"You can still save him... but only if you break," Cassandra said, her voice dripping with twisted promise.Sebastian leapt, his sword gleaming, but Cassandra's black force surged back with a terrible blow."You think sacrifice makes you strong?" she snarled, tying him with blazing symbols. You were supposed to fall constantly."Bad." Sebastian's voice broke through the tumult, sharp and definite. "I fall only if she does.”Dax pushed himself, blood streaming his side, amber eyes burning with fierce resistance."I don't fall," he said, snarling. I get up.His claws started to blaze fiercely, tearing through the black strands binding him.Cassandra lifted her hands before Sebastian and Dax could gather, evil magic whirling like a destructive cyclone."then let's see how much you can still lose.”The earth split, strength surged, and as darkness enveloped us I understood—An Alpha fights for what he has already lost, not just for survival.You expect us to follow you?Ronan's voice was i
Dark shadows erupted before Ronan could answer, splintering the cursed earth as Cassandra's twisted army formed, lethal and merciless."Decide now," Dax roared, strength pulsing over his strained body. "Or die split."Old connections broke and new loyalties blazed amid the turmoil as swords clashed, claws flashed, and fire erupted searing across the twisted battlefield.And when shadows rose once again, I understood—victory calls for faith as much as it does power.Chapter 44: The Cost of Reality" Tell her... or I will."As Dax moved closer, his amber eyes blazing with merciless intensity, his voice was low, menacing, vibrating with barely controlled wrath. His claws opened, daring Sebastian to reject him.Though his sword shook only at his side, Sebastian's jaw clenched and his icy-blue stare flicked with mixed feeling. In the war-torn meadow, shadows lingered as if the black magic itself waited for what happened next.She is entitled to the truth. Dax's voice became deadly calm, de
" Tell her... or I will."As Dax moved closer, his amber eyes blazing with merciless intensity, his voice was low, menacing, vibrating with barely controlled wrath. His claws opened, daring Sebastian to reject him.Though his sword shook only at his side, Sebastian's jaw clenched and his icy-blue stare flicked with mixed feeling. In the war-torn meadow, shadows lingered as if the black magic itself waited for what happened next.She is entitled to the truth. Dax's voice became deadly calm, definitive and forceful. "Stop lying."Sebastian's shoulders tensed, remorse carving itself further onto his face. "This is not the right moment.""Long past is what we live with." Dax snarled, his hands clinched as if he was holding back from ripping him apart.I moved between them, flames only glancing at my hands. "Stop!"; My voice shivered, demanding but fractured. "What aren't you letting me know?"Silence slammed between us, more weight than any weapon could have. Sebastian looked at me, troubl
"You still think defiance is enough?" she screamed, black tendrils whirling around me like ravenous shadows. You are the prophecy.Dax burst free from binding runes, amber eyes blazing with unrelenting rage, roaring and his claws flashing."Stay far from her!" With protective fury, his voice echoed as he surged, savagely driving Cassandra back.Sebastian shot forward, sword blazing, deadly accuracy slashing through soldiers created from shadows. His cool-blue eyes fixed on me, steady yet urgent.“Zaia—take control!” His voice was strong and forceful, merciless yet firm.The cursed mark burned hotter, agony turning into something raw and basic that set fire and darkness inside of me."Stop fighting it," Cassandra said, her voice like poisoned silk. “It’s already yours.”The earth shattered, black runes burning, shoving Dax and Sebastian back as shadow power surged.Pain blazed harder, so I staggered as flames sprung from my fingers collided with Cassandra's warped power."You were nev
Emerging twisted and victorious, Cassandra had emerald-green eyes shining with wicked joy."You should've stayed dead, Liora." Her voice was poisonous, twisted with amusement. You were always too frail to complete what you began.Mother's hands closed, fire shooting from her fingers. "I survived to avoid her having to."Memories fought back, a forgotten battlefield, my mother's shattered body, her last stance imprinted into my consciousness. My pulse thong."You were gone," I said, fire flickering at my fingers. "I witnessed your fall."One did. Her voice was ferocious yet scratchy. Some debts, nevertheless, are never paid in full.Dax surged forward, claws flashing, amber eyes blazing with sheer anger rushing to protect me."We need to move—now!" he screamed, immediately getting ready for the next attack.Sebastian's sword shone, his icy-blue eye fixed on Cassandra, detecting every change in her lethal aura.Mother lifted her hands, flames lighting a protective circle. Not number. He
Mother's protective walls trembled, flames flickering, her power weakening beneath Cassandra's unrelenting attack."We have run out of time!" Sebastian cursed, blue eyes flaming as he battled to get to me.The cursed earth cracked, sinister symbols lighting a lethal circle around us.Cassandra came out, emerald-green eyes ablaze with black success."You cannot run destiny." Her voice was final and chilly. " Through blood... or fire... fate claims you."Though the terrible mark blazed, agonizing and unrelenting, I stayed away.I chose... my destiny. My voice was raw, steady, rebellious, fire blazing more brilliantly than it had ever done.Emerging from the black runes, silver-crimson flames broke the hold of the curse.Dax tore through another with claws dripping in flames, Sebastian's sword hit true and cut through one cursed chain before Cassandra could strike.The cursed earth shook, power flickering, Cassandra stumbled dazzled by the explosion of freed magic.Flames and shadows cra
" prove it." Elder Cael spoke loudly, dark and merciless. Either perish or survive the Dominion trial.Shock rocked the Council room, murmurs and gasps rising like a storm on approach.Sebastian swore; his blue eyes flashed. "You cannot—,""Enough." Veyra watched with burning intensity. She is limited by blood and fire. Her destiny was determined long ago.Dark rune activation sealed the room in a blaze of cursed fire before anybody could move." Face the trial..." Veyra snarled, “or burn like the rest.”And when flames erupted, I realized— There was no escape… just the struggle ahead."We cannot maintain the line much longer!"Rising above the anarchy, Dax's voice screamed, his amber eyes flaming as he sliced through yet another wave of cursed fighters. Muscles straying under the constant attack, his claws flared with silver-crimson flames.Sebastian moved like lightning, precisely killing foes with his gleaming, carved rune sword. Even as blood poured from a gaping cut across his s
Dax hissed, claws extended, amber eyes ablaze with stubborn anger. He stood like an immobile barrier separating me from her lethal force and stopped my progress.Sebastian pulled his sword, its faint markings shining, his icy-blue eyes fixed even with the strain in his posture. Remain behind us.Not one. Though my voice trembled, fire flared at my fingers. "I'm done running."Runic chains sprung from the earth, snaring Sebastian's arms with burning power, and Cassandra's smile darkened.Dax screamed, broke free, claws blazing, but a blast of black power sent him back hard, slamming into the stone wall.Cassandra was forced to step aside when I pushed forward with silver-crimson fire cutting the cursed cords, but her smile never faltered. One cannot oppose what one is. Her voice was twisted humor mixed with gentle hatred. "You own the prophecy.""I am the author of my fate." Fire burst from the cursed earth, driving her magic back with great force.Cassandra muttered, the first time f
The earth shattered, black magic scorching, power bending into hideous creatures born of hatred and revenge.Defensive line, then! Dax screamed, savagely battling with primordial savagery through foes.Sebastian hit quickly, sword blazing, mercilessly reducing cursed powers.The cursed mark blazed hotter suddenly, fire and darkness entwining to release a long- buried ability."This is what you were meant to be," the icy, relentless voice of The Goddess said. "The flame neither controllable nor extinguished."I shot forward, fire blazing hotter, searing over the black bound dragging us back."I decide what I become." My voice came sharp and rebellious. Not destiny... not you.The earth shook, fire and fate tangling into a burning frenzy.Cassandra snarled, emerald-green eyes shining. You will burn away. " Even yours, all flames die."Not this one; I burned hotter, fire ablaze with great intensity. "This fire never dies."The battleground flared hotter, shadows winding down deeper as co
And I realized as fire burnt brighter shadows twisted deeper and doom closed in that it was.Rising implied going against fate itself."Time is running out."The voice of the Goddess bellowed, ancient and relentless, piercing the cursed air like fate's last sentence across the burning heavens.Heart hammering with furious determination, I closed my fists and fired blazingly at my fingers.Amber eyes blazing, claws contracted, body taut, ready to protect to the very last, Dax walked next to me. Let us then wrap up this.Sebastian's sword shone, engraved letters brilliant, icy-blue eye fixated on the black horizon. We were born for this time.I raised my chin, flames blazingly visible. We write our destiny—that of death attempting.The earth shook, black markings lighting, splintering the cursed territory, power shooting fiercely.Sebastian cursed, knife poised, eyes alert, the seal cracking. "We have running time running short."A brilliant flash shot suddenly, whirling darkness and fi
The earth burst suddenly, black tentacles dragging upward bound beasts in twisted chains."Get free! “I yelled, fire raging, searing over the horrible bond keeping us back.Fire blazing hotter drove the evil powers to withdraw temporarily as flames collided with shadows.A deep, threatening growl tore through the shattered quiet.From the shadows came the Alpha Slayer Veyra, scarred, twisted, and ruthless one we most dreaded."Did you believe you could flee me? “Her voice was icy, piercing as steel, emerald-green eyes ablaze with terrible wrath.Dax bared his teeth, amber eyes fixed on her, poised for killing or dying attempting.As Veyra attacked, claws opened, teeth bared, the earth shook and splinters tore underfoot.Sebastian pounced, sword shining, deadly precisely intercepting her initial stroke.I started, fire blazing ferociously searing over the terrible bonds keeping the group together."This finishes right now."Dax screamed, claws fighting hers, their powers meeting in a le
You believe you could substitute him? “Emerging twisted and victorious, Cassandra had emerald-green eyes blazing. "Your future belongs to me... and so does the past."Cassandra's voice soared, icy and lethal, darkness surged, power erupting, splintering the ruins." Legs aren't earned; they're taken."And I realized as fire blazed brighter shadows twisted deeper and destiny tightened its grip.Everything's heritage came from the Alpha."If rescuing you results in losing everything... therefore so be it.Her voice shook, strong yet broken, full of rebellious love. Tall and damaged but relentless, my mother stood with fire in her eyes.Not at all. You are incapable of doing this. Heart pumping with desperation, I rushed forth, fire flashing brightly at my fingers.Dax's claws flexed, amber eyes blazing, body stiff, ready to attack. "We will find another route."Sebastian cursed, sword shining, engraved images blazing with lethal intent. We are pressed for time. It is hers. She made the
The room shook, black letters shining, old magic churning under the consecrated earth.Elder Lyara growled, emerald-green eyes icy, too far gone. "Your disobedience calls for everything to be threatened."It's your lies that threaten us." I raised my chin, fire burning hotter. "We still stand even with you."The air thickened suddenly, power flickering wrapping us in black tentacles."You were never the saviour," Malric's voice twisted, old and brutal. You were the weapon created for our fight.Memories exploded—lost relationships, bloodstained pacts, a destiny locked in shadows."You... used us." My voice quipped, anger scorching the binding pull of the cursed brand.Dax screamed, breaking free, dashing across the black confines, amber glance ablaze with wrath.Sebastian cursed, sword blazing, slashing over the cursed symbols, you deceived us all.Lyara snarled, black magic flickering, emerald-green glance shining with success always planned to end this way.Flames burst out, fire an
"Watch me," my voice screamed strong and relentless. I was intended to rise, not to be rescued.Silver-crimson flames burst, reversing the cursed runes and driving the shadows back.Cassandra sneered, power wavering but lethal, simply postponing the inevitable. "This isn't over."Dax rushed, amber eyes sharp, making a last, terrible attack.Sebastian followed, breaching the remaining defenses with deadly accuracy using blade cutting.The cursed heavens broke, the battleground burnt brighter, shadows splintered, fire and destiny collided.The voice of the Goddess became chilly and victorious."You have risen but you are still bound."And I realized—as fire blazed hotter—power surged, and destiny spun down more deeply.Ascending was only the start.You believe I have no idea what you have done?''Sebastian's voice was harsh, icy-blue, his sword still discolored from the previous fight.Dax moved between us, amber eyes blazing, claws extending with protective might. "Be back off, Sebasti
Dax advanced, amber eyes sharp, claws flexing, protective and uncompromising. "She is more than her blood."I tightened my hands, flames flickering, heart thumping with stubborn will. "I choose who I become."The cursed mark blazed hotter, fire exploding as shadows twisted in the distance, offering only disaster.The wolves gathered, battle-weary but fiercely loyal, scarred features revealing past enmity."Why ought we to obey her? The voice of a renegade snapped, damaged features twisted with uncertainty. She is cursed, marked by destiny.Scarred but determined Ronan moved ahead. "We follow because she fights for us."Tension boiled, trust brittle, fate weighing on every one of us.The ground shook suddenly, black symbols blazing to fracture the wretched planet underneath.Shadows twisted to create lethal forms; claws gleamed; fangs bared."They have discovered us!"Dax screamed, claws ablaze, rage burning. " defensive line—now!"''Sebastian pulled his sword, engraved in brilliant, ic
The morning blazed more brilliantly, fire and light bursting over the terrible heavens for the first time.Sebastian sheathed his sword, icy-blue stare constant. "We have a chance if we fight clever."Dax came forward, amber eyes fixed on me, sharp and protective. "We are not stopping right now.""No." My voice rang firm and clean. "We get up."The earth shook suddenly, black magic igniting splinters underneath.The cursed heavens darkened, a faint, lethal hum pulsing across the atmosphere.Sebastian's voice became sharp, knife ready. "We still have work ahead of us."And I realized as fire blazed hotter hope sprung to life and destiny spun closer.The daybreak was a fresh fight just about to start, not a cure-all solution."You should face your actual nature now."The voice of the Goddess rang, cold and relentless, over the emptiness of fire and darkness.Heart pumping with fear and rebellion, I stumbled back and felt fire flickering faintly at my fingers.Dax rushed forward, amber e
I pushed forth, heart thumping with clear intent, flames flickering weakly at my fingers. "They are depending on us."Scarred but driven, the surviving wolves roused, hope blazing across their tired features.The pack gathered, wounds gushing, but fire still blazing in their souls.Ronan emerged with stern, scarred fists tightly closed and a harsh voice. We have lost much too much.But not everything, Dax snarled, amber eyes sharp, guarding me fiercely. Still, we still have each other.Sebastian's voice sharpened, strategic yet tense: "The pack cannot survive another attack." "We need a stronghold right now."I moved ahead, flames lighting more brilliantly. "then we locate one."Hope burned even though it was flickering, a little flame surrounded by gloom.The wolves stirred, distrust still there, previous betrayals acute as old wounds resurfaced.You expect us to follow her?The voice of a renegade broke, a scarred face contorted with uncertainty. "She has cursed."Dax opened his teet