Chapter 502: A Slave and Master
The remnants parted as I approached the cathedral, shying away from its dull, rundown gates and cracked stained-glass windows. I spared them a glance, my tail twitching anxiously. Were they... nervous? Was the remnant inside so terrifying that it scared even others of its kind?
A violent tremor from within jolted me back to the present, reminding me to renew my wards, which Alverin’s cursed sword had shattered. With a thought, a shimmering golden sphere materialized around me, a combination of Blade Ward and Mirror Sphere. It would do little against direct attacks from either of the individuals inside, but it would at least protect me from the shockwaves and repercussions of their clash.
Midway through the corridors leading to the great hall, I stumbled against a wall, gasping for breath. My hand flew to my chest as a searing pain invaded my soul, driving the breath from my body and causing my tail to lash against the cold stone. It was unlike anything I’d felt before, a different yet similarly excruciating fire to when my soul had been torn apart by the removal of the Soul Binder.
The sunpurge had all but taken over my body, every whisper of fabric over my skin sending thrills through my nerves. It was difficult to say, but it seemed as if there was more glowing than unscarred skin. The affliction had even reached my tail and horns, appearing like little cracks and fissures of light against the dark, sensitive ridges.
The sunpurge had spread in ravenous jolts and spurts throughout the battle, surging whenever I expended a large amount of mana or was grievously injured. From the looks of things, I wouldn’t last the day. If I didn’t pass out from pain first, that is.
Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself off the wall and continued staggering forward. I’d long since dropped my staff, the palm of one hand tainted by the sunpurge, the other a mangled mess of flesh and shattered bone, relying on willpower alone to remain standing.
The sounds of battle ahead grew louder, ringing in my ears, causing me to flinch with every clang and shout. Excessive amounts of mana saturated the air, filling the cathedral with a low, reverberating hum that shook my core.
Inside the great hall, Fate loomed over Alverin and the remnant, judging their battle with what I felt was an imperious gaze. The two fought with blinding speed, utilizing seventh-level strength to its fullest. The battle took them all over the room, but strangely enough, none of their attacks, shockwaves, or techniques seemed to cause any real damage. Dust rained from the ceiling, but no cracks in the windows appeared where there weren’t any before.
I watched them fight for a few seconds, my pulse racing and tail curling around my ankle. That caused two spots of sunpurge to touch and flare up, sending a vein of fire up both my tail and leg. I bit my lip, holding back a scream, but both combatants noticed.