>>Amber

Hael grabbed my arm and yanked me back, pulling me just out of range of Persephone's strike. My breath caught in my throat, and a sharp heat flared just below my nape. It burned, almost as if something inside me was reacting to her presence. But there was no time to think. Persephone's claws slammed into Hael's shield with a violent clang.

I braced for the barrier to shatter, for her monstrous strength to rip through us. But nothing happened. Her nails scraped uselessly against the shield, unable to pierce its surface.

It seems words were of no use

I desperately wish we could have solved this peacefully. But maybe if I was there instead of her. Confined and cursed for over two centuries, maybe I'd give in too.

"Interesting." Persephone's voice was low, her smile curling with amusement. "No one has ever been able to do this, except you."

She was talking to Hael, though her gaze never left me. Her towering figure loomed over us, the miasma swirling like a living shadow at her feet. The ground trembled slightly under the weight of her presence, but Hael stood firm, his shield radiating a pale, glowing light.

I glanced at it, my brow furrowing. This shield... it felt different somehow.. It shimmered, almost like it was made of something divine. But there was no time to ask. Not now.

Persephone's eyes flickered under the hands that covered them, and she leaned forward slightly, her expression unreadable. Though her legs were still bound by the cursed vines, the dark energy around her seemed to grow denser, the miasma coiling tighter around her body like a living thing.

"Let's see how long you can keep that up," She mused, her tone icy.

With a flick of her wrist, dark tendrils of energy burst from the ground, writhing toward us.

!??!?!

Hael grunted, his shield expanding, the pale light flaring brighter as it absorbed the attack. I could feel the heat beneath my nape again, stronger this time, like something was pulling at me, using my strength.

But how?!? What was happening?! I've felt this before too...

I didn't have time to question it. Persephone wasn't slowing down. The vines of cursed energy coiled and twisted, growing thicker, their tips barbed and shimmering with deadly intent. They whipped through the air, lashing toward us with terrifying speed.

Hael's voice snapped me back into focus. "Get ready!"

I nodded, pushing away the heat and the growing suspicion in the back of my mind. I couldn't afford distractions.

Not now,

My hands trembled slightly as I began to gather my Holy power, the familiar warmth filling me, but it was sluggish, almost as if something else was already drawing from it.

I shook my head, focusing harder, willing the energy to respond. Golden light began to form around my fingertips, flickering and growing brighter, swirling with the intensity of my will.

I raised my hands, ready to unleash it, but Persephone moved faster than I could react.

Her clawed hand shot forward, aiming not at me, but at Hael's shield.

"Not again!" I gasped, instinctively pulling Hael back, but he didn't move.

Persephone's nails screeched against the shield, but they couldn't penetrate. Her eyes, still hidden, seemed to narrow behind the winged hands covering them.

"You surprise me," She mused, her voice like silk, though the irritation beneath it was clear. "How long can you keep this up, mage?"

Hael didn't respond, his jaw clenched, his gaze locked on hers. The heat beneath my nape surged again, more intense this time, and I could feel it—he was pulling from me. But how? Why was my power reacting this way?

I opened my mouth to ask, but then I stopped myself. This wasn't the time. We had to survive this fight first.

"Get ready to strike," Hael muttered under his breath, his hand tightening around mine. "I can't hold her forever."

I swallowed my confusion and nodded, focusing on building more energy. My Holy power continued to swirl in my hands, but something was off. I could feel it, a faint tugging sensation, like my energy was being siphoned off before I could even use it. I shook my head again, trying to push through the strange feeling.

Persephone's massive form shifted slightly, the cursed vines holding her legs straining against her immense strength. I could see them fraying at the edges, weakening under the strain of her power. She wasn't stepping back—she didn't need to. She was going to break free soon.

"We're running out of time," I whispered to Hael.

"I know," He replied, his voice tense. His shield flickered for a moment, and I could see sweat beading on his forehead. He couldn't keep this up much longer.

Persephone's lips twitched into a grin as she sensed his weakening. With a sudden burst of speed, she lunged forward, though her legs remained bound, her enormous hand reaching for us, fingers outstretched like talons. I barely had time to react before Hael threw up another barrier, this time the light brighter than ever, flaring with a purity that made my breath catch.

The heat beneath my nape surged again, burning hot, and I bit my lip to keep from crying out. It felt like something inside me was being ripped open, but I couldn't stop now. I had to focus. I had to help him.

"Now,!" Hael shouted, his voice strained.

I raised my hands, unleashing the Holy power I had gathered. A beam of pure golden light shot forward, aimed straight at Persephone's chest. The beam streaked through the air, cutting through the darkness like a blade of divine fire.

Persephone's wings snapped open, their silver-blue glow flaring to life as they intercepted the beam. The light collided with her wings, crackling and sparking, but instead of breaking through, the energy seemed to dissipate, like water splashing against stone.

My heart sank. "What...?"

Persephone let out a low, dark laugh. "Did you really think that would be enough?" She sneered, her wings fluttering as they absorbed the remnants of my attack. "I am far beyond your reach, little saint."

Before I could react, she swung her arm again, and the ground beneath us erupted in a violent explosion.

I stumbled, the force of the blast knocking me off balance. Hael's hand shot out, grabbing my arm and pulling me back upright, but the shield flickered dangerously, the strain of the fight starting to show.

"She's too strong," I gasped, feeling the heat beneath my nape flare again. It was growing unbearable now, but I couldn't stop. I couldn't afford to question it.

"Orenya, listen to me." Hael's voice was low, intense. "You need to trust me."

I looked at him, my breath coming in ragged gasps. "What are you talking about?"

"There's no time to explain," He said, his eyes locking with mine. "Just trust me. Keep gathering your power. Your power will work, there is no way it won't. I know she's just acting tough."

"How are you sure?" I gulped, "My power did nothing to her!"

"Remember her bonewraiths, they were deceptive too."

!!

Right! Even when we destroyed their core they kept going, and it seemed like their bodies were fine! When in fact they weren't!

I nodded, focusing again, drawing on the Holy energy within me. The warmth surged through my veins, but it was being pulled in two directions—my hands and somewhere else, somewhere I couldn't see.

Persephone's wings fluttered again, the silver-blue glow intensifying. She raised her hands, and the entire rift darkened, the miasma swirling around her like a storm. Her power was growing, and we were running out of time.

"Now!" Hael shouted.

I unleashed another beam of Holy power, pouring everything I could into it. The golden light streaked toward Persephone again. The golden light streaked toward Persephone, illuminating the darkness as it flew. My heart raced, the warmth of my energy mingling with the dread in my chest.

But as the light neared her, something strange happened. Her wings flared, their silver-blue glow intensifying as they fluttered in an almost ethereal dance. In a surprising twist, she tilted her massive body to one side, the dark energy around her twisting and shifting like a living shadow, allowing the beam to pass just inches away from her chest.

"No!" I cried out, my voice rising in panic as the light flew harmlessly past.

"Don't panic,"Hael grimaced, his grip tightening around my hand. "See?" He said, his voice strained but firm. "She wouldn't dodge it if it does her no harm."

Oh?

His words did hold weight but this whole thing was unnerving for me.

I stared in disbelief as Persephone's expression twisted into a mocking smile. "Did you really think you could hit me so easily?" She taunted, her voice dripping with amusement. The miasma around her pulsed in rhythm with her power, dark tendrils writhing like serpents.

"What do we do now?" I whispered, glancing at Hael, my heart sinking at the realization that our attacks were having little effect.

"We keep trying," He said, determination in his eyes. "We'll find a way through her defenses."

But as I watched Persephone, "How?" I couldn't shake the feeling of despair. She was too strong, and our options were quickly dwindling, "She's bound yet she can dodge the attacks."

How are we going to win this?