Bab 9: 09 Dusty's Revenge

===Warning the following chapter contains gore and Zoe's sadistic side.==

Zoe stormed out of her apartment, staff in hand, and jabbed the elevator button with more force than necessary.

The button clicked faintly, and she glared at it, daring it to defy her.

Adrenaline buzzed in her veins, but as the elevator doors slid closed, her fire cooled slightly.

She slumped against the wall, head resting against the cold metal.

Her reflection stared back at her—tired eyes framed by an old, eye-wateringly bright yellow robe.

The "banana disaster." She hated the robe's shade, a reminder of her banana allergy, and the mashed stain near the hem made her wrinkle her nose.

She looked nothing like a hero, but that didn't matter.

She was doing this anyway.

The elevator dinged softly, doors parting to reveal the parking lot.

Zoe's gaze darted across the space, her heart pounding.

Dusty wasn't where it should be.

Her pulse skipped, her stomach tightened, and rage reignited.

She shoved off the elevator wall, her steps growing harder, faster, anger building in her chest with every stride.

The doors clanged shut behind her as she hit the ground running. Chilly fog swirled around her, dampening the robe, her slippers slapping against the pavement.

She barely registered the cold air biting at her skin.

Her eyes scanned the lot, breath coming out in ragged bursts, until she spotted movement—a hulking, shadowy figure through the mist.

She kicked something, sending it skittering across the asphalt.

Her gaze flicked down, and her heart clenched—then burned.

Dusty's side mirror lay on the ground, snapped off.

Her knuckles turned white as she tightened her grip around the staff.

She sucked in a sharp breath, fury boiling inside her.

Dusty wasn't just damaged—it was being torn apart.

Dusty meant everything.

It wasn't just a car; it was the last piece of her dad.

He'd bought it for her sixteenth birthday, surprising her when she got her license. Back then, it was a mess—a garage find, more rust than car.

Beat up, worn down.

But her dad had seen potential, and they had restored it together.

Late afternoons spent side by side, swapping parts, sanding down the body, repainting it.

Good old-fashioned daddy-daughter bonding.

He'd called her his tomboy, always with that proud smile.

He'd even insisted they leave it looking rough, to avoid drawing attention from thieves.

Dusty might have looked like a junker, but under the hood, it was perfect, every inch brought back to life.

Then her dad got sick.

Dusty became more than just a car.

It was the laughter, the smell of oil, the warmth of her dad's voice guiding her through each step.

It was his legacy, and now it lay in pieces, wrecked by some monster that had crawled out of a Shard.

The creature loomed ahead, its giant silhouette barely visible through the fog.

Its claws, wet with condensation, scraped at the ground. Zoe's eyes locked onto the twisted wreckage beneath it. Dusty.

Her jaw tightened, and she gripped the staff until her knuckles ached. The creature's scales gleamed as it moved, oblivious to her presence.

She wasn't going to let this slide.

Her lips curled into a snarl, her eyes darkening.

"You've got to be kidding me," she muttered, voice seething.

Energy gathered at the tip of her staff, crackling as her anger fueled it.

The monster messed with the wrong car.

"Oblivion!" she roared, thrusting her staff forward.

Dark energy erupted from the staff, spreading like a shockwave.

The air thickened, buzzing with power.

Smaller monsters hidden in the fog disintegrated instantly, crumbling to dust with various squeals and squeaks.

But the one that touched Dusty—this one was stronger.

The energy ripped into its side, scales and flesh splattering onto the asphalt.

It staggered but didn't fall, growling in pain.

Zoe's smirk widened.

"Oh, did I take out your backup? What a shame," she taunted, her voice dripping with mock pity.

Her eyes glinted with fury, fixed on the wounded beast.

She wasn't going to stop until it paid for every single dent, every scratch, every insult to her dad's memory.

The creature roared, claws tearing at the pavement as it tried to regain its balance. Zoe didn't give it a chance.

She flicked her wrist, casting Wind Gust.

A blast of air surged from her staff, slamming into the beast.

The monster's growl twisted into a surprised yelp as it flew backward, crashing onto the roof of a parked car, crushing it under its weight.

A shrill, relentless car alarm blared to life, echoing through the lot as the creature's bulk flattened the roof, leaving most of the engine intact.

Zoe's eyes narrowed as she recognized the car—Mr. Dunstan's.

The dirty old man who had spent years making her uncomfortable, leering at her, tossing crude comments her way every time he got the chance.

She remembered his disgusting smirk, the way he watched her, and seeing his car crushed under the beast's weight made her chest swell with cold satisfaction.

"Didn't like that, did you?" she murmured, taking measured steps closer as the creature struggled to rise.

Its claws scrambled for purchase on the asphalt, but Zoe wasn't letting it recover.

The moment it tried to stand, she summoned Ice Shard.

Dozens of jagged icicles materialized around her, hanging for just a heartbeat before launching at the creature like missiles.

This time, Zoe aimed for its wings.

The shards tore through the leathery appendages, shredding them into ribbons of tattered flesh.

The beast roared in agony, the remnants of its wings flailing uselessly as it lost its balance, its attempts to take flight crushed.

But Zoe wasn't done.

Not even close.

"Oh, no," she said, her voice low, dripping with menace. "You don't get off that easy."

She raised her staff again, calling forth Firebolt.

A searing ball of flame burst from her staff, arcing toward the creature and exploding on impact.

Sparks and flames cascaded over the beast's body, scorching through its tough hide, leaving charred patches in its wake.

Zoe's eyes stayed fixed, cold and calculating, as the creature writhed, the fire eating at its flesh.

It tried to crawl, its movements jerky, its strength fading with every second.

She could have ended it then—quick, merciful even.

But that wasn't enough.

This monster had dared to touch Dusty, and Zoe would make sure it paid for every single scratch.

With another flick of her wrist, she unleashed Ice Shard once more.

A volley of icicles hurtled toward the creature, piercing its already wounded body.

Blood sprayed across the pavement as it howled, a pathetic, dying wail.

Zoe's smile grew wider, darker.

"Not so tough now, are you?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the creature's pained cries.

The beast kept crawling, its once-menacing presence reduced to a pitiful, broken mess.

But Zoe wasn't about to let it escape.

It was time to finish this.

She aimed her staff, energy crackling at the tip, and cast her most powerful Firebolt yet.

The fiery projectile shot forward, slamming into the creature's back and igniting its entire body in a blaze of flames.

The monster let out one final, pitiful roar before collapsing, its form smoldering and breaking into ash and embers.

Zoe lowered her staff, adrenaline still coursing through her veins as she watched the last flames flicker out.

The parking lot fell silent, except for the distant hum of sirens as emergency crews scrambled to deal with the chaos from the Shard.

Then she saw it—a column of light, shimmering and pulsing with a gentle, almost soothing glow.

It was unlike the usual drops from defeated Shard creatures.

Those were small, barely noticeable, blending into the rubble.

But this was different.

It stood out, drawing her eyes, like it was calling to her.

Zoe frowned, taking a cautious step forward.

The light glowed softly, illuminating the remains of the beast.

She tightened her grip on the staff, her heart still pounding as she approached.

The closer she got, the more she could make out—a small, glinting object floating within the light.

She paused a few feet away, eyes narrowing.

It didn't look like a weapon or any kind of spell component she'd seen before.

Her curiosity piqued, she moved closer, keeping her staff ready, just in case.

The light faded as she reached out, revealing a small necklace.

A pendant shaped like a miniature dragon dangled from the chain, carved with delicate details, its eyes almost looking alive in the dim glow.

Zoe raised an eyebrow, her expression softening slightly.

"Seriously?" she muttered, taking the necklace in her hand.

It was warm to the touch, a faint energy humming beneath the surface. The kind of warmth that felt alive.

She felt something else too—a presence, small but powerful, like something was waiting for her to accept it.

Zoe rolled her eyes, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips.

"Well, I guess you're coming with me then," she said, slipping the necklace over her head.

As soon as the pendant settled against her chest, a sudden pressure built at the back of her mind—like something had awakened.

She stumbled, her vision momentarily flickering.

A soft, whispering voice echoed, just on the edge of understanding.

It wasn't a threat, but it wasn't comforting either.

Zoe blinked, shaking her head to clear it, her heart pounding.

"Okay... that's new," she muttered, frowning as the whispers faded, leaving only an unsettling calm.

Something had changed. And Zoe had a feeling that whatever it was, she hadn't seen the last of it.

PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA
Zanden

Hey readers! Thanks for diving into Chapter 9 with me! This chapter was all about Zoe's raw emotions coming to the surface—Dusty isn’t just a car; it’s a part of her bond with her dad, and seeing it wrecked triggered all the feelings she usually keeps buried. I wanted this fight to show that Zoe’s not just snack-powered and sarcastic—when it comes to something she cares about, she’s got a lot of fire inside.

Adding in the loot drop was also a lot of fun, especially since it hints at something much bigger. Zoe might not realize it yet, but that necklace is going to be more than just a shiny trophy—it’s going to add a whole new layer to her journey, and maybe even shake things up in ways she doesn't expect.

In this chapter, Zoe really laid down the law about messing with Dusty. This was her way of saying that some things are just off-limits, and her ride is one of them. It's not just about the car; it's about everything Dusty represents—the memories, the bond with her dad, and the sense of normalcy she's trying to hold onto, even as her world gets turned upside down.

I'd love to hear what you all think about Zoe's emotional side and how she handled this fight. Is this a side of her that surprises you, or were you expecting this rage to come through eventually? And what are your theories on the necklace?

Looking forward to reading your thoughts—see you in the comments!

Stay snack-powered!