Chapter 78: Aftermath of the Crimson Pact
The skies above the ruined Obsidian Conclave turned a furious crimson, churning with mana storms as reality trembled under the pressure of unleashed power. The battle had ended, but the world would never be the same.
Valerian stood atop the shattered spire, cloaked in blood and arcane residue. His left gauntlet, once silver, now pulsed with molten red glyphs—runic burns left by the spell he should never have cast. The Forbidden Manifestation of Primordial Wrath. Each glyph told a story of sacrificed souls, of power stolen from the very fabric of existence.
Umbra coiled around him in an almost protective aura, whispering in low tongues only he could hear. The shadow entity had grown stronger, more corporeal since the ritual. Its whispers carried the weight of ancient prophecies and forgotten truths.
"The Seal is weakening," the Wraith King’s voice echoed in his mind, each word dripping with malevolent satisfaction. "You’ve crossed the point of no return, heir of ruin. The gods themselves will mark you for what you’ve done."
Kael, breathing heavily, knelt beside the crumpled form of a wounded Selene. Her right shoulder had been pierced by a cursed bolt—one of the Archduke’s final desperate attacks. She had pushed herself too far shielding Valerian during his ritual, her protective barriers shattering under the strain of containing forces that should have destroyed them all.
"Hold on, Selene. Just a little more," Kael muttered, his voice cracking with exhaustion and worry.
She gave a weak smile, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. "Still... not enough... to protect him from himself."
A tear rolled down Kael’s cheek. He had seen too much death, too much sacrifice. The boy who had once dreamed of heroic adventures was gone, replaced by a man who understood the true cost of power.
Seraphina arrived moments later, her fiery wings fading as she knelt beside Selene, healing magic radiating from her palms in waves of golden light. The divine energy met the cursed wound and hissed like water on hot metal.
"Don’t you dare die now, Selene," she said through clenched teeth, sweat beading on her forehead as she poured more power into the healing. "We’re not finished arguing about your reckless protective instincts."
Valerian turned to them but said nothing. He could feel the eyes of thousands beyond the mountains. The capital was watching. The continent had awakened to the birth of something new and terrible. His transformation was complete, but the price... the price was still being calculated.
Behind him, Lira Veylin appeared, armor cracked, face bruised but still composed. She held up a bloodied scroll, its parchment glowing with residual magic.