Chapter 37: Wrath

Chapter 37: Wrath The world hummed with unbearable heat, filling the air with the sounds of leaves cracking and snapping like popcorn. Peter’s horrifying scream washed over them. Lucen grabbed his throat, rasping as the air grew thinner and burnt his throat as it went down. Aya ripped off a piece of her armour, her gloved fingers steaming upon touching the shining metal. And whatever was happening to Cross was worse than burnt skin. The war between the different mana in Peter’s body looked unimaginably painful. The golden swirl of Divine mana, the slithering silver of Life mana, and the blackish-red mana that Lucen did not know. [Wrath mana. He has consulted the forbidden one. That flame will take whoever it touches to the grave with him.] Lucen would have turned pale if his skin weren’t red as a tomato. He tried to pick up his spear, but it burnt his skin. Does life mean nothing to these people? There had a solution that didn’t depend on death. But that hatred, that pain, drove Peter forward despite everything. The insanity, suffering, and despair were worth it for some ephemeral ideal. He grasped his spear tightly as it burnt into his fingers, rushing towards the burning corpse. Decapitate him, that has to be the only way. He only got there halfway. The air turned acidic, forcing Lucen to his knees as pain shattered his mind. He lost control of his fingers, and his eyes rolled back. A hundred red-hot needles pierced his eyes and dug into his skull, his skin was ripped off little by little. The phantom pain was indescribable. He fell over, eyes drifting towards Aya and Liam. Her eyes were half glazed over, and she spasmed occasionally. Liam was silent and still. Lucen forced a scream from his throat. "Cross! Stop!" he begged, "You’re killing innocent people! If you want to kill me, just..." His voice tapered off as his throat seized. Peter’s scream was fading, but its terror and anguish still spread over the forest. The black corpse rose too slowly and dragged its feet and the golden spear towards Lucen. Lucen forced himself to crawl away, eyes fixed on Aya. She muttered something to him, lips moving soundlessly. He knew immediately. The Crown of Stars—she could share it with him again using the Blessing of Two. But she would glimpse his memories, revealing secrets he’d rather stay hidden. [I have a short suggestion. At this moment, you should be able to use some of the Hunger mana available to you. If you stab Peter Cross in the heart with your weapon infused with Hunger mana.] [The Hunger mana will steal the Life magic that heals Peter, and it will heal you.] Sensing Hunger mana was one thing, but he couldn’t use it without a channelling technique. And he could barely think through the agonising pain. [Then use the Crown of Stars. Are you afraid that Aya will see how pathetic you once were? Is her worship that important to your fragile ego? Or is it because the Blessing of Two is for lovers? Hmmmm, don’t die, please. I don’t feel like dying.] The world hummed from the heat. He couldn’t tell if the noise was real or the sound of his mind tearing. His eyes found Liam’s empty eyes and saw his chest rise slightly with a heavy breath. He reached Aya and grabbed her hand. Her teal eyes regained some of their light, meeting the golden light of his. "I’m here." A burst of silver light exploded over them. Two crowns hung over their heads like haloes, and the rush of his mana surged. The Crown repelled whatever curse Peter was using. Aya raised her hand, and the wind swirled around them in a circle to allow them breathe. Then showers of green sparks fell over them, healing their wounds. "Didn’t know you could use wind spells?" Lucen coughed, rising to his feet as the pain was suppressed. "I’ve never been able to master them," she explained, "With the Crown, any runes I’ve seen before answer to my call." Peter shuffled towards them slowly, mumbling something under his breath. He was on his last leg. "This won’t take long," Lucen mumbled, stepping out of the circle. His lungs tightened again as the air became thin and scorching hot. Aya watched his retreating form with a light of satisfaction. His armour was scorched and torn, his clothes under it were caked in blood and dirt, and his blonde hair whipped upwards with the wind. It was the final dance between hero and villain. Luen tightened his fingers around the silver spear. It had an ability, one he used in his fight against Korgath. It had responded to his resolve and hunger for revenge. [I am your channelling technique for Hunger mana. At a level far beyond whatever you could get from humans. Barth’s treasured spear is the final key; your Dominance is fluctuating, and you can raise it. The Crown focused his mana sense, and he could feel the Devourer system like a tunnel in his soul. A bottomless pit. The spear hummed in his fingers. It was waiting for him. To resolve himself to put Peter down like the rabid dog he was. Peter stopped, raising his empty eyes. "We can’t be saved. We must burn and suffer for what we have done. I see it in you, too. Let us atone." Lucen’s dry, cracked lip split into an honest smile. "Even if we suffer from now to the end of time, it won’t cancel out all the shit we’ve done, all the pain we’ve put our loved ones through. The dead can’t forgive, nor can they appreciate our efforts to atone." Peter whimpered. His soft voice and charred body shook. Lucen raised his spear, and it thrummed with anticipation, turning into a radiant white bolt of light. The spear became incorporeal, and his Hunger mana sank into the silver light. He released the spear, and it shot towards Peter. They shared one last look as the spear blasted through his chest and returned to his hand. Lucen felt Peter’s Life mana surge and rushed to preserve his tortured existence. But the Hunger mana stole this healing and washed over Lucen. His skin loosened and his body cooled, while Peter fell to his knees, then to his face. Lucen wanted somewhere in his heart to hear some final words from the man, but death came swiftly, and Peter finally rested.