*Layla's POV
Mala's room is on the second floor. So, I have to run as fast as possible to the first floor, go to San's room, and convince him to leave immediately. However, while I was still running in the corridor, Mala's voice echoed over the loudspeaker.
The announcement about an emergency and a call for all divisions in this facility to go to the hall on the 4th floor. The announcement went on for several minutes as I kept running.
I'm glad she listened to my advice, but not with such a warning. Mala is putting me in trouble. All the workers' rooms are on the first floor, so I'll run into all of them.
The only option is to activate the magic that makes me invisible. I ran up the stairs while pressing the wound on my hand. After reaching the first floor, just before I could activate the magic with my blood, a man stopped a few steps away from me, looking hurried.
Marumbi's previously angry face now looked surprised to see me. "What are you—"
I didn't wait for him to finish his question and immediately lunged at him, throwing a quick punch to his face, but Marumbi easily blocked it. So did the next few attacks. I spun around and attacked him with my elbow. When Marumbi blocked that strike, I used the momentum to push myself forward. Swiftly turned back while jumping, my foot flying straight to his head, but Marumbi's hand was already there. After the impact, I landed on the floor and, was about to throw another attack but, Marumbi's left hand was faster this time, blasting me with enough wind to flip a truck.
My body flew and smashed through the wall of a room. My spine slightly cracked. My temple bled, and my shoulder was a bit dislocated. But there's no time.
I got back up, walking out from the rubble of the wall. In front of me, Marumbi looked arrogant. Behind him, five fireballs floated, ready to be launched at me anytime.
Eight steps. That's our distance, though I could reach him in just two steps. The problem is Marumbi's elemental power. Dodging fire is easy, unlike the invisible wind element. I can only rely on instinct to dodge.
This is why I hate mixed Weavers. They're all troublesome.
"Tell me what you're planning, and I'll end this quickly!" Marumbi said.
He also thought I was part of Akashadristhi. "And if I don't?"
Marumbi took a fighting stance. "Then it's going to be painful."
I also took a paper cutter from my jacket pocket and got ready. "Gratefully, I indeed need a painful wound." Then, all the blood oozing from my body started glowing with a blue light.
I immediately ran toward him. Activating the first magic to penetrate the storm attack. Then dodged to the right after leaving a magic orb ahead of Marumbi. Three fireballs attacked me instantly, turning into a row of fire explosions.
I activated two magics concurrently. The first was to form a transparent shield. The second was the magic orb now following the left side of Marumbi's body.
Marumbi tried to close the distance with the wind, attacking me with various punches and kicks, also accompanied by wind or fire. Some wind blades wounded my arm. His fire attack also managed to burn my jacket sleeve. But I also managed to land one attack, tearing his vestment's chest part. Then backed away after leaving the third magic orb on Marumbi's backside with new wounds and blood coming out, I activated the magic to create three glowing blue spears. Making the three spears float right toward Marumbi.
The Elder responded with a firestorm. My three spears vanished instantly in the vortex.
I ran through the vortex, feeling my skin peel off due to the fire's heat and the cuts from various wind attacks. Marumbi's face was surprised when I arrived on his right side. Touching his shoulder and leaving the last magic orb.
Marumbi swung his hand with a wind blast. My head got hit directly, and I was thrown away.
When I got up, with blurred vision, Marumbi raised his right hand, creating a large circle of combined fire and wind.
I took a deep breath, feeling the Atma resonance from the four magic orbs around Marumbi's body.
[Wall]
Just as Marumbi was about to throw the circle, a transparent shield with a blue glow formed around Marumbi. The circle exploded inside the magic wall, and now all I could see was the smoke inside.
He won't die just like that. But at least Marumbi can't go anywhere. Fighting him would take a long time. Moreover, I doubt I can defeat him this time.
I immediately ran away from that place. Continuing my runaways to the first floor. In the main hall, some researchers seemed to gather and were about to go to the 4th floor.
They looked at me with confused faces. Others also crowded in front of the elevator. As I passed them, some researchers shouted my name.
In the corridor towards San's room, the situation turned out to be more chaotic. This time they didn't just look or call me. They also tried to stop me.
With Mala's emergency warning, some researchers must have immediately made conclusions. Seeing my looks, full of wounds and tattered, it is clear that the cause of the emergency code was me.
I decided to take a detour. Returning to the main hall to attract them. With the crowd increasing, I had no choice but to attack. While running, I do slit the throats of some researchers, cut the arteries in their hands, or pierce their chests with the paper cutter. As the situation got more chaotic, the Weavers disguised as researchers or security guards no longer held back. They attacked me with fire, earth, or wind. I managed to kill some of them. But in my hurry to reach San's room, some attacks also hit me.
My condition was already poor since fighting Marumbi. Now I can't feel my left hand, and my right ear can't hear anything.
Anyway, after some brief fights, I finally escaped from the crowd far enough and reached San's room. But when I opened the door, San wasn't there.
No, it's not because my vision is getting blurry.
I immediately entered and closed the door, activating magic to lock it from the inside. Then I opened the bathroom door to make sure.
San wasn't there either.
After a while, they started banging on San's door, shouting my name while trying to unlock it.
Think. What should I do?
Maybe activate magic to destroy this place. But I need more blood which means I won't get out alive.
No. I won't die in this place. I can't die here. There's still something I need to do. There's still a promise I haven't fulfilled.
So, what should I do?
Will he be mad if I break that promise? Maybe not. He made me promise because he knew what I would face if I broke it.
So, what should I do?
A crack appeared in the door. I immediately took a stance, ready to do whatever it takes.
Soon the door opened, and Mala appeared at the doorway. Her condition was also pitiful. Her lab coat was full of soot and bloodstains. "What are you doing?" She asked, panting.
I also took a deep breath, trying to relax again, then quickly exited San's room.
In the corridor, an unnatural earth wall formed, blocking the researchers or guards chasing me.
"I can't find San," I said.
Mala frowned. I hadn't told her my plan after giving her the order.
"I'm going to take San to Calmora," I continued.
Mala seemed to think. "Did he go to the fourth floor?"
It made sense if considering Mala's earlier announcement. But I guess San wouldn't do that. He wouldn't go unless the order was specifically directed at him.
That means there's only one place he would go at this time. "The rooftop."
The earth wall blocking the corridor started to shake and crack.
Mala looked at me for a moment. I didn't understand what she was thinking. Her face looked blurry. "Tell me," she said, "what do you see?"
Her voice also sounded faint. I can't think of anything now.
"Will Solaris be destroyed? Will we all die?"
Ah... That prophecy. The vision I saw before going to the human world. So Mala also knew it. So that's what drove her all this time.
"Yes, we will all be destroyed," I replied, "but in the end, I also saw the light."
For a moment, I thought Mala smiled. Then she stepped back, a few steps away from me. "May the Gods forgive us," she said, stomping her foot and raising her hands.
The floor below me then began to shake. A circular crack formed, surrounding me. Quickly, the ceiling above me split into a large enough hole. The floor I was standing on suddenly lifted up. I fell to my knees. With that speed, my eyes also closed. But only for a moment until the sound of all the chaos disappeared, and I felt the night wind.
When I opened my eyes, I saw those black eyes. Looking at me with a worried and confused face. He extended his hand. "What happened?"
It took me a while to process everything. It took me a while to believe that the person kneeling in front of me now was the San I knew in the past. That he just forgot. He had done many things for me back then, and now it's my turn to repay him.
I grabbed San's hand and held it as tightly as possible. The entire facility started to shake. Several booms were heard. Gradually, cracks appeared all over the rooftop area, spreading rapidly.
I bowed my head, feeling the cold skin of San's hand against my forehead. "Take me away," I said, closing my eyes. "Please, don't leave me again."[]