Chapter 28: The Breaking Point
The clash of steel against steel echoed through the fortress as Seraphina met Adrian's attack head-on. Sparks flew from their blades, their power colliding in bursts of silver and shadow. The storm raged around them, rain lashing against the stone as if the heavens themselves were bearing witness to their battle.
Adrian's smirk never wavered. "Is this the best you have, Moonbound heir?"
Seraphina's grip tightened around her sword. She could feel the heat of her silver flames pulsing beneath her skin, but she held back. Adrian was testing her, taunting her, waiting for her to make a mistake.
From below, Rafael and Kane continued to push back against the remaining forces, their movements swift and merciless. Blood stained the ground, and bodies littered the battlefield, but the war was far from over.
Seraphina lunged, her blade arcing toward Adrian's throat. He deflected it effortlessly, twisting his body with unnatural grace before countering with a strike aimed at her side. She barely managed to evade, the edge of his blade grazing her ribs.
Pain flared, but she didn't falter. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
"You're holding back," Adrian observed, his tone almost bored. "Afraid of what happens if you use your full power?"
Seraphina didn't answer. She couldn't. Because deep down, she knew he was right.
A sudden explosion rocked the fortress, sending tremors through the stone beneath them. From the corner of her eye, she saw a section of the walls collapse, flames licking at the sky. A trap? Or a desperate move from the remnants of Adrian's army?
Adrian chuckled, amused. "Looks like your little rebellion is falling apart. How tragic."
Seraphina clenched her jaw, shoving aside her hesitation. She needed to end this—now.
She let go.
Silver fire erupted from her, swirling violently as it met the dark energy Adrian wielded. The force of it sent shockwaves rippling through the air, knocking debris loose and shattering stone. Adrian's expression finally shifted—just slightly—as he braced against the onslaught.
For the first time, Seraphina saw something flicker in his eyes.
Not amusement.
Not arrogance.
But recognition.
And for the first time, she wondered—what exactly was Adrian afraid of?
Chapter 29: The Shattered Truth
The force of Seraphina's unleashed power sent tremors through the fortress, cracking the stone beneath their feet. Adrian staggered back, his smirk faltering for the first time. The silver fire surrounding her burned brighter, hotter, consuming everything in its path.
Rafael and Kane, still locked in battle below, felt the surge of energy. Rafael's gaze snapped upward. "She's doing it," he muttered, his grip tightening around his sword. "She's finally tapping into her full power."
Kane growled, slicing through another enemy. "Then we need to hold the line. She can't afford any distractions."
Above them, Adrian straightened, his golden eyes narrowing. "So, you've decided to stop playing it safe," he mused, wiping a streak of blood from his lip. "Good. Show me what you really are."
Seraphina didn't hesitate. She charged, her sword wreathed in silver flames, striking with a force that sent shockwaves rippling through the air. Adrian barely managed to parry, his dark energy clashing violently against hers.
The battle turned brutal. Every strike from Seraphina pushed Adrian back, her attacks growing faster, more relentless. She was no longer just fighting to win—she was fighting to end him.
Then, in a split second, she saw it.
A flicker of hesitation in Adrian's eyes. A brief moment where his guard slipped.
Seraphina seized the opening. She twisted her blade, aiming for his heart—
And missed.
In an instant, Adrian moved, faster than she had ever seen him. He dodged to the side, but instead of countering, he leaped back, putting distance between them. His breathing was heavy, his expression unreadable.
"That's enough," he said suddenly.
Seraphina froze, her flames crackling around her. "What?"
Adrian exhaled sharply, lowering his sword. "This fight is over."
Confusion warred with her rage. "What kind of trick is this?"
Adrian's eyes darkened. "No trick. You're strong, Seraphina. Stronger than I anticipated." He glanced down at the burning fortress, watching as his forces fell one by one. "This battle is lost."
Seraphina tightened her grip on her sword. "Then surrender."
Adrian chuckled, though there was no amusement in it. "To you? No. But I will give you something better."
He took a step forward, his voice lowering. "You don't know the full truth of your bloodline, do you?"
Seraphina's breath caught. "What are you talking about?"
Adrian smirked, but his eyes held something else—something dangerously close to regret. "Your ancestors… they weren't just rulers. They were executioners."
The words sent a chill down her spine.
Adrian's gaze bored into hers. "Ask yourself, Seraphina. Why do you think I've been trying to stop you?"
Before she could respond, the ground beneath them cracked violently. The fortress was collapsing.
Adrian gave her one last look. "We'll meet again."
Then, in a swirl of shadows, he was gone.
Seraphina barely had time to process his words before the stone beneath her feet gave way, sending her plunging into darkness.
Chapter 30: Into the Abyss
The world blurred around Seraphina as she plunged into the darkness. Wind howled in her ears, and for a moment, she felt weightless—adrift in an endless void. Then, pain exploded through her body as she crashed onto solid ground, the impact forcing the air from her lungs.
Coughing, she pushed herself up, blinking against the swirling dust. Dim light flickered from cracks in the cavern walls, casting eerie shadows that danced like specters. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and something else—something ancient.
She wasn't alone.
A low growl echoed through the chamber. Instinct took over, and she rolled to the side just as a massive claw slashed through the space where she had been. Her heart pounded as she scrambled to her feet, her silver flames flickering to life.
A creature emerged from the shadows—a beast unlike any she had ever seen. Its eyes glowed crimson, its body twisted and covered in jagged obsidian scales. It moved like a predator, circling her with a slow, deliberate pace.
Seraphina gritted her teeth. Adrian had planned this. This wasn't just a fall—it was a trap.
The beast lunged.
Seraphina reacted instantly, dodging to the side and slashing with her blade. Sparks flew as metal met scale, but the creature barely flinched. It roared, its breath scorching hot as it swiped again, forcing her to retreat.
She needed a plan. Fast.
Her mind raced. The walls—there were fissures of light. If she could channel her energy through them, she might be able to trigger a collapse, or at least create an opening.
Summoning her power, she reached out, her silver flames snaking toward the cracks. The beast sensed her shift in focus and charged, but this time, she was ready.
At the last second, she twisted, leading it directly into the unstable wall.
With a deafening crash, the stone gave way.
Dust and debris filled the cavern as the beast let out a final, enraged roar before being buried beneath the rubble. Seraphina shielded herself from the falling rock, her breathing ragged.
Then, silence.
She exhaled shakily, her body trembling from exhaustion. But there was no time to rest.
A faint glow caught her attention deeper within the cavern. A door—carved with ancient symbols, pulsing with an otherworldly light.
Her pulse quickened. Whatever was behind that door… it was calling to her.
With one final breath, she stepped forward, into the unknown.