Chapter 8

❄ Rime's Anguish ❄

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Shin's heightened senses picked up on the shift in Rime's energy, and he could feel the power within him starting to falter. Arthur's eyes widened in surprise as he sensed the same thing. Rime's body shook violently as his powers reached their limit. The cave walls trembled and rocks rained down on him as he struggled to maintain control.

Without warning, Mia hurled herself towards Rime, embracing him tightly as she did. Shin could see the frost spreading rapidly across her body as she hugged him, but she didn't let go. "Rime, wake up, please. It's over," she said, her voice trembling. With a sudden burst of energy, his powers dissipated completely.

Rime stumbled backward, his legs giving out from under him. Mia was holding on to him, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The cave continued to shake, but gradually the tremors began to subside until finally, there was silence.

Rime’s tears flowed freely as he buried his face in Mia's shoulder,"I-I-I'm sorry Mia, I'm really sorry. Are you okay?" he said his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't mean to hurt you." Mia winced as she tried to warm herself with her fire gift, her body battered and bruised from Rime's earlier attack.

Despite her own injuries, Mia's hand ran soothingly through Rime's hair, offering him comfort in her touch. She whispered softly, calming his fears "I'll be okay," she said, managing a small smile. Slowly, Rime raised his head and looked around. The cave was still somewhat intact, the walls no longer threatening to collapse.

Arthur and Shin, who had been watching from a distance, walked over to them. "Are you okay, you two?" Arthur asked.

Rime nodded, "Yeah, I think we will be fine," he said, relief washing over him.

But, their moment of relief was short-lived. Suddenly, a chain whip appeared out of nowhere and flew in the direction of Rime. Mia, without thinking, jumped in front of Rime to protect him. The chain wrapped around her body, and she was yanked off her feet. Despite the acidic properties of the chains having worn off, Mia was still being dragged away by force.

Rime was in shock, "Mia!" he shouted as he saw Ida riding her demon dog. Rime's heart felt like it was being ripped from his chest as he watched his sister being dragged away. He wanted to scream, to lash out at Ida with all his might, but he had no energy left to even stand up. It was like a nightmare that he couldn't wake up from.

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Arthur's face twisted with anger as he tried to use his telekinesis to stop Ida, but she was one step ahead of him. Chains erupted from the ground, snaking their way towards Arthur and binding his hands together. His frustration was palpable, his body writhing as he struggled against his restraints.

Mia's screams echoed through the cave, a desperate plea for help that seemed to fall on deaf ears. It was like they were all trapped in some sort of twisted game, with Ida pulling the strings.

Shin's movements were fluid and precise, his body darting and weaving through the chains that Ida had conjured from the ground. His eyes were fixed on the chain whip that was dragging Mia away, and he knew that he had to act fast. While being dragged on the ground by Ida's chain whip. Mia hit her head hard on multiple rocks. The impact was so severe that Mia went unconscious, making it easier for Ida to continue dragging her body while riding her demon dog. As Shin closed in on Ida, she sneered at him, her eyes glowing with malice as she tightened her grip on the chain whip. “Shit! He is getting close i need to get rid of him.” she thought to herself.

Without hesitation, Shin launched himself through the air, his sword held high. Ida's red eyes sparked as she awakened her powers, and with a burst of energy, she conjured another chain whip in her left hand. The metallic links clinked together ominously as she swung it with all her might, aiming for Shin's head. The chain whip sliced through the air with a deadly hiss, but Shin was ready. With lightning-fast reflexes, he dodged the attack, the chain whip missing his head by mere inches.

In the same fluid motion, Shin ducked under the chain whip and let out a fierce cry as he brought his sword down, aiming for the chain that held Mia. The blade cut through the air with a sharp whistle, but Ida was quicker. With a widened gaze, she pulled the chain back with lightning-fast reflexes, narrowly avoiding the sword's contact.

The sword sliced through the air, missing the chain whip holding Mia by mere inches. Ida let out a triumphant laugh, "Until we meet again, Shin the hunter," she said with a sly grin, as she looked around while riding her demon dog Hellhound towards the Gate of the underworld, dragging Mia behind her.

Shin's eyes fixed on the retreating figure of Ida. He gritted his teeth in frustration, knowing that he had come so close to saving Mia. “Tsk, she got away!” as he spat on the floor.

Rime's body trembled with horror as he and Arthur watched Ida vanish into the darkness, dragging Mia with her. His fists clenched in fury as his heart raced with adrenaline. "Ida! You're dead!" he shouted, struggling to rise to his feet. Blood poured from his mouth, and his legs buckled under him, causing him to fall back to the ground. Panic set in as he gasped for air, his consciousness slipping away. "W-what's happening to me?" he wondered, his mind foggy as the gate to the underworld slowly closed shut. With a final gasp, he succumbed to unconsciousness.