The bridge shuddered violently, cracks splintering across its surface as the final remnants of Alicia's fiery assault took their toll. Dust filled the air, mingling with the acrid stench of scorched stone and the faint metallic tang of blood. The once-mighty structure groaned under the weight of its destruction, chunks of stone tumbling into the abyss below. Amid the chaos, the battlefield was a haunting tableau of broken weapons, injured knights, and the fading heat of the infernal fire that had consumed the Minotaur.
The imperial knight, bloodied and battered but standing, gritted his teeth as he surveyed the scene. His eyes locked on Alicia Roman, crumpled and motionless where she had fallen. The woman who had stood at the center of the storm, unleashing unimaginable power, now lay still, her strength spent. Her crimson hair, dulled by exhaustion, clung to her face, and her once-fiery aura was gone, leaving her pale and fragile amidst the rubble.
The knight staggered forward, clutching his side where the Minotaur's blow had left a deep bruise. His breathing was labored, but he forced himself to move. There was no time to waste. Pulling a high-grade potion from his belt, he uncorked it with trembling hands and drank deeply. The liquid burned its way down his throat, sending a surge of warmth through his veins. It wasn't enough to heal him completely, but it gave him the strength to stand tall.
His gaze swept across the collapsing battlefield. The bridge was disintegrating rapidly, stone blocks falling away into the abyss with alarming speed. Knights scrambled toward the edge, their movements frantic and uncoordinated as the ground beneath them crumbled. The knight knew they wouldn't all make it.
He reached Alicia's side and dropped to one knee, gently lifting her limp form into his arms. Her face was pale, her breathing shallow, but she was alive. Tightening his grip, he turned to the remaining knights, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Fall back! Retreat to the edge of the bridge! Now!"
The knights, many of them injured, hesitated for only a moment before obeying. Those who could still stand began to move, limping and stumbling toward safety. The knight didn't wait to see if his orders were followed. Alicia's weight was a reminder of the urgency—he had to get her out of here. Turning on his heel, he sprinted toward the edge, each step more precarious than the last as the bridge continued to crumble beneath him.
The air was filled with the deafening roar of falling stone, the screams of injured knights, and the groans of the dying structure. Dust and smoke obscured the path ahead, but the knight pushed forward, his focus unyielding. Alicia's body hung limp in his arms, her head resting against his chest, as he raced against time.
At the same time, Ray stood frozen, his mind reeling from the events unfolding before him. He had watched Alicia unleash a power that defied all logic, a display of strength and ferocity that left even the most seasoned knights in awe. But now, as the bridge crumbled and chaos erupted around him, Ray found himself paralyzed by indecision. The screams, the dust, the sound of falling stone—it was all too much.
Then he saw her.
A knight in silver armor was slumped against the wall, struggling to rise. Her armor was dented and smeared with blood, her movements sluggish and unsteady. Ray's heart skipped a beat as recognition dawned—she was the same knight who had helped him the day before, giving him a healing potion when he'd been at his weakest. Now, she was barely able to stand, her legs trembling beneath her as she tried and failed to move forward.
Ray's breath caught in his throat. He wanted to look away, to ignore her plight and focus on saving himself, but he couldn't. The memory of her kindness burned in his mind, and with it came a surge of determination. He couldn't leave her behind—not after what she had done for him.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, shoving aside his fear as he sprinted toward her. The ground beneath his feet was unstable, cracks spreading faster than he could comprehend. He stumbled but didn't stop, his focus locked on the silver knight.
Reaching her side, he knelt down, his hands trembling as he touched her shoulder. "Can you stand?" he asked, his voice tight with urgency.
Her eyes fluttered open, glassy with pain. "Why… why are you helping me?" she whispered, her voice barely audible above the chaos.
Ray's jaw tightened. "I'm repaying the Favor," he said curtly, avoiding her gaze. His hands slid under her arms, lifting her off the ground with a grunt. Her body was heavier than he expected, the weight of her Armor making the task even harder. She tried to protest, but her strength failed her, and her head lolled against his chest as she slipped into unconsciousness.
Adjusting his grip, Ray turned toward the edge of the bridge. The path ahead was treacherous, the ground crumbling faster than he had anticipated. Knights scrambled past him, their faces twisted with fear and desperation. Ray's legs burned with effort as he pushed forward, each step a battle against the collapsing stone beneath him.
The knight in his arms stirred slightly, her eyes opening for a brief moment. "You… you didn't have to…" she murmured weakly, her voice barely audible.
Ray glanced down at her, his face set in determination. "Yeah, well, you didn't have to save me either," he replied gruffly, his voice tinged with awkwardness.
A faint smile flickered across her lips before her eyes closed again, her body going limp once more. Ray felt a strange mix of emotions—awkwardness, gratitude, and an overwhelming sense of urgency.
The edge of the bridge was in sight. The imperial knight was already there, shouting for the others to hurry. Ray pushed himself harder, his arms straining under the weight of the unconscious knight. His muscles ached, his breath came in ragged gasps, but he didn't stop. The collapsing bridge seemed to be chasing him, each step bringing him closer to safety—or so he hoped.
Then, just as he was about to reach the edge, the ground beneath him gave way.
Time seemed to slow as Ray stumbled, the stone crumbling under his feet. In a desperate move, he threw the unconscious knight forward with all the strength he could muster. Her body soared through the air, and the waiting knights at the edge caught her just in time, pulling her to safety.
Ray, however, had no such luck.
The ground beneath him disintegrated entirely, and he felt himself falling. The wind rushed past him as he plummeted into the abyss, his arms flailing in a futile attempt to grab onto something—anything. The faces of the knights above blurred as they receded into the distance, their desperate shouts echoing in his ears.
One of the knights reached out, his hand stretching toward Ray, but it was no use. He was already too far gone. The last thing Ray saw before the darkness claimed him was the look of helplessness on their faces—but despite it all, a faint smile of satisfaction crossed his lips, knowing he had saved someone before the abyss embraced him.