章節 18: CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: THE GUARDIAN'S SACRIFICE
Selena burst through the door of her mother's office, slamming it shut behind her. The sound echoed through the room, causing the rows of books on the shelves to seem to tremble in response. The scent of old parchment and leather bindings wafted through the air, a familiar comfort that did little to soothe Selena's frazzled nerves.
Her mother, Helen, looked up from the papers on her desk, a look of concern etched on her face. The soft light of the setting sun streaming through the window highlighted the lines of worry on her forehead. "Selena, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice calm and gentle.
Selena paced back and forth across the room, her eyes blazing with anger and hurt. "He skipped me, Mother," she spat, her voice venomous. "He gave the Death Scythe to Liam, of all people."
Helen's expression turned sympathetic, but she said nothing, allowing Selena to vent her frustrations. The sound of Selena's footsteps echoed through the room, punctuated by the occasional creak of the old wooden floorboards.
As Selena raged on, the shadows in the room seemed to grow longer and darker, as if they themselves were being stirred up by Selena's emotions. The air was thick with tension, heavy with the weight of Selena's hurt and anger.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Selena's anger began to dissipate, replaced by a deep sadness. She stumbled to a stop in front of her mother's desk, her eyes welling up with tears. Helen opened her arms, and Selena collapsed into them, sobbing uncontrollably.
Helen held her close, whispering soft words of comfort into her ear. The scent of her mother's perfume, a subtle blend of rose and vanilla, enveloped Selena, providing a sense of comfort and security.
As Selena's tears slowly dried, Helen stepped back, a small smile on her face. "You are strong, Selena," she whispered. "You are powerful. You don't need the Death Scythe to prove your worth."
Selena's eyes widened as her mother turned to a nearby cabinet, producing a long, ornate box. The box itself was made of a polished silver wood, adorned with intricate gemstones that seemed to shimmer in the fading light.
"This is Elyria, the Moonlit Spear," Helen said, her voice full of reverence. "It is a symbol of your power, a tool that will help you harness your abilities and forge your own path."
As Selena reached out to take the spear, the room seemed to fall silent, the shadows themselves holding their breath in anticipation. The spear felt alive in Selena's hands, its power coursing through her like a river of moonlight.
........ ✍️
Selena cracked her knuckles, a menacing grin spreading across her face. "Let me introduce my partner," she said, her voice dripping with confidence. The air seemed to vibrate with anticipation as she continued, "Everyone in the Shadow Realm wields a unique weapon. My father once commanded the Death Scythe, but now that idiot, Liam, has claimed it." Her gaze gleamed with a fierce intensity, like the glint of moonlight on dark water.
Elyria, the Moonlit Spear, slowly emerged from the shadows around her, its red iron shaft glinting like embers. The spear's presence seemed to draw the darkness closer, as if the shadows themselves were being pulled into its orbit. Selena's hand closed around the spear's haft, feeling the familiar surge of power course through her veins.
With a swift, deadly motion, Selena struck the spear's tip against the ground. The sound was like a crack of thunder, shaking the air and sending the shadows swirling around her. The guards, caught off guard, stumbled backward as the darkness seemed to coalesce into a living, breathing entity that enveloped them. Their bodies crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
Selena's gaze locked onto the remaining figure, her smile growing colder. "All that's left is you, baldie."
..... ✍️
I stand before my father, the moment we've all been waiting for. For the first time in my life, I'm face to face with the man whose absence has left an unfillable void, whose name has been a curse on my lips. My chest heaves with ragged breaths, the exertion of my frantic dash to reach him still burning in my lungs. My fists clench and unclench, the familiar weight of my rage settling into my bones. My eyes lock onto his, and the weight of our twisted history hangs in the air, a challenge, a provocation, a promise of reckoning.
"They sent a boy to protect them?" He laughs hysterically, the sound grating on my nerves.
"You don't recognize me?" I growl, my rage simmering just below the surface.
He raises an eyebrow, his gaze disinterested. "Am I supposed to?"
My anger boils over, and I dash at him, unleashing a powerful kick aimed at his chest. But he sidesteps with ease, his movements fluid and almost lazy.
I spin around, my fists flying in a flurry of punches. But he catches my fist in his hand, his grip like a vice. "You move well," he says, his voice dripping with condescension, "but you're light years from landing a hit on me."
With a sudden, vicious motion, he jerks me forward, his forehead crashing into mine. The impact is explosive, and for a moment, I'm convinced my head will shatter like glass. Blood gushes from the wound, streaming down my face in warm, sticky rivulets.
I stumble backward, my vision blurring at the edges. But I force myself to look up, to confront the man who's beaten me so effortlessly. He's walking toward me, a sword materializing in his hand with a soft whoosh of sound.
"I must commend you for standing before me with such bravado," he says, his voice dripping with amusement. "Better luck next time, kid."
He raises the sword, the blade glinting in the light. I try to move, to defend myself, but my body feels heavy, unresponsive.
Just as the sword is about to fall, Sage Henri appears out of nowhere, his hand flashing up to grasp the blade. The sword shatters in his hand, the sound of breaking steel echoing through the air.
I glare at Sage Henri, my annoyance and anger boiling over. Who does he think he is, meddling in my fight? I take a step forward, my fists clenched. "I didn't need your help," I snarl.
Sage Henri's expression remains calm, unruffled. "You were about to die," he says, his voice matter-of-fact.
I feel a surge of anger at his words, but before I can respond, he turns and blasts Steve away, sending him crashing to the ground.
"I had him," I roar, still clutching my head. "I don't need your help. Stop meddling in my fight!" My anger and frustration boil over, and I take a step forward, my fists clenched.
Sage Henri's expression remains calm, unruffled. "I intend to let you handle him, but I couldn't turn a blind eye and look the other way when he's attacking the place I'm sworn to protect. As the Realm's guardian, it's my duty." His eyes gleam with a sense of responsibility, and I sense a deep conviction behind his words.
I shake my head, a wry smile twisting my lips. "You remind me of him." The words slip out before I can catch them, and I feel a pang of surprise and curiosity. "We will fight him together, then," I say, my voice firm and resolute.
Sage Henri's smile is gentle, but firm "I will fight him alone,"
I scowl, my anger and frustration surging back to the surface. "You're delusional if you think I'll let you fight him alone." My eyes flash with a hint of warning, and before I can respond, he continues,
"I've made arrangements for a place you can stay. It's safer than here. He won't think to look for you there." His voice is calm and reasonable, but I sense a deep conviction behind his words.
I bristle at the suggestion, my pride and independence rebelling against the idea of being tucked away for my own safety. I take a step back, my eyes narrowing. "I'm not going anywhere," I growl, my voice low and menacing.
Sage Henri's expression turns stern, his eyes flashing with a hint of warning. "Goodbye, Liam. Try not to cause problems for… her… over there." His voice is firm, but I sense a deep concern behind his words.
Before I can react, a portal erupts behind me, its edges churning with a wild, unpredictable energy. Sage Henri's foot connects with my back, and I stumble forward, propelled through the portal's swirling vortex. The portal slams shut behind me, leaving me stumbling through darkness, disoriented and furious.
"Out of everyone in the Realm, I hate you the most, Henri," Steve spits, dusting himself off. His eyes gleam with malice as he adds, "I was about to make the kid's life worth something."
Sage Henri's face twists in a snarl, his eyes flashing with anger. "His life is worth more than you could ever imagine."
Steve's laughter is mocking, his voice dripping with contempt. "You sound like a doting father. Is the boy yours? I doubt it."
Sage Henri's expression turns glacial, his voice icy. "He is your son, you dimwit."
Steve's eyes widen, his face frozen in surprise for a moment. Then, a slow smile spreads across his face, his eyes gleaming with pride. "That was Liam? Damn, he's good-looking. I guess he got that from me."
Sage Henri's anger boils over, and he takes a fighting stance. His eyes blaze with fury as he growls, "You never should have come here, Steve."
Steve sneers, his lip curling in contempt. "The last person who said that to me is dead."
With a swift, deadly motion, Sage Henri unleashes the body flick, reappearing in front of Steve. He delivers a series of lightning-fast hits, each one aimed at Steve's vulnerable spots. Steve stumbles backward, his eyes flashing with surprise.
Sage Henri tries to step on Steve's shadow, but Steve is too quick. He pushes Sage Henri back, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I know what you're trying to do, old man," he says, his voice dripping with mockery. "Better give up, because it won't work."
Sage Henri's face twists in a snarl, and he hurls a shadow ball at Steve. Steve pulls out a shield from his portal, holding it up to deflect the attack. The shadow ball shatters the shield on impact, but Steve emerges unscathed, his eyes gleaming with triumph.
Steve smirks, his voice dripping with confidence. "That's to be expected."
..... ✍️
Selena and Lucy faced off in the center of the room, their eyes locked in a fierce stare. The air was electric with tension as they circled each other, sizing each other up.
Lucy, known for her devastating punches, cracked her knuckles in anticipation. "You think you can take me down, Selena?" she sneered. "I'll show you what a real fighter looks like."
Selena smiled calmly, her eyes glinting with confidence. "I'm not afraid of you, Lucy. Bring it on."
With a fierce battle cry, Lucy charged at Selena, her fists flying in a flurry of punches. Selena dodged and weaved, her movements lightning-fast as she avoided Lucy's blows.
But Lucy was relentless, her punches growing stronger with each blow. She landed a solid hit to Selena's jaw, sending her stumbling backward. Selena's eyes flashed with anger as she launched herself at Lucy, their fists clashing in a flurry of punches.
The two fighters exchanged blow for blow, their movements a blur as they battled across the room. Lucy's punches were incredibly powerful, but Selena was no slouch either. She landed a series of swift kicks, sending Lucy crashing into the wall.
Lucy sprang back to her feet, her eyes blazing with fury. "You think you can take me down with your little kicks?" she snarled. "I'll show you my true power."
With a fierce cry, Lucy unleashed a devastating combination of punches, each blow landing with incredible force. Selena stumbled backward, her eyes widening in surprise as she struggled to keep up with Lucy's relentless assault.
But Selena refused to back down. With a fierce determination, she launched herself at Lucy, their fists clashing in a final, brutal exchange. The outcome was far from certain, as the two fighters battled on, their strength and skill evenly matched.
Selena's eyes flashed with determination as she faced off against Lucy. She knew she had to end this fight quickly, before Lucy's relentless punching could wear her down.
With a swift motion, Selena raised her hand, and a dark tendril of shadow erupted from her palm. The shadowy appendage whipped through the air, striking Lucy with a series of swift, precise blows. Each strike landed with unerring accuracy, targeting the vulnerable spots on Lucy's body.
Lucy stumbled backward, her eyes widening in surprise as she struggled to defend herself against Selena's shadowy assault. She tried to punch her way out of the shadows, but Selena's control was evident in the way the shadows seemed to adapt to Lucy's movements. The shadows wrapped around Lucy's fists, neutralizing her blows before they could land.
As Lucy stumbled backward, Selena seized the opportunity to summon a swirling vortex of shadows around herself. The darkness seemed to coalesce into a living, breathing entity, its tendrils wrapping around Lucy like a shroud.
Lucy tried to struggle free, but the shadows held her fast. Selena took advantage of the opening, striking Lucy with a series of swift, shadowy blows. Each strike landed with precision, targeting the vulnerable spots on Lucy's body.
As the shadows continued to wrap around her, Lucy's movements slowed, her strength waning. Selena loomed over her, her eyes blazing with a fierce, shadowy power.
"You should have stayed out of this, Lucy," Selena hissed, her voice dripping with menace. "Now, you're going to have to deal with the consequences."
"I don't need my Elyria to defeat you," Selena said, her voice dripping with confidence. Elyria slowly returned to her shadow, as if eager to relinquish its duty to Selena's own formidable skills.
"Your arrogance will be your downfall," Lucy snarled, her eyes blazing with anger. She appeared in front of Selena, throwing fast punches at her with a speed and ferocity that would have overwhelmed a lesser opponent.
Selena blocked each blow with her hand, her movements economical and precise. But Lucy's punches only grew faster and more powerful, each one landing with a bone-jarring impact that sent shockwaves through Selena's arm.
The final punch was the most powerful of all, sending Selena stumbling backward as the vibration rattled her bones. Lucy sneered, her chest heaving with exertion. "If you think you can defeat me in a fist fight, you are delusional."
Selena flexed her wrist, trying to restore blood flow to her numb hand. "Your name is Lucy, right?" she asked, her voice calm and even.
Lucy's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, so what?"
Selena's lips curled upward, her eyes glinting with amusement. She leaned forward, her voice taking on a taunting tone. "I'm Selena Remmick, the girl that's gonna beat your bald scalp."
Lucy snarled, her face twisted in anger. "Enough chitchat, daddy's girl."
Selena's eyes sparkled with mischief as she straightened up, her hands falling to her sides. For a moment, she simply stood there, her gaze locked on Lucy's. Then, with a subtle shift of her weight, she seemed to blend into the shadows themselves.
As Lucy watched, a shadowy clone emerged from her own shadow, its movements eerily synchronized with Selena's. The clone landed a powerful kick aimed at Lucy's chin, which she blocked excellently well. But as she looked up, she saw Selena standing beside the clone, a fierce glint in her eye.
With Lucy's shadow under her custody, Selena could control her. She pulled Lucy close, her fist flying in a powerful jab that connected with Lucy's face. Lucy's head snapped back, her eyes widening in shock.
Selena held down Lucy's shadow using Elyria, and Lucy felt herself being pinned to the wall. She tried to wriggle her way out to safety, but it was no use. Her body felt heavy, as if rooted to the spot. Panic began to set in as she realized she was trapped.
"Why can't I move?" Lucy demanded, her voice strained. "What did you do to me?" She struggled against the invisible force holding her, her face twisted in a mixture of anger and fear.
Selena's smile grew, her lips curling upward in a triumphant arc. She took a step closer to Lucy, her eyes glinting with amusement. "You were careless to engage me in close combat," she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction.
Lucy's face darkened, her anger boiling over. "What are you talking about?" she spat, her voice venomous.
Selena's expression turned thoughtful, her eyes narrowing as she studied Lucy. "Did you think I stupidly stood and took each of your powerful blows because I could take them?" She paused, her gaze never leaving Lucy's face. Then, with a subtle shift of her weight, she leaned in, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "I was just waiting for the perfect moment to strike."
As Lucy unleashed a flurry of powerful jabs, Selena endured the blows with a fierce determination. Her eyes locked onto Lucy's shadow, her foot inching closer to its edge. Lucy, oblivious to the danger, continued to rain down punches, her face twisted in a fierce snarl.
Selena's eyes flashed with triumph as her foot finally came into contact with Lucy's shadow. She muttered the words "Shadow Possession" under her breath, and the technique sprang into effect. A dark, ethereal link formed between the two girls, Selena's shadow merging seamlessly with Lucy's.
Lucy's eyes widened in shock as she felt her shadow being manipulated. She tried to struggle, but it was too late. Selena had already gained control, her grip on Lucy's shadow tightening like a vice. Selena's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
"I guess we're all caught up on how I did it," she said, her voice dripping with triumph. Lucy's eyes flashed with anger and fear, but she was powerless to resist Selena's control.
"Don't do this, Selena. I'm begging you," Lucy pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation. Her eyes welled up with tears as she struggled to comprehend the horror unfolding before her.
Selena's gaze remained fixed on Lucy, her eyes gleaming with an unnerving intensity. Her voice was devoid of emotion, her words dripping with malice. "Did you know that your shadow is a big part of you?" she asked, her tone conversational. "Did you know that if your shadow were to be extracted from you, you would lose the ability to be conscious of most things?"
As Selena spoke, Lucy's face contorted in anguish. Her skin slowly began to turn pale, her eyes welling up with blood that spilled down her cheeks like tears. Her mouth moved soundlessly, her words lost in a sea of despair.
Josh watched in horror, his eyes fixed on Lucy's degenerating form. He tried to move, to intervene, but his body felt frozen in place.
Selena's expression didn't waver, her gaze never leaving Lucy's face. "Your body should be degenerating," she stated, her voice devoid of emotion. "How long can you last without it?"
Lucy's eyes locked onto Selena's, a desperate plea for mercy shining in their depths. But Selena's heart remained unmoved.
With a swift, deadly motion, Selena swung Elyria around between her fingers before decapitating Lucy's head. The head dropped heavily to the floor, rolling over to Josh, who was still cowering in fear.
..... ✍️
Sage Henri clashed with Steve in the Shadow Realm, their battle raging on. But it was clear that Sage Henri was struggling, fighting with one arm and a face drenched in blood. Steve, on the other hand, seemed to be growing bored, his movements lackluster.
"It's gonna break his heart if he hears about your death," Steve said, his voice dripping with malice. "Bring him back so he can hand over the Death Scythe to me, and we can all forget this ever happened."
Sage Henri's chest heaved with exertion as he struggled to respond. His eyes blazed with anger, his voice strained. "You… you now care about his feelings?"
Steve's smirk twisted his face, his eyes glinting with malevolence. "Of course, I care about his feelings. He's my son. Everything I do is out of his own interest, you see."
Sage Henri's face contorted in disgust. His mind flashed back to the memories of Shayla, of her kindness and love. He remembered the pain of losing her, the anguish that still lingered. His anger boiled over, fueling his determination.
"You killed his mother out of his own interest?" Sage Henri spat, his voice venomous. "You call that love?"
Steve's smirk grew wider, his eyes flashing with amusement. "It was all part of my plan to make him strong. The weak can't survive in a world like ours. You knew that, Seth understood that, but Shayla… she was a fool to think love is what matters most."
Sage Henri's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in rage. He took a step forward, his movements fueled by his determination. "Liam is right… you cannot be redeemed."
Steve's expression turned cold, his eyes glinting with malevolence. "I was never looking for redemption."
Sage Henri's voice dropped to a whisper, his eyes burning with intensity. "Killing you will be my burden to carry. As the Sage of the Shadow Realm, I will defeat you."
With a fierce cry, Sage Henri charged towards Steve, his movements fueled by rage and determination. Steve's expression remained unchanging, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I see you chose death. Very well, then."
As Sage Henri charged towards Steve, the fate of the Shadow Realm hanging in the balance, the air grew thick with tension in a distant corner of the realm. In another part of the world, the scent of blood and death clung to the walls, a grim reminder of the battle that had already been lost. Selena stood tall, her eyes gleaming with triumph as she gazed down at Josh. He cowered on the floor, his severed hand clutched to his chest, his eyes wide with terror. The sound of his ragged breathing filled the air, and Selena's expression remained cold, unyielding. Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it sent shivers down Josh's spine.
Selena's eyes narrowed as she gazed down at Josh. "You're still bleeding?" she said, her voice laced with amusement. "Damn, that's a lot of blood."
She walked towards Josh with her head tilted, dragging her spear along the ground. The sound of scraping metal echoed through the air, making Josh flinch. He cowered in fear, his eyes wide with terror.
"Why are you doing this?" he cried, his voice cracking. "We're on the same team!"
Selena's expression remained cold, unyielding. "We're never on the same team," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Josh's eyes pleaded for mercy. "You work for Lord Steve, don't you? Tell him I'm still loyal to him. I'm still doing everything he asks."
Selena's eyebrow shot up, her interest piqued. "What do you mean, work for him?" she asked, her voice laced with skepticism.
Josh's words tumbled out in a desperate bid to save himself. "You didn't know? The Hunters was originally created by Lord Steve. After some years, he got bored and made Shane the leader of the organization."
Selena's eyes widened, her expression incredulous. "You expect me to believe that?" she spat, her voice dripping with venom.
Josh nodded frantically, his eyes wild with fear. "It's true, I swear! When Lord Steve failed to recruit you, he had Shane do it. He reports to Lord Steve on the last day of every month at the roof of the Hunter's HQ at midnight."
Selena's face darkened, her anger simmering just below the surface. She took a step closer to Josh, her spear at the ready.
"You're just trying to save your own skin," she snarled, her voice low and menacing.
Josh shook his head, his eyes pleading for mercy. "No, I'm telling the truth! You're Lord Steve's lap dog, just like me!"
Selena's anger boiled over, her face twisted in rage. "Shut the fuck up!" she yelled, her voice echoing through the air.
Josh's words spilled out in a desperate bid to save himself. "When you first came to the Hunters Headquarters, at midnight Shane reported to Lord Steve that he successfully recruited you. That same day, Madame Abigail died…"
Selena's eyes narrowed. "Who's Madame Abigail?"
Josh's voice trembled. "She's a succubus. She was killed by your cousin, Liam Remmick."
Selena's expression turned skeptical. "How do you know all of this?"
Josh's eyes locked onto hers, pleading for mercy. "Do you promise to share my life if I tell you?"
Selena nodded, her expression unreadable. "I give you my word."
Josh took a deep breath before continuing. "I've been spying on Steve, trying to find his weakness. At first, I thought it was Liam Remmick, but my sources tell me he doesn't care about his son. Then, one of my sources found out about his meetings with Shane. I guess he's also onto me, since you're here to kill me. Lord Steve controls the Hunters from the shadows."
Selena's eyes narrowed. "Can you prove this?"
Josh reached into his pocket and handed her a few photographs of Steve and Shane. Selena's expression changed from skepticism to shock as she flipped through the images.
"Do you believe me now?" Josh asked, his voice laced with desperation. "You and I can defeat him. Let's join forces."
Selena's expression turned cold. "I don't join forces with villains."
Josh's eyes pleaded for mercy. "But you joined an organization that kills people for money. Don't contradict yourself, child."
Selena shrugged, her expression unyielding. "A girl's gotta eat."
She looked at Kevin, her eyes gleaming with a cold light. "He's all yours."
Josh's eyes widened in terror as he shook his head. "No, no, no! You promised to let me live. You gave me your word!"
Selena's expression remained unyielding. "I promised I wouldn't kill you. Kevin will decide whether you live or die."
Josh's face twisted in rage. "You bitch! Fuck you! You'll rot in Hell just like your father—"
Kevin shattered a chair across Josh's back, silencing him. Josh slumped to the ground, unconscious.
Selena looked at Kevin, her expression unreadable. "What do you plan to do with him?"
Kevin's eyes gleamed with a cold light. "He'll meet the same fate as your father and the resistance."
Selena gently placed her hand on Kevin's arm. "It's over, Kevin. It's over."
To her surprise, Kevin hugged her tightly. Samuel joined in, wrapping his arms around both of them.
As Selena, Kevin, and Samuel shared a moment of solace, the weight of their actions hung heavy in the air. Meanwhile, in the Shadow Realm, Sage Henri lay exhausted on the cold, dark floor, his body battered and bruised from his battle with Steve. Steve stood over him, his chest heaving with exertion, his eyes gleaming with triumph. The silence between them was oppressive, punctuated only by Sage Henri's ragged breathing. Steve's voice cut through the silence, his words dripping with malice.
"This is your last chance, Sage. Bring the boy back!" Steve snarled, his sword flashing in the dim light. With a swift, merciless motion, he stabbed Henri's leg, the blade sinking deep into his thigh. Sage Henri's body arched in agony, his eyes widening in a silent scream.
Sage Henri's body convulsed in agony, his eyes blazing with a fierce determination. He gritted his teeth, his jaw clenched in a defiant snarl. Steve sneered, his foot pressing down on Sage Henri's wounded leg.
"You're a fool, Sage," Steve spat. "You've protected the Shadow Realm for nothing. I'll destroy everything you've sworn to protect."
Sage Henri's eyes flashed with a fierce pride. "I've protected this realm with my life," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "And I'll die protecting it. But know this, Steve: you'll never claim this realm as your own. You'll never enslave its inhabitants or exploit its power."
With a Herculean effort, Sage Henri summoned the last vestiges of his strength. His hand closed around the worn wood of his staff, and with a swift, precise motion, he struck the ground.
The staff's tip burst into a brilliant light, illuminating the dark recesses of the Shadow Realm. The light coalesced into a blade of pure energy, which Sage Henri used to sever the ethereal threads that bound Steve to the realm.
The threads snapped, releasing a blast of energy that sent Steve stumbling back. His eyes widened in horror as he felt his connection to the Shadow Realm falter.
"No!" Steve screamed, his face contorted in rage. "You can't! I'll find a way back! I'll destroy this realm and everyone in it!"
Sage Henri's eyes gleamed with a triumphant smile. "You'll never have that chance," he whispered, his voice fading. "The Shadow Realm is free. And I'm proud to have given my life for its freedom."
As the last of his strength ebbed away, Sage Henri's body relaxed, his eyes closing in a final, peaceful sleep. Steve's face twisted in a snarl, he raised his foot to deliver the final blow, but it was too late. Sage Henri's chest had ceased to rise, his heart had stopped beating.
The Shadow Realm trembled, its energies shifting and realigning themselves in response to Sage Henri's sacrifice. The darkness seemed to recoil, as if it too felt the weight of Sage Henri's passing. Steve stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock and rage, as he realized that he was truly severed from the realm.
"I'll find a way back," Steve snarled, his voice echoing through the Shadow Realm. "I'll destroy this realm and everyone in it." But his words were empty, hollow. He knew that he had been defeated, that Sage Henri's sacrifice had denied him the one thing he desired most: control over the Shadow Realm.
As the darkness closed in around Steve, and the Shadow Realm trembled with the weight of Sage Henri's sacrifice, I felt myself being pulled away from the battle-scarred landscape. The world around me began to blur and distort, like a painting smeared by a wet brush.
When my vision finally cleared, I found myself in a completely different environment. I slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in my surroundings. The air was filled with the sweet scent of cherry blossoms, and the warm sunlight cast dappled shadows on the ground. I felt a slight headache and a sense of disorientation, as if I had been asleep for a long time.
I looked around, taking in the sprawling compound. It was surrounded by stunning cherry blossom trees, their flowers a breathtaking sight – nearly pure white, with delicate pink hues near the stem. The trees transformed the compound into a serene oasis. A soft breeze rustled the leaves, creating a soothing background noise.
As I scanned the environment, I noticed that the buildings resembled those found in schools. My gaze returned to the woman standing before me. She was likely in her 40s, with an air of confidence and authority. Her dark hair was styled impeccably, and she wore a tailored dark grey blazer, paired with a high-length skirt and a crisp white blouse. Her high-heeled boots added to her imposing presence, and she stood with her feet shoulder-width apart, her hands resting on her hips.
"It's nice to finally meet you, Liam," she said, a calculating smile spreading across her face.
******
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