Chapter 94: Time to go for the main dish
Silence fell over the battlefield as the orc crumpled to the ground, defeated. The Knight stood panting, adrenaline coursing through his veins, while the mage lowered his hands, the remnants of magic fading into the air. They exchanged a look of triumph, the bond forged in battle stronger than ever.
"Together, we are unstoppable," the Knight said, a grin spreading across his face.
The mage nodded, a smile breaking through his usual composure. "Let’s keep moving. We have more to face."
The Knight then offered him a bottle of water. The mage hesitated for a moment, sensing something amiss, but thirst overcame his caution, and he took a swig. As the liquid slid down his throat, he felt an unsettling warmth spreading through his body, an echo of dread whispering in the back of his mind.
Suddenly, realization struck him like a bolt of lightning—he was being poisoned. Panic surged through him as he spat the remaining water from his mouth, but it was too late; the poison had already begun its dark work, coursing through his veins and sapping his strength.
"Why?" he gasped, turning to the Knight, the man who had fought by his side, now transformed into a stranger.
The Knight chuckled, a wild glint of madness flickering in his eyes. "Nothing personal. You just have to die."
The betrayal struck like a dagger to the heart. Rage and despair battled within the mage as he felt himself weakening, the world around him beginning to blur. With death looming near, he decided to risk everything—perhaps he could take down the traitor with him, though the thought felt increasingly unlikely.
Summoning his fading strength, he raised his wand, determination igniting within him despite the haze clouding his mind. He began conjuring spells connected to his law, weaving the arcane energy with a fervor fueled by desperation. Bolts of energy shot forth, crackling with power as they sought their target.