Drifting Embers
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[MGM]: 53 - Divine Judgement
🕑 Added 2025-02-16 13:18:12 +0000 UTCAmara had once explained to me the mechanism of our Soul Bond, and though she remained largely oblivious to its foundations, there was one aspect she had managed to ascertain—and she had wasted no time in confiding it to me.
Soul Partition.
The concept was basically this: if a soul was formless and immutable, then what made the Soul Bond possible? Answer—Soul Partition.
Cut a sliver of one’s soul, fuse it into the other, and boom—Soul Bond. That was the simplest explanation, according to Amara. I still found it hard to digest, given how absurd it sounded, but at least I could understand some of it.
I remained transfixed, staring at the spot where Pyra had just vanished. It took the sound of a crash, echoing across the clearing, to snap me out of my frozen state. When I did, my gaze instinctively shifted to the monstrosity that had emerged from the darkness.
Towering over twelve feet tall, the creature was built of corded sinew, its massive arms ending in claw-like protrusions. Its legs were distinctly canine, with heels that extended out and upward. Coarse black fur covered its entire body—except for one unsettling detail.
The right side of its torso, along with its arm, was bare. No fur, just slate-gray flesh, as if carved from stone.
I met the monster’s gaze, its baleful red eyes boring into mine, and ground my teeth. My grip on my sword tightened until my knuckles turned white. The beast snarled, baring its sharp white fangs. The urge became unbearable.
I let go.
The world shifted, its vibrancy withering as though consumed by plague, leaving behind only one command. From deep within, I heard a whisper, a calling, a persuasion I refused to heed.
I just ran.
The forest disappeared. The world disappeared. And for a fleeting moment, I was everywhere.
The land. The ocean. The mountains.
I was fire. I was wind. I was formless.
I was FREE!
And then I was back.
Reality snapped into focus, color rushing in once more. I was behind the monster now, sword drawn, blade already in motion. It turned—too late.
The crimson edge of my blade met its neck in a shower of sparks. But instead of slicing through, the strike landed on the creature’s exposed right side—the stone-like flesh that lacked fur.
Even with Runic Empowerment backing my attack, my sword left only a shallow nick.
The adrenaline ebbed. Panic surged.
I was so very fucked.
I watched, wide-eyed, as the monster’s claw sliced through the air, speeding toward my defenseless torso. I arched my spine, just barely bending back while raising my sword in a desperate block.
Metal met claw. Sparks flew. And then—my arms gave in.
The blade slammed against my chest, the sheer force of the blow lifting me off my feet and hurling me through the air. Wind rushed past me, the breath torn from my lungs—then came the impact.
With a resounding crash, my back slammed into a tree. Pain flared through my ribs as I crumpled to the ground in breathless, agonizing wheezes. Blood, thick and laced with saliva, dripped past my chipped lip, staining the sickly yellow grass beneath me. I tried to catch my breath, but pain surged from my lungs, making it near impossible.
Defeated, I slumped against the broken stump—the tree itself had splintered under the force of my crash.
My gaze drifted upward, catching the unfiltered glow of moonlight streaming through the now-vacant canopy. Then, lower—to the monster approaching with steady, deliberate steps.
Movement flickered at the edge of my vision. I turned just in time to see a shadow blur high above the beast, leaving a crater in her wake.
Tania.
Her gauntleted fist was drawn back, a ring of glowing runes hovering before it in a mystical circle. She dropped, descending like a meteor, her fist ready to strike.
The monster looked up.
Not again!
A desperate scream echoed in my mind. Pain threatened to drag me into unconsciousness, but I shoved past it, forcing myself upright and running. My body screamed in protest, but I couldn’t stop.
The monster was close. Tania was closer.
But no matter how fast I ran—I’d never reach her in time.
Fuck!
Tears stung my eyes, a mix of pain and helplessness, but I pushed forward.
Just as the monster’s claw shot upward, ready to tear through Tania’s armor—
A flash of crimson cleaved through the air.
For a heartbeat, silence reigned.
I froze mid-motion, eyes wide, breath caught.
Somewhere in the distance, a soft chime rang out—like a single droplet of water touching the surface of a still lake.
And then—
Everything exploded.
A sharp, cutting sound echoed through the forest, somehow rising above the distant cries of other monsters and the sizzle of fire devouring the woodland. I watched in stunned fascination as the creature’s stony claw slid sideways—then dropped. The cut was impossibly smooth, the cleanest I had ever seen in my life.
Then the trees toppled.
Dust and debris exploded into the air, clouding my vision. I lost sight of Tania. I knew she was fine—I had to believe it—but worry still gnawed at my insides.
Through the swirling dust, a figure rushed forward.
Amara.
She carried Tania in her arms, cradling her like a knight rescuing a princess. Relief crashed over me, overwhelming and all-consuming. My knees buckled.
I collapsed.
“Mark!” Amara’s voice rang in my head. I weakly raised a hand to reassure her. A moment later, firm hands gripped my shoulders, pulling me up. Amara’s icy expression swam into view, her frown tight with concern rather than anger.
“Pyra,” I gasped between ragged breaths, “is she alright?”
“She’s fine,” Amara nodded. “I got her, so don’t worry. And don’t you ever do something that reckless again, you hear me?”
I managed a weak nod. Then I felt her palm press against my bruised chest.
Warmth surged through me. A comforting, homely warmth. It lifted me, cradled me, wrapped around me like an embrace. My breathing evened out, and though I had no way of knowing how much time passed, it couldn’t have been more than a minute.
A sharp wail shattered the momentary serenity. I frowned. Amara’s warmth had been so soothing that, for a moment, I had almost forgotten about the monster.
“I have to finish this,” she said, locking eyes with me. “Are you going to be alright?”
“Yeah,” I nodded. “I’ll manage. Go—end it.”
Amara turned, and Tania stepped forward to steady me. Even with my injuries healed, fatigue crashed over me like a tidal wave. There was no pain in my ribs, no sharp aches anywhere in my body—but my head felt light. Even pulling myself upright made my vision swim.
“Take it easy,” Tania murmured, pulling me into her embrace. Even through her armor, I could feel the warmth radiating from her.
"Flame of Creation?" I posed, looking up at her.
She nodded.
“Fuck,” I swore out loud, drawing a curious look from her. “I feel like I made two mistakes—first with Amara, then with you. I should’ve chosen Immortal instead of Blood Monarch… and Flame of Creation instead of Runic Empowerment.”
Tania opened her mouth as if to respond—but hesitated, as if unsure of what to say.
“It’s alright,” I sighed, shaking my head. “It wasn’t your fault. Or Amara’s, for that matter. The choice was mine to make. I won’t run from that responsibility.” My gaze darkened with resolve. “And there’s still Pyra. I won’t make the same mistake again.”
Tania squeezed my hand—a simple gesture, but one I had come to appreciate. Her grip was warm, grounding. Something that belonged to just the two of us.
Then the ground trembled.
A powerful gust of wind roared through the clearing, scattering the dust. The scene ahead sharpened into focus, and awe stole the breath from my lungs.
Amara.
Her blazer was gone, leaving her in a simple white shirt and loose black pants that whipped in the wind. Her silver hair flowed wildly, giving her an almost untamed presence—commanding, absolute.
She held the same crimson spear as before, but that wasn’t what had my breath caught in my throat.
The wings did.
Two massive, feathery appendages stretched from her back. Stark white, their tips streaked with crimson—like veins of blood woven through them.
They weren’t just wings. They were expressions of art—majestic, breathtaking.
She hovered mid-air, spear poised downward—its deadly tip aimed directly at the monster.
Behind her, a formation of shadowy spears loomed in the air. A heavenly judgment waiting to be delivered.
For the first time, I truly understood the vast gulf between those of higher ranks and those of lower ones. The difference wasn’t just power—it was an entirely different existence.
The spears fell.
Like malevolent stars raining down from the heavens—
And the world sundered.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
You have leveled up!
Accidentally released it before the scheduled time. 😅
Anyhow, enjoy!
