Chapter 30 – "If My Power Alone Isn't Enough, Then Our Power Together Will Bring Victory"
The Cursed King struck without mercy, his monstrous blows shattering the air itself. Cordelia and Adrian barely managed to dodge, but the beast's strength was overwhelming. Each strike landed with bone-crushing force, sending them flying like fragile leaves caught in a merciless storm.
Adrian's arms were numb, his entire body screaming in pain as he struggled to stay conscious. The oppressive aura surrounding the monster thickened the very air—compressing, suffocating, a tangible weight pressing down on them.
What kind of abomination wields power like this? he murmured through gritted teeth, trying to rise, but his legs trembled violently and his shoulders burned with agony.
Cordelia, panting hard, glanced at him before shifting her gaze to the beast. A cruel smile twisted its grotesque features. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, mixing with dirt and sweat.
"What do we do now?" Her voice trembled, caught between despair and defiance. "He's too strong..."
Adrian clenched his fists so tight his knuckles turned white, fury igniting inside him like wildfire.
"Then we fight with everything we've got. Together!" he roared, energy crackling around his body.
Cordelia's eyes hardened with resolve, and side by side, they charged forward. The light around them flared—an urgent blaze—as if even the air itself recognized the stakes of their battle.
Adrian gathered all his strength into a single, explosive blow.
"Sonic Punch!"
His fist buzzed with vibrating energy, the sound tearing through the silence like thunder. When it connected, the castle walls trembled violently. The shockwave echoed through the chamber, a deafening boom that shook dust from the rafters.
The monster bellowed in rage and, with a sudden, cruel gesture, unleashed a swarm of insects. They filled the air, buzzing with a high-pitched hum that made their hearts pound wildly.
"Die already!" it screamed, sending the swarm surging toward them like a living blade.
Cordelia reacted instantly—blurring into motion, faster than lightning. She struck from behind, her leg crashing into the beast with a fierce cry.
"Divine Lamb Kick!"
The impact unleashed a shockwave so fierce the stone beneath cracked and nearby pillars began to crumble.
But when they looked again, the monster barely flinched. A chill ran down Cordelia's spine.
"He's hardly hurt…" she whispered, eyes wide with disbelief, frustration burning in her chest.
Adrian's voice cut through the tension sharply.
"Cordelia, watch out!"
Too late.
The monster's brutal fist smashed into her stomach with the force of a battering ram. She was thrown into a stone pillar, which cracked loudly under the impact.
"Every part of me… aches…" Cordelia groaned, struggling to stand, but the pain pinned her down mercilessly.
The monster advanced like death incarnate—unyielding, merciless.
Adrian tried to shield her, but before he could reach her side, a savage kick slammed into his chest. His body spun through the air like a ragdoll, crashing hard to the ground and leaving a trail of shattered stone.
Bones cracked, blood poured, but he refused to surrender.
The monster closed in on Cordelia, who could barely move. In a terrifyingly swift motion, its claws wrapped around her neck, squeezing, tearing into her flesh.
"Father… Mother… I'm sorry…" she whispered, voice breaking with sorrow. "I couldn't save you… like I promised…"
Tears streamed down her face as her breath faltered.
Adrian, battered and bloodied on the ground, heard her words. Something shattered deep within him.
To see Cordelia—the strong, unbreakable Cordelia—reduced to this fragile state of grief cut deeper than any wound.
She's carried this pain all alone… How many nights did she cry without me knowing? I was blind... he thought bitterly.
Fueled by raw, uncontrollable rage, Adrian pushed himself up. His legs trembled, his body screamed in protest, but he would not fall.
With a roar, he charged, fists blazing. His punch hit with earth-shattering force, sending the monster staggering backward—but the beast's fury only grew more savage.
"You miserable insect! How do you still stand?!" the monster bellowed.
But Adrian was already by Cordelia's side, stumbling toward her with trembling hands stained in blood.
"Yes... I'm broken... in pain..." he gasped, voice ragged with exhaustion. Then, glaring fiercely at the monster, he shouted:
"BUT IT HURTS MUCH MORE TO WATCH SOMEONE I LOVE DIE RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES!"
He lowered his voice, looking at Cordelia with fierce determination and pain.
"Cordelia... do you trust me?"
Her eyes widened, disbelief melting into admiration. Even broken, he radiated a strength she had never seen before.
"Yes."
Without hesitation, Adrian said:
"Then give me your energy."
Cordelia obeyed, pouring every last drop of her strength into him. Pain seared through her as the energy transferred, and when it was over, she collapsed.
Adrian's veins pulsed with her power—a roaring river of force surging through him.
The monster sneered.
"Fools! Taking another's energy will kill you faster! You'll perish even quicker!" it mocked.
But Adrian rose—stronger than before. His body trembled with the strain, but his spirit burned bright.
"If my power alone isn't enough... then I'll fuse it with Cordelia's!"
His voice rang out, echoing through the crumbling castle.
Light exploded from him as the fusion ignited. His hair blazed white with golden streaks, his form radiant—celestial, godlike.
A sacred ram-shaped gauntlet materialized on his hand.
"With this power... I will defeat you!"
He lunged like a bolt of lightning, his punch crashing into the monster with cataclysmic force, sending it smashing against the ceiling. The walls cracked and pillars splintered under the relentless barrage.
Their battle became a storm of destruction—each strike stronger, fiercer, shaking the very foundation of the castle. Blood spattered, dust filled the air, but Adrian's rage pushed him onward.
"This form... won't last long..." he whispered, grimly aware of his limits.
Summoning his final strength, he launched a devastating Sonic Kick that hurled the monster backward.
Then, leaping into the air, he gathered every last spark of energy within.
The monster, now desperate and trembling, gasped:
"WAIT! I know the secret of the legendary artifact! If you kill me, you'll never learn it!"
Adrian sneered, voice icy with scorn:
"Tell your master in Hell, then."
With a roar, he unleashed his ultimate attack.
"DIVINE RAM SONIC STRIKE!"
The shockwave tore through the castle, ripping floors and walls apart. A massive crater opened beneath them. The monster was obliterated—reduced to dust and echoes.
Exhausted, Adrian's body gave out. The glowing power faded, and he collapsed.
Cordelia, gathering her remaining strength, leapt and caught him before he hit the ground.
Her eyes scanned the ruin—then locked onto the inheritance door, now wide open.
With trembling hands, she dragged Adrian toward it, summoning every ounce of will left.
As they stepped through, the chamber glowed with ethereal light. A voice, deep and solemn, echoed through the air:
"If thou art willing to give thy soul to ease another's pain… thou art worthy of my inheritance."
Cordelia's last conscious thought before darkness claimed her:
Looks like you finally got the inheritance, Adrian…
And then, she lost consciousness.
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