Multiversal Ascension-Chapter 105: Shadow’s Choice

Seconds passed as they approached the city's outer walls. However, the longer it had been since the start of Nexoria's invasion, the fewer survivors they saw. The city was rapidly turning into a graveyard, and as the number of living people dwindled, the group of four became an increasingly obvious target.

The Nexorian attacks intensified. Fortunately, Shadow, an SS rank warrior, was powerful enough to deal with most of the attacking entities. While she wasn't comparable to the strongest beings coming from the crack in the sky, she could still cut down these lesser creatures with ease.

Mikael watched as Shadow effortlessly eliminated another Nexorian, a cold sweat running down his back. He could accurately gauge the creature's general strength, and while taking it down himself wouldn't be impossible, he would have to rely entirely on his Weightless Wind-Explosive Style. Even then, it would be a difficult fight.

'It wouldn't be nearly as effortless as she makes it seem...'

Realizing this, he felt a surge of gratitude that Amelia had Shadow as her bodyguard. Without her, escaping this city would have been exponentially more difficult.

They pressed forward, now nearing the outer walls. Seeing their escape route in sight, a wave of relief washed over them.

At that moment, Shadow's expression suddenly changed. She turned sharply to look behind them, her face growing deathly serious.

"Something's coming," Shadow muttered, her voice unusually rigid.

Mikael concentrated his senses, but the moment he felt the monstrous presence approaching at breakneck speed, his breath hitched.

'This... This thing is on an entirely different level!'

It was leagues beyond anything they had encountered so far—stronger than the Nexorian beasts, stronger than Shadow herself. And it was coming straight for them.

"We can't escape," Shadow stated grimly, her grip tightening around her pairs of daggers as she scanned the area behind them, where the presence was rapidly approaching. "It'll catch us before we can even put any distance between us."

Amelia's lips parted. "Then we fight!" she declared firmly, even as her body instinctively trembled under the sheer pressure of the overwhelming presence.

Lyra didn't speak, but she slipped out of Mikael's arms, estimating that they were far enough from the red mist. Taking a fighting stance in the direction of the approaching threat, she stood her ground despite the slight tremble in her body.

Mikael let out a sigh. 'So this is where it ends, huh?' A strange sense of melancholy settled over him. His body, too, trembled under the crushing aura, but his mind remained calm as he positioned himself for battle.

Inwardly, he shook his head. 'If this is where I fall, then I'll go down fighting!' Even as an instinctive fear of death clawed at him, he steeled himself against the approaching force.

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Shadow observed their grim but determined expressions, and a small, almost sad smile appeared on her lips. "No need to take a fighting stance—I'll hold it off. Meanwhile, you three need to get out of here."

Amelia's heart nearly jumped out of her chest. "That's suicide!"

"I know." Shadow smiled gently. "But if I stay behind to buy time, the three of you can live. If we all stay, we all die."

Amelia took a step forward, her usually calm demeanor cracking. "Shadow..."

"I swore to protect you, Lady Amelia," Shadow said, her voice unwavering. "This is the best way I can fulfill that duty."

"Isn't there a-any other way?" Amelia's voice tightened, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. While she had never been particularly close with Shadow, the woman had been by her side for years. A certain bond had formed between them. And now, knowing that Shadow would throw away her life for them, Amelia felt her heart clench with pain.

Shadow simply shook her head before turning away, her back now facing Amelia. Her voice was gentle as she spoke again. "Go."

Mikael clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, drawing blood. But he ignored the pain. Watching the scene unfold before him, he felt awful.

Until now, he hadn't paid much attention to Shadow. To him, she had been nothing more than Amelia's bodyguard—an afterthought. And yet, here she was, willingly sacrificing herself for Amelia's sake... and by extension, for him as well. A storm of emotions surged within him—deep gratitude, frustration at his own weakness, and a gnawing sense of helplessness.

Amelia lowered her head, her hands trembling at her sides, before she forced herself to turn away. With tears streaming down her face, she ran.

"FUCK!" Mikael cursed, gritting his teeth. He clenched his jaw, then turned on his heels and sprinted after Amelia, with Lyra close behind.

***

Shadow watched them go with a sad smile, her gaze lingering on Amelia's retreating figure. 'It seems I will soon join you, Lady Camellia...' she thought, a bittersweet feeling settling in her chest.

The young girl she had sworn to protect was now running for her life, her existence hanging by a thread. Years ago, her mother had died, and she hadn't been there to protect her—a regret that had never faded. But now, she had a chance to 'atone.' The weight of knowing that, just like her mother, the daughter now faced a mortal threat pressed heavily on her shoulders. Even after all these years, fate remained cruel.

She let out a quiet sigh before turning back toward the direction of the approaching presence. This time, her grip on her daggers tightened. The oppressive aura pressing down on her sent a shiver through her body, but she forced herself to remain steady.

'While I have no doubt that I will fall here... I will hold off this threat for as long as I can. I will protect your daughter, Lady Camellia, even if it costs me my life.'

Her stance shifted as she took a deep breath, pushing aside the fear clawing at the edges of her mind. Her death was certain, but she refused to let it be meaningless. If she could delay this creature long enough, then Amelia, Mikael, and Lyra would have a chance.

And that was enough.

As the presence drew closer, the very air around her seemed to tremble.

And then she saw it.

A few meters ahead, a humanoid figure appeared, moving at an extremely high speed. The instant it spotted her, it stopped abruptly, then began to walk toward her with slow, deliberate steps.

At first glance, it had a vaguely human shape, but that was where the similarities ended. Its body was entirely red, like all the other entities from Nexoria, but that was the most ordinary part of its grotesque form.

Two pairs of arms protruded from either side of its torso, each ending in clawed fingers sharp enough to tear flesh from bone. A long, segmented tail arched behind it, its tip dripping with a viscous purple liquid. The moment a droplet hit the ground, a sinister sizzling sound filled the air as the terrain beneath it melted instantly, revealing the terrifying potency of its venom.

But what unsettled her the most was its head—an eerily detailed scorpion-like visage with a pair of jagged mandibles where its mouth should have been. Two entirely black, soulless eyes locked onto her with an unnerving intensity.

Yet, none of that compared to the sheer horror of the aura it radiated.

Shadow felt it seep into her very being—a vile, corrupting force so unnatural that she couldn't even put it into words. The sensation churned her stomach, making her dizzy with nausea.

Despite her discomfort, her eyes remained sharp, cautiously scanning the creature for weaknesses. She didn't make the first move—she knew she wasn't a match for it in direct combat. Her goal wasn't victory but survival, to stall it for as long as possible. Every second she bought was a win.

Then, it spoke.

"Powerful human female, surrender to me!" Its distorted voice crackled, the words twisted and broken as if speech itself was unnatural to it. "If you surrender... I spare you. You become mate!"

Shadow's entire body tensed, a violent shudder running down her spine. Even through its fragmented speech, the meaning was clear—it wanted her as its mate.

Her stomach twisted in disgust, and her hands clenched into fists. She had already resigned herself to death if it meant protecting her young lady, but this... this was beyond anything she could tolerate.

'Sorry, my lady,' she thought, knowing she could have stalled for longer if she played along. But she had her limits. She would rather die than submit to this abomination.

With unwavering resolve, she lowered herself into a combat stance.

'Shadow Travel.'

In the blink of an eye, her body melted into the darkness, vanishing into the ground. She slipped into the shadows, moving as silently as possible, hoping to strike from an unseen angle.

But the moment she shifted, the creature's scorpion head snapped in her direction, its eyes tracking her with disturbing precision.

'It can see me!'

Her breath hitched, and she immediately changed her approach. If stealth was useless, then speed was her only option.

She shot forward at her maximum velocity, reappearing just as she closed the distance. Her daggers, wreathed in a dark, shadowy aura, lashed out in a lethal arc, aimed directly at the creature's neck.

The instant her blades neared its flesh, the creature moved.

Faster than she anticipated.

One of its four arms intercepted her strike, claws clashing against her daggers with a metallic screech. The sheer force sent a jolt through her arms, rattling her bones. Before she could adjust, another arm lashed out, aiming to crush her ribs.

Shadow twisted mid-air, narrowly dodging the strike as she flipped backward, landing in a crouch. Her breath came in sharp, controlled bursts, but her mind was racing.

'It's fast... too fast.'

The scorpion humanoid let out a low chittering sound, its mandibles clicking in what almost seemed like amusement.

"You... strong," it rasped, taking a slow step forward. "But weak compared to us."

Without warning, it lunged.

Shadow barely had time to react before a barrage of strikes rained down upon her. The creature's four arms moved in terrifying unison, each blow carrying enough power to shatter her bone. She weaved through the attacks, parrying when she could, dodging when she couldn't, but it was relentless.

A sudden pain flared in her side.

One of its claws had grazed her ribs, tearing through her clothes and carving a shallow wound. She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to ignore the pain. There was no time for hesitation.

'If I don't find an opening soon... I'm dead.'

But no matter how many times she dodged, countered, or tried to reposition, the scorpion entity adapted. It was like it was learning—adjusting to her movements, predicting her attacks.

Then, she felt it.

A presence behind her.

Her eyes widened, realizing too late—its tail!

She twisted her body in a desperate attempt to evade, but the venomous stinger moved too fast.

A sharp, searing pain exploded in her stomach.

Shadow gasped, her vision blurring as she stumbled backward. A thick, burning sensation spread through her veins like wildfire. Her limbs grew heavy, her strength rapidly draining.

Poison.

The creature watched her falter, its mandibles clicking in satisfaction.

Shadow coughed, blood spilling from her lips, but she still forced herself to stand. Her body trembled, her legs barely holding her weight, yet she raised her daggers once more.

'No... not yet. It hasn't been long enough.'

She wouldn't fall yet.

If she had to die, she would die fighting—taking a pound of flesh with her.

With the last remnants of her strength, she launched herself forward one final time.

Her blades found purchase, slicing deep into the creature's chest.

It let out a guttural hiss, but its retaliation was swift. One of its claws impaled her shoulder, while another tore into her side.

She couldn't feel the pain anymore.

Her body was numb. Cold.

Her vision darkened, but even as the world blurred around her, she smiled.

'Lady Camellia... I'm coming to join you.'

Her knees buckled, and her body collapsed.

The last thing she saw was the crimson sky above, tainted by the invasion that doomed this world.

Then, darkness.

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