Chapter 26 - 25. Where Door Opens
Jumping into the chasm might be a bit much, but fortunately, the male researcher was still tied in the vine, so he wasn't completely thrown down into the deep. But it would only take a few seconds for the lashing vines to drop the man into the gaping hole, so Zein moved his body before he could think about it thoroughly.
Most of his magic energy had been infused with the Black Pearl to shatter the Specter's concealment before, so he only had enough to make a few moves. With trained efficiency, the magic energy flowed from his nape to his arm and his legs. In one leap, he grabbed the researcher's collar while swinging his other dagger.
The magic-infused blade sunk into the thick, barbed flesh, and the vines lashed out with a sharp wind that made a screeching sound, sending the male researcher and Zein into the air again.
Zein gritted his teeth amidst the screaming of the researcher and the wailing sound of the monster, and poured his remaining magic energy into the dagger's blade. With all his might, Zein pushed the blade deeper and slashed the vine off. Using his feet to kick on another vine, he used the inertia from the lashing motion to hold onto the researcher and crashed into the fading barrier.
Vaguely, he saw his shadow move and dark, elongated spikes sprout out to stab the remaining vines. But the crash made his eyes blurry and his ears ringing, so he didn't know exactly what happened afterward.
What he heard, instead, was a sneering growl. A sound of concrete tumbling down. Crashing.
What he saw, instead, were red eyes. Bloody road and red sky. Of blazing fire and back ashes.
And a weight. More than the pain on his side where he crashed into the barrier, the weight on his neck and his chest was hurting him more.
Around him, the screeching sounds grew louder and wilder until they suddenly stopped altogether. With the corner of his flickering vision, Zein could see the slumping vines and something like a dark fire burning them to smithereens.
A hasty step approached him, and a strong hand hold his wobbling body. When he looked up, and his vision returned, he saw amber eyes peering at him. A frown, anxiety, lips moving to speak to him urgently.
Zein breathed, slowly, raised his hand, and slapped the man in front of him.