Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 208: Eternity, Part Nine

{Mel}

Back at the fight against Kate, Mel, Zura, and Athene had her cornered. Kate’s eyes darted around, looking for an escape. Her movements were quick, but she was tiring, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

Kate tried to slip away, but Athene sprinted forward, cutting her off. Athene’s sword and shield were raised, her stance unyielding.

Kate, wounded and bleeding, spat out some blood, a defiant look in her eyes.

"You think this will stop Vy? Even if I die, even if Vy dies, we’ll still win."

Mel watched, her hands ready to cast another spell if needed. She could see the resolve in Kate’s eyes, but it was clear Kate was weakening.

Athene’s expression remained stern, her focus unwavering.

"Enough talk."

She activated {Judicator’s Judgment}, her sword glowing with a righteous light. With one final, swift slash, Athene ended Kate’s struggle.

Kate’s eyes widened in shock, then slowly closed as she crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

Athene lowered her sword, her eyes hard.

"We won’t let you win," she said softly, more to herself than to the fallen enemy.

Mel and Zura moved to her side, relief washing over them.

"Okay, so that’s one more down," Zura said, glancing at Nareem’s body. "It’s almost... Huh?"

---

The look on Zura’s face and the way she glanced at the sky prompted Mel to do the same.

The sky was darkening, an unnatural shadow spreading across the horizon.

"Something’s wrong," Mel said, her voice tense. "We need to find the others."

Athene and Zura nodded, their faces serious as they followed Mel.

They ran through the streets, weaving through the chaos. Players and citizens alike were running back and forth, most fleeing in panic, but some running in the same direction as them.

As they rounded a corner, they saw Lianna, Enverna, and Caroline standing in the middle of the street.

They were staring up at Vy, who stood atop a house, holding an ominous rock in her hands. Vy’s eyes gleamed with malevolent delight.

"Will you try to stop me, or will you try to protect the city?" Vy’s voice echoed, filled with dark amusement.

Mel’s heart pounded as she realized what was happening.

A Fiend raid was about to begin. She could see the conflict in Lianna’s eyes. She wanted to do both, to stop Vy and protect the city, but she couldn’t.

Mel considered the situation. If this raid was going to be anything like Garridens, everyone would need to show up to defend Telvan. And, with Lianna and Enverna being one of the most powerful duos in the city at this point, not having them there did hurt their chances.

But, at the same time, Mel understood that Vy needed to die today. Her not falling would leave the door open for future disaster.

With this in mind, Mel made a choice.

She stepped forward, determination in her gaze.

"Lianna, stay here with Enverna," Mel said firmly. "Athene, Zura, Caroline, and I will defend the city."

Lianna did a double-take.

"Are you sure?" Lianna asked, worry etched on her face.

Mel nodded, her resolve unwavering.

"Leave this to us. You handle Vy."

Lianna hesitated, then nodded, trusting Mel’s judgment.

"Be careful."

Mel gave a reassuring smile before turning to Athene, Zura, and Caroline.

"Let’s go."

The four of them sprinted away, heading towards the heart of the city. As they ran, Mel couldn’t help but glance back, hoping Lianna would be okay.

They had a battle to fight, and a city to protect.

---

The sound of their footsteps echoed through the streets as they ran.

They could see the fear on the faces of those they passed, the uncertainty and panic. Mel’s heart ached, but she pushed it aside. They had to be strong.

They reached the main square, where a group of city guards were trying to organize a defense. The sky above was growing darker, the oppressive weight of the impending Fiend raid palpable.

"What’s happening?" one of the guards shouted as they approached.

"Fiend raid," Mel said breathlessly.

"WHAT!?"

That reaction was... understandable, of course. A Fiend raid, to these people, would probably seem like it came out of nowhere.

"We need to prepare," Mel told him. "Let everyone know!"

Athene and Zura immediately started coordinating with the guards, while Caroline and Mel focused on setting up defensive barriers and spells.

Mel took a deep breath, her hands glowing with arcane energy. They were ready. They had to be. For Lianna, for the city, and for everyone depending on them.

The battle was far from over. But they would fight with everything they had.

---

{Vy}

Vy stood atop the house, clutching the artifact.

The sky above was darkening, a fitting backdrop to the chaos she had orchestrated. As she looked down at Lianna and Enverna, memories flooded her mind.

Years of isolation. Years of pain. It wasn’t that this city had taken anything from her, but rather, it had never given her anything to love to begin with.

Friends, family, hopes, goals, dreams, and ambitions. She’d never known these things until Saren came along.

Now, here she stood, with, ironically, another child of mana being her final obstacle. This girl, this heathen, was her final test.

Her grip tightened on the rock, the rough surface digging into her skin. It was a reminder of the power she now held, the power to destroy the very place that had caused her so much suffering.

"So, traitor," Vy called out, her voice echoing through the street. "Are you prepared to end this?"

Lianna and Enverna didn’t hesitate. With a fierce determination in their eyes, they rushed at Vy, their weapons ready.

Vy took a deep breath, steeling herself for the battle. She knew that no matter what happened, Saren would avenge her if she fell. This was the moment she had been waiting for, the moment to make the city pay for its sins.

She prepared to fight, her eyes locked on Lianna and Enverna as they closed the distance.

The final confrontation was about to begin.