CHAPTER 24 :
Sera charged at the other Amezor, holding it by the neck and throwing it a few kilometers away from the scene with brute force that tore through the air.
The humanoid Amezor charged at him again for
behind with two daggers in swift, but Sera reacts with a superior speed by doing a backflip and landing right behind the Amezor.
She threw a green fireball at him; instantly, a large and wide shield materialized from thin air, blocking the blast and causing a mini-explosion.
The explosion created thick fog around the scene making it hard for them to see, Sera used it as an opportunity to sneak up on the Orc Amezors.
She drove her burning palm into one of the Amezor's chests, and blood gushed out and it fell dead on the floor.
The humanoid Amezor is seen walking through the fog with caution. Then he dashed forward in speed, but his dagger clashed with another metallic object, which turned out to be the Sojourner's dagger.
The shockwave of the impact cleared out the fog, at the same time causing a crater in the ground beneath them.
Sera noticed the battle could hurt the hostage in the vicinity, so he opened a portal and held the Humanoid summon by the neck and then threw him in, while the other Amezor charged at him and entered the portal, leaving behind the hostages.
Aiden on the other hand is seen with the refugees taking cover from the impact of the battle between Sera and the Amezors. Aiden is seen covering the little girl with his black cloak.
Then the moment Sera left, Aiden slowly approached the hostages, while the girl ran to her mother who was still sitting on the floor.
"Mommy!" The girl screamed at the top of her voice as she dashed towards her Mother and got embraced in her arms while her mother sobbed happily.
Everyone's mood lightened up and they seemed to be happy as they all laughed and hugged each other, some of her seen shaking each other, while some of them seemed to be clapping.
The sight of this happy moment lightened up Aiden's heart, one could tell that behind the veil that covered half of his face, a smile that could bring relief lies within it.
The man in a ponytail approached Aiden from behind, then stopped by his left side, while they both stared at the happy refugees.
" It's been a while since any of these people looked as happy as this" he said silently, so that only Aiden could hear what he said.
Aiden didn't give a response, but only tilted his head to face the man a little bit.
He continues " I am Owen" Owen said as he stretched out his hand, offering a shake with a smile on his face.
Aiden gave Owen's hand a glance for a moment then took it, they both shook hands but he still hadn't uttered a word.
"How many refugees are in this vicinity? " Aiden asked silently while still looking at those rejoicing.
"Probably fifty, some are still inside that building" Owen pointed at an uncompleted building in the opposite direction.
"We need to get everybody out of this place as soon as possible" Aiden responded as he moved towards the rest of the crowd. Owen followed him.
"Listen up everyone, you need to get out of this place ASAP, follow me, including those of you inside that building" Aiden barked loudly as he pointed at the building.
People begin to leave the building one after the other. "Where are we going, and who are you?" A man in his early 50s responded from among the crowd.
Those who were moving stopped for moments… then there was a silence in the atmosphere as all gaze shifted to Aiden who was still in his disguise.
"Look, either deal with me or the High Ends and Amezors…which I'm pretty sure they will come over here" Aiden responded with a rather solemn voice but still frustrated.
One could tell that no one was ready to believe him or move, but the girl's mother stood up " You protected my daughter, that's more than enough reason for me to believe you, where do you want us to go?" she asked silently.
"You think you would all still be alive if he were an Amezor or a High End? The fact that he is standing here right now and trying to rescue you all means he is on your side… Everyone is covering their face to conceal their identity, the most important thing now is survival, which is what you all should be after now, instead of baseless paranoia" Owen said silently, but firm and authoritative.
A huge silence descended upon the atmosphere, and instantly everybody started moving towards the east of the vicinity as Aiden pointed.
While everyone kept moving, Aiden helped those who were wounded and old to clear the path.
While Owen helped the kids. He carried some in his hand and back, while he held one in his left hand. Some that are old enough to walk by themselves followed him from behind.
****
The wasteland stretched to every horizon—a graveyard of concrete and steel. A few shattered skyscrapers leaned against the sky like broken teeth. Empty roads. Abandoned cars, gutted and rusted. Nothing moved. Nothing breathed.
Except Sera.
They called her the Sojourner among the Amezors. A name whispered in fear and grudging respect. Today, she stood alone on the cracked asphalt, facing the horde.
The Amezors formed a half-circle before her. Dozens of them. Predatory silence. At their head stood one who was not quite like the others—humanoid, but wrong. Too still. Too patient. His eyes held the weight of countless kills.
He stepped forward.
"I am Nihilith," he said. His voice was calm, almost friendly—a razor wrapped in silk. "High-ranking Amezor. Top fifteen." He paused, letting the number settle. "I have been tasked to bring you before the Celestial End Council."
Sera didn't blink. "But you don't wish to do that, do you?"
Nihilith's silence stretched just long enough to feel dangerous. Then he chuckled—a low, dry sound.
"You're perceptive." He tilted his head, studying her like a blade assessing its next cut. "I prefer battle to death. And you... You seem worthy."
Sera's hand ignited. Flames coiled around her fingers—not wild, not hesitant. Consuming.
"Then why waste time?" she said. "You can have that."
Nihilith smiled. He raised his empty hand—and from the air itself, he pulled a spear. Long. Rusty, but sharp. The kind of weapon that had seen centuries of blood. At its base, a silver chain coiled, its length sprawling across the ground like a sleeping serpent.
His grip was firm. Sure.
"Stay out of this," he said over his shoulder. Soft. Commanding. The other Amezors retreated a step.
Then Nihilith charged.
The chain followed—snapping, twisting, coiling like a viper striking at its prey. And behind it, the hunter himself, closing the gap in a heartbeat.
Sera raised her flame.
Sera hurled a volley of fireballs—one, two, three. Each blazed white-hot, hungry for flesh.
Nihilith didn't even flinch.
He swayed left. Then right. Then ducked under the third with the lazy grace of a predator toying with its meal. The fireballs screamed past him, exploding against the ruins behind.
Then he struck.
His spear shot toward Sera's throat—a blur of rust and death. She twisted at the last heartbeat, feeling the wind of its passage kiss her skin.
She answered with a fistful of flame.
Nihilith caught her wrist with his right elbow, deflecting the punch, and slammed his left palm into her chest. The impact lifted her off her feet.
She flew backward.
Through the air.
Through a crumbling wall.
Through the opposite wall of the dilapidated building.
Bricks and dust collapsed around her. For a long moment, there was only darkness and the ringing in her ears.
Sera crawled to her knees. Blood dripped from her lip. Her ribs screamed. She forced herself up—one hand on a shattered beam, legs trembling.
Across the ruined street, Nihilith watched. Calm. Waiting.
Then he pulled his arm back.
And threw.
The spear left his hand like a cannon shot. It tore through the air—a deafening shriek that swallowed all other sound. The shockwave cracked the asphalt beneath it, sending a trench of debris spraying outward.
Sera's eyes widened.
I can't dodge that. I can't block it. It will go through me like paper.
No time to run. No time to think.
She thrust her hands forward and ripped reality open.
A swirling portal ignited inches from her face—edges crackling with violet light. The spear vanished into it, chain and all, swallowed whole before it could touch her.
The portal snapped shut.
Silence.
Sera dropped to one knee, gasping, her hand pressed to the broken ground. Sweat and blood mixed on her chin.
Nihilith hadn't moved from his spot. His eyes narrowed—the first crack in his calm facade.
What did she do with my spear? He thought, watching her from a hundred yards away. It didn't miss. It didn't hit. Where—
A second portal ripped open behind the line of Orc Amezors.
The spear exploded out of it.
Straight through the skull of a nine-foot Orc.
The massive creature didn't even have time to grunt. The rusty tip burst through its forehead, spraying black blood, and kept going—burying itself deep into the ground behind.
The earth heaved.
A mini explosion of dirt, stone, and crimson erupted. When the dust cleared, a crater smoldered where the Orc had stood.
Nihilith stared.
For the first time, he said nothing.
Sera rose to her feet—slowly, painfully—and met his gaze across the wasteland.
The Orc fell dead on the floor, while the other Orc Amezors looked shocked and angry, Nihilith's eyes widened, " So he diverted the attack and managed to kill one of the Amezors, what an impressive feat…"
"… wonder what type of High End you were before betraying us" Nihilith thought to himself as he took his glance back on Sera. Whose reaction shows she is exhausted from evading such an attack.
" However, that attack took a toll on your stamina, didn't it?" Nihilith voiced out silently, as he stretched out his hand and the Spear came at him, holding tenaciously, and he charged at Sera once again at insane speed.
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