66. Bobble

sixty-six

Bobble

Agony sears through every nerve in my body as the dark magic slams into me, a relentless force that threatens to tear me apart from the inside out. I struggle to channel what little healing power I have left, desperately trying to keep myself and Sunder alive against her barrage.

My fingers frantically dig into the unforgiving ground beneath us, seeking anything that can be wielded as a weapon. But all I feel is cold stone and dirt. Just when all hope seems lost, my fingertips brush against something smooth and cold, almost like metal.

Sunder's dagger.

With the ferocity of a dying man, I grasp onto it with all my strength. Because I am a dying man. This object is our last chance for survival, and I will hold on to it until my final breath.

Malicryn's eyes narrow into slits, her annoyance palpable as we somehow manage to survive. She stalks forward with a purpose, her attention now solely fixated on inspecting the way the dark Chroma seeps into our bodies. My heart races with anticipation.

This is my opportunity to strike.

Summoning every ounce of my remaining strength, I launch the sharp metal towards her with a primal scream. It pierces through her body, splitting it in half with a sickening crunch, mirroring the spot where she mercilessly stabbed Dan'thiel. Her dark Chroma splutters out in a flurry of sparks and I hastily use up my last reserves of yellow to heal both Sunder and myself. With adrenaline pumping through my veins, I yank Sunder to his feet just as Malicryn coughs up blood and crumples to her knees.

In a final act of revenge, Sunder delivers a powerful kick to her chest, sending her sprawling and driving the knife even deeper into her body. As she lays lifeless on the ground, her once menacing gaze now reflects only the orange glow of the flames engulfing the city around us.

Sunder practically collapses against me, his hand weakly patting my back. "We have to find the others," he gasps, his voice strained and barely audible. I throw his arm over my shoulder, feeling the weight of his body pressing down on me as we stumble through the chaotic city towards Mira.

Every step feels like a Herculean effort as we push through crowds of panicked people trying to extinguish the flames, our bodies battered and bruised from the relentless attacks. But I refuse to give up, not when my friends need me most.

We will make it to Mira, no matter what obstacles stand in our way.