Chapter 34: Strategic Withdrawal
The battle raged on, the guardians reforming faster than the group could destroy them. Even as Azaymos's dagger cut through their sand-like forms, it became increasingly clear that defeating them all was a near-impossible task.
Rex, panting from the effort, growled as another guardian reformed before his eyes. "They just keep coming back. We can't win like this."
Azaymos glanced around, calculating the situation. His cursed dagger hummed with power, having absorbed enough energy to be recharged—though not fully. Even if they fought for hours, the guardians would keep rising, and his new void skill could only kill a couple of them at most.
"We've taken what we need," Azaymos said, his voice firm. "We can't waste more time here."
Mara, who had silently held onto the Chains of Ankhura, nodded in agreement. "It's not worth it. There are other places where we can absorb more energy."
Nox pulled her shadows back, her face showing both frustration and relief. "Good call. I'm not in the mood for fighting an endless army of sand sculptures."
Ahmose, standing off to the side with her ever-present dark smile, watched the chaos unfold. "You're finally beginning to see the truth. There is no victory here, only suffering."
Azaymos turned toward her. "Then you're coming with us."
---
The group gathered quickly, retreating through the narrow passageways of the pyramid. As they moved, Ahmose trailed behind them, her decayed body moving slower than the rest.
"We can't keep moving like this," Nox said, glancing back at the mummy. "She's too slow. We'll never outrun whatever comes next."
Rex grunted. "She's right. We can't fight like this if something else happens."
Azaymos stopped, looking at Ahmose with a thoughtful expression. His mind raced as he considered the limitations of her current form. As a mummy bound by undeath, her body was both fragile and cursed—making it difficult for her to move through the world as easily as the rest of them.
"We need a better way to travel," Azaymos muttered, staring at the tattoos marking his skin—the curse that bound him.
Ahmose, sensing his thoughts, stepped closer. "You are cursed, just like me. Your body is marked by an ancient power. I can... hide within you, if you allow it."
Azaymos raised an eyebrow. "Hide within me?"
Ahmose's glowing eyes flickered with something like amusement. "Your curse and mine are bound by suffering. I can blend into the essence of your curse, into the tattoos that mark your body. It will be... uncomfortable for both of us, but it is the only way I can travel with you."
Mara, watching the exchange, said quietly, "It makes sense. Her form can't move easily in this world, but if she merges with your curse, she can still fight when needed."
Azaymos hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Do it."
Without another word, Ahmose's body began to dissolve, the sand swirling around her decayed form as it turned into a dark mist. The mist flowed toward Azaymos, wrapping around his body and sinking into the black tattoos that marked his skin. The process was eerie and unsettling, but within moments, Ahmose had completely vanished, absorbed into Azaymos's curse.
Azaymos exhaled sharply, his body feeling the weight of her presence. Her voice echoed softly in his mind, laced with her usual pessimism. "Do not think this will end well. The curses we bear will only bring more pain."
---
With Ahmose now hidden within Azaymos's curse, the group moved swiftly out of the pyramid. The air outside was heavy with the weight of their recent encounter, but the towering structures of the pyramids felt less threatening now that they had escaped.
Rex stretched his arms, glad to be free of the cramped tomb. "What's the plan now?"
Azaymos glanced at the dagger, the faint glow of the runes pulsing softly. "We need more energy. Egypt wasn't enough. The next place we go will need to hold even more ancient power."
Mara, still holding the Chains of Ankhura, remained quiet, her gaze distant. Nox noticed and raised an eyebrow. "You still haven't told us why you took that chain."
Mara met her gaze but said nothing, her expression unreadable. "When the time comes, you'll understand."
Nox shrugged, not pressing further. "Well, let's hope we're ready when that time comes."
Azaymos turned his gaze to the horizon. "We move on. Next stop: Jerusalem."
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End of Chapter 34