Chapter 0033: Vengeance Ignited
The silence in the chamber was suffocating. Ethan was gone. His sacrifice had shattered something inside Claire—something she could never repair.
Alexander was the first to move, lifting the amulet from the stone floor. The glow had faded, but the weight of its power still pulsed through it. He clenched his jaw, his fingers tightening around it.
Lucas exhaled sharply, his fists clenched at his sides. "We move now," he said, his voice steel. "No more waiting, no more hiding."
Claire wiped her tear-streaked face, forcing herself to stand. "Sebastian wanted to break us. We're not giving him that satisfaction."
She turned to the ancient guardian, whose presence still loomed in the chamber. "The path is open now, isn't it?" she demanded.
The guardian inclined its head. "The sacrifice has been accepted. The final trial awaits."
The ground beneath them trembled, and with a low, grinding sound, a hidden passageway revealed itself in the chamber's depths. Cold air rushed out, carrying the scent of something ancient and waiting.
Lucas loaded his weapon, stepping forward without hesitation. "Let's finish this."
Alexander touched Claire's arm, searching her face. "Are you ready?"
She met his gaze, her grief burning into a fire she had never felt before. "I have to be."
They descended into the darkness, leaving behind the echoes of sacrifice.
Sebastian had taken enough from them.
Now, they were taking everything back.
Into the Heart of Darkness
The tunnel stretched ahead, its walls carved with ancient symbols that pulsed faintly in the dim light. Claire's heart pounded in rhythm with the flickering torches that lined their path. The weight of Ethan's sacrifice still clung to her like a shadow, but she pushed forward. There was no turning back now.
Lucas led the way, his gun raised, eyes sharp. Alexander moved beside Claire, his fingers brushing hers briefly—a silent reassurance in the oppressive darkness.
"The air is different here," Lucas muttered. "Stagnant, like something's been waiting."
Claire swallowed. Something was waiting.
At the end of the tunnel, a massive iron door stood, its surface covered in intricate engravings. Alexander stepped forward, tracing the markings with his fingertips. The moment his skin touched the metal, the engravings flared to life, glowing an eerie crimson.
A deep, rumbling voice echoed around them. "Only the worthy may pass."
Claire and Lucas exchanged glances. "We don't have time for riddles," Lucas growled.
Alexander didn't hesitate. He pressed his palm to the center of the door. The glow intensified, spreading outward like veins of molten lava. With a deafening clang, the door unlocked and creaked open.
Beyond it lay a vast chamber, lined with towering obsidian pillars. At its center stood a raised dais, and on it—Sebastian.
His cold blue eyes met Claire's, and a slow, mocking smile curved his lips. "You made it," he drawled. "I was beginning to think you'd lost your nerve."
Claire's blood boiled. "You took everything from us."
Sebastian chuckled, spreading his arms. "And yet, here you stand, still alive. You should be thanking me. Without loss, there is no strength."
Lucas lifted his gun, aiming for Sebastian's head. "Enough talking."
Before he could fire, a gust of dark energy blasted from Sebastian's palm, knocking Lucas off his feet. The air crackled with raw power.
Alexander stepped forward, his own magic igniting like a storm around him. "This ends now."
Sebastian smirked. "Oh, Claire… You still don't understand, do you?"
With a flick of his wrist, the chamber walls shuddered, and from the shadows, figures began to emerge. Warriors, cloaked in darkness, their eyes glowing red.
Claire's breath caught. An army.
Sebastian spread his hands. "Shall we begin?"
The final battle had begun.
The Last Stand
The chamber erupted into chaos.
Sebastian's warriors surged forward, their glowing red eyes gleaming with malice. Claire barely had time to react before Alexander yanked her back, his shield of energy absorbing the first wave of attacks. Lucas rolled to his feet, firing round after round into the charging enemies, but they barely slowed.
"They're not human," Lucas cursed, reloading. "What the hell are these things?"
Claire gritted her teeth. "They're shadows—Sebastian's creation."
Sebastian watched from the dais, a smirk playing on his lips as if amused by their struggle. "Come now, Claire. I expected more from you."
She clenched her fists, drawing on every ounce of power inside her. The air around her shimmered as energy crackled at her fingertips. "You want to see what I can do?"
With a furious cry, she unleashed a wave of light, slamming into the shadow warriors. They shrieked, their forms dissipating like smoke in the wind.
Sebastian's smirk faltered. "Impressive."
Alexander seized the moment, his magic surging forward like a raging storm. Lightning crackled, cutting through the darkness. Lucas took down the last of the warriors, his knife flashing as he struck with lethal precision.
Sebastian sighed. "Very well."
He lifted his hands, and the entire chamber trembled. The obsidian pillars cracked, darkness spilling from them like ink. The temperature plummeted, and Claire's breath came out in icy puffs.
Then, from the shadows, something massive stirred.
A monstrous form emerged—twisted, ancient, its glowing red eyes locking onto Claire.
Sebastian's voice was smooth, filled with amusement. "Meet your real opponent."
Claire's heart pounded. This wasn't just magic. This was a nightmare given form.
Alexander turned to her, his eyes fierce. "Together."
Claire nodded, gripping his hand. Lucas stood beside them, ready.
Sebastian laughed. "Let's see if you survive."
The final battle had truly begun.
The Battle Begins
The city was eerily silent, an unnatural calm before the storm. Claire stood at the rooftop's edge, staring at the neon lights reflecting off the wet pavement below. She could feel it in her bones—tonight would change everything.
Alexander joined her, his expression unreadable. "Lucas has secured the perimeter. Nathan's intel checks out."
Claire nodded. "Sebastian is inside."
They had tracked him here—a high-rise abandoned long ago but now turned into the enemy's fortress. Mark was inside, and possibly dozens of Sebastian's men.
Lucas's voice crackled through the earpiece. "Ready when you are."
Claire took a deep breath. No turning back now.
They descended into the building, shadows blending with the darkness. Every step was measured, every breath controlled. They reached the main hall, where Sebastian sat, waiting.
He clapped slowly. "Impressive."
Claire's grip on her gun tightened. "Where is Mark?"
Sebastian smirked. "Oh, he's here. But you won't like what you see."
Two guards dragged Mark forward. He was barely conscious, his face swollen, bruises covering his body.
Claire's vision blurred with rage. "Let him go."
Sebastian leaned back, a predator enjoying his prey's struggle. "What's the fun in that?"
The tension snapped.
A gunshot echoed. Chaos erupted.
Claire lunged forward, Alexander taking down the nearest guard. Lucas moved like lightning, precise and deadly.
Sebastian was fast—but not fast enough. Claire tackled him, pinning him down.
"You lose," she hissed.
Sebastian chuckled, his lips stained with blood. "Oh, Claire…this isn't the end."
The building shook—explosives.
Lucas shouted, "He rigged the place!"
Claire's heart pounded. They had minutes—maybe seconds.
Mark groaned. Alexander lifted him over his shoulder. "We need to go. Now!"
Sebastian's laughter rang out as he vanished into the smoke.
The battle wasn't over.
Not yet.
Claire ran, flames consuming the past behind her.
The real war had just begun.
No Turning Back
Smoke billowed from the collapsing building behind them, painting the night sky with streaks of fire and ash. Claire's heart pounded in her chest as she sprinted through the alleyway, Mark's labored breathing heavy in her ears. Alexander and Lucas were right behind her, weapons drawn, eyes scanning the darkened streets for any sign of pursuit.
They had won the battle—but the war was far from over.
Nathan's voice crackled through their earpieces. "I've secured a safe house two blocks east. Get there now before Sebastian's men regroup."
Claire nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "Understood. We're on our way."
Mark groaned, barely conscious. "C-Claire… he's not done. He… has something planned."
Claire tightened her grip around his arm. "We know, Mark. Just hang on."
They reached an abandoned warehouse where Nathan was waiting, his arms crossed as he leaned against a rusted metal pillar. His usual smirk was absent, replaced by a grim expression.
"You cut it close," he muttered, nodding toward Mark. "He's in bad shape."
Alexander carefully laid Mark down on an old mattress. Lucas ripped open a first-aid kit, hands steady despite the tension in the room.
Claire turned to Nathan. "Sebastian escaped. He had the entire building rigged."
Nathan exhaled, rubbing his jaw. "Figured he might pull something like that. The guy always has a backup plan."
Lucas looked up. "Then we need to take him out before he sets the next trap."
Nathan hesitated. "There's something else."
Claire's stomach twisted. "What?"
Nathan pulled out his phone, showing them a grainy image. "This was intercepted from Sebastian's network an hour ago."
The picture showed a sleek black jet on a private airstrip.
"He's leaving the city," Alexander realized, his fists clenching. "He's running."
Nathan shook his head. "Not running. Relocating. He's already setting up his next stronghold."
Claire's mind raced. They couldn't let him slip away—not after everything he had done.
"We stop him," she said, her voice steel. "Tonight."
Lucas loaded his gun. "Then let's move."
As they stepped into the night, Claire knew one thing for certain—this would be the final showdown.
And this time, there would be no escape for Sebastian.
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(To be Continue...)