章 55: The Wrecking Ball hits a sturdy Wall II
General (POV)
Inside the temple, the relentless battle against Shuma-Gorath raged on. A torrent of dark energy surged from the magic circle, threatening to corrupt Kara's magic and overwhelm their defenses. Shuma-Gorath, sensing its impending defeat, made a desperate attempt to retreat, its main body recoiling into the protective confines of the magic circle.
"Kara, do you have any more tricks?" The Ancient One inquired, her anger audible in her voice. She refused to let Shuma-Gorath escape without consequences, "I have one more attack, but it's... extremely powerful," Kara hesitated, doubt creeping in for just a moment. The attack could devastate the temple, it wasn't something she wanted to try inside.
"Don't worry, use it. I've got your back," the Ancient One urged, her voice steady with unshakable confidence. This was Kamar-Taj they were protecting—their home. The weight of her words bolstered Kara's resolve.
Kara nodded, preparing herself when a sudden sharp cry pierced the air, a sound of pain and distress. It rang out so clearly in her enhanced Kryptonian hearing that it nearly stopped her in her tracks. Her eyes darted toward the source. The library? At this hour?
Her mind raced. Could it be Kaecilius? Was he involved in something sinister? She could sense that something was terribly wrong.
"Kara? What's wrong?" The Ancient One's voice cut through the turmoil, concern evident in her tone. They were in the middle of a crucial battle, but Kara's focus had faltered, distracted by the sudden, alarming cry.
Without hesitation, Kara whispered through their mental connection, "Sarah, go look for Kaecilius. Something's off. Why wasn't he here with the others?"
From Kara's shadow, came Sarah's calm response. "On it."
The gut feeling from before came true and Sarah would be able to deal with it, she was sure, that however, she was still worried. But for now, Kara's attention had to return to the battle at hand. She couldn't afford any more distractions.
However, in that brief moment of hesitation, Shuma-Gorath seized the opportunity. The cosmic entity broke free from the magical tendrils Kara had ensnared it with. The massive eye that had partially emerged from the magic circle began retreating back into the protective barrier.
Kara's heart raced. No. You don't get away that easily.
Without hesitation, Kara lunged toward the center of the magic circle, her feet hitting the massive, shifting eye of Shuma-Gorath with a force that echoed through the temple. The impact rippled through the eye's distorted surface like a shockwave, and in that moment, the entity's smug arrogance seemed to drain away, replaced by a primal fear as it felt the full brunt of Kara's power.
"You can't escape this dimension!" Kara's voice rang out, the words infused with the purest essence of her strength, reverberating through the circle like a declaration. The air itself trembled as her voice sliced through the chaos.
Kara quickly whispered, "Dimension-Lock." A burst of electric blue energy shot from her palm, wrapping around Shuma-Gorath's enormous eye like chains, locking it in place within this reality. The magic buzzed, crackled, and hummed with raw energy. But Kara knew the cost—binding such an entity would drain her, and she couldn't maintain it forever.
Soaring above the eye, Kara raised her hand high, and with a surge of magical energy, a spear materialized in her grasp. It crackled with crimson energy, its power unmistakable—this would be the final strike.
"Shuma-Gorath, listen closely," Kara's voice grew cold, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "Earth is off-limits to you now. If you ever think of coming back, know this…" Her gaze narrowed, and her voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "I'll be waiting."
The red magic spear pulsed with her energy, and the air around them thickened, charged with the immense magical force she wielded. Her eyes flashed with a lethal promise as she prepared the final blow.
"You're done for!"
Her voice rang out as her incantation began to pour from her lips, every syllable infused with centuries of power. Magic swirled around her like a storm, a cascade of sparks and radiant light filling the air. The power was palpable, building with every heartbeat, and just as the magic reached its zenith, her Mystic Eyes flared to life—eyes she hadn't summoned in years. The iridescent rainbow light that radiated from them locked onto Shuma-Gorath, honing in with unyielding focus.
Gáe Scrios: Spear of Ruin - Divine Reckoning!
In that instant, an ethereal, colossal version of Kara appeared behind her—an imposing spectral mirror image, woven from the deepest magics she could summon. The figure mimicked her every motion, lifting its own version of the Spear of Ruin—amplifying the already overwhelming attack. The air vibrated with power as the magical forces converged, and Shuma-Gorath, in a final act of desperation, lashed out with its massive tentacles, trying to flee, to survive—but it was too late.
The very darkness of the temple, the chaotic swirl of magic, and even the Ancient One's magical clone seemed to be drawn into Kara's sphere of influence. The immense power of the Spear of Ruin descended, its fiery energy crashing down like an unstoppable tidal wave, igniting the air with a brilliance that turned the sky itself into a furnace. Kara's magic collided with Shuma-Gorath's defenses in a cataclysmic burst of light, the explosion of energy so intense it scorched the very air, sending shockwaves through every inch of Kamar-Taj.
The magic circle shattered in an explosion of pure destruction, and with a final, earth-shattering roar, Shuma-Gorath's form was obliterated, its essence torn apart by the force of the attack. The temple's foundation trembled, the walls cracking under the immense power, as a massive crater was left in the wake of the explosion. Red-hot magma flowed through the cavernous depths, glowing like molten veins beneath the earth's surface.
The ground itself shuddered, and the sky crackled with the aftershocks of the blast, the very fabric of reality rippling in response to the destruction. The force of the explosion sent tremors through the air, and even those who were far from the temple—Hamir, the apprentices, and sorcerers across Kamar-Taj—felt the pulse of raw magic reverberating through them.
...
Far from the temple, Kaecilius froze mid-step as a surge of magic rippled through the air. It wasn't the familiar hum of Kamar-Taj's wards or the Ancient One's omnipresent watch—it was something powerful. Very powerful. The kind of power that makes you glance over your shoulder even when you're alone. His lips curled into a scowl.
"Great," he muttered to himself. "Another complication. Just what I needed."
With urgency creeping into his voice, he barked, "Cassidy, portal! Now!"
Cassidy, mid-swing against the battered Librarian, cast a frustrated glance at Kaecilius. "Little busy, boss!" he shot back, his blade catching the faint glow of the surrounding torches.
Kaecilius didn't flinch. "Busy gets us killed, Cassidy. Move it!"
The Librarian, lying on the stone floor and leaking more blood than Kaecilius thought a man could have, still managed to lift his head. "You'll fail," he croaked, every syllable dripping defiance. "You're already doomed."
Kaecilius sneered. "Do you rehearse those lines, or do they just come to you?" He plucked the torn page from the ancient book, tucking it into his robes before darting toward the shimmering portal Cassidy finally conjured.
Mike and Diana didn't wait around and quickly went through, while Cassidy lingered, glancing back at the Librarian. "Hey, boss, maybe we take the whole book? Ever think of that? More spells, more power, more—"
"More attention," Kaecilius snapped without breaking stride. "The Ancient One isn't blind, Cassidy. Do you think she's scary now? Try stealing her favorite bedtime reading. A single page, she might ignore. The whole book? She'll invent ways to make us regret it."
Cassidy frowned but didn't argue. "Just saying. Could've been worth it."
"Just saying, you're welcome for keeping you alive," Kaecilius retorted, turning towards the portal to follow the other two. Just then, the portal sizzled out, and a slow, sarcastic clap echoed from the shadows. "Well, well, if it isn't Kaecilius," came a honeyed voice.
Both men spun around. A woman emerged, her blonde hair gleaming like spun gold in the dim light. She wasn't dressed in the garb of Kamar-Taj's disciples, but a red hoodie dress and black knee-high boots. Her posture oozed confidence, and her smirk? That was pure trouble.
"Kara?" Kaecilius spat, his confusion barely masked by irritation. "Shouldn't you be fighting the intruder?"
She tilted her head, her smirk widening. "Not Kara, sweetheart. Sarah! And while you might've slipped away if I wasn't here..." She took a deliberate step forward, her voice dropping to a purr that sent an involuntary chill down Cassidy's spine. "What makes you think I'll let you leave with that page in my presence?"
Kaecilius straightened, his tone sharp as steel. "Another one of the Ancient One's experiments? You're no real threat. Just another failed project with a fancy name."
Sarah's smile didn't falter. In fact, it softened into something almost... gracious. She whispered an incantation, her hands weaving shadows into an intricate lattice. "Shadow Dimension Transfer," she murmured.
The room darkened instantly, the light draining like water down a sink. Cassidy staggered back, panicking. "Uh, Kaecilius? This doesn't look like your average party trick!"
Kaecilius's jaw tightened, his composure slipping for a heartbeat. Then, with forced bravado, he growled, "If she wants a fight, she'll get one."
However, from all around, shadows surged like a living tide, coiling and twisting before enveloping Kaecilius and Cassidy. The darkness dragged them forward, every step heavier than the last, as though the air itself had thickened into tar. Their movements became sluggish, panic flickering in their eyes as they struggled to resist the pull. Futile.
As if she were weaving, Sarah guided the inky tendrils with effortless precision. They weren't just being restrained—they were being dragged somewhere.
Kaecilius's scowl deepened as he clawed at the intangible force dragging him toward her. "You think shadows scare me?" he spat, his voice tight with frustration.
"Oh, darling," Sarah purred from somewhere in the darkness, her voice a velvet whisper, "you've clearly never met the right shadow."
With a final yank of her metaphysical strings, she pulled them through the veil, dragging the pair into her pocket dimension.
The transition was jarring. The shadows gave way to a surreal, kaleidoscopic landscape where the laws of reality crumbled and bent. The sky churned with chaotic hues—vibrant crimson clashing against molten orange—and impossible shapes floated in the ether. Distant thunderclaps rolled through the alien atmosphere, their reverberations felt more than heard.
Kaecilius and Cassidy stumbled into this twisted realm, their bewildered gazes darting around the swirling apocalypse. Cassidy's mouth hung open as he pointed at a distant shape—a jagged, floating mountain that seemed to growl as it passed.
"Where the hell are we?" Cassidy breathed his voice equal parts awe and terror.
Kaecilius didn't bother answering. He was too busy locking eyes with Sarah, who stood perched atop a blackened spire of stone, her arms crossed and her smirk as sharp as a dagger.
"Hi there!" she called down cheerfully. "Welcome to my humble abode. Bit of a fixer-upper, but it's got... character." She descended gracefully, her boots clicking against the warped stone as she approached. "Not exactly a great vacation spot, though. Not for your health."
Cassidy glanced nervously at Kaecilius. "Uh, boss? Who's the blonde with the creepy shadow magic and, uh... that whole 'you're doomed' vibe?"
Kaecilius narrowed his eyes at Sarah, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "We escaped Kamar-Taj, and now you've dragged us here. Who are you, and what do you want?"
Sarah tilted her head, her expression one of exaggerated patience. "Wow. Straight to the point. No 'thank you for not letting the Librarian squish us.' Rude."
Cassidy, meanwhile, was still staring at the shifting sky, a mix of terror and fascination in his wide eyes. "Seriously, though... where are we?"
Sarah chuckled, a low, melodic sound that sent a shiver down both their spines. "You're in, my pocket dimension my private dimension within the shadow dimension. Think of it as my home office—though you won't find a complaints department here." Her tone shifted, growing sharper. "Now, let's cut to the chase."
She stepped closer, her gaze locked on Kaecilius. The air around her shimmered with faint, otherworldly energy as if the dimension itself was alive and responding to her mood.
"You've got something that doesn't belong to you," she said, her voice calm but layered with a warning.
Kaecilius stiffened, instinctively clutching the hidden page within his robes. "What makes you think you can stop me from keeping it?"
Sarah raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a wicked smile. "Oh, I don't think I can stop you. I know I can." She raised a hand, her fingers dancing as if she were teasing out the strings of a marionette.
"You've got two options," she continued, her voice as smooth as silk. "Option one: you hand over the page, we all walk away, and I even let you keep a limb or two as a souvenir."
Cassidy gulped. "What's option two?"
Her smile turned predatory. "You don't hand it over, and I show you why it's called the shadow dimension."
The air around them crackled ominously, the shadows deepening and shifting, as though alive and awaiting her command.
Kaecilius exchanged a wary glance with Cassidy, his expression tight. "And if we refuse?"
Sarah's smirk widened. "Oh, you'll wish you hadn't. Spoiler alert—it's not going to end well for you."
In the heart of Sarah's pocket dimension, where reality twisted like a fever dream and gravity played its own capricious games, the air crackled with tension. The rocky terrain beneath their feet rippled and shifted unpredictably, as if alive and listening. Sarah kept her eyes locked on Kaecilius and Cassidy, her posture relaxed, but her smirk betrayed an eagerness that burned brighter than the surreal hues of the swirling sky.
"Well," she began, her voice light and almost playful, "it looks like you've made your choice. Can't say I'm surprised. Just a heads-up, though—there's no running in my playground." She spread her arms, gesturing at the chaotic realm around them. "Oh, and fun fact: out there in the real world, you might have stood a chance against me. But here?" Her grin widened, her confidence radiating. "In here, I've got near-unlimited magical energy. So, gentlemen—" she leaned forward slightly, her eyes alight with mischief, "—make it entertaining."
Kaecilius sneered, his hands glowing with dark energy as he stood tall. "You think you can stop the inevitable?" His tone dripped with contempt, but there was a flicker of unease behind his eyes.
With a sharp motion, he summoned fractured rocks from the twisting ground around them. The shards hovered, sharp and glinting, before launching toward Sarah like a swarm of crystalline arrows. Beside him, Cassidy prepared his own magic, his hands crackling with unstable energy.
Unfazed, Sarah moved with calculated grace, tracing glowing runes into the air with fluid precision. A shimmering, radiant shield materialized in front of her just in time to intercept the onslaught. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the distorted air, the crystalline projectiles shattering against her barrier with a deafening crack.
The force pushed her back slightly, the shifting ground beneath her feet offering little stability. Sarah smirked as she adjusted her stance, her energy shield morphing and expanding to deflect the remaining shards. They ricocheted off her defenses, embedding themselves into the chaotic terrain.
"Nice try," she quipped, brushing a stray lock of blonde hair from her face. Her sharp gaze swept the twisted battlefield, scanning for her adversaries.
"There you are!" she exclaimed, spotting Kaecilius. He was crouched low, his hands weaving an intricate ritual, his lips moving in silent incantation. Cassidy stood by his side, acting as a sentinel, his eyes darting across the surreal landscape for any sign of an attack.
Sarah's expression hardened. Her fingers danced in a precise sequence, summoning a spiraling vortex of magic beneath her. Without hesitation, she launched herself downward, streaking through the warped air like a comet on a collision course. The energy swirling around her crackled violently, distorting the fabric of the dimension.
Cassidy's head snapped up first, his eyes widening. "Uh, Kaecilius? We've got company!"
Kaecilius didn't look up, his focus locked on the ritual. "Keep her off me!"
Cassidy turned toward Sarah, firing off a hasty volley of chaotic energy blasts. Sarah twisted midair, her movements as fluid as a dancer's, each projectile narrowly missing her as she closed the distance.
With a thunderous impact, she landed near them, the force sending tremors rippling outward. "Cute," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "But you'll have to try harder than that."
Kaecilius finally glanced up, his face twisting with irritation. "You can't stop this ritual, girl. We're already too far along."
Sarah raised an eyebrow, her fingers sparking with radiant energy as she conjured bolts of magic. She hurled them toward the ritual site, each blast colliding with the dark energy swirling around Kaecilius and Cassidy. The resulting explosions lit up the warped sky in dazzling bursts of color, sending shockwaves rippling through the dimension.
"Stop?" Sarah laughed, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Oh, sweetie, I'm not here to stop you—I'm here to make sure you understand how bad your plan really is." She hurled another bolt, this time aimed closer, the resulting shockwave nearly knocking Cassidy off his feet.
"Don't waste your breath," Sarah called out, her voice steady but tinged with amusement. "That little spell of yours? It doesn't work here. You think you can bend my dimension to your will?" She took a step closer, her energy crackling like lightning around her. "Oh, honey, you're about to learn what real magic feels like."
Kaecilius and Cassidy retaliated with unbridled fury, unleashing torrents of dark energy that tore through the warped terrain. The ground erupted violently, sending shards of stone and crystalline debris spiraling into the air. The chaos painted the battleground with peril, the very dimension trembling under the weight of their assault.
Sarah's eyes narrowed, her patience wearing thin as the storm of energy and debris obscured her vision. Enough games. She whispered a quick incantation, summoning a shadowy duplicate of herself that flickered to life behind Cassidy, its form barely distinguishable from the chaotic backdrop.
With a fluid motion, Sarah forged a hellfire katana in her grip, its blade blazing with crimson and orange flames that seemed to hunger for destruction. Her lips curled into a sly smile as she exchanged places with her shadow clone, vanishing from sight only to reappear behind Cassidy.
"Make better choices in your next life, brother," Sarah whispered into his ear, her voice a velvet blade as she drove the hellfire katana through his back with brutal precision. The weapon's tip pierced his heart, and Cassidy's eyes widened in shock as a crimson shockwave of energy exploded from the fatal wound. His magic faltered, the dark energy unraveling around him as his body crumpled to the ground, lifeless. The swirling chaos of the dimension seemed to swallow his dissipating essence, leaving only silence in his wake.
Kaecilius turned, his expression a mix of shock and fury as he realized Cassidy was gone. For the first time, a flicker of uncertainty danced across his face. He was vulnerable, and he knew it.
Sarah, now standing a few feet away after swapping places once more with her shadow duplicate, casually flicked her katana as if trying to get the blood off it. Her triumphant grin stretched wide as she held the blade aloft, its flames licking the air with dangerous intensity.
"One down," she said, her tone almost playful, her voice carrying across the warped battlefield like a melody of doom. "Shall we get this nuisance over with, Kaecilius? Or do you want to waste more of my time?"
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