"Damn it! What's wrong with me?!" cursed Ryan internally, barely clinging to consciousness amidst the excruciating pain coursing through his body.
The shock of employing Spatial Magic for the first time in his battered state had thrown his entire being into turmoil. While he grappled with himself, Wayde, bearing multiple stab wounds on his back, steadily closed the gap to the altar at the centre of the expansive underground chamber.
Golems and maze walls were no longer obstacles in Wayde's path, and Ryan could only imagine the catastrophic consequences if Wayde obtained the ring.
If the ring truly was the coveted reward of one of Odus's legendary trials, its power must be beyond measure. So potent that entire wars might erupt in Aria with different factions vying for control of it.
And with such power in Wayde's hand, Ryan could only imagine what the sadistic mage would do to him.
He had managed to seize the upper hand over Wayde thanks to being underestimated, and his unexpected use of Spatial Magic. Yet, the prospect of Wayde acquiring the ring sent shivers down the youth's spine, making it difficult to maintain his composure.
The more Ryan allowed his emotions to run rampant, the more his body seemed to revolt until he abruptly sat down and sought to clear his mind.
In this moment of turmoil, Ryan recalled a random, warm memory. It was a piece of advice his brother had imparted before Ryan's first middle school football game. It was a simple mantra: "Take a deep breath. Close your eyes and clear your mind. Losing control of your emotions will only hinder you. Just relax..."
Minutes ticked by, and though his physical condition showed no improvement, Ryan's mental state was now unclouded. He moved with an almost mechanical precision, his eyes devoid of life, as if he had deliberately silenced his thoughts and emotions, leaving only his objective mind and primal instincts.
Survival and seizing the ring before Wayde took precedence.
He couldn't afford to let Wayde escape the underground chamber, nor did he wish to live in constant fear of the crazy yet formidable mage, who seemed to have a prominent background.
And so there was only one thing he could do.
Ryan had to eliminate Wayde.
As the weight of this realisation settled in, he resolved not to let his mental fragility obstruct what needed to be done as he began jogging toward Wayde.
In just a matter of minutes, Wayde had made significant progress, drawing near to the altar. Despite the trail of blood he left in his wake, his tenacity was astonishing. Most individuals would have succumbed to their injuries long ago, but even without any remaining mana, the inherent strength of a powerful mage sustained him.
Yet, it was insufficient.
Despite the agonising pain that each step inflicted upon him, Ryan rapidly closed the distance, catching up to Wayde just as he reached the altar...
'I made it. I made it before the kid! If I can just pull myself up and...' Wayde exclaimed internally as he struggled to grasp the altar, his fingers clawing desperately for the ring.
However, before he could reach it, Ryan emerged behind him, his movements more akin to a feeble jog. His body felt oppressively heavy, and even walking was a monumental task, but he managed to close the gap just in the nick of time.
Seizing Wayde by his long, matted hair, which hadn't seen a wash in years, Ryan exerted every ounce of strength he could muster. He yanked the ragged mage away from the altar, losing balance and struggling to remain upright after he did.
Both Ryan and his adversary were in wretched condition, with Ryan only having the upper hand because of the stab wounds he had inflicted earlier. Then, after a brief struggle, Ryan managed to pin Wayde down and straddle him.
"P-P-Please, Ryan. I'm begging you, just let me..." Wayde's plea was choked by blood welling up in his throat, but it fell on deaf ears.
Ryan's eyes seemed devoid of any trace of humanity, replaced by an unyielding determination to survive.
"I can't let you live, Wayde. I don't want to leave this place and constantly look over my shoulder. But I suppose I should thank you for helping me come this far," Ryan stated, accepting the grim reality as he wrapped his hands around Wayde's neck.
"You won't get away with this!" Wayde tried to yell, but his words were muffled by Ryan's ever-tightening stranglehold.
Scratching and clawing at Ryan's hands, struggling to break free, Wayde faced death, his eyes streaming with tears of blood. Yet, his efforts proved futile. Ryan's body was aching, but no matter what Wayde attempted, he refused to release his grip.
All Ryan could think about was Wayde's unhinged nature, his plots to eliminate Elora and Fluffy, and his attempts to end his life. The more he did, the tighter Ryan's grip became, tapping into reserves of strength even he didn't know he possessed.
"I will curse you. My family will..." were Wayde's final words before his face contorted in agony. Soon after, his hands limply fell to the ground, his life extinguished.
'I need to make sure he's..." Ryan intended to continue squeezing, ensuring there was no doubt that Wayde had met his demise. However, a sudden, searing burn on the back of his left hand made him release his grip.
It wasn't just the pain that compelled him to let go; it was the unsettling feeling of vulnerability and impending danger that came with it.
Then, moments later, an ominous, unfamiliar mark materialised on his hand, causing his heart to race as he leapt away from Wayde's lifeless form.
He had pulled it off.
And although he didn't check for a pulse, Ryan was oddly sure that the raggedy mage had passed on.
But instead of relief or guilt, an unshakable sense of impending peril washed over him.
However, he couldn't dwell on it now.
He staggered toward the altar, the adrenaline rush of the moment dissipating rapidly. With his strength fading, Ryan managed to raise his heavy hand and made contact with the ring before descending into the abyss of unconsciousness...