Defeating the Past
Leviathan plummeted towards the ground, the air heating with the velocity of its descent. As it braced for impact, Eliss readied herself, channeling her energy into the five orbs of searing light she had meticulously conjured. The beast, sensing the imminent threat, launched a desperate dark magic bomb in her direction. Without hesitation, Eliss maneuvered one of her orbs forward, intercepting the bomb. The collision resulted in a spectacular explosion, yet the orb emerged almost unscathed, a testament to its potency.
The ground shook as Leviathan crashed down, dust and debris billowing around it. It tried to regain its footing, attempting to leap away from the imminent danger. Eliss, however, was quick to react. She tightened her aura, previously sprawling across the cavern, now focusing it into a dense, oppressive force around Leviathan. This manipulation created an effect akin to a gravity well, severely hampering Leviathan's movements.
"I'm not letting you get away, bastard!" Eliss shouted, her voice echoing with a fierce resolve that filled the cavern. Leviathan, caught in the gravitational snare, struggled futilely. It lashed out in panic, its claw swinging wildly towards Eliss. With precise timing, she directed the first orb to intercept the claw, declaring, "This is for all the suffering you caused!" The orb collided with Leviathan's limb, detonating on impact. The explosion was immense, shearing through the claw and sending agonizing shockwaves through Leviathan's form. It roared in pain, a sound that mingled fear with fury.
Without giving it a moment to recover, Eliss propelled another orb towards Leviathan's exposed torso. "This is for Esabel!" she cried out. The orb struck true, boring into its chest and exploding with such force that it blasted a gaping hole through the monster's body. Leviathan staggered backward, its roar turning into a gurgle as the life began to seep out of its wounds.
Leveraging her flight spell, Eliss soared through the air, her eyes fixed on the wounded beast. She launched two more orbs with deadly precision. "This is for Rowena and Tara!" The orbs impacted with explosive force, enveloping Leviathan in a cloud of dust and debris. Each blast further tore into the creature's flesh, rending it apart piece by piece.
As the dust began to settle, Leviathan tried to escape. But Eliss, driven by a deep-seated need for vengeance, was ready. She had reshaped her aura to envelop the beast completely, slowing any attempt at escape. Drawing upon the last of her orbs, she shouted with a mix of rage and determination, "And this... THIS IS FOR LIORA!! AAAHHH!!"
Her final orb, glowing with a fierce greenish light, shot through the air and struck Leviathan directly in the hole she had created earlier. The impact was monumental, the orb's energy exploding from within, obliterating Leviathan's torso in a brilliant display of light and power. Flesh and dark ichor splattered across the cavern, the remnants of Leviathan scattering like leaves in a storm.
Exhausted but triumphant, Eliss watched as the last vestiges of the creature that had haunted her past disintegrated before her eyes. She had avenged her friends, faced her deepest fears, and emerged victorious. Panting heavily, she felt a mix of relief and sorrow, the emotional weight of her journey settling around her.
Once Leviathan was defeated, the air seemed to pulse with the echo of a familiar voice, a memory that brought a bittersweet smile to Eliss's face. It was Liora, her voice as clear and vibrant as if she were standing right beside her. "Eliss! You did it! You're the best!" The memory's voice faded with a whisper, "We will be waiting for your stories." Eliss gazed upward, momentarily lost in the memory, feeling both the loss and pride intertwining within her heart.
Shaken from her reverie by the reality of the cavern around her, Eliss's attention quickly turned to Amukelo. He lay where he had fallen, his body battered and his breaths shallow. Despite his grave condition, he managed a weak but genuine smile as she approached. "Congratulations, Eliss. You did it," he murmured, his voice fading as his strength waned. Before she could respond, his eyes closed, and he slipped into unconsciousness.
Wasting no time, Eliss gently lifted Amukelo onto her back. His body was limp, a stark contrast to the fierce warrior he had been just moments before. "If not for you, I wouldn't have been able to do this. Thank you, Amukelo," she whispered, her voice thick with gratitude and fatigue. With the burden of his weight on her shoulders and her own exhaustion, Eliss began the slow journey back through the levels of the dungeon. Every step was a test of her endurance and will.
Finding a relatively peaceful spot in level forty-five, Eliss carefully laid Amukelo down. She administered their last healing potion, watching anxiously as the liquid seemed to bring little relief to his severe injuries. His bones were badly damaged, and the cuts on his waist and arm were deep and threatening. Though the potion stabilized him, it was clear that his state was far from safe.
As Amukelo slept, Eliss kept a vigilant watch. The quiet of the dungeon was a stark contrast to the chaos that had reigned just hours before. It gave her time to reflect on the journey that had led them here, on the sacrifices made and the demons both literal and figurative that they had faced. When Amukelo finally stirred, the relief that washed over Eliss was palpable.
Seeing him awake, though still in pain, brought a small smile to her face. "Sorry, but in my state, I don't think I will be able to guard you while you're resting," Amukelo said, his voice still weak. Eliss shook her head, her response warm and firm, "No problem, Amukelo. You've already done more than enough. I'm glad it's over. Thank you."
"You did it, Eliss. You confronted your past, and you won. I'm proud of you," Amukelo added, his tone imbued with pride and admiration. Hearing these words, Eliss felt a sense of closure and achievement that she had not anticipated. The burden of her past, the shadows of loss and guilt, seemed to lift slightly, replaced by a newfound peace.