Chapter 280
The ruins loomed in the distance, their jagged silhouette casting an ominous shadow against the horizon. Dain moved like a predator through the forest, his eyes locked on his goal. Every fiber of his being screamed for speed, for strength, for vengeance.
He reached the entrance just as the first rays of dawn pierced the sky. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and lingering power, and Dain’s heart clenched as he felt Elyra’s energy faintly within the ruin. She was still alive.
Jason appeared at the far end of the chamber, his red eyes narrowing at Dain’s arrival. “You never learn, do you?” Jason sneered, stepping forward with an air of confidence.
Dain didn’t respond. His orange eyes burned with focused rage as he crossed the room in quick, deliberate strides. Jason barely had time to raise his fists before Dain struck, his blow sending the twisted man staggering back.
“She doesn’t need saving,” Jason spat, recovering quickly and lunging at Dain. “She doesn’t want you!”
Their fists collided in a brutal clash, the room echoing with the sounds of their struggle. Jason’s taunts grew sharper as the fight dragged on. “Do you really think you’re any better than me?” he hissed. “She’ll never choose you.”
Dain’s movements didn’t falter. “I don’t need her to choose me,” he growled, his strikes swift and precise. “I just need her safe.”
Meanwhile, Elyra watched from the shadows, her pendant glowing faintly as she felt the portal’s energy rising. The ruins trembled around them, dust and debris falling from the ceiling as the power began to surge uncontrollably.
Elyra’s eyes locked on Jason’s back as he fought Dain. Her fury boiled over, and she stepped into the light, her silver hair glowing like a beacon. “You don’t get to decide my fate, Jason.”
Jason turned, his expression a mix of shock and fear. “Elyra—”
Before he could say more, Elyra raised her hand, her powers flaring to life. The energy surged forward, slamming into Jason and sending him sprawling.
The ground beneath their feet cracked, and a low rumble echoed through the chamber. “The portal,” Elyra realized, her voice urgent. “It’s destabilizing!”
Dain moved to her side, his breathing ragged but his grip steady as he took her arm. “We need to get out of here.”
Together, they ran as the ruin began to collapse. The portal’s energy exploded in bursts of light, illuminating the chaos. Elyra and Dain barely made it to the forest before the entire structure caved in behind them, leaving nothing but rubble and silence.
Elyra collapsed to her knees, her breaths coming in short gasps. Dain knelt beside her, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. “It’s over,” he said softly.
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