Ada and Havel were still unarmed, face to face with the dark lion. A low growl rumbled from its throat, morphing into a guttural laugh.
"You really want to face me barehanded? Ridiculous."
The son of Sidal ignored the lion's words, focusing on his own body. He could feel the pain pulsing from his right arm and, with concentrated effort, inhibited the flow of mana to the limb, thus limiting the magirragia. He knew he couldn't fully use that arm, but he had no intention of stopping. The lion reared up on its powerful muscles, ready to pounce.
Without another moment's hesitation, the two Blendbreeds launched their attack. Havel was the first to move, aiming straight for the beast's left flank with a series of rapid punches. He struck with all the strength he could muster without reinforcing his body with mana. His fist whistled through the air before sinking into the creature's thick fur, without causing any real damage.
Damn it!
The next strike bounced off as if he had hit stone.
Am I not strong enough without coating my body in mana?
Ada launched immediately into a direct lunge, aiming to strike the lion's back with a kick. Her foot shimmered with a faint glow of magical energy. The impact cracked sharply, but the creature only tilted its spine slightly, more annoyed than hurt. It watched them, a flash of mockery in its eyes. Then it darted toward them with a swift, deadly motion.
The daughter of Rutia rolled to the side, dodging a lethal swipe by mere moments. Havel, on the other hand, curled in on himself, narrowly avoiding the sharp teeth snapping toward his neck.
Without hesitation, the boy exploited the opening and leapt forward, striking again with a violent uppercut aimed at the throat. This time, the punch had a slight effect, pushing the creature's head back just a little.
Even though they hadn't been wounded yet, the Equinox Flowers didn't feel safe at all. The feline didn't even seem truly focused on them. Ada got back to her feet and threw herself back into the fray, standing beside her wounded companion. Together, they tried to coordinate the assault, alternating punches and kicks aimed at the lion's massive body.
The creature moved with an agility far removed from a typical animal's behavior, almost like a shadow slipping just enough to dodge, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. It leapt sideways and lowered itself into an attack stance. Its eyes gleamed with malice as a deep growl rumbled from its throat. It lashed a paw toward Ada with lightning speed. She hurled herself backward to escape, rolling to lure the beast into lunging forward in an attempt to reach her, hoping to throw it off balance.
Havel advanced, his left fist—the only one still intact—empowered by mana flowing through the Silver Vessels.
He aimed at the enemy's chest and shouted, "Take this, you ugly giant cat bastard!"
The impact thundered, and the lion staggered.
The two Blendbreeds, however, did not claim victory. It wasn't wounded or afraid—in fact, its gaze was lit with a cold satisfaction. It roared and burst into a loud laugh, turning its head toward them with an air of total superiority.
"You've got heart, I'll admit that, but it's all pointless."
With those words, it moved with astonishing speed. Havel, still in a defensive stance, had no time to react. The creature's massive paw struck him violently, hurling him across the hall like a projectile. He crashed into the wall with a dull thud and crumpled to the ground, breath ragged and broken. Pain spread like a wave of unbearable heat.
"Havel!" Ada shouted.
It couldn't have ended like that. Her hero couldn't have been defeated. She wanted to reach him, but a massive problem stood in her way.
"Where do you think you're going, panther?" Nadim growled.
The leader of the Equinox Flowers blinked. His body was curled on the ground, unmoving. He could barely hear and struggled to focus, but he knew he couldn't stay down.
He had to get back up.
As soon as he pushed himself to move his arms, a stabbing pain pierced his chest, forcing him to curl inward, only to be hit by a second wave of searing warning. The Berserker's Resilience was still active—the only reason the crash hadn't killed him. He probably had a broken rib, maybe more than one. His right arm was in even worse shape.
Fighting was practically impossible.
Ada…
He did his best to turn and check on his companion's condition. The daughter of Rutia had been knocked down, her body pinned beneath the lion's massive paw. The pressure on her chest immobilized her, forcing the air from her lungs.
Again…
She tried to writhe or breathe. Her nails first scraped the ground, then dug into the enemy's limb, but the lion's strength was crushing. She felt her breath slip away, the familiar fear rising in her throat. The same terror she had felt when the creature had first threatened to devour her.
She was trembling.
Her heart pounded so loudly in her chest it merged with the pressure Nadim was exerting. This was the end. She had tried. The lion was too powerful for them, and she was terrified of it.There was no point in denying it.
She was scared. She didn't want to die. She was afraid of death.
But suddenly, the image of the Equinox Flowers flashed in her mind. She thought of Havel, still lying on the cold, dark floor; of Shirei, who had sacrificed himself; and of Elaine, still in Lilies Park.
She couldn't allow fear to take her.
She was no longer the frightened, helpless girl she once had been.
If they were going to die, she would accept it with pride—as the warrior she had become.
A worthy daughter of Rutia.
Fight, Ada. Fight…
She screamed against the enemy.
Mother! Give me strength!
She tried to twist her body with every ounce of energy she had left. The lion, surprised by her resilience, let out a roar. Its jaws curled into a cruel grin as it lowered its head, bringing its golden eyes close to her face. The shadow of its maw loomed over her body, and the beast's breath warmed her skin.
"It's time to end this game. The hunt has lasted long enough, I must admit. I am satisfied," it whispered, reminding her of their farewell, when she had been on the verge of being devoured.
Ada felt her heart race, but instead of freezing in fear, she found courage waiting for her. Darkness began to gather around her, reaching out to help, taking the shape of a panther.
It was too late—it wouldn't reach her in time—but it was all she had.
In that moment, a crimson flash tore through the air.
Havel, with a scream of pure determination, had risen to his feet and hurled himself at the lion. His body trembled with effort, but his eyes were locked on the target. He had poured every last drop of mana into his left arm. His skin glowed with a red light far brighter than the usual Crimson Meteor he had used in the past. With a lightning-quick leap, he launched himself into the air, drawing back his blazing fist toward the lion's side.
"Die!"
The impact was devastating.
The massive Crimson Meteor exploded against the creature's body with a thunderous blast, and a violent shockwave rippled through the entire hall, shaking the very foundations of the hospital.
Nadim roared in pain as magical particles engulfed his body. He staggered back violently, releasing his grip on Ada.
"Damned brat!" he roared, enraged.
The daughter of Rutia rose slowly, her ragged breathing no longer seemed to bother her. She had seen it—Nadim wasn't invincible.
Without wasting a second, she focused every drop of energy within her and activated the technique she had glimpsed on the Evanescent Trail. Pure darkness began to flow over her hands, wrapping around them like black smoke that stirred with a life of its own. The power felt cold and viscous, yet at the same time gentle and welcoming. She assumed a martial stance, bending her knees and bringing her hands before her, ready to strike.
Nadim watched the transformation, breathing heavily. Havel's blow had wounded him more than he wanted to show. His feline form had faded—now only half of his body remained cloaked in darkness. His animalistic armor was incomplete, flickering across the surface of his body in an attempt to reassemble itself. His arms were still those of a lion, as were his jaws. He still had his tail and paws, but the rest had returned to a humanoid form. His golden eyes no longer gleamed with amusement. He was furious.
His gaze settled on the son of Sidal, whose muscles trembled under the strain. Blue splotches had spread across his left arm as well—far more intense than on the other limb, a sign of the severe magirrhagia taking place.
"You sacrificed your second arm too—what do you think you're going to do now?" he growled with furious scorn.
The son of Sidal lowered his gaze to his arms, now nearly useless. Every movement sent stabbing pain through his body, but the Blendbreed lifted his chin with a defiant smile.
"If I can't use my arms… I'll headbutt you," he replied, trying to mask the pain, his eyes burning with challenge.
"Enough. Now I'll kill both of you for real."
Without another word, the two Blendbreeds exchanged a glance of understanding. This was the final moment.
Nadim bared both his fangs and claws, ready to rip the Blendbreeds to pieces. The son of Sidal, weakened by magirrhagia, sprang backward. Every voluntary muscle strained as he tried to gain space, but the corridor's darkness conspired against his survival.
Meanwhile, Ada leapt forward, following the same plan as before, taking advantage of the lion's attack on her companion. With a swift motion of her arm, she clenched her fists—now wrapped in darkness—and struck at Nadim, who dodged with agile precision.
Now do your part! she prayed.
The motion of her punch left a dark trail in the air that condensed into a blade of mana, shooting toward the enemy.
It worked!
The shadow razor sliced through the air like a scythe, crossing the space with lightning speed and striking Nadim's arm. A deep gash tore through the beast's body and, in a flash, the lion's limb was severed, falling to the ground with a heavy thud.
Black blood began to drip to the floor like rain.
"No! Damn it!"
Nadim let out a scream of pain that morphed into a growl so powerful it sent both Blendbreeds crashing to the floor. The lion grabbed the severed arm with his remaining hand, clutching the stump at the point of amputation.
"Your lives end here. Now."
The sound of heavy footsteps filled the air as he began moving toward Ada and Havel, who still lay sprawled on the ground.
The dark blood continued to pour from his mutilated limb, but the lion showed no intention of stopping.
The two Equinox Flowers exchanged a glance, both fully aware that their end was close.
"This is fine," Ada mouthed. "Thank you, Havel."
No escape, no hope of stopping the raging monster. They had done their best to survive, but their journey was about to end in the most natural way possible: killed by a beast.
But just as he was about to reach them, Nadim's march came to an abrupt halt.
The dark hallway surrounding them, the thick mist made of pure shadows, began to crack.Small fractures of light appeared along the surface of the magical realm, and the entire place shattered into a thousand pieces, like glass breaking apart.
The lion froze. For the first time, his face bore an expression Ada had never seen on him before.
His golden eyes widened—filled with fear.
What's happening?
Nadim remained still, his senses on high alert. He could sense that entity—the same darkness he felt within himself—deeper, older, more dangerous.
He turned his head, locking eyes with Ada and Havel.
"I hope to see you again, panther," he hissed in a dark tone. "Our hunt is over, but we can always start a new one… Always assuming that thing doesn't disintegrate you first."
The wanderer stepped back, still unsure. The darkness dancing around him began to grow denser, engulfing him in a black cocoon that, within moments—
"Try to survive," he said, then vanished into nothingness.
Ada and Havel were left alone.
They got up with difficulty, exchanging a tired and confused, yet relieved, glance. The disappearance had left an unnatural silence in the air. Both were exhausted, the pain etched clearly on Havel's face.
"What do you think he meant?" panted the son of Sidal.
"I have no idea…"
The two Blendbreeds looked around, alert, before exchanging another glance.
"We did it…" Ada finally murmured, trying to catch her breath. She moved her hands to dispel the darkness still covering them, satisfied at having been able to use the new technique—even if not with the sharpness of a blade.
Havel nodded, glancing at his arms, covered in throbbing blue blotches.
Suddenly, the entire building began to shake violently, as if struck by an earthquake. The dull sound of cracks opening in the ceiling above them filled the altar hall, while huge chunks of masonry fell around them. The boy glanced at the columns, doubting they would hold.
The walls vibrated under the force of the tremor. The entire structure seemed on the verge of collapsing at any moment.
"Damn monsters… This place is falling apart!" Havel shouted, looking toward the exit.
Ada was about to reply when a ghostly figure appeared before them—a boy with peculiar violet eyes.
"Shirei!"
The Forbidden Heir emerged from the Interworld. He appeared calm, as if untouched by the large amount of blood staining his clothes.
"You're alive," he remarked, not hiding his relief. "I came as fast as I could."
"Damn Purple… I thought you were dead!"
"Are you okay?" the girl exclaimed, surprised by his sudden appearance. "How…?"
"There's no time to explain," he cut in, glancing at the cracks spreading above them. "The anchor has been destroyed, but we need to get out of here, or the rift will collapse on itself and kill us."
Havel stepped forward, still shaken from the battle. "Can you use your powers?"
Shirei nodded with a confident gaze. "As I said, I'll explain everything later. I'm getting you out of here."
Another distorted sound filled the room, and pieces of the ceiling began falling around the Blendbreeds. Without further hesitation, the boy extended his hands toward his companions, ready to lead them out of that time-locked nightmare.