Chapter 738: Villie’s Magic
The cavern was the same as the maze, with shadowy walls and an endless void for the floor and ceiling. It was massive, easily a half-mile across, and filled with curse demons of all shapes and sizes. Evla sat huddled in the middle, hands pushed over her head, maintaining a purple hemispheric barrier.
Demons thronged around her, pressing in from all sides. Most through curses or elemental spells at her, while a few wielded shadowy swords and spears. One, a colossal fifty-foot-tall dragon creature, attacked with scythe-like claws longer than I was tall.
Evla’s barrier thrummed with every attack, releasing pulses of mana that repelled the attacks like magnets with their poles misaligned. It didn’t seem effective against the curses, rapidly losing strength as they sapped at its runic formation.
A ripple passed through the swarming demons as we appeared. The draconic curse demon drew into the air, wheeling about to face us. Dozens of scions and humanoid evolved demons followed in its wake, assessing us with smoldering red eyes.
"Xiviyah, there are too many of them. Protect your soul!" R’lissea cried, beginning the spell to summon her Life Dragon.
Her words shocked me into action. I released my hold on Adaptive Resistance, letting it flow back over my soul. I took a short, relieved breath as the curse’s tendrils burned out my soul. I’d lost almost a third of my mana and perhaps half of my physical strength to them.
"Come to me!" I cried.
My staff exploded with light. Golden mist flowed out of my soul, pushing back against the curses and swallowing half the room. The demons hissed and recoiled from the foreign power, losing some of their strength as the curses receded.
A glowing figure took shape amongst the stars, a young, childlike remnant with hair that flowed as if tugged by the breeze. She wore a revealing dress made of flowers and leaves, her hair tucked behind her pointed elven ears.
The remnant opened her eyes, blinking as she looked around the room. Her gaze fell on Fable, and she brightened. She threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and ruffling his fur.
"Why didn’t you come visit me? It’s been so long!" she cried.