When the wave hit me, the feeling like something pulling intensified many times. I didn’t just feel it, I could see my lifeforce being drained. If I had been a normal man, I might have been ripped apart in an instant. However, I had a god soul and immunity to miasma. It functioned as a shield, preventing her miasmic attack from damaging my body so quickly.
That didn’t mean I was out of trouble. I was still being drained, it was just happening slower to me, and against a much larger reserve. I accessed my store, causing all of the blessings on my body to glow. I buffed my body and protected it in any manner I could find. Regen, Life Reinforcement, Mana Absorption. I cast the spell Regeneration as well and used every other gradual healing spell I could. As I continued to buff myself, I took a step forward, and then another.
My eyes were locked on Miki. I could see pain and reluctance in her eyes, but her teeth were clenched in a snarl, her hand up and sending wave after wave of death towards me. I moved forward step by step, and with every step, I grew closer, so did the strength of her spells. I pulled out vials of water life and drank them, trying to restore the damage as it was made.
The pain grew horrifically. It felt like she was trying to rip my soul from my body. It felt that way because that was exactly what she was doing. Every step closer increased the strength of her suction. At first, I was regenerating faster than she could suck the life out of me, but as I halved the distance between us, my skin was starting to break apart. Black cracks formed across my skin as my body was seriously starting to break apart. More healing, more waters of life, I did everything I could to take the next step.
Tears ran down her cheeks in rivers now. There was a fear in her eyes. There was a part of her inside that knew me. There was a part of Miki left. I would find it, and I would free it. That was all that mattered.
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“Master…” Alysia sounded just as pained as I was.
It hurt, but this was nothing. After having my soul refined, I could manage at least this much. That’s what I was telling myself. I halved the distance again. My skin was turning to ash, flaking away. The new skin was created, but it was grizzly seen. Anyone who saw me would think I looked grey and cracked, like a broken granite statue.
“I-I’m not sure I can do this…” Alysia stated in a panic.
“We’ll make it,” I responded through gritted teeth before shouting to Miki. “I’m coming.”
Her lips moved, but I couldn’t hear the sound over the wind. I stepped forward again. And again. With each step, I made it closer and closer to her until I could hear the words coming from her mouth.
“Please… no closer… please… Master…”
I didn’t listen. I took the final steps, reaching out with my broken body that could barely move now, and grabbed her. She looked up at me, her eyes shaking wildly.
“Master…” She spoke so quietly that even right next to her, I could barely hear her.
“I’ll… save you,” I responded through gritted teeth.
“You can’t… please… kill me…”
“Master! We need to cut her soul now!” Alysia declared.
I pulled out Alysia, but the pressure was so great that I needed both hands to keep her from being ripped from me. Even then, the pull was immense, to the point that the blade started bending slightly to Miki like she was a black hole of spiritual power.
“Trust me….” I raised my blade.
“Won’t… work… if you cut… my spirit from my body.” She gasped, her eyes filled with fear. “Must… Destroy my soul.”
Her words were as difficult to get out as my own. Her face was covered in tears. I looked down at her small form, so powerful and lonely, my blade held high.
“Whatever happens next… I’ll deal with it.” I declared.
She was slightly shaking her head in protest, but she couldn’t move to stop what was about to happen, and I never intended to stop.
“Master!” Alysia cried out.
“Alysia… don’t miss.”
“Y-yes!”
I dropped my blade and slammed it home… directly into my own chest.