Chapter 27: Untouchable
On the other side of the battlefield, Nely faced off against Nate in a brutal clash. Both were bloodied, their bodies marked by countless cuts. Nely was at her limit, her green Neba flickering weakly, and her Zeten reserves nearly drained.
Nate, however, seemed relentless. His powerful orange Zeten surged inside him, making his every move dangerous. Whenever his sword made contact with Nely, explosions erupted, sending her flying backward. She winced as the latest blast sent her crashing into a tree, her ribs aching with every breath.
"You're not going to survive this," Nate sneered, his green Neba flaring brighter. He took slow, deliberate steps toward her, his axe glowing with a dangerous light.
Nely forced herself to her feet, ignoring the pain. Her thoughts wandered, even as she raised her sword to defend herself. *Is Dune okay? He's not as strong as the others... Did he survive?* Her heart sank. *What if he just leaves me? Would he abandon me if he thought it was the easier choice? No... he wouldn't, right?*
The image of Dune's determined face flashed in her mind, and she gritted her teeth.
Nate's blade swung toward her again, but Nely dodged to the side. The sword grazed her arm, and another explosion burst from the contact, sending her spinning to the ground. She screamed, clutching her seared arm, but forced herself to stand once more.
"You're still standing? Impressive," Nate mocked, raising his axes again.
Nely tightened her grip on her scythe, her green Neba flickering faintly around it. She felt her strength fading. Her vision blurred, and her breathing grew ragged. But she couldn't give up, not yet.
"I'm going to survive," she whispered, her voice trembling but resolute. Dune's words echoed in her mind, strengthening her resolve.
"I will fight with everything I have... and get my revenge."
Nate raised an eyebrow, sensing the shift in her energy. "So, you've still got fight left in you? Good. I'll enjoy tearing it away."