Chapter 36 - Between Fire and Loyalty
[ You have successfully slain a Common Lava Hound Lv. 22 ]
Tave drove his sword straight into the monster's eye, feeling the crunch of resistance as the blade sank deep. A half-second later, a flicker of light pulsed before his vision.
[ Target Eliminated. Rift Threat Neutralized. ]
It was over.
The last monster was down.
But Tave could barely breathe.
His chest rose and fell in ragged gasps, his muscles screaming in exhaustion. Every inch of him burned. His body coated in soot, and the scorched pain on his arm screamed louder than his heartbeat. The searing heat from the last blast had left a deep burn on his left forearm, the skin blistered and raw.
His sword felt like it weighed a hundred pounds now. He pulled it free with trembling fingers, and for a moment, even his heart felt too tired to keep beating.
Then he collapsed.
Not unconscious, but drained. He dropped to the ground, letting his legs give out beneath him, leaning back into the scorched earth. His lungs burned. His head spun. But they were alive.
They had survived.