I wake to something cool brushing my cheek. My eyes flutter open, and Alyse's face comes into view. Fear is etched into her features, her wide eyes darting between me and something behind me.

"Red..." she whispers, her voice trembling. "Behind you."

My heart lurches as I sit up, spinning around and instinctively reaching for my sword. Standing in the dim light of the dying fire is Ogre, his monstrous frame looming over Domnik. His clawed hand grips Domnik by the throat, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. Domnik claws at Ogre's hand, struggling to breathe.

"Put him down, now!" I order, the edge of my voice sharper than my blade.

Ogre tilts his head, his jagged teeth flashing in a sinister grin. "Ah, ah, ah, Phoenix. That's not how this works. You still owe me, remember? I've come to collect my debt."

I tighten my grip on my sword, rage simmering just beneath the surface. "And what the fuck do you want, Ogre?"

He chuckles, the sound like grinding stones. "Muthos sent me after you weeks ago. Told me to bring you to him. I didn't want to waste your debt on something he wanted, but now... well, let's just say he's made his threats very clear. So here's the deal: you're coming with me, Phoenix. You're going to do whatever Muthos demands, or I'll snap this brat's neck right here, right now. Vermidia's son or not, I don't care."

Domnik struggles to speak, his voice strained. "Don't—don't do it, Red."

I glance at Alyse. She's frozen, her hands covering her mouth, tears glistening in her eyes. My mind races, weighing my options, but there's no time to think. Not with Ogre's claws tightening around Domnik's throat.

I lower my sword, my jaw clenching. "Fine."

"What?!" Alyse shouts, her voice breaking. "You can't be serious!"

I turn to her, my expression softening. "This is what I wanted anyway—to face him. To make him pay. You and Domnik know what to do. Stick to the plan." I look her in the eyes, willing her to understand. "Trust me."

Her lip quivers, but she nods, a tear rolling down her cheek. "Okay."

"It'll be fine," I say, though the words taste hollow. I step toward Ogre, my sword dragging at my side. "You want me? You've got me."

Ogre's grin widens, and he extends his scraggly, clawed hand. His grip is cold and unrelenting as I take it. With a single motion, he releases Domnik, who collapses to the ground, gasping for air. Alyse rushes to his side, helping him sit up as he coughs and wheezes.

Before I can say anything else, the void takes us. The world around me collapses into darkness, the cold grip of teleportation wrapping around my body. It's suffocating, the sensation of being hurled through endless nothingness. Ogre's laughter echoes in the void, a mocking reminder of the deal I just made.

Then, with a violent lurch, we reemerge. The air is heavy and rank with the scent of decay. We stand in a cavernous hall, the walls carved from jagged black stone and veined with eerie crimson light that pulses like a heartbeat. Shadows dance across the space, flickering with the light of a massive, blood-red crystal embedded in the far wall.

Muthos waits for us, his towering form cloaked in shadow, his crimson eyes gleaming like twin flames. His twisted mace rests in his hand, its head dripping with something dark and viscous.

"Ah," Muthos purrs, his voice smooth and cold as death. "The Scarlet Phoenix. You've made this easier than I expected."

I clench my fists, stepping forward. "If you think I'm here to kneel, you're dead wrong."

Muthos chuckles, a chilling sound that echoes through the hall. "Oh, I don't expect you to kneel just yet. But you will, Phoenix. By the time I'm done with you, you'll beg for it."

Ogre releases my arm and steps back, leaving me standing alone before the god of vampires. I tighten my grip on my sword, my heart pounding. This is it. The confrontation I've been hurtling toward all this time.

But as I meet Muthos' gaze, I realize this isn't just about me anymore. Alyse, Domnik, Brenelor—everything we've fought for is at stake. And I can't afford to lose.

"You've made one mistake, Muthos," I say, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me.

"Oh?" His grin widens, revealing razor-sharp fangs. "And what is that?"

I raise my blade, the flames of defiance burning in my eyes. "You should have killed me when you had the chance."

"Cute," Muthos says with a venomous smirk. His hand raises, and I feel a sudden, invisible force rip my sword from my grasp. It clatters to the ground behind me, the sound echoing in the cavernous chamber. My limbs seize up, my body locked in place by his blood magic. I can feel it—cold and suffocating—like chains wrapping around my muscles and bones.

"Please tell me you still have it, child," Muthos muses, his crimson eyes gleaming as he gestures toward Ogre.

Ogre steps up behind me, his towering frame casting a shadow over me. His cold, bony fingers grip my arm as he lifts my right sleeve, revealing the bracelet snug around my wrist. The artifact's blackened metal glints faintly in the crimson light of the chamber.

"Ah, yes," Muthos says, his voice filled with satisfaction. "The Madium Claw. How delightful to see it again." He leans closer, his expression almost wistful. "You know, that was mine once."

"What do you want with it?" I ask through gritted teeth, forcing the words out despite the magic constricting me.

Muthos straightens, his demeanor shifting to one of hunger, his gaze alight with dark ambition. "You see, Phoenix, it's the key—the only way I can wield that." He extends a clawed finger, pointing to a stone structure in the center of the room.

I follow his gaze, my heart sinking as I see it. The pedestal, carved from the same jagged black stone as the walls, holds a sword hilt glowing faintly with ember-like light. The blade itself is missing, but the aura surrounding the hilt is undeniable—ancient, powerful, and dangerous.

"The DragonsBreath," Muthos says, his voice dripping with lust and greed. "A weapon forged by Draco himself. The blade of flames that can incinerate gods and mortals alike. And with it..." His eyes narrow as his voice deepens. "With it, I will raze Celestria to ash."

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My blood runs cold. "You won't get the chance."

He laughs, a cruel, bone-chilling sound. "Oh, child, you still don't understand. You're not here to stop me. You're here to help me."

"Like hell I am!" I shout, straining against the magic holding me.

Muthos tilts his head, amused. "You wear the Madium Claw, child. Whether you like it or not, that artifact ties you to the DragonsBreath. It won't obey me unless it senses your blood. A failsafe by Draco, no doubt. But with you here..." He steps closer, his gaze piercing. "I can take what I need."

"Over my dead body," I growl.

He grins, baring his fangs. "Oh, I don't intend to kill you just yet. I need you alive—long enough to unlock its power."

Ogre's grip tightens on my arm, and I feel the bracelet burn against my skin. Pain shoots through my body as Muthos raises his hand, chanting words in a language I don't understand. The room darkens, the pulsing crimson veins along the walls glowing brighter as the energy thickens.

I grit my teeth, trying to fight back, but the magic is too strong. My vision blurs, the heat of the bracelet intensifying. I can feel it pulling at me, as though it's trying to drain something from within.

My body twists unnaturally as I'm yanked into the air, suspended like a puppet on invisible strings. My toes scrape against the cold stone floor as I'm pulled forward, my outstretched hand moving involuntarily toward the hilt of the DragonsBreath. My fingers tremble as they open, compelled by a force beyond my control, and wrap tightly around the cold, ancient metal of the hilt.

The moment I touch it, heat surges up my arm, a fire unlike anything I've ever felt. My veins burn with raw, unbridled power, as though the weapon is trying to merge with me. My arm rises of its own accord, lifting the hilt high above my head. Then, in a blinding eruption, a blade ignites.

Flames roar to life, spiraling upward from the hilt, solidifying into a blazing, gleaming edge. The fiery blade casts its light across the chamber, the glow reflecting in the terrified eyes of Muthos and Ogre. The room feels alive now, trembling with the sheer force of the weapon's power.

With the blade's emergence, I feel a sudden release—Muthos' blood magic shatters like glass, and control of my body is mine again. I land on my feet, the weight of the DragonsBreath settling into my hand as though it was made for me.

"I guess you fucked up," I say, my voice carrying an edge of triumph as the firelight dances across my face.

Muthos takes a step back, his crimson eyes wide with shock before narrowing with fury. His pale hand clenches around the handle of his mace, the dark metal pulsing with malevolent energy. "Impossible!" he hisses.

He raises his mace, the spikes along its head dripping with glowing blood-like magic. "You have no idea what you're wielding, boy. It will burn you alive!"

"Guess I'll take my chances," I snap, the blade's heat radiating down my arm but refusing to consume me.

"Ogre!" Muthos roars, his voice echoing off the stone walls.

Ogre steps forward, his hulking frame illuminated by the glow of the DragonsBreath. His long sword, seemingly made of writhing tendrils of darkness, slithers and pulses as he grips it. The tendrils hiss and crackle, as if alive, eager to strike.

"You think a shiny blade can save you, Phoenix?" Ogre growls, his voice deep and guttural. "Let's see what it's really worth."

He lunges, his tendril-sword lashing out toward me like a living beast. I raise the DragonsBreath instinctively, its fiery blade meeting the dark tendrils with a clash that sends sparks and embers flying. The force of the impact reverberates up my arm, but the blade holds firm.

I whirl around just in time to see Muthos charging, his mace raised high, its head glowing ominously. I dive to the side, narrowly avoiding the devastating swing that smashes into the stone floor, cracking it. Flames from the DragonsBreath trail behind me as I roll back to my feet.

"I'll pry that blade from your lifeless corpse!" Muthos shouts.

I charge forward, the DragonsBreath blazing like a comet in my hands. I swing it toward Muthos, and he barely manages to raise his mace in time to block the strike. The clash sends shockwaves through the room, fire and blood magic colliding in a burst of heat and energy.

Muthos snarls, pushing against the blade. "You think you can stop me? I am a god!"

"Yeah?" I spit, shoving him back with all my strength. "Then maybe it's time someone knocked you off your throne."

But Muthos isn't giving up. He swings his mace in a wide arc, the air around it distorting with the weight of his magic. I duck under the swing and drive the DragonsBreath upward, aiming for his chest. He twists away just in time, the blade grazing his side and igniting his cloak.

He lets out a roar of pain, his free hand reaching toward the flames to extinguish them. "You insolent child!" he bellows.

Behind me, the ground shakes beneath Ogre's massive frame as he charges, his tendril-wrapped sword slithering and snapping like a living beast. I twist just in time, barely avoiding a crushing swing aimed at my side. The blade of writhing darkness carves into the stone floor, leaving behind a deep, jagged gouge.

I roll to my feet, spinning around to face both of them. Muthos has already smothered the flames licking at his cloak, his crimson eyes blazing with fury, while Ogre looms like a mountain, his twisted sword pulsating with malevolent energy.

"Two against one," I mutter under my breath. "Great odds."

Ogre lunges first, his weapon cutting through the air with a grotesque hiss. I sidestep and counter with the DragonsBreath, its fiery edge slashing across his armor. The flames sear into him, but he barely flinches, his monstrous strength overpowering any pain. He swings again, this time with the force of a battering ram. I block, the collision sending vibrations up my arms as sparks and embers explode between us.

Muthos is already advancing, his mace raised high, dark magic swirling around it like a storm. I barely have time to react as he slams it down. I dive to the side, the impact creating a shockwave that sends debris flying. A jagged piece of stone scrapes across my cheek, but I don't stop moving.

"Face it, Phoenix," Muthos growls, his voice echoing ominously. "You're out of your depth. Surrender now, and I might make your death quick."

"Not a chance," I snap, flipping the DragonsBreath in my hand and launching myself toward him.

I bring the sword down in a fiery arc, but Muthos blocks with his mace, the clash sending sparks and tendrils of shadow spiraling through the air. The force throws us both back, and before I can recover, Ogre is on me again. His tendril blade snakes toward me, slashing across my armor. I feel the cold sting of the weapon as it slices through leather, but I grit my teeth and push forward.

I sidestep another swing, slipping past Ogre's guard and driving the DragonsBreath into his side. This time, he howls as the flames bite deep, the fire spreading across his armor like molten lava. He stumbles, giving me a precious moment to focus on Muthos.

The god of vampires doesn't hesitate. His hand shoots out, and a tendril of blood magic wraps around my ankle, yanking me off my feet. I hit the ground hard, the breath knocked from my lungs, and the DragonsBreath slips from my grasp.

Muthos grins, stepping closer, his mace dragging behind him ominously. "Do you feel it now, boy?" he sneers. "The weight of your failure?"

The tendrils tighten, pulling me toward him as he raises his mace for the final blow. Desperation surges through me. My fingers claw at the ground, reaching for anything— DragonsBreath is too far. Then I feel it: a sharp rock, broken loose in the chaos. It's not much, but it's enough.

I grab the rock and fling it at his face with all my strength. It strikes true, hitting his temple. Muthos snarls, his focus breaking for just a second—but a second is all I need. The tendrils falter, and I lunge for the DragonsBreath. My hand wraps around its hilt, and the flames roar to life once more.

"No more games!" I shout, slashing upward. The blade severs the tendrils of blood magic, freeing me entirely. I leap to my feet, the fire in the sword blazing brighter than ever.

Ogre, still smoldering from my last strike, charges again, but this time I'm ready. I duck under his swing and drive the DragonsBreath into his knee. He collapses with a bellow of pain, his massive form crashing to the ground.

Muthos roars in fury, his magic flaring as he prepares another attack. But I don't let him. I surge forward, the DragonsBreath slicing through the air in a fiery streak. He blocks with his mace, but the force of my strike drives him back, his boots skidding across the stone floor.

"You wanted the DragonsBreath so badly?" I say, advancing on him. "Then let me show you what it can do."

I swing again, the flames cutting through his defenses, and for the first time, I see fear flicker in his eyes.