Madelyn stood with her sword in hand, quite a distance away from me and the demon about to end my life. Yet, a horrid chill ran up my spine as I looked at her.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAwdhWZjfUW5
A pale purple aura, thick like fog, surrounded her. Her head was slightly lowered as she held her sword up to her face.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAwHwnljSMPT
56Please respect copyright.PENANAqgbuypkCfq
I couldn't take my eyes off her, which was usually a good thing. But for the first time, I wanted to turn away, fearing immediate death if I did.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAX95vMt7vTc
56Please respect copyright.PENANAZe5dr4VvIf
"So, you have finally returned," Zoganoth said, raising his arm. His fingers pointed towards my chest. "Good, very good," he nodded with approval. "But if you don't mind, I will finish off the boy!" Zoganoth yelled, lowering his extended hand towards my chest at quick speed.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAgtDcLpWM7C
I closed my eyes, ready for the immense pain, but within seconds, I was thrown to the ground and felt dizzy.
56Please respect copyright.PENANATylMuX17al
Opening my eyes, I realized I was no longer in Zoganoth's grasp. Instead, I was on the ground with Madelyn standing right next to me.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAPw7dGEZTdf
"Are you okay?" Madelyn asked with a low voice, her blade never lowering, focused on Zoganoth.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAyD32hcjJ0J
56Please respect copyright.PENANAs8gNbh3XrS
"Uh, yeah, I'm good," I said, slowly rising from the ground. But as I began to rise, I suddenly stopped. All the strength I had began to disappear from my body.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAXfk38FxQL7
My body shook as if extremely cold. I understood why. Madelyn's presence felt massive and domineering, making it hard to breathe. Her purple aura burned the air, almost making me pass out just from looking at it. Her once azure blue eyes were now black and emotionless.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAcoK8eJSc0Q
All of this made me wonder if I was really looking at the Madelyn I once knew. Did she even care for my well-being? It made me realize that in all this demonic chaos, I knew nothing. At this moment, I felt like a small speck to this strange power, a speck easily blown away.
56Please respect copyright.PENANADfyX3g0bEb
"You did well," she said with a small smile as she turned to face me fully, revealing her face hidden by her hair.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAcbC0VUNQOo
What I saw was a stillness that reminded me of a lifeless corpse. Even her skin had an unhealthy shade of white, as if her blood had dried up.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAtgD7dWaOt3
"Now, please stand back," she said, redirecting her attention to her true target.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1IDicCkvf
I looked straight at Zoganoth, hoping he would start laughing and boasting about how great he was and how weak we were. I mean, yeah, it was annoying as hell, but that annoyance beat the fear I was feeling right now.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAubOMiplh2c
To my surprise, I was met with no such luck. Instead, I saw a soul-crushing fear etched on Zoganoth's face as he looked at Madelyn as if she were the greatest horror in the world.
56Please respect copyright.PENANADMT0i6HeLr
"This... This can't be..." he said. "Y-you can't be at that level."
56Please respect copyright.PENANAJQBtIy4Vaf
"You don't think so, huh?" Madelyn asked, extending her sword forward. "Well, then how about I show you?" Her smile grew wider. "Aiftah... Altariqa," Madelyn said, her voice deep and echoing. "Pale rider that reveals the way, hear my cry..."
56Please respect copyright.PENANAs43Dq5wxU0
I screamed as Madelyn's already dense dark aura exploded with power, becoming stronger and shaking the ground beneath my feet.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAMJPI9u9v9j
I could barely look ahead as the wind and dust blew in my face, but even I could see how the space around Madelyn began to twist and turn as if it were fluid.
56Please respect copyright.PENANA2QCSkrfpQr
"Bathym, Mathim, Marthim by three I call, by three I open the door," Madelyn continued. "Duke of Travelers, Seeker of the Unseen, dwell within this vessel and with unattainable winds cut through the Dimensions!" She yelled out, her blade glowing brightly as she did so.
56Please respect copyright.PENANA7ucEr2W51C
"Come forth, Hoshizora no ha!"
56Please respect copyright.PENANArWznMenObS
56Please respect copyright.PENANAaRDPfHCKjy
I was almost blown back as a wave of power pushed against me. I was forced to cover my eyes as a white light blinded me.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAGHz7bWtfkK
56Please respect copyright.PENANA1rLpFhvtr3
Soon, that light disappeared, and as I opened my eyes, I was met with something I never thought I would see: a black blade covered in shining stars, as if I was looking at the night sky.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAaZmfZeuWEH
Madelyn stood in the middle of such wild energy, holding her transformed blade with both hands. Sweat fell from her forehead as she smiled while breathing hard.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAOBqwkn5jwo
"No," Zoganoth said as the purple poison surrounded him. "This can't be happening!" He yelled.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAChlcLsGnEc
Madelyn slightly lowered her sword. Her hand trembled as she struggled to maintain her grip.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAIYnoi5XHJA
It was evident that whatever she had just unleashed had taken a toll on her. She looked on the verge of collapsing, and I silently prayed she wouldn't. I doubted I could catch her, given the swirling aura surrounding her. Even if I could ignore that, the twisted space around her seemed like it could twist me out of existence if I got too close.
56Please respect copyright.PENANApOBwpSaSwY
With determination, Madelyn raised her sword again, holding it with pride, her black eyes fixed on Zoganoth. "This... this is the highest level a pillar can achieve," she managed between breaths. "This is my blade. This is my Hoshizora no ha."
56Please respect copyright.PENANAtAbdcOHx72
Zoganoth chuckled. "Blade of the starry sky," he translated.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAvKv2HvE7RE
56Please respect copyright.PENANA556NYOHFPZ
I nodded my thanks silently, understanding now.
56Please respect copyright.PENANA0Mf2MKLGM5
"Impressive," Zoganoth admitted. "Truly impressive. Your power is so overwhelming, it almost feels like I'm facing an actual Duke of demons. But it's too bad... your power, even at its peak, is still incomplete."
56Please respect copyright.PENANAvNxU63Xx4I
My heart sank as I realized Zoganoth could see the same weakness I could.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAHjcGpMiApc
"You won't last much longer, will you, child?" he taunted.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAp3ZL0bPHvk
Madelyn gritted her teeth, visibly angered by his words. "That's fine," she declared, raising her
blade once more. "Because all I need is one attack to end this."
56Please respect copyright.PENANAbwf6Yr1zUZ
"One attack, you say?" Zoganoth's smile widened. "Then prove it!"
56Please respect copyright.PENANAPF6Vf99pwn
As Zoganoth's voice echoed, the poisonous waters surrounding him started to converge, swirling faster and faster. Panic surged through me as the ground trembled violently, causing nearby houses to sway and collapse.
56Please respect copyright.PENANAaRjgHa3LoE
I shook my head, not liking what was happening. "Oh, great. Now what?"
ns 172.70.179.70da2