Chapter 51 : We Must Survive!

I arrive first on the platform, so I wait for the others to join me. In the meantime, I analyze the place...

It’s an immense circular platform, and the ground is made of beautiful stained glass, like the kind in an ancient cathedral, a little worn by time. At the center, a massive clock stands, mysterious and majestic, like a remnant of an advanced civilization that might once have lived here.

Just beside the clock, the sanctuary that Githin mentioned floats above the abyss. It is surrounded by water suspended in the air, and a stained-glass bridge leads to it, giving this structure an entirely unique appearance.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Suddenly, a scream echoes in the sky. I look up and—

"VALENTIN, MOVE!" I shout at the top of my lungs, seeing Valentin falling straight toward me.

"NO, I WON’T USE MAGIC! AAAAAAAH!" he replies, still plummeting. He must have mishandled his own challenge and missed a platform or something like that.

Half a second later, Valentin crashes into me with such force that it slams me onto the ground, leaving a small crack in the stained glass below us. Valentin ends up lying on top of me.

"Move, before Elvaria sees this," I groan, trying to push him off.

"I know, Aley, I know..." he replies, painfully getting to his feet.

No sooner has he gotten up than the others arrive.

"Not bad, I get why you insisted we shouldn’t use magic!" exclaims Githin, landing gracefully on the platform.

"I-I’ll do my best next time," adds Alfira, touching down delicately. She flew the whole way, too terrified at the thought of falling.

"Aley, this place is amazing!" Elvie marvels, her eyes full of excitement.

"W-Well, everyone’s here; we can move on now. Our destination is clearly the sanctuary," I say, trying to regain my composure.

The sanctuary looks like a small altar surrounded by pillars emanating a powerful magical energy. There’s surely a precious object or something there. Elvie, resuming her role as the guild leader, quickly assesses the situation.

"The sanctuary is well-protected and radiates a lot of magic. At our current altitude, we’re at the same level as the major dragons we saw at the entrance."

"It’s strange that we haven’t fought anything yet…" murmurs Githin, as if sensing something.

We advance slowly onto the stained-glass bridge, each of us cautiously looking around to avoid being caught off guard.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The pace is slow but steady. I’m in the lead, Githin just behind me, with Alfira and Elvaria in the middle, while Valentin brings up the rear, playing the tourist and admiring the surroundings.

But still no monsters. It’s way too suspicious.

A few minutes later and…

… and finally, there it is, the presence I’ve been sensing: an overwhelming power.

I decide to say nothing. Everyone has probably felt it by now. Valentin is on guard, Githin wears a childlike grin, as if dreaming of an epic battle. Elvaria has resumed her warrior’s stance, and Alfira is hiding behind her.

"So, captain, and Aley, you’re together, right?" Githin suddenly asks nonchalantly, completely ignoring the current tension.

"Yes?" I look at him, surprised by the question.

"Don’t you have children?" he continues, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Elvaria turns bright red before shouting at the top of her lungs.

"We’re only 17! What are you saying?!"

But Githin looks even more confused. "Stop lying… you’re both older than me, you must be around…" he begins, only to be interrupted by a sudden tremor. The floor of the dungeon starts to shake, as if something massive has just awakened.

I turn to my companions to warn them to get ready, but I notice something terrifying: Alfira is crouching, trembling with fear.

This can only mean one thing...

"Alfira! Are you alright?" I shout, trying to make sure.

"S-She... she’s here…" she murmurs between sobs. At her words, Valentin draws his sword, followed by the rest of us, except for Elvie, who, of course, prefers her lance.

[Skill deactivated]

"Damn, we’ve lost the ability; it’s definitely her…" I mutter.

Against all odds, Githin gives a mischievous smile.

"The Void Queen... Now that’s interesting. It’s been a while since she came to pay me a visit," he says, a glint of hatred in his eyes.

Elvaria suddenly breaks the silence with a strong voice.

"Now’s the time to explain, Githin! How do you really know her?" she yells.

Githin turns to us, ready to speak, then hesitates, as if ashamed. Seeing him hesitate, Valentin shouts as well.

"If you don’t tell us everything now, we’re all going to die! She’s clearly after Aley and Elvaria!" he shouts over the rumbling of the earth and the wild winds.

Githin finally gives in, screaming at the top of his lungs. "Fine… THAT BITCH CURSED ME!" At those words, a wave of wild energy bursts from him, hatred almost taking shape around him.

"Listen carefully, Aley... I’ve been spying on you since you arrived here. You must have felt an odd familiarity several times, haven’t you?"

I nod.

"That feeling comes from my magical energy, the Absolute Void. The Stria directly stems from it," he continues, his voice calm but resolved.

"Your skills are locked, but you can still use the Stria. Its essence is the same as that of the Void Queen, that cursed woman," he spits, hatred lacing his voice.

"Elvaria, that goes for you too. Valentin, you won’t be able to fight her. Take Alfira and get out of here," Githin adds, turning his gaze to Valentin.

Suddenly, the dungeon’s false sky splits in two, the sun replaced by a terrifying eclipse. An intense purple magical energy swirls everywhere, and chains descend from the sky as if to contain the uncontrollable power being released here.

Then a feminine voice, icy and authoritative, resounds throughout the dungeon.

"Well… well… PERFECT. What a delightful surprise, you have two Stria… however, that’s not normal… the second fragment should be in the Prism…"

She continues, her piercing voice: "Aleystria, you lied to me. You scattered fragments of your Stria all over, preparing for your reincarnation... You crafty thing, you planned this well ahead, in your impossible quest for..."

"...Oh, sorry, I nearly revealed your true goal. That would’ve annoyed me," she continues, with a chilling satisfaction.

I recognize that voice. It’s her, Llyrnoth, the Void Queen.

Suddenly, an explosion of purple energy erupts in the center of the sky. A colossal shadow appears at its heart.

"Aley, get ready. I’ll hold her off," says Githin, his voice more serious than ever. "Try to use your Stria, and you too, Elvaria. Understood?"