Chapter 313 Debris!

Words : 1257 Updated : Oct 9th, 2025

Beneath the rubble, the darkness was absolute. Dust danced in the stifling air, seeping into even the tightest spaces between the stones. Cassandra, Daniela, and Belatrix huddled together, protected by the dome Strax had erected in the last moments before the explosion. Inside the improvised cocoon, the crimson light of blood magic blended with the icy blue glow, casting a ghostly contrast in the claustrophobic space. Strax knelt at the center, his hands outstretched, veins bulging along his arms as he channeled every ounce of his strength to keep the shield intact. His breaths were short and heavy, but his eyes remained fixed on the dome's ceiling, where the pressure of the debris continued to grow. "Strax..." Cassandra's voice broke the silence, trembling but laced with concern. "You can't hold this forever!" "I can, and I will," Strax growled, the muscles in his neck taut as more energy poured from his body. "None of you are getting hurt." Daniela moved closer, her hands trembling. "Let us help. We can—" "Be quiet," Strax cut her off sharply, his voice full of determination. "This damn castle isn't made of cheap crap. Even we, cultivators at the King Stage, couldn't survive under this... Heavy as hell, fucking castle." Belatrix glanced around, analyzing the barrier's limits. Her critical gaze faltered under the weight of the situation, though her confidence remained intact. "Strax, the barrier is starting to give. No matter how strong you are, the weight of this rubble is increasing every second." Strax took a deep breath, sweat streaming down his face as the blood in his arms flowed almost like liquid, reinforcing the shield's interior walls. He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on an idea. "We wait for your mother," he declared. "I'll use assimilation to strengthen the ice so you can get out of here." He declared and, mentally, called for Ouroboros. "Help me, love," he pleaded. Daniela shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. "And you think we're leaving you here? Not a chance!" "I already told you, I'm getting all of you out," Strax said, his voice low, almost a growl. He knew time was running out. The barrier was beginning to show cracks in the ice, and his body was nearing its limit. Slowly, he raised one hand, sending a wave of ice through the cracks to reinforce the weakest areas. With the other, he used his blood magic to form an extension of the shield, trying to create more space to maneuver. "Now..." he murmured, his eyes shifting color for a few seconds. The air around him grew colder, his power surging. "Black Ice Manipulation," he murmured, and the ice became denser, stronger, and thicker, spreading across the blood layer. Inside the cocoon, the cold became almost unbearable. A shadowy glow began emanating from the surrounding ice, its blue hue giving way to a deep black, as if absorbing the light itself. Strax, now encased in this new manifestation of power, appeared different — more focused, but also charged with an ancient, almost otherworldly energy. Cassandra, Daniela, and Belatrix watched the transformation with both apprehension and fascination. The air was so cold it was difficult to breathe, but none of them retreated. On the contrary, their determination only deepened. "Black Ice..." Cassandra whispered, recognizing the rare and incredibly powerful magic. Strax didn't respond immediately. His eyes, now glowing with a mix of crimson red and dark icy blue, were fixed on the top of the shield. He could feel the weight of the world collapsing on them, but with the additional strength granted by Ouroboros, he knew he could hold it long enough. "Daniela, use your flame to raise the temperature in here a bit. Belatrix is shivering," he finally murmured. "No point in doing all this if she's going to freeze to death." As the black ice spread, it formed denser layers around the blood, creating an almost impenetrable barrier. Daniela summoned a warm flame in her hand to help her sister. Each layer seemed to pulse with living energy, as if the ice itself responded to Strax's will. The pressure from the rubble continued to increase, but the barrier held firm, though at the cost of more energy from his body. Cassandra and Daniela immediately joined her. Cassandra narrowed her eyes, channeling her magical energy to shift the smaller fragments obstructing the exit. "It's not big enough for all of us yet... but I can widen it." Daniela placed her hands on the structure, using her natural strength to assist. "With magic and force together, this should work. Keep reinforcing the barrier, Strax!" Even with the crushing weight above him, Strax glanced at the three of them. A weary smile spread across his face. "Quickly... while I can still hold this." The black ice above began emitting creaking sounds, small cracks appearing on its surface. Strax clenched his teeth, channeling even more energy as his scales pulsed with a cold, otherworldly light. He knew he couldn't maintain it for much longer. Belatrix glanced at him, her stern expression softening for a moment. "Don't you dare collapse now, Strax. We're almost out." "I never collapse," he replied through gritted teeth, a grin of sheer defiance appearing on his face. Through their combined efforts, the three women managed to clear enough debris to create a narrow passage. Cassandra looked at Daniela and Belatrix, assessing the exit. "It's tight, but we can fit through." Belatrix nodded. "I'll go first to make sure it's safe." Without waiting for a response, she slid through the opening with practiced agility. From the other side, she called out, "It's clear! Come on!" Daniela helped Cassandra through, ensuring neither got stuck. Before entering, she turned to Strax, her expression filled with worry. "You have to come too, Strax. Now." He let out a low laugh despite the tension. "I told you I'd get all of you out. Now go! I'll be right behind." Reluctantly, Daniela trusted him and slipped through the opening. Once she was through, Strax focused entirely on the crushing weight above. The black ice was nearing its limit, but now he only needed one final burst of strength. "Time for the grand finale... now that they're out," he muttered to himself, letting the black ice retreat slightly, reforming it into a smaller dome directly around his body. Raising his hand, he created an additional layer of ice to buy himself more time. "Why is this so damn heavy? Even for a cultivator at the KING stage!" he grumbled, frustration clear in his voice. "If you used your dragon form, you'd have obliterated this place easily," came a voice from a small dragon floating beside him, no larger than his palm. It was, of course, Ouroboros. "She's right! Stop acting like a human! You're a dragon!" shouted another voice from his other side. Naturally, it was Tiamat, her tone sharp and impatient. "They're not wrong, but well... it's understandable," chimed in a third tiny dragon, floating in front of him. This was Kallamos, his expression calm but analytical. "You've been cursed," she added, gazing intently at Strax. "A curse?" Strax asked, his tone both incredulous and irritated. "Yes," Kallamos confirmed. "It's a dual curse: Weakness and Mana Drain. That's why your black ice feels so fragile," she explained, her voice matter-of-fact.

Chapter 313 Debris!

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