Chapter 531: Into Haven
My movement broke Luke and Jessia from their shock, and they quickly realized my intentions.
"Wait, Xiviyah, get back here!" Luke shouted, his voice laced with alarm.
He lunged towards me, hand outstretched, moving with supernatural speed. But his hesitation had cost him precious seconds, and I had just enough time to slip through the gate, closing my eyes as the golden swirls enveloped me.
I gasped as the gold shifted to black, the cold intensifying as I began the transition between realms. It seemed to drag on forever, the space between heartbeats stretching into an eternity. Strangely, my consciousness expanded, following the trails blazed by Haven’s shadows. I could see half the city at once, all the death, blood, and destruction wrought by my hands.
My focus sharpened on the entrance to Haven, which flickered precariously, threatening to close at any second. Luke and Jessia stood before it, facing each other. From their tense stances, this was clearly not a peaceful discussion.
"Damn it, Luke, you can’t do this! It’s too dangerous!" Jessia cried, reaching out to grab his hand.
He pulled away, his expression grim. "I promised, Jessia," he said, his voice filled with resolve. "Even if what we did was necessary, I can’t help but feel responsible. You know as well as I do that if she goes in there alone, she’s not coming back out. In her condition, she couldn’t withstand one of those monsters, let alone however many guard that demon gate. It’s my fault this happened, and if something happens to her because of that..."
"Since when have you ever cared about taking responsibility for anything, especially when it involves one of the heroes?" Jessia retorted, her eyes narrowed. "I don’t like it any more than you do, but we already have the city. We can get reinforcements now and take the entire continent. Whatever’s happening to Xiviyah... maybe it’s for the best."
For the first time since he’d lost control in my soul space, I saw Luke truly angry. His eyes narrowed, his tail lashed, and his aura flared, suffocating the surrounding area.