The piercing cry of the great bird echoed in all directions, shaking the air like divine thunder.
Its body stiffened under the searing pain lacerating its soul, and it began to plummet.
Without wasting a moment, the Crimson Terror seized its weakness—the burning sun above flared with ferocious intensity, unleashing a storm of light.
The sky cracked open, and from its fractures, hundreds of solar rays rained down like spears of pure fire, each one aimed at the Winged Terror's soul.
In the distance, gleaming figures streaked across the sky like swift lightning bolts. Before the blinding radiance could consume the great bird, twelve radiant silhouettes burst onto the battlefield. Their bodies interposed themselves between the sun and their master.
The solar rays struck their souls directly. One by one, the flickering lights shattered like fragile glass bubbles, and their lifeless bodies plummeted, turning to ash before touching the ground.
But their sacrifice was not in vain. In the brief respite granted by his subordinates, the Winged Terror flapped its four colossal wings, dispelling the pain that still consumed it. Its body flickered, its glow intensified, and with a powerful beat of its wings, it ascended once more into the sky.
Around it, dozens of new luminous figures appeared, spiraling in formation as the Crimson Terror's attacks tore through the air just inches away.
The brilliance of the figures began to fade. One by one, their lights were extinguished, their bodies descending like dead leaves in a merciless wind.
And when the last of them lost its glow, the Winged Terror became blinding. Its light rose like a newborn sun. With its wings beating furiously, it surged forward at full speed toward the towering structure where the crimson star floated high above.
...
—Neph, we're close. The gateway must be up there… No, it has to be up there.
The path where the one hundred and thirty Dreamers ran grew narrower as they ascended the crimson coral. The tension in the air was almost palpable.
Beside him, Nephis responded in a serene voice, calming Sunny's racing heart.
—I know. If it's not there… these people will die. And I won't let that happen.
Nephis squeezed Cassia's soft hand slightly tighter, the girl remaining silent as she struggled to keep pace with her two friends.
Far ahead of them, Shadow Gloomy finally reached the summit. In that instant, Sunny's breath caught.
Surrounded by carved walls, worn and crumbling, a massive arch stood against one of the stone surfaces. Within its ancient rune-covered frame, a pure and dazzling light awaited.
Sunny swallowed hard and shouted with all his might:
—We found it! The portal is right up here!
—Nephis, just a little more… We're finally getting out of this hell.
Behind them, the cheers of the Dreamers rang out in jubilation, rising above the deafening roar of battle outside the tower.
Beside him, fire burned deep within Nephis's eyes as they quickened their pace.
The blind Seer remained silent, Silent Dancer in her right hand, guiding her alongside Nephis through the turbulent ascent.
Just a little more.
Just a few more meters.
Just one more minute, and their long-awaited wish would come true.
For years, the towering crimson fortress had remained immovable, invincible, terrifyingly tyrannical. Over time, their hopes of escaping that cursed land had faded.
But now, at last, a glimmer of hope illuminated their path—a beacon in the darkness promising salvation.
Sunny, Nephis, and Cassia, leading the charge, took one final leap and landed on the stone platform.
Shadow Gloomy returned to Sunny's feet as, one by one, the Dreamers followed their example, crossing the gap in a final desperate effort.
Then, they all froze.
Their eyes shimmered with the light of hope, reflecting the twisted beauty of the portal.
—What are you staring at, idiots? Hurry up and get in! —Sunny roared, snapping them out of their daze.
The army of Dreamers reacted instantly.
—The wounded go first! —Nephis commanded, her voice firm and encouraging—. Help them across, one by one. We're almost home.
---
The Dreamers rushed to carry the injured toward the portal. From the rear and the center, they lifted the fallen—exhausted, bleeding, unconscious. Their friends clung to them desperately, guiding them toward the radiant light and watching them vanish into its glow.
One after another, their battered bodies disappeared, finally escaping the crimson nightmare.
The air vibrated with the tension of urgency. Just a little more. Just a few more minutes, and they would all be safe.
When the last of the wounded crossed the threshold, the first uninjured Dreamer stepped forward on trembling legs. His limbs felt heavy, his breath was erratic, sweat slid down his skin. With a flicker of relief in his eyes, he lifted his foot, preparing to step through.
And then, the world exploded.
A colossal roar tore through the air.
...
At the top of the Crimson Tower, the Radiance reached its prey.
Its golden form erupted in a burst of searing light, unleashing all the accumulated energy within. The incandescent radiation obliterated the tower's topmost floor, reducing the Crimson Terror to dust in an instant.
But that victory brought forth an even greater catastrophe.
Above the summit, the artificial sun of the Forgotten Shore bore the brunt of the explosion. For centuries, it had remained there, burning with an undying brilliance, but now… it collapsed upon itself.
A blinding flash tore through the sky, and a wave of pure power exploded from its core. It was neither fire nor ordinary energy. It was a tide of destruction that assailed the soul itself.
The agonized cries of countless Nightmare Creatures filled the air as their very existence was mercilessly erased. The entire Forgotten Shore trembled. The Radiance was caught in the blast, its immense body violently shaken.
And then, the tower groaned.
Fractures spread across the crimson structure like cracks in shattered glass. And with one final moan of agony, the upper half of the tower was torn apart and plunged into the abyss.
The thunderous collapse echoed for miles. Tons of debris rained down upon the battlefield, burying the corpses of Nightmare Creatures beneath an ocean of shattered coral.
The light died with the fall of the sun.
For the first time in countless years, the Forgotten Shore was engulfed in absolute darkness.
And in that suffocating blackness, the survivors felt the lower half of the tower begin to crumble beneath their feet.
---
Note: Sorry for the wait! This was one of the chapters I tried to write with the best quality I could achieve. I don't know if it turned out well, but I liked it.
I'll bring the next one in a few days. With nothing more to say, goodbye.