Chapter 33 - Strength In Despair
Mary's breath caught as Vanessa unsheathed her gleaming blade. Without hesitation, the woman sprinted toward them, her terrifying crimson eyes blazing with intent. Panic surged through Mary as she turned to Yumiko, who lay motionless on the rocky cave floor. “Get up!” she shouted, her voice cracking. Without waiting, Mary dashed toward her fallen friend.
Nearby, Lukas struggled to push himself upright, but his body betrayed him. Blood spilled from his lips as he coughed violently, his chest heaving with the effort. The brutal beating from Ronan had left several of his ribs shattered, and each breath felt like fire in his lungs.
Yumiko raised her head just in time to see Vanessa hurtling toward her, blade in hand. Terror paralyzed her. She willed her legs to move, but they buckled beneath her, sending her sprawling again onto the cold stone floor.
Mary stretched out her hands, summoning her magic. The ground trembled as jagged walls of rock erupted in an attempt to cut off Vanessa’s path. But the woman was too swift. With a wave of her hand, a glistening slope of ice appeared beneath her feet. She skated up the incline with impossible grace, launching herself into the air.
Landing with a resounding thud, Vanessa resumed her relentless advance. Each step she took left behind a shimmering patch of ice, her momentum building as she sped forward. Mary gritted her teeth, hurling boulder after boulder in a desperate bid to slow her down. Yet Vanessa weaved through the falling debris effortlessly, a predator closing in on her prey.
Yumiko clawed at the ground, forcing herself up again. She managed one shaky step before collapsing, her legs giving out. She looked up, her heart pounding as Vanessa’s shadow loomed over her. Time seemed to slow. Despair gripped her as she squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable.
But the blow never came.
A blur of motion. Then a large force was felt on top of her. Yumiko’s eyes flew open to see Lukas, and her rolling away safely as Vanessa’s blade scraped against the stone, missing them by a foot. Gasping, Lukas rolled to his side, coughing more blood.
Vanessa, however, had already shifted her attention. Her icy glare was fixed on the enormous serpent that towered over the cavern. The creature had turned its attention from Ronan’s crumpled form, its golden eyes narrowing as Vanessa approached.
With a primal cry, Vanessa raised her sword high and charged. Her blade came down in a brilliant arc, striking the beast’s iron-like scales with a spray of sparks. The serpent recoiled, hissing furiously, and retaliated with a devastating swing of its massive tail. Vanessa dodged with inhuman speed, her feet skimming across freshly conjured ice as she retaliated.
Shards of jagged ice erupted from the ground, spearing the serpent and lifting it from the cavern floor. The beast writhed, its body slamming into the ceiling with a thunderous crash. Vanessa released the spell, letting the serpent fall, only to summon another spike of ice to hurl it back upward.
The cavern groaned in protest, the walls trembling under the strain. Dust and debris rained down as cracks spiderwebbed across the ceiling.
Mary shielded her face from the falling rubble, her heart pounding as Vanessa continued her relentless assault. “That woman’s going to bring the whole place down!” she shouted, watching in horror as chunks of rock began to crash to the floor.
Vanessa, heedless of the chaos, pressed her attack. She darted between falling boulders, her ice patches forming a deadly dance floor beneath her feet as she continued her attack. The serpent thrashed wildly, but it was no match for her unrelenting fury.
Mary turned back to Lukas and Yumiko, urgency etched on her face. “We need to go!” she yelled, her voice barely audible over the cacophony of collapsing stone.
A boulder smashed nearby, sending a cloud of dust and splinters cascading over Yumiko. She threw her arms up to shield her face, coughing as she called out, “What about the staff?”
Mary hesitated, her stomach twisting. She glanced at the serpent and Vanessa, locked in their devastating battle. “It won’t matter if this place buries us alive!” she snapped, grabbing Yumiko by the arm and hauling her upright. “Come on!”
Lukas groaned as Mary rushed to him, his face pale and pained. She slipped an arm under his shoulders, her heart pounding as the cavern quaked around them. “Watch the arm!” Lukas cried, his voice strained as Mary accidentally tugged on his injured limb. A sharp yelp escaped him as she hoisted him upright.
“Bear with it!” Mary snapped, her tone edged with panic. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she glanced around the crumbling cavern. “We need to move!”
Yumiko stumbled forward, her legs still shaky from earlier. “Back toward the entrance!” Mary shouted, half-carrying Yumiko while keeping Lukas upright with her other arm.
Behind them, the serpent let out a deafening roar as Vanessa’s relentless attacks drove it into the ceiling yet again. The cavern shuddered with each impact, stone fragments raining down like hail.
Mary risked a glance over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing as she watched Vanessa conjure another massive ice shard. The woman seemed unstoppable, dodging falling debris with unnatural grace. “How does she have that much mana?” Mary yelled, her voice barely audible over the cacophony.
“I don’t know!” Yumiko shouted back, casting a fleeting glance at the chaos. Vanessa’s attacks were devastating, yet the serpent still writhed and thrashed, undeterred. “But is it even doing anything to that thing?”
Mary scanned the chamber frantically, searching for where they had entered. Then she spotted it—a faint opening near the far wall, partially obscured by rubble. “Over there! I see the entrance! At the far side!” she shouted, her grip on Lukas tightening.
Lukas groaned, his head lolling forward as his strength gave out. His vision blurred, the edges darkening until he could no longer keep himself upright. His body went limp, slipping from Mary’s grasp.
“Lukas!” Mary screamed as his weight dragged her down. He hit the rocky ground with a sickening thud, stirring just enough to mutter, “Just go… I’m dead weight…”
Mary knelt beside him, shaking her head fiercely. “We’re not leaving you!”
Above them, a massive boulder cracked loose from the ceiling, plummeting toward their heads. Mary thrust her hand upward, summoning a jagged boulder of her own. With a sharp gesture, she sent it hurtling into the falling rock. The two collided midair, shattering into harmless debris that rained down around them.
“See?” Lukas rasped, his voice weak but urgent. “You won’t stand a chance with me slowing you down. Leave me!”
Yumiko turned sharply, her expression blazing with determination. “What about everything you said? The promises you made to my brother—to me—about finding a cure for the Silent Plague?!”
Lukas clenched his teeth, his eyes glistening with guilt and frustration. “I’ll find a way,” he said, his voice breaking. “But you two have to go. Now!”
Ignoring his protests, Mary dropped to her knees and hooked her arms under Lukas once again. With a guttural grunt, she heaved him onto her shoulder. Pain flared in her side as her stab wound tore open, blood soaking through her tunic. She gasped, falling to one knee but refusing to let go.
“Let me down, you fool!” Lukas shouted, struggling weakly against her hold.
Yumiko stepped forward, shaking her head in dismay. “Mary, he’s too heavy to carry, and we can’t outrun this collapse with him.”
The cavern groaned ominously, and another chunk of ceiling broke free, slamming into the ground nearby. The way out was growing smaller by the second.
Mary clenched her jaw, her arms trembling as she adjusted Lukas on her shoulder. “I know…” she said through gritted teeth, her voice thick with determination. “But I’m not planning to run.” She steadied herself, exhaling sharply. “Let’s go!” she huffed, each step forward a monumental effort.
Yumiko hesitated, her heart pounding as panic clawed at her chest. She glanced over her shoulder just in time to see Vanessa halt her relentless assault. The woman stood motionless, her chest heaving with labored breaths.
The massive serpent shook its head, its golden eyes blazing with fury as they locked onto Vanessa. Then came the sound—a piercing screech that rattled the entire cavern. Yumiko flinched, clamping her hands over her ears.
The snake lunged, its gaping maw snapping toward Vanessa with terrifying speed. At the last second, she darted to the side, narrowly evading the deadly jaws. Vanessa countered immediately, raising her sword to deliver a decisive blow. But as her blade arced downward, the serpent’s massive form vanished into thin air.
Vanessa skidded to a halt, her eyes darting wildly around the cavern. Dust swirled in the air, obscuring her vision. “Where—” she started, but the words caught in her throat.
Yumiko’s steps faltered as she watched the scene unfold. “Did that thing just… disappear?” she murmured, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Mary risked a glance back, her face pale beneath the layer of dust coating her skin. “Shut up… You’re joking…” she asked, disbelief and concern etched in her voice.
The cavern continued to rumble, sending more boulders crashing to the floor. The air grew thick with dust, making it harder to see. Vanessa stood still, her head whipping side to side, searching for any sign of her elusive foe. “Where did you go?!” she shouted, frustration lacing her words. Her eyes, once so sharp and capable of detecting the faintest magical traces, failed her now.
Then she saw it—a ripple in the dusty air to her left. Her breath caught. In an instant, a tidal wave of displaced air surged toward her. She leaped to the side, but it wasn’t enough. The serpent’s invisible tail slammed into her ribs with devastating force, sending her body hurtling across the cavern like a ragdoll.
Vanessa hit the ground hard, sliding into a pile of rubble as the snake reappeared, its form materializing out of the haze. It loosed another deafening screech, this time one of triumph, before turning its baleful gaze toward Mary, Yumiko, and Lukas.
“That woman’s down!” Yumiko cried, skidding to a stop and drawing her bow with trembling hands. Her heart thudded in her chest as she nocked an arrow. “I think we’re stuck in a fight now!”
Lukas groaned from Mary’s shoulder, his voice raw and urgent. “Put me down!” he yelled, writhing weakly.
Mary didn’t hesitate. She all but dropped him onto the ground, her focus snapping to the serpent barreling toward them. Her hand flew to the hammer strapped to her back. Her pulse pounded in her ears as the serpent’s massive form loomed closer.
“How are we supposed to kill it?” she muttered under her breath, bracing herself.
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Yumiko pulled back her bowstring, her explosive arrow glowing faintly in the dim light. She released with a sharp twang, the projectile flying true and disappearing into the serpent’s open mouth.
A deafening explosion rocked the cavern, flames and smoke erupting from the creature’s jaws. The serpent screeched in pain, thrashing wildly as the smoke enveloped its head. Its massive form shook, dislodging boulders from the ceiling that crashed onto its back.
“Nice shot!” Mary called, watching as the snake withered in pain.
But even under the onslaught, the creature barely faltered. It snapped its head back, shaking off the debris that fell from above as if it were mere dust. Its blazing eyes found the group once more, its rage undiminished.
Bloodied and clutching her broken ribs, Vanessa staggered behind the serpent, her breaths shallow and ragged. Her narrowed eyes locked onto its massive form, now focused on the others. Gathering the last remnants of her strength, she charged forward, her sword raised high. With a fierce cry, she brought the blade down with all her might, aiming for the center of the beast’s spine.
The strike landed with a thunderous clang, her sword slicing into the creature’s stone-like scales. For a moment, the blade held firm, cutting halfway through—before it shattered with a sharp, metallic snap.
Vanessa stumbled back, staring at the broken hilt in disbelief. “My sword…” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the chaos. Her gaze flicked upward, catching the snake’s glowing, predatory eyes as it swiveled its head to her. Before she could move, its tail lashed out, striking her with bone-crushing force and sending her hurtling into a crumbling wall.
The serpent turned its attention back to Mary, Lukas, and Yumiko. Its colossal form loomed over them, the ground trembling beneath its weight. More rocks dislodged from the ceiling, crashing to the floor with deafening thuds.
Yumiko’s eyes darted around, her breath catching. “Guys! The floor under us—it’s cracking!” she yelled, her voice rising in alarm.
Mary glanced down and froze. A web of fractures spread rapidly beneath their feet, spidering across the entire chamber. The cracks deepened, chunks of stone breaking loose as the ground beneath them gave way.
The serpent lunged just as the floor collapsed, its massive body plunging along with the trio into the abyss below.
Yumiko screamed, her arms flailing as they tumbled through open air. Her mind raced as she instinctively started to think about slowing their descent like last time when they jumped into the pit, but her mana was nearly drained—there wasn’t enough left for a spell.
Far below, a faint light illuminated the ground of another vast chamber. They were falling fast—too fast.
“Yumiko!” Mary shouted, grabbing her and pulling her close. She twisted midair, reaching out to Lukas. “Hold onto him!” she yelled, straining to pull the unconscious man toward them.
“What are you doing?!” Yumiko cried, panic rising as the cavern floor rushed closer.
Mary’s voice was steady despite the chaos. “I have an idea!” She wrapped an arm tightly around both of them, her free hand clutching her hammer. Her lips moved rapidly in prayer. “Goddess of Earth, give us hope!” she cried, her voice filled with desperate conviction.
Spotting a falling boulder nearby, Mary swung her hammer in a wide arc, slamming it into the rock with all her might. The enchanted strike sent the boulder shooting toward the cavern floor like a meteor. Upon impact, the stone exploded into a massive earthen slope, the incline shooting upward to meet their descent.
Mary twisted her body, gripping Lukas and Yumiko tightly. The trio collided with the slope, the rough surface scraping against their skin as they slid down at breakneck speed.
Yumiko tumbled uncontrollably as they hit the bottom, rolling several times before finally coming to a stop. Her chest heaved as she lay sprawled on the floor, her limbs aching and her bloodied arm throbbing. Rocks rained down from above, slamming into the ground around them with explosive force. She curled into herself instinctively, her heart racing.
When the rockfall finally ceased, the chamber grew eerily quiet, save for the faint sound of dust settling.
Yumiko pushed herself upright, grimacing as pain shot through her arm. “Guys… Is everyone okay?” she croaked, her voice hoarse and trembling. She squinted through the dust, her vision swimming. “Mary? Lukas?”
Her voice echoed faintly, and the settling dust revealed the room around her. Her breath caught in her throat.
They had fallen into a massive, cathedral-like chamber. The floor was made of smooth, polished tiles, worn but intricately designed with serpentine patterns. Towering stone pillars lined the room, each one carved with enormous snakes that coiled upward and seemed to disappear into the cavern’s vaulted ceiling, a hundred feet above.
Soft light emanated from carefully cut crystals embedded in the walls, casting an otherworldly glow. It was clear that this place was no natural formation—it had been crafted with care and precision, by someone or something long ago.
In the center of the chamber stood a pedestal, its steps worn with age. A faint, ethereal light radiated from the platform. Floating above it, suspended in the air, was a staff. Its polished surface glimmered, and faint tendrils of magic seemed to weave around it like living strands of light.
Yumiko’s wide eyes locked onto the artifact. “The staff…” she whispered, awe mingling with exhaustion as the weight of their perilous journey pressed down on her.
Feeling a flicker of hope amidst her pain, Yumiko pushed herself upright, clutching her injured arm. Her voice wavered but carried determination. “Mary!” she called out, her gaze fixed on the glowing staff in the room's center. “We found it! The staff!”
Her joy was short-lived. As she scanned the chamber, her eyes landed on a familiar sight—Mary and Lukas sprawled among the debris, partially buried under boulders and loose rock. Her heart plummeted.
“Guys!” she shouted, forcing her battered body to move. She staggered toward them, every step sending pain shooting through her legs. She collapsed beside them, her hands trembling as she pulled the small boulders off her friends. She rolled Mary off Lukas to inspect their conditions. “Mary! Lukas!” she cried, her voice breaking with panic.
Mary’s usually strong and vibrant face was pale, streaked with blood. The gash from her reopened wound seeped dark red, and Yumiko noticed a nasty bruise forming on her temple. It looked as though a rock had struck her during the fall.
Lukas was in even worse shape. His chest barely rose and fell, his bloodied body battered to the point where she couldn’t tell where one injury ended and another began. For a moment, she doubted if he was even alive.
“No,” she whispered, tears blurring her vision. She placed her trembling hands over Lukas’s chest, desperation rising within her. “Don’t you dare die on me!” she screamed.
Yumiko channeled what little mana she had left, her hands glowing faintly. But as she pushed her healing magic into him, a sharp, searing heat erupted in her palms. The spell backfired violently, sending her tumbling backward.
“No!” she cried, crawling back to her friends. “Rebound? Why now?” Panic surged as she turned to Mary, placing her hands over her friend's wound. The faint glow returned, but before the magic could take hold, it backfired again, throwing her against a jagged rock.
“Please…” Yumiko whispered, tears streaking her face. “Please don’t die.” She dragged herself back to their side, her body trembling with exhaustion.
From across the room, a haunting screech shattered the quiet. Yumiko froze as the serpent rose from the thick cloud of dust, its eyes glowing with unrelenting malice. The creature reared back, its massive form silhouetted against the faint light of the cavern’s crystals.
Yumiko acted on instinct, grabbing both Mary and Lukas and hauling them behind a nearby boulder. Every movement sent sharp pain through her body, but she didn’t stop until they were out of sight. Slumping against the cold stone, her head dropped as despair consumed her.
“It’s over,” she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. “There’s nothing left. No mana, no strength… nothing.” Her voice broke as her body shuddered with silent sobs.
Amid the stillness of her despair, a voice—soft yet commanding—echoed in her mind.
“Rise, brave one. Do not falter, nor admit defeat,” it urged, firm but filled with warmth. “The time for regret, doubt, and weakness ends here. Rise, and fight while you are still able!”
She shook her head, her voice raw with anguish. “I can’t,” she whispered. “I have no mana, no strength left. That ice woman above—unleashed everything she had against the serpent, and it wasn’t enough. And now you want me to fight? Like this?”
“Yes,” the voice replied, unyielding.
Yumiko clenched her fists, her fingers digging into the loose dirt scattered on the tile floor beneath her. “What you’re asking is impossible!” she snapped. Her voice cracked as bitterness crept in. “Just like saving that boy in Torrwr. It’s useless—I’m useless.”
The voice grew sharper, its tone cutting through her despair. “It is only useless because you have admitted defeat, brave one. Do you think your brother admitted defeat in his final moments? Do you think Lukas admitted defeat during any of your fights? What of Mary as you fell to the ground?”
The words struck Yumiko like a physical blow, the memories of their resilience flashing in her mind.
“No,” the voice continued. “They stayed strong. They fought for you with every ounce of their being. And now it is your turn to fight for them. You will not fall. You will stand. You will fight, and you will let the world know your name. Let the world know of your name, Yumiko Hoshino!”
Her breathing steadied as the voice swelled within her, filling her with a flicker of renewed purpose.
“This is your time. Rise, and show the serpent—and those that oppose the world—what you are capable of! This is your fight. ”
Yumiko let the clump of dirt fall from her hand, her fingers trembling. "What... what can I do?" she whispered to the empty air, her voice barely audible over the distant rumble of falling rocks. She glanced up, her eyes scanning the chaotic cavern, and froze when something caught her attention.
Far ahead, about eight hundred feet away, a faint glimmer broke through the haze. She squinted, trying to make sense of the light. Her heart leapt—it was a potion vial, glowing faintly in the cavern's ambient light. Mary’s potion bag had been flung during their fall, and one of its contents lay just outside.
"If there’s mana or stamina potions left…" Yumiko swallowed hard, the thought igniting a flicker of hope. "Maybe—maybe I can do something."
The rumbling behind her grew louder, the sound of stone grinding against scales as the massive serpent slithered closer. Its enormous body toppled boulders, sending tremors through the ground as it searched for its next target. Yumiko clenched her fists, her breath hitching.
“As soon as I move, it’ll see me,” she thought, her gaze darting between the glimmering vial and the looming shadow of the snake. “But if it chases me, it won’t go after Mary and Lukas. That’s a risk I have to take.”
Steeling herself, Yumiko pushed off the ground, forcing her battered legs to move. Pain lanced through her body with every step, but she sprinted toward the vial with everything she had left.
The snake’s glowing eyes snapped toward her the instant she emerged from cover. It hissed, a deep, guttural sound that reverberated through the cavern, and began its pursuit. The ground trembled as the creature slithered after her, its massive frame smashing through debris in its path.
Yumiko’s chest heaved, her breaths ragged as adrenaline surged through her. Her heart pounded in her ears as she risked a glance over her shoulder. The snake’s body undulated with terrifying speed, its eyes locked onto her.
Then it coiled its head back, opening its maw wide.
“What now—?” Yumiko gasped as a glimmering projectile shot toward her. Instinct took over, and she dove to the side, hitting the ground hard. The snake’s venomous spit struck the floor where she’d been moments before, sizzling on impact. Acrid smoke filled the air as the stone floor dissolved into a bubbling crater.
Her eyes widened in shock. “It has ranged attacks too?” she muttered. But there was no time to marvel or strategize. The snake was closing in fast, its massive form bearing down on her. Gritting her teeth, she scrambled to her feet and pushed herself forward, ignoring the protests of her aching body.
The potion bag was within reach now. Summoning a final burst of speed, Yumiko dove for it, her fingers wrapping around the worn leather strap. She yanked it open and frantically rummaged through its contents. Her heart soared—inside were a mana potion and a stamina potion.
Just as she grabbed the first vial, a shadow loomed over her. She looked up and froze. The snake’s massive head was hovering just above her, its mouth opening to strike.
“Not yet!” she shouted, summoning a burst of wind magic with every ounce of willpower she could muster. The gale pushed her backward, out of the snake’s reach, just as its jaws snapped shut where she’d been.
She hit the ground hard, tumbling and sliding across the rough stone, but managed to pull the cork from the mana potion. The liquid burned as it slid down her throat, a warmth spreading through her chest as her depleted mana reserves began to restore. Without missing a beat, she uncorked the stamina potion and gulped it down, the sharp taste invigorating her body.
Her breathing steadied. The ache in her muscles faded, replaced by a growing sense of strength. Mana surged within her, a comforting hum that brought clarity to her fogged mind.
The snake reared back, its glowing eyes narrowing as it watched her rise. There was something almost... respectful in its gaze, as though acknowledging her tenacity.
Yumiko stood tall, despite the lingering pain in her shoulder. She placed the potions pouch on her hip as the large snake stared down on her. She extended her hand, her fingers curling as she whispered, “Summon.”
Her bow materialized in her grasp, the familiar weight grounding her. She tested the string, pulling it taut despite the sharp sting in her injured arm. Closing her eyes, she took a deep, steadying breath.
“So… This is my fight,” she murmured, her voice steady and resolute. She opened her eyes, locking onto the serpent as it prepared its next move. Her grip on the bow tightened. “It is my turn to protect them.” She said, reaching towards her quiver.