———Alyse———

We race through the labyrinth, the walls closing in with each turn. My lungs burn as if fire itself is crawling through them, each breath harder to catch than the last. The stone around us seems to shift in subtle ways, a maze that changes as we move through it, but Domnik knows the way. He charges ahead, his steps confident, unfazed by the dark, twisting corridors.

I follow, my feet pounding against the damp stone floor, the echo of our footsteps bouncing off the walls, creating an eerie rhythm in the silence. The scent of moss and ancient stone clings to the air, thick and heavy as I push forward, trying to keep up.

Ahead, Domnik turns sharply into a narrow passage, his movements swift and sure. I slow as I reach the end of the corridor. There's nothing here—just a cold, lifeless stone wall, the pattern of runes carved into it too faint to make sense of in the dim light.

"Here!" Domnik's voice echoes back to me, a mixture of excitement and something darker.

I stop, confusion rising in my chest. "Domnik, it's a dead end."

He turns to me, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Touch this wall right here." His finger points to a specific spot, his eyes gleaming with an unspoken secret.

I glance at him, skepticism creeping in. "Um?"

"Trust me, Alyse. Come on!" His smile is all teeth now, sharp and teasing.

Hesitation claws at my thoughts, but I take a breath and step forward. My palm brushes against the cold, rough surface of the wall. A spark flares to life in my hand—small, but intense—and as I press my palm against the stone, it flares brighter, pulsing in response to the runes.

The vibrations begin slowly at first, then rapidly intensify, a low rumble that vibrates in my chest, through my bones. I step back, startled, my heart pounding in my ears as the wall begins to tremble under my touch.

Then, with a heavy grinding sound, the wall shudders, and a passageway begins to reveal itself—stone shifting downward as if swallowed by the earth itself, creating an entrance to the depths.

"Well, I guess that worked," I say, looking over my shoulder, attempting to mask the tremor in my voice with a grin. My hand still tingles from the magic, my pulse racing.

Domnik's smile widens. "Have fun!" he shouts, his voice laced with mischief, before he suddenly lets out a loud laugh.

Before I can react, the ground beneath me crumbles, the stone disappearing from beneath my feet.

"Domnik!" Panic surges through me as I plummet, my stomach dropping in freefall. The cold air rushes past me, whipping at my skin, filling my ears with the sound of my descent.

With a bone-jarring splash, I crash into the icy water, my body jolting violently. The freezing cold steals the breath from my lungs, a sharp, suffocating shock that makes every muscle in my body scream in protest.

I push upward, gasping for air as I break the surface. The water churns around me, dark and cold, as I fight to keep myself afloat. My heart races, but my mind is focused.

Gritting my teeth, I swim toward the jagged stone edge, my fingers scraping painfully against its rough surface as I pull myself onto the slick ground. The sharp edges tear at my palms, but I ignore the pain, too disoriented to care.

Just as I begin to catch my breath, a voice echoes through the cavern—deep, ancient, and impossibly resonant.

"Welcome, Magnus."

The words reverberate through the air, vibrating deep within my chest, sending chills crawling across my skin. The voice doesn't feel like it's coming from any one place—it's everywhere, inside me, around me.

"Magnus?" I whisper, confusion knotting in my stomach.

I whip my head around, scanning the dark shadows that stretch across the cavern, but there's no sign of anyone. The darkness presses in, dense and suffocating, the only movement the ripples in the water as it settles around me.

Suddenly, a door creaks open on the far side of the cavern, the hinges groaning in protest. From beyond it, a faint light spills into the chamber, flickering in and out like a candle flame buffeted by the wind.

Before I can move, a shrill, distorted laugh echoes through the space, followed by another splash.

I whirl back toward the water just in time to see Domnik emerge from the shadows, his coughing laughter filling the air. Water clings to him, dripping down his clothes as he swims toward me, grinning widely.

"Did you know that was going to happen?" I ask, my voice tight, half-laughing, half-frustrated.

Domnik's breathless chuckles come between gasps as he treads water. "What? No..." His voice trails off, a sheepish glint in his eyes.

I roll my eyes, exasperated but amused. "You asshole."

He beams back at me, shrugging. "Come on, the gate is this way." Without waiting for me, he turns and starts swimming toward an opening in the far corner.

I follow, the air thick with the scent of salt and earth, the sound of water lapping against stone ringing in my ears.

We round the corner, and the tunnel ahead opens into a large chamber, bathed in an ethereal kaleidoscope of light. The staircase before us spirals upward, its steps bathed in the same vibrant glow that dances in the air. The light cascades down like a waterfall, shimmering with every color of the rainbow, almost alive in its movement, as though the very air were charged with power.

I step forward, eyes wide in wonder, taking in the breathtaking sight. My breath catches in my chest as we reach the top, and I see it—the source of the mesmerizing glow.

"I'll take it this is the Celestial Gate?" I murmur, barely above a whisper, my voice filled with awe. The colors shift, pulsating with a rhythm of their own, as the air around it vibrates with a power I can feel in my bones. But there's something... unsettling beneath it all. A hum of energy that wraps itself around my senses, crawling under my skin.

Domnik steps up beside me, his face set in concentration. "Yeah, Red said you know what to do, right?"

I nod, taking a cautious step toward the circular frame of the gateway. "Yeah, well here goes nothing."

I raise my hands, spreading my fingers toward the glowing rim, the air around them crackling with anticipation. Sparks begin to flicker and form between my fingertips, firing out with a sharp hiss toward the rim of the gate, each one lighting up the frame with its brilliance. The pulse of energy grows stronger, almost overwhelming, as the sparks ignite across the edge.

The air hums with energy as the sparks leap from my fingertips, dancing in the air before they settle into the edges of the Celestial Gate. The vibrations beneath my feet intensify, sending a shiver up my spine as the swirling colors within the frame pulse stronger, more erratic. I can feel the power stirring, trying to break free.

A low rumble echoes through the chamber, and the air around the gate begins to shimmer. Slowly, the gateway responds to my touch, its ancient magic flickering to life. My heart races, and I fight to steady my breath, unsure whether it's the magic or my own nerves causing the trembling in my hands.

"Is it supposed to do that?" Domnik's voice breaks through my concentration, his eyes wide as he watches the swirling light shift in unnatural ways.

"I don't know, but I think it's working," I reply, forcing my focus back to the gate. The rim grows hotter, brighter, and with every passing second, the space within the frame seems to stretch and distort.

Suddenly, the ground shakes beneath us, sending a crack through the stone floor and a gust of wind through the cavern. The air around the gate shifts, pulling us in like a magnetic force.

"What's happening?!" Domnik shouts.

The gateway flickers again and again. "I'm not sure but it seems like it's working. I'm just going to keep at it." I say as the lightning leaps from my fingertips.

Domnik turns towards the staircase behind us. "Someone is coming..." he says in a whisper.

"What?"

"Stay here and keep doing your thing. I'm going to check it out."

"Domnik, Domnik?!" I shout but he's already running down the staircase.

———Red———

Muthos growls, his teeth bared, and raises his mace high. Blood-red energy crackles around it as he brings it down with the force of an avalanche. The impact sends a shockwave through the chamber, the ground beneath us splitting into jagged cracks. I leap back, narrowly avoiding the strike, but the aftershock sends me stumbling.

Ogre, still writhing on the ground, snarls and swings his tendril blade toward my legs. I jump over it, the weapon hissing as it slices through the air beneath me. Without hesitation, I twist mid-air and bring the DragonsBreath down on Ogre's weapon. The fiery blade severs it cleanly, the tendrils recoiling and writhing like wounded snakes.

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Ogre howls, his voice reverberating through the cavern as he clutches his ruined weapon. His massive hands grab at the jagged remains of the tendrils, his rage boiling over. "You'll regret that, boy!" he bellows, lunging at me with his bare hands, claws extending unnaturally from his fingertips.

I sidestep his charge and drive the DragonsBreath upward in a vicious arc. The blade catches him across the chest, the fire searing through his thick hide. He staggers back, smoke rising from the wound, his furious eyes locked on mine.

"Stay down, Ogre," I warn, but he doesn't listen. He roars, shaking the ground with his fury, and charges again despite his injuries.

This time, I don't hold back. As he closes the distance, I channel the fire within the DragonsBreath, the blade glowing brighter with each passing moment. Just as he's upon me, I unleash the full power of the sword in a blinding explosion of flame. The fire engulfs him, his roar turning into a scream of agony as he's thrown backward, his massive form crashing into the far wall.

He doesn't get up.

I barely have time to catch my breath before Muthos strikes again. His blood magic lashes out like a crimson whip, slicing through the air and wrapping around my wrist. The DragonsBreath flickers in my hand as his magic tightens, trying to rip the sword away from me.

"Do you think you're worthy of that weapon?" Muthos sneers, his voice dripping with venom. "You're nothing, just a child playing with fire!"

I grit my teeth, fighting against the pull of his magic. The DragonsBreath burns hotter in my hand, as if responding to my determination. "Maybe I am," I say through gritted teeth. "But I'd rather burn than let you win."

With a surge of strength, I yank my arm back, breaking free from his magic. The force sends me stumbling, but I recover quickly, gripping the DragonsBreath tightly. Muthos's expression darkens, his patience clearly wearing thin.

He raises his hands, and the air around him begins to shimmer. Shadows coalesce, forming into monstrous shapes that howl and screech as they emerge. Vampiric creatures, their eyes glowing with crimson light, crawl from the darkness, their fangs bared as they circle me.

"Let's see how you fare against my children," Muthos says, a cruel smile spreading across his face.

The creatures attack all at once, their claws and fangs flashing in the dim light. I spin, the DragonsBreath a blur of fire and steel as I fight them off. One leaps at me, its jaws snapping inches from my throat, but I drive the blade through its chest, the fire consuming it in an instant. Another slashes at my back, but I twist just in time, the blade cutting through its arm in a fiery arc.

The battle is chaos, a flurry of movement and fire as I take them down one by one. But they keep coming, their numbers seemingly endless, and I can feel exhaustion creeping in.

Muthos watches from the edge of the fray, his smile widening as he sees me falter. "Give up, boy," he taunts. "You can't win. The DragonsBreath won't save you."

But his words only fuel my resolve. I grip the sword with both hands, its fire flaring brighter than ever. The heat is overwhelming, the air around me shimmering with its intensity.

"I don't need saving," I say, my voice steady despite the chaos. "Not from you."

With a roar, I unleash the DragonsBreath's full power. Flames erupt from the blade in a blazing inferno, engulfing everything around me. The vampires scream as they're consumed, their forms disintegrating in the heat. The fire spreads, consuming the darkness and driving Muthos back, his smug expression replaced by one of shock.

When the flames subside, the chamber is silent. The vampires are gone, their ashes scattered across the ground. I stand alone, the DragonsBreath still glowing in my hand, its fire burning strong.

Muthos stares at me, his face twisted in rage and disbelief. "You... you dare—"

I cut him off, advancing on him with the DragonsBreath raised. "You wanted this fight, Muthos. Now finish it."

I see the fear in his eyes.

Muthos takes a step back, his mace trembling in his grip. The flames from the DragonsBreath reflect in his crimson eyes, and the ancient arrogance he carried just moments ago is now replaced by desperation.

He thrusts his free hand forward, and blood-red sigils flare to life in the air between us. The room vibrates with the force of his spell as tendrils of dark magic snake toward me, seeking to ensnare me once again. I don't give them a chance.

The DragonsBreath flares brightly as I swing it in a wide arc, the fire roaring to life and obliterating the tendrils before they can reach me. The heat pushes Muthos back further, his cloak whipping wildly in the inferno.

"You think your flames make you invincible?" he sneers, his voice trembling despite his words. "I am a god, boy! You are nothing but ash waiting to happen!"

"Then come prove it," I snarl, rushing him before he can react.

I slash low, forcing him to leap back, and then feint high. He raises his mace to block, but I twist the blade mid-swing, the edge slicing into his shoulder. Muthos howls in pain, his blood spraying the stone floor as he stumbles to the side.

He swings his mace wildly, desperation guiding his movements. The sheer force of the strike creates a shockwave that throws me off balance, but I recover quickly, rolling to the side as another strike smashes into the ground where I stood. Cracks radiate outward from the impact, and I can feel the floor beginning to weaken beneath us.

"You're running out of tricks, Muthos!" I shout, circling him. "Face it—you're afraid of this sword. Afraid of me."

Muthos glares at me, his face a mask of rage and humiliation. His hand shoots out again, this time pulling the blood from his own wound. The crimson liquid hovers in the air, coiling like a serpent before solidifying into jagged shards. With a flick of his wrist, he sends them flying toward me.

I duck and weave, the shards narrowly missing as they embed themselves into the walls around me. One grazes my arm, the sharp sting barely registering over the adrenaline coursing through me. I use the momentum of my dodge to close the distance between us, the DragonsBreath glowing hotter with every step.

Muthos raises his mace for a desperate counterattack, but I'm faster. I bring the DragonsBreath down in a diagonal slash, the flames roaring as they bite into his weapon. The impact is deafening, and for a moment, time seems to freeze.

Then, with a crack like thunder, his mace shatters.

The force of the explosion sends us both flying, me skidding across the ground while Muthos crashes into a crumbling pillar. I push myself to my feet, my chest heaving, the DragonsBreath still blazing in my hand. Across the room, Muthos struggles to rise, his once-pristine robes now tattered and scorched.

"Enough!" he screams, his voice cracking with fury. "You think you've won? You think this is over?"

He raises his hands, and the air around him begins to shimmer with dark energy. The ground trembles violently as a massive rift tears open behind him, its edges glowing with an ominous red light. From within, shapes begin to emerge—hulking, shadowy figures with glowing eyes and twisted forms. His final gambit: summoning reinforcements.

I grit my teeth, gripping the DragonsBreath tighter. The fire coursing through the blade seems to pulse in rhythm with my heartbeat, as if urging me forward. "If this is all you've got, Muthos, then I'm ending this here and now."

I charge, flames trailing behind me like a comet. The shadowy creatures lunge toward me, but the DragonsBreath cuts through them like paper, their forms disintegrating in bursts of ash and fire. I don't stop, pushing through the horde, my eyes locked on Muthos.

He hurls spells at me—blasts of dark energy, crimson spikes, and waves of suffocating pressure—but the DragonsBreath burns through them all. I'm unstoppable, and he knows it.

As I close the distance, I leap into the air, raising the DragonsBreath high. Muthos's eyes widen, his hands raised in a futile attempt to shield himself.

"This is for everything you've done!" I roar, bringing the blade down with all my strength.

The DragonsBreath strikes true, piercing through his chest and erupting in a pillar of flame. Muthos screams, his voice echoing through the chamber as the fire consumes him. The shadows around him writhe and dissipate, their connection to their master severed.

When the flames subside, Muthos is gone. Only ash remains, scattered across the broken floor. The rift behind him collapses, the dark energy fading into nothingness.

I stand there, the DragonsBreath still glowing faintly in my hand, the room silent except for the crackle of dying flames. For the first time in what feels like an eternity, the air feels lighter, the oppressive weight of his presence finally lifted.

It's over.

I lower the DragonsBreath, the fire dimming as exhaustion crashes over me. But there's no time to rest.

As I turn, I see Ogre rising from the ground, his body convulsing and distorting. His skeletal form twists grotesquely, replaced by a massive, hulking monstrosity. His muscles bulge, his limbs stretch, and his eyes glow like molten fire. His roar shakes the crumbling chamber, sending cracks racing up the walls.

"You monster!" Ogre bellows, his voice thunderous and raw. "You dare kill him—my brother?!"

I stagger back, the sheer weight of his presence pressing down on me. His power radiates outward, oppressive and suffocating, as pieces of the ceiling crack and crash to the ground around us.

"You will pay your debt to me, child!" he snarls, his massive claws flexing.

"Did I not already do that by coming here?" I manage, my voice barely steady.

"No!" he roars, his fury building to a fever pitch. "You will pay it with your blood!"

Ogre charges, his massive form bearing down on me like a living avalanche. Before I can react, a flash of movement intercepts him. Metal clashes against flesh, and I'm forced to shield my eyes from the impact. When I look again, he's there—Draco, my father. His golden armor gleams in the dim light, and fire flickers around his hands. He stands between me and Ogre, holding the monstrous giant at bay.

"You!" Ogre growls, his voice dripping with venom.

"Red, go!" Draco commands, his voice sharp and unyielding. "Get out of here!"

I stumble backward, frantically searching for an exit, but every path is blocked by falling debris or collapsing walls. The room is disintegrating under Ogre's sheer power. I glance back at Draco, who moves with inhuman speed, his strikes a blur of fire and steel as he battles the enraged titan.

"How do I get out of here?" I shout, panic rising in my chest.

Ogre's eyes snap to me, and with a roar, he charges again, his massive fists ready to crush me. But Draco surges forward, his wings flaring as he leaps into the air, landing between us once more. He blocks Ogre's attack, the force of the impact sending shockwaves through the room.

"What are you still doing here?!" Draco growls over his shoulder.

"I don't know where to go!" I shout back, frustration and fear colliding.

Draco doesn't hesitate. He kicks Ogre backward, sending the giant skidding across the floor. Then, without warning, he turns to me, his eyes filled with something I can't quite place—apology, perhaps.

"Forgive me," he says, and before I can respond, he tackles me.

The world disappears in an explosion of light and shadow. Colors swirl and churn around us, a vortex of chaos and darkness as Draco pushes us through the void. I feel weightless and disoriented, my breath caught in my chest, until we land hard in front of the Celestial Gate.

The glowing portal looms before us, its golden frame spinning with otherworldly energy. Lightning arcs toward it, and I see Alyse standing just ahead, her hands raised, electricity surging from her fingertips into the gateway. Her face is pale with concentration, her body trembling from the effort.

"Alyse!" I shout, staggering to my feet.

She turns, her eyes widening in surprise. "Red? Where's Domnik?"

"He was supposed to be with you."

"He was but he left," she says, her voice breaking. "I don't know where he went."

Before I can answer, the Celestial Gate roars to life. The spinning frame glows brighter, and the room trembles with its power. Alyse's lightning fades, and she collapses to her hands and knees, panting.

"Draco, my friend is—" I begin, but he cuts me off.

"It doesn't matter!" Draco barks, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You two need to get through the portal, now!"

A rumbling laugh echoes through the chamber, chilling me to my core. Ogre steps through the rubble, his massive frame blotting out the light from the Gate. His molten eyes lock onto Draco, and his grin is pure malice.

"Trying to run, Draco?" he taunts. "You always were a coward!"

Draco steps forward, fire curling around his fists as he faces Ogre. "Kids, go!" he commands, his voice like a whip.

"But Domnik!" Alyse cries, her voice shaking.

"Go now!" Draco roars, turning his head just long enough to glare at us. Then he thrusts his hand toward us, and an invisible force slams into me and Alyse.

I reach out, trying to fight it, but it's too strong. We're thrown backward, into the spinning vortex of the Celestial Gate. The last thing I see before the portal swallows us is Draco, standing tall against Ogre, his flames blazing like a star.