Chapter 114: A Battle Beyond Time
Amelia stood in the center of the room, her trembling hands clutching her staff as she struggled to channel a stronger magic that could break the high-tier curses Vorx had placed upon us. Her first attempt, [Holy Light], had failed—it wasn’t enough to dispel the [Cursed of Seal] and [Cursed of Agony] that shackled us. These curses were no ordinary spells; they seeped into our very souls, threatening to shatter both body and will.
"I need more time," Amelia said, her voice heavy with determination. "I’ll prepare something stronger, but you must hold her off until I’m ready. If I fail..." Her voice trailed off, but the gravity of her words hung in the air like a storm cloud.
I turned to Marius, Julius, and Termina, my voice firm. "Protect Amelia at all costs. She’s our only chance to end this."
Just as Amelia began chanting her spell, her voice rang out, sharp and urgent. "Naoki! Listen to me!"
I turned to her, startled, as she shouted over the sounds of battle. "Vorx has absorbed Valg, the dungeon boss we defeated! Be careful—Valg’s power allows her to rewind time in this area when she’s cornered. She’ll return to an uninjured state, but our stamina and magic won’t recover. It’s a battle of attrition—we won’t last if this keeps happening!"
Her words hit me like a hammer. It all made sense now: the exhaustion etched into everyone’s faces, their drained magic reserves, the sheer desperation in their movements. They’d been caught in an endless loop of time, forced to fight Vorx over and over again, only to have their progress erased with every rewind.
I clenched my fists, my mind racing. Envi’s voice echoed in my head, calm yet grim. "Naoki, this fight isn’t just about strength—it’s about endurance. Vorx is playing the long game, waiting for you all to exhaust yourselves. But if you can predict her next move using Valg’s patterns, you might find an opening."
"Then we’ll take her down in one strike," I muttered under my breath, determination burning in my chest.
I rushed to Lyra and Professor Alden, both of whom were visibly drained. Sweat dripped from their brows, and their breaths came in ragged gasps. I handed each of them an MP potion—the last ones we had.
"Drink these," I urged. "We need you both at full strength."
They hesitated. "We can manage," Lyra said, though her shaking hands betrayed her words. Professor Alden shook his head. "Save them for yourself—you’ll need it more than us."