Chapter 33: The True Potential of the Runes
The silence that followed the Guardian's mockery was more terrifying than any roar. The word little brother had echoed in everyone's ears, halting any attempt to fight.
Elias remained frozen before the empty coffin, his knees sunk into the ground. He breathed as if air were missing. He had broken the chains, but it hadn't ended the way he thought it would. The fight continued, his sister… she was the creature. What was he supposed to do now? He didn't have the strength to fight, and even if he did, he could never attack her.
"Don't attack Isolda!"
Looking at John and Damian—the ones he had spent the most time with during his stay in the refuge—he begged that sense of camaraderie to have pity on his sister.
Elias slowly stood. His legs were like two blocks of tofu, fragile and unsteady. He barely managed to stand, and that was the limit of his strength. He felt that if he took one more step, he would collapse unconscious."Please… I'll try to calm her. It's me she's after."
The creature—Isolda, or what was left of her—stirred within the smoke. Her face was twisted by the hatred lodged in her heart; there was sadness, pain, hate, but Elias could glimpse those eyes that once had looked at him with tenderness.
Richard shook his head. He raised his weapons, ready to attack."That's your sister? Elias, look at her. That thing has no intention of letting you live. There's no need to throw away your life in front of a demon that's just using your sister's mask to confuse you."
Elias refused to listen."Shut up!" His shout was so dry it bounced off the walls. The sound of his own voice surprised him, for he barely had any air left in his lungs. "She's still there… I know it."
John pressed his lips together, sweat sliding down his forehead."And what do you plan to do? Hug her until she stops tearing bodies apart? This isn't a game, Elias, don't be an idiot."
The creature took a step forward. Each movement made the ground tremble, as if it were about to collapse under her weight. The amputated arms scattered across the floor slowly crawled toward her, as if pulled by magnets, repairing all the damage she might have suffered throughout the fight.
Elias took a step forward. It hurt. Every muscle screamed to stop, but his gaze did not waver from the figure that had once been his sister."Isolda… it's me. Elias. Do you hear me?"
For a moment, Isolda froze. The black smoke flickered around her silhouette, as if hesitating in her next action. Her eyes calmed for the briefest of instants.
Damian, who until then had remained silent, spoke with a touch of hope."I think… she recognized him."
Richard shook his head."I doubt such a miracle will come true…"
Elias ignored everyone. He took another step, staggering, like a drunk on the verge of collapse. Blood ran down his leg, dripping in thick drops that mixed with the remains on the floor."I failed you once, Isolda… I couldn't protect you. And now… now I won't run."
The creature let out a guttural moan, a lament that seemed to come from a thousand throats, putting John on edge, who tightened his grip on the weapon, his fingers white from straining."Elias, if you take another step… there'll be no turning back."
But he didn't stop.
Isolda's figure advanced to meet him. The black smoke swirled like a storm, ripping chunks from the walls, slashing at the others like invisible blades. Richard raised his weapon, but John stopped him with a hand.
His stance was clear. He would trust his friend."It's his decision. If they kill him… it'll be his fault, not ours."
Elias raised his trembling hands, almost without strength. His heart tore apart."Isolda… you don't have to suffer anymore. Come back with me."
The monster bent down, and the smoke closed over them both like an improvised coffin. For a second no one could see what was happening inside that haze, only the wet sound of flesh tearing… and a muffled scream that froze everyone's blood.
When the fog dissipated, the scene struck them like a hammer blow.
In the center of the hall, Elias fell to his knees. His body swayed with the last drop of vitality left, and blood poured in torrents from the stumps where his arms had once been, staining the ground with a thick, hot pool. His lips barely moved, murmuring a "sorry" that hardly made it out.
Isolda held him for a moment, her hands clutching Elias's small, agonizing figure with amusement.
John felt a shiver run down his spine."He… she's holding him?"
Richard denied it, enraged, his fists red with impotent fury."That idiot… he let himself be dragged by his feelings."
He turned his gaze away. He couldn't bear to watch Elias's body being manipulated like a mere toy without importance.
* * * *
With a harsh gesture, the creature released him. The lifeless body collapsed like a sack of flesh, thudding against the wooden floor. And, with an unnatural movement, the creature arched its back and let out a scream of joy."Damn beast!" John roared in turn, launching himself in fury.
His body suddenly ignited, as if a volcano had awakened inside him. The veins in his arms lit up red, and the temperature in the room skyrocketed in a second. The very smoke seemed to resist, wavering as if trying to smother the flames, but was consumed as fuel instead.
The creature stopped for an instant, tilting its head. It growled as it felt the first caress of that heat. Its body had begun to cook just by being near John's fire. Everything was unfolding differently from the previous attacks it had made. Now it felt that it might truly die.
[Name: John][Age: 25 years]
[Talent: Flame of Judgment][Rank: A]
[Infection Level: Threshold of Humanity][Rank: Limit]
Richard took a step back, surprised by the intensity."The hidden trait of his talent… has awakened. Who would've thought we'd need Elias's death to awaken the Flame of Judgment."
The Guardian answered with a roar. Its tentacles shot out from blind angles, trying to pierce John. The threat he posed was so great that it even forgot about the others."John, distract it a little longer! I have a plan!" Richard shouted.
He turned to Damian, who was barely catching his breath."Help me reach Elias's body. I can't go alone."
John responded between gasps, the sweat evaporating from his burning skin."I hope your plan doesn't take long!"
He had never used his flames with such intensity. His body was already on the verge of collapse.
Richard nodded."Just keep it away a little longer!"
As soon as the creature moved far enough, he and Damian ran toward the corpse. Richard leaned down, touching Elias's forehead, feeling the cold of his skin transmitting the last of his memories.
[Talent: Hemocontrol] [Rank: F+]
[Hemocontrol: A degraded talent, limited to light control of blood. It does not accelerate healing nor create durable weapons]
Richard did not falter at the message."Rest in peace… I will make sure to accomplish what you couldn't, as gratitude."
The blood began to slide across his entire body. Unlike Elias, it was nothing remarkable in rank or power, but there was a trick in the talent that could allow him to increase all his abilities to astonishing levels.
Blood control had been the best talent for a practitioner without skill in runes like him. Richard couldn't create runes in the air as true masters would, but that could be replaced with Elias's fallen talent.
The blood spread across the ground, quickly forming different runic symbols without issue.
Richard smiled with joy."This fits me perfectly…"
He turned toward Damian, who kept his guard up."It's time to help John…"
Richard's statement startled Damian."What? You're already done?" Damian asked, incredulous, watching as Richard was already rushing back into the center of the battle.
The amount of energy required to form the runes and maintain control of the blood was still far greater than anyone would have imagined. However, Richard began to trace fifteen symbols in seconds, with a speed that contrasted brutally with the titanic effort it had cost him just moments earlier to create only four to restrain the creature.
"I can't go on anymore… I leave it to you guys," John murmured, collapsing onto the floor.
His body fell heavily, but Richard noticed that his breathing remained steady. He wasn't dead."Take him and keep him safe," Richard ordered, without taking his eyes off the enemy.
Damian tried to protest."I'll be fine…"
The creature remained motionless, roaring into the air like a trapped animal, no longer posing an immediate threat. Taking advantage of that respite, Damian carried John and retreated.
The creature's limbs began to burn in flames as the fire runes activated. The heat crackled in the air, consuming even the dark mist that still lingered. Richard had noticed it earlier: that monster was vulnerable to fire. He couldn't let the opportunity slip by, even if it meant sinking Elias's sister further into a torment of pain.
"I hope you won't blame me for this, Elias…"