They stepped through the door. One last chance. One last battle. Anticipation building with every step.83Please respect copyright.PENANAeVN0ts7bjO
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She was so happy—on this adventure with friends. There’s nothing they can’t do. If learning to talk better proved anything... it’s that everything just needs time.
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Yet, despite her mood bursting with joy—the open plains, the final chance at battle... all that greeted her was... grass? Just grass.
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Uh. This was lame….
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"That's it? We're done?" Arlin muttered. "I followed you into this... and there's nothing?"
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She looked over at the team—Coby, Nina, Len—and then back to Arlin.
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She wanted to comfort him—the brave man who'd come this far. She shared his disappointment. After everything he'd done to prove himself... this was his reward?
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She'd tried more than once to catch him... but it seemed he liked playing hard to get.
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Not that she minded. She knew what he'd been through with his mother. She remembered that pain—the pain of loss. At least... his mom lived.
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She was going to tell him everything was okay and he could brood on her shoulder when something caught the corner of her eye.
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...Wait. Is that... a monster over there?
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She tried to get a better look, sure she saw something, and it was indeed a beast.
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It was moving. What was it doing? Waving its hand like it could do something?
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CRACK BOOM
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Everyone flinched at the noise. But not her. She'd seen it, the beast, even earlier. An odd shape in the distance. Now, after the failed spell, it was clearer. What it really was.
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It was big. Even from this far, she could tell. Towering. Hunched. Was it... hurt? Not that she cared whether they came to hunt wounded beasts or not.
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She pulled Flame into herself gently. Just enough to help sharpen her eyes. She'd heard others do it before. Knew how. But she never really bothered with it.
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She preferred keeping it in her body, feeding speed, strength, and power. Not wasting it just... to look a little further.
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But now? She used it. Just to see better.
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And... what a disappointment.
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A broken ogre…
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"Dun luuk like much," she muttered. Her words were still slurred. Gods, she hated that. But honestly... the only one she really cared to impress was Arlin. And beating something big and strong? That would catch her man a lot better than pretty words ever could.
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The ogre stepped forward. Eyes cold. Dead.
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Even broken... it craved battle.
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And her pride burned hotter than ever.
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Because of this? This was beautiful.
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It chose death—but death as a warrior. Not as some broken beast crawling to the end.
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And she? She'd gladly return the honor.
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"LUT GO!" she roared.
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She flared the flames deep inside her body. Power flooded every muscle—every fiber.
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Her body trembled. Twitching. Desperate to explode forward from the sheer rush of fire mana.
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And she soared forward—answering the call to battle.
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Battle lust. Almost-blind rage. Joy.
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All of it tangled together as she flew toward a real fight. A real adventure.
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After so much waiting... sulking...
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Finally.
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At last she can be free.
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The ogre blinked—surprised. Confused.
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Didn't know how to handle her.
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So she grinned. Drew flame into her hammers.
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And graced him with her answer.
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Tactics? Fancy tricks? Nah.
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We fight. We smash. We win.
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Simple. Like flame.
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It burns. It takes. It doesn't give.
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It wins.
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WHOOSH.
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The hammers skimmed the edge of the ogre's flesh. It dodged—barely. She was mildly amused and thought to try and match her speed.
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But her rage wasn't that simple, and her strikes? Weren't that light.
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A flurry of swings—fast, relentless—slammed forward.
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The ogre couldn't dodge them all. Flames smashed into its flesh.
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She wanted to end it. Feed flame straight into the beast—finish it in one decisive blow.
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But its flesh resisted.
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Despite the hammering, despite the fire, it wasn't breaking. Worse...
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It started shifting. Changing how it moved. Countering her. Blow for blow.
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It was adapting. Matching her speed. This broken beast; this was…
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Madness.
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She flared the flame deeper—forcing more mana through her body. If it wanted speed? Fine.
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She'd go faster.
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The battle shifted—slowly, inch by inch—back toward her favor.
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But the ogre wasn't just standing there letting her win. No.
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It adapted. Again. Even through pain, even stumbling—it shifted, deflected, and dodged. More and more.
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This wasn't right. Broken beasts didn't fight like this.
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They thrashed. They raged. They died. But this one? It moved like it had fought a thousand battles.
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Like it had seen every swing she threw before. Like her flames—her pride—were just another day. What kind of monster learns while bleeding?
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She was burning too hot—too fast.
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she wasn't made for long fights. She was made for bursts. Hit hard, hit fast, and end it quick.
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And this ogre? Even wounded... it endured.
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This... was turning into a losing fight.
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She wasn't sure how to feel as the dance went on; she just needed one clean strike, even as she saw a calmness watching back at her that was starting to lead to dread.
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Then the team arrived—and joy surged through her once more.
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She wasn't alone. Not yet.
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They were a team and would win as such. She loved the idea of claiming all the glory but now knew that was foolish pride.
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This beast was not a toy to claim as a prize but a beast to defeat, and defeat it they would.
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Arrows hissed past her head. Close. Deliberate.
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Not meant to hit—meant to box the ogre in. Limit its movement.
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But... something was wrong.
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The wind pulled at the shots—twisting them off course.
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Even while focused on her... the ogre was still using wind magic.
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How was it doing this? Fighting her and twisting the wind to defend itself?
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She stumbled, struggling to find her rhythm between dodging its strikes and staying aggressive.
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It wasn't from lack of focus she'd trained with her berserker dad; she was used to things like this.
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She was rusty. More than she wanted to admit.
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Too much time watching Len train. Watching... not doing.
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She thought she was good enough, and the flame within would balance anything she lacked. Really, battle was not the thought that she always wanted.
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Maybe... maybe she always really just wanted boys more than battle.
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Well—Arlin, specifically. And a good fight.
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So far? She got one of those.
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Could be worse.
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And she was working on winning both this day, so she was doing alright even.
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A fist smashed into her face.
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Didn't even register the first hit before three more followed.
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She threw her arms up—pulled earth into her armor, trying to dull the impact.
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It helped. A little.
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But the damage was done. Her vision spun. Her head rang.
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She staggered, trying to refocus.
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Thoughts spun. Maybe thinking of Arlin between swings was not that smart…
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The team finally closed in.
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Now the real fight began.
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Leena's light surged over her—healing. Bones snapped back, flesh sealed.
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Terra grabbed a mana potion, chugging it fast.
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Len tried to say something—but no time.
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The battle was chaos. Terra shoved past her, hunting for her next chance to strike.
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We didn't come this far just to talk. We're fighting, and I can still fight thanks to the mana potion!
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Arlin kept his distance.
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Shadow spikes—missed.
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Shadow bindings—slipped off.
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Even limping, the ogre moved. Smart. Fluid. Staying just far enough to focus on... something.
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It was a slippery bastard; even with all of them now fighting it, it still could avoid strikes, and it was still holding its own…
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Nina hurled rocks—big, heavy, and fast. To try to break its focus.
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At least at first.
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But then—it flipped it on them.83Please respect copyright.PENANAu9vg0hx61x
The ogre caught one mid-throw, twisted it with wind, and launched it straight at Arlin and Coby.
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Nina yelped—her focus shattered, scrambling to pull the rocks off course before they killed someone.
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So even our heavy-hitting rock girl needs a hand and can't handle this one.
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She realized it then.
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She was the linchpin.
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The one who had to keep its focus—force it to fight her—so the others could line up the kill.
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Fire mana flared inside her. Muscles burned.
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One more time.
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She rushed.
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She hadn't lost before; she just lost focus. She just needed to pin it down, and it would be over—a win, and they go home heroes.
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She charged—again.
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Hammer swings, flame strikes, her full fury—slamming into the ogre.
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The others volleyed in.
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This had to break it.
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It adapted.
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Again.
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Like it always did.
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She saw it.
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The eyes. Cold. Calculating.
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The way arrows flicked by—her eyes only catching them after they'd passed.
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It wasn't luck.
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It was reading them. All of them.
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Dodging was effortless. Like breathing.
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Shadow vines?
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It didn't even look. Shifted—stepped past—like Arlin's magic wasn't even there.
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Only when all of them pressed—Len closing in, Nina flanking, and Arlin trying to trap it with barriers—did it finally show a hint of surprise.
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Even then... just a flicker.
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Yet that moment was enough, and she would show it how much that could change things in a moment.
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Her hammers crashed into its smug face…finally.
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And its answer?
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It grabbed her mid-swing—and flung her like trash.
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The fall hurt—but the shame hurt worse.
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It had looked at her... not as a threat. Not even as prey.
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Just a pest.
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Even broken, it thought her beneath it.
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Her pride snarled.
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No. Not like this.
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Never.
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She didn't train and endure pain with her father just to fall like that, cast aside as if she were an afterthought, not to some mindless beast.
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"IS THUT ALL U GUT?!" She roared.
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Flames flared—surging through her veins.
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She charged again. Harder. Hotter. Slammed both hammers into the massive frame of its back with everything she had left.
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She wasn't playing now; it was a fight it wanted, and she would give it one. Her pride wounded from that fall and was burning hotter than the mana in her veins.
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It hadn't expected her back so fast.
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There it was—anger in its eyes when it faced her.
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And in hers?
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Glee. Pure glee.
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The others froze.
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They didn't know who was winning.
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This wasn't like before—no clean team tactics, no easy rhythm.
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This was chaos.
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But for Terra?
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This was perfect.
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Even as the ogre's swings tightened—precise, sharp—clipping closer with each dodge... she grinned.
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A fist—fast, brutal—came straight for her face.
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Too fast to dodge.
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She braced—but the hit veered.
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A whisper of shadow curled around its wrist—Arlin's vine.
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Saved her. Barely.
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She wanted to kiss Arlin for saving her, which would have hurt, but she was ready for the strike even if she was glad to avoid it.
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She staggered back, catching her breath. Trying to see the battle more clearly as things spun as fast as the mana burn in her veins.
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Nina's earth magic surged—stone wrapped around its feet, locking it down.
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For a moment—just a moment—the ogre was a sandbag.
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Wide open.
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Laughter burst out of her.
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"We've gut it. We've GUT IT!"
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She surged forward once more. Hammers smashing into its massive frame, driving it back.
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But then—
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It broke free.
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Nina's bindings cracked. Arlin's shadows snapped away.
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And its cold, ruthless gaze locked—right back on her.
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Despite the blows and all the things they did, it still stood undefeated.
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She could see even now, despite being broken, bleeding, and getting beat down, it was still thinking and planning, but what it was doing made no sense.
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Was it just too dumb to know it was going to die?
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Was this really the great beast from the past they feared?
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Maybe legends just make great monsters, and the greatest fools were them all for letting this ogre beast think it could be a king among peasants, never knowing it was beneath them all.
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ROOOOAR.
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The roar meant nothing.
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She was grinning, poor beast; it was breaking.
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Then, without warning, it moved.
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A sudden burst of speed, its limp forgotten, wounds ignored.
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Before anyone could react, it was there. It was on her.
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She didn't feel the first hit.
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The armor took it. Blunted it.
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But the force?
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It sent her flying, airborne.
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Midair, it caught her again.
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Both fists slammed her down.
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The ground cracked beneath her.
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She barely had time to bounce before—
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CRACK!
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Its foot came down hard, straight into her head.
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Only her mana-fortified armor stopped it from shattering her skull like glass.
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Somewhere in that blur, her instincts saved her.
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Mana surged.
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The armor stiffened—skin hardened—just enough.
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Enough to stop the kick from ripping her head clean off her body into the ground.
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But not enough to stop the world from breaking.
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Broken.
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Body twisted. Vision spinning.
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She tumbled, spiraling away into the dirt.
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Nothing left.
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The world spun—colors bleeding together. Pain sharp, then distant, then sharp again.
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How? How did something that looked half-dead hit like a landslide?
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Her body screamed truths her pride had ignored. This wasn't some wounded beast limping to its grave. This was something else. Something that had been playing with them.
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Playing with her.
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The thought made her stomach twist worse than the pain.
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She had Nothing left.
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Everyone—frozen.
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One second it was victory.
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The next was the sound of breaking bone, crushed armor, blood hitting dirt.
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Nobody moved...
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Len dashed—trying to reach Terra.
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Too late.
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The ogre swung—forcing her back—cutting her off.
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Terra's mind became a sea of fog.
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Nothing made sense.
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How?
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She was a fighter. A warrior.
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She could take hits.
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But this…?
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This wasn't right.
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The pain clouded everything.
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Where did this power come from?
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Was it always this strong?
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Is this... what they feared?
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The thing that haunted them?
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And...
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She rushed right into it.
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Smiling. Laughing.
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Like a proud, blind fool.
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For the first time in her life, she learned something real.
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Fear.
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Real fear.
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Not the nightmare you could wake from, the one you were forced to live when the monster was real and did not fade with a dream.
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Broken.
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Dying.
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Nobody close enough. Nobody's coming.
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She used to dream of being loved. Of being wanted.
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But now?
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She just wanted to be saved.
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To be anywhere but here.
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Even those desperate thoughts... slipped away.
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Pain—numbness—blurring together.
83Please respect copyright.PENANABHLyeENRto
The flame that always burned inside her, the one that made her strong, clear, alive—
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Flickered. Dimmed.
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Almost gone.
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Voices?
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Shouts? Screams?
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Somewhere nearby—or miles away.
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...Hope?
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CRACK
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A scream.
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Movement…blurs.
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A dream. A nightmare.
83Please respect copyright.PENANAubT0CAhJLD
Am I even here?
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Please... let me wake up.
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A light.
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Warm.
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Healing, it was pure life.
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A hand. A voice.
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Clarity... breaking through.
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How long had she been out?
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Her eyes—finally focused.
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Arlin was on the ground? Trying to move?
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Why was he…why was he down?
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Smashing…somewhere nearby.
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Nina was fighting? Alone?
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Where... where's Len?
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Len was rushing toward Coby.
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Wait was Coby's down?!
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When—how—
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Laughter.
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The ogre—just laughing.
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Shrugging off everything Nina threw, Like this was entertainment. Like Nina was a child throwing pebbles.
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No... move. Move. I have to help.
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She's like my sister...
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Her body didn't listen.
83Please respect copyright.PENANAs4PrTToC3Y
A weak roll—barely a twitch.
83Please respect copyright.PENANAR5O5ERDXoH
She saw Nina—a fortress of earth.
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Stone armor wrapped her form—a beast of a tank.
83Please respect copyright.PENANA4x0WhkwvYi
The ground shifted—jaws of rock, spikes, fists—slamming into the ogre.
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But the ogre tore through it all.
83Please respect copyright.PENANA60N5HmHnL8
One step. Another. Slow. Unstoppable.
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Every hit Nina landed—the ogre shrugged off.
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Nothing. No fear. No pain.
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It shattered her stone with lazy indifference.
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But Nina wouldn't break.
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Every piece shattered—she reformed it.
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A brutal, grinding war of attrition. Stone and fist. Smash. Reform. Smash again.
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Neither yielding.
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She was so tired, and it was hard to focus at times.
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A thud.
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Distant—heavy—wrong.
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Nina—down.
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Even the earth couldn't hold.
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Arlin—on his feet.
83Please respect copyright.PENANAr7aEm6Lyu7
Stumbling. Gritting his teeth. Focused.
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Determined.
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Come on... you can do it.
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She believed. She always had.
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If anyone could, it was him.
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He rushed—shadows lashing, spikes driving into the beast's side.
83Please respect copyright.PENANAJOZ9UnEyBc
The ogre... barely flinched.
83Please respect copyright.PENANAxdZjhRqf7r
Stood there. Proud. Unbothered.
83Please respect copyright.PENANAtsOGjEjUKI
...How?
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How did it heal?
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Broken before.
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Now—untouchable.
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Was it always like this?
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A trick. A trap.
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They never stood a chance.
83Please respect copyright.PENANAm5HeWBb9y7
The ogre swung—a killing blow.
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Arlin—vanished into mist.
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The strike tore empty air—but not him.
83Please respect copyright.PENANAuWub8jl0VR
Pride swelled.
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Arlin—facing it head-on.
83Please respect copyright.PENANAzwRlbtqzfP
No fear. No hesitation.
83Please respect copyright.PENANAPTWvQU5meU
She should've tried harder.
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Should've fought smarter.
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Maybe then... they wouldn't be here.
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This was her fault. Her stupid, blind pride.
83Please respect copyright.PENANAzK1xTbLUYp
She'd seen grass and disappointment and threw herself at the first real fight like a starving dog at meat. Never asked why it was alone. Never wondered why legends feared it. Never thought past her own need to prove herself.
83Please respect copyright.PENANAi6o9pzettt
And now?
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Now Arlin was bleeding because of her.
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Nina was fighting alone because of her.
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They'd followed her charge. Trusted her instincts. Her worthless, arrogant instincts.
83Please respect copyright.PENANAvtTqbY5y5l
Maybe... they wouldn't be here, if not for her.
83Please respect copyright.PENANApE6qvXlAxL
She tried. Tried to crawl. To move.
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Nothing.
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Mana drained. Body broken.
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All she could do was watch.
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They brought so few potions.
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So naive.
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They thought this would be easy—just another dungeon run.
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They were wrong.
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And the worst truth? She was still afraid.
83Please respect copyright.PENANAAUvnFSVLIy
Even now. Especially now.
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This was not the adventure with new friends and finding a lover she dreamed about; this was an end with no winners, and she led them with pride in that charge.
83Please respect copyright.PENANAkz4WM5E6bm
Tears—slipping free.
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No voice left.
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No begging. No cheering.
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Just... watching.
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Praying.
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The fight dragged on—a brutal dance.
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Arlin's strikes—sharp, precise, deadly.
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A killer's craft.
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She was proud. So proud.
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But... why wasn't the beast dying?
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Len—kneeling over Nina.
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She'll help Arlin next.
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It's not too late... right?
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She could see it. The slowing. The sweat.
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His shadow-steps—lagging. Delayed.
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Until finally—he couldn't shift at all.
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Standing there. Panting. Out of mana.
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Determined... but empty.
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Nothing left.
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And the ogre—knew.
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It charged—fists slamming into him.
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One—two—three.
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Too fast to follow—only the thuds in the air told her how many.
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Arlin spun and fell.
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Didn't get up.
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Len.
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Only Len now.
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So... that's it.
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They lost.
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What can Len do alone?
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Terra tried—tried to whisper, to plead, to beg.
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Her voice—broken.
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A cracked bird. Not a song of hope.
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Just a screech of despair.
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There's no mercy here.
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One last, desperate thought…
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Run, Len... please... just run.
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We're already dead. Let the light live. Let... something... survive.
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For this is their darkest day, The world tilted. Colors drained away. Her head—where it had stomped her—throbbed with each heartbeat. Len's healing only did so much when they all needed her. Each pulse dimming the world a little more.83Please respect copyright.PENANASfY1FrIS4d
83Please respect copyright.PENANAXX7Nh96f5z
Consciousness slipped like water through her fingers. In the growing darkness, only one truth remained clear: They were all going to die because she'd been too proud to see the trap.
83Please respect copyright.PENANAAfF2uRbYZ7
As all faded to black for Terra, she never saw what happened next...and she could not handle knowing her last thought is nobody would live to see a new day.
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It was not to win the day but the final proof that even light loses at the end of the day to the darkness of night.83Please respect copyright.PENANAHxBwuKA3Y7


