Would it be dishonorable if I were to falter in ending your existence, succumbing to my own demise?" I questioned.
"It would be ignominious," she retorted, her tone unwavering.
"But should death claim me, there'd be no shame. True shame would be forsaking the ones who slew our queen, failing to exact the vengeance owed when the opportunity presents itself."
"Then you shall meet your demise today."
"I shall ensure you accompany me. I'll drag you into the abyss, Lady Montay."
With these words hanging in the air, I swiftly assumed dominion over the dominus. Its colossal tail surged forth, a swift strike aimed at the very spot where The Miss stood. My focus was locked on her, poised to predict her evasion. As her dodge materialized and her concentration wavered, I propelled myself from the dominus's crest, primed to vanquish her.
However, to my astonishment, she remained stationary. With both hands raised toward the dominus's oncoming tail, she fixated on it with an unwavering gaze. I was taken aback as her hands intercepted the massive tail's trajectory. More bewildering still, an unseen potency appeared to emanate from her touch.
In a split second, a thunderous crack fractured the air. The dominus's tail commenced disintegration under the sway of an unseen force. My eyes widened as comprehension dawned. Lady Montay's formidable hands bore a puzzling spell, capable of dissolving my ally—the monstrous dominus—with a disconcerting ease. The network of cracks propagated and ascended through the dominus's stony form, catapulting me off the creature's pinnacle. I plummeted to the ground, my gaze ensnared by The Miss's triumphant grin.
She had dismantled the dominus with unparalleled facility? I regained my footing, the intensity of my astonishment evident. The abruptness of Lady Montay's actions had taken me by surprise. What form of power did she command to so effortlessly disintegrate the dominus?
A jubilant cry erupted from The Miss's lips as she stood tall, an aura of pride and malevolence enveloping her stance. Her smirk bore a sinister undertone, her fingers grazing over her hands as if to brush off some invisible residue. She commenced her calculated advance toward me. "You're rather predictable, Idrish. The dominus emitted a rather peculiar scent; I had no choice but to expedite its disposal."
"How did you muster the a—ability to do th—this?"
"You seemed to be too complacent with the toys Queen Azuntha had left you, forgetting that I was The Miss," she taunted, gradually closing the distance between us. Her left hand had squeezed her right, as if she was gathering energy for an impending assault. "Perhaps I should remind you of who you were challenging?"
I observed her every move—the pace of her steps, the angle of her body, and the swiftness of her approach. My hands were ready, prepared to conjure a massive sword when the time came for her strike.
With lightning speed, Lady Montay had walked until her stride transformed into a run. In a split second, she had leaped into the air, releasing a surge of black energy from both her palms. "Your time is up!" she shouted vehemently.
The leaping adversary had been right in front of me. I needed to step back to keep a clear view of her movements. I needed to analyze each action, especially as I was unaware of the hidden strength she held. As my feet retreated, a massive sword materialized in my right hand. The blade had hovered beside me, its weight dancing on the edge of the blade.
Montay had lunged forward like an obsidian arrow. I had waited until she was almost upon me. Just a meter away from her, I had swung the sword in my right hand with all my might. I had almost ground my teeth as I had witnessed the silvery glint of the blade slicing through the air.
For some inexplicable reason, Lady Montay had caught the blade of my sword as she had propelled herself toward me. I had caught a glimpse of her smiling as she had easily dissolved my sword without breaking a sweat. Too late had I realized that she had managed to grasp the hilt of my weapon with her right hand.
I had felt her insurmountable grip tighten around my neck, her fingers digging into my flesh. My breathing had constricted, my chest had tightened, and I had felt like I was being crushed beneath her strength. Gasping for air, I had struggled as she had pushed me downward onto the ground. It had been as if she was sucking away every ounce of my strength.
She had cackled triumphantly, maintaining her hold on me and pressing me into the earth with fierce determination. "Take this!" she had cried out before I had sensed her right hand lifting me into the air and then slamming me with all her might onto the stony ground.
I had heard the sickening sound of bones cracking within me. It had been as if my ribs had shattered. At first, my body had numbed, but then the excruciating pain had radiated throughout me. The assault from Lady Montay hadn't stopped. She had used her hands to barrage me with punches that had threatened to obliterate my entire system.
Why had her grip seemed so powerful? I had been mistaken. Why had it seemed like her hands had possessed an extraordinary force, one that could siphon the strength and power of anyone they touched? What had she possessed?
I had struggled to withstand the onslaught of blows dealt by The Miss. I had felt like I had been thrown around like a ragdoll, my body weakening with every hit. This hadn't been how I had envisioned my revenge. This hadn't been the end I had sought.
"You're proving to be quite dull, Idrish. I'm not even getting entertained. Maybe you can spice things up for me?" The woman had smirked, her expression half-mocking, as she had stepped her left foot onto my right palm. I had felt as though a series of nails had been driven into my hand, each one piercing my palm as she had pressed down.
"You b—"
"There will be no more vulgarities in Mors, Idrish. It's better to rest peacefully, much like Azuntha. We'll make sure your siblings are well taken care of."
My heart had raced at her final words. They had known about Poras and Cali?
What would have become of my two siblings if I had let them succeed? I couldn't have allowed it! I wouldn't have allowed them to harm my two siblings! No!
I had needed to take action!