Ch.86 I give my life to save you!

*ZZ-SWING-ZZ!*

Quin gripped the hilt of his sword tightly as energy crackled along the blade, illuminating the dark cavern with an electric blue glow. With a swift, determined swing, he cleaved through the advancing rock wall, sending shards of stone flying in all directions. “Rya! You need to fight the collar! If I can just reach it, I can free you! You don’t have to face this alone!” he shouted, desperation lacing his voice.

Rya looked up at him, her eyes filled with anguish and fear. “I’m so sorry, Quin. I’ve been trying to fight it, and it’s beyond me!” she replied, her voice trembling. With a swift motion, she unleashed two more powerful magic attacks, bright and fiery, shooting toward Quin as he desperately tried to close the distance between them.

“NO! I WON’T LEAVE YOU!” Quin roared, his determination surging as he intercepted both of Rya’s projectiles, deflecting them with a swift parry of his sword. The impact sent vibrations up his arm, but he didn’t falter; he was determined to save her, no matter the cost. Quin ran toward her, but she threw herself backward to avoid him.

“Rya! Don’t run!” Quin screams as he follows after her.

Quin reaches her side, but before he could reach her collar, she launched another earth attack that struck Quin on his side.

“No! NO!” Quin yelled as blood started to seep through his armor.

“Quin! There’s no way I can escape this collar! Quin, you have to stop me!” Rya cried out.

Jeremiah was absolutely amused by all the action going on before him.

“HAHA! I think I should keep her, instead of giving her to the duke. I won’t need to lift a finger anymore with her around.” Jeremiah laughed.

Quin stands back up as he takes deep breaths. He turns towards Rya, who was preparing another attack.

“Rya… I’m sorry I never got to tell you…” Quin says as he readies himself for her attack.

‘No! Don’t say it, Quin! Not now!’ Rya screamed in her head.

“You’re too important to me, Rya… I can never harm you because I love you…” Quin states as he prepares for her next move.

‘FUCK! I HATE THIS COLLAR! FIGHT IT GOD DAMMIT!’ Rya screamed in her mind as her body continued to go after Quinus.

Just before she comes into striking distance, a few arrows come her way.

Earth walls formed everywhere around her to stop the incoming arrows.

“Damn! She’s strong!” Jeremiah said as he watched the scene unfold.

*Swing! Crush!*

Quin just barely missed being struck by Rya’s attack.

‘Why would Quin love someone as flawed as me! God! I’m so fucking stupid!’

“RUN!” Rya screamed as she charged at him.

Quin blocks two of her attacks and then slashes at her. The attack almost hit her, but she was able to dodge it.

“I’m not running, Rya! I’m going to free you, even if it costs me my life!” Quin yelled back as he blocked her next attack, which was a fist covered in a rock spike.

“This isn’t fair!” Rya screams as she swings at his head with her rock fist.

Quin dodges it but stumbled backwards onto his back.

‘NO! Quin’s defenseless!’ Rya screamed in her mind as she swung again.

Jeremiah smiled as he watched Rya about to kill Quinus.

“Lady Ryan!” Sir George comes in front of Rya’s attack.

Rya swings as Sir George holds up his shield to block the spike strike.

*BAM!*

*Slam!*

A rock spikes and slams into Sir George’s shield, knocking off his hand.

“Gah!” Sir George felt the spike entering his stomach.

“George!” Quinus yelled upon seeing his retainer and friend impaled by Rya’s attack.

“No! George!” Rya yelled in disbelief.

Sir George quickly hugged her so he could keep her in her place.

*Cough!* “It’s o-okay, lad-y Rya. It’s n-ot your fault.” Sir George said between coughs as blood started coming from his mouth.

‘No! NO! Please don’t die!’ Rya begged.

Sir George held her tightly as he could.

***

About 15 minutes before Rya stabbed Sir George.

Dietrich was engaged in a battle with some dwarven soldiers. Swinging around his war hammer, he was able to take out two dwarves in one swing.

“Weaklings!” Dietrich said as he turned his attention to the fight between Jeremiah and Quinus.

***

*CLING! CLANG! CLONG!*

The sound of metal striking metal echoed through the dimly lit alley as Jeremiah and Quin engaged in a fierce duel, their weapons flashing in the flickering light. Each strike was a testament to their skill, with blows exchanged rapidly, left and right, creating a symphony of chaos and determination.

“Ugh! Is that all you got, Kings Slayer?” Quin shouted, his voice a mix of bravado and challenge, sweat glistening on his brow as he braced for Jeremiah’s next move.

“Putting on a brave face! I’m just getting started!” Jeremiah replied, a confident smirk crossing his face as he prepared for an offensive. With a sudden, fluid motion, he unleashed a spinning kick aimed at Quin’s midsection, the air whipping around him as he moved with lightning speed. The tension between them crackled like electricity, each fighter pushing the other to their limits in this epic confrontation.

***

‘Come on, kid! Injure that bastard so I can make my move!’ Dietrich thought as he swung around his war hammer.

Just as he was about to deliver the final blow to another dwarven soldier.

“Argh!” a dwarf screamed as he fell back from the ground with blood pouring from his mouth.

‘Patience Dietrich. Once you get the slaver tool. You will be able to take over this continent. Hell, maybe the world if I can kill the dragons… No! Don’t get too cocky, you still have a lot to prove.’ Dietrich thought as he readied himself again.

Dietrich patiently waited in hopes that he could grab the slaver’s tool from Jeremiah while fighting the prince. That was until Jeremiah sent the slave in to do his dirty work after getting kicked back by Quinus.

‘Goddess be damned! That dark elf is more valuable than a weapon, you moron!’ Dietrich thought as he turned to see Rya attacking Quinus.

It was at that moment that Dietrich noticed Jeremiah was completely engrossed in Rya’s fight.

‘Shit! This may be the only way for me to get the Slaver tool! I need to make my move when she goes in for the kill. Hopefully, Jeremiah won’t see me coming.’ Dietrich thought to himself as he moved behind Jeremiah. Trying not make it too obvious and alert him to what was happening.

‘I’ll go for the tool… Goddess, I wish I could backstab this mother fucker. But that unique skill of his will fuck me up if I try.’ Dietrich sighed in thought as he attempted to formulate a plan.

As Dietrich settled into position, his heart raced with anticipation. This was the moment he had been waiting for. Just then, the prince’s retainer, an imposing figure clad in gleaming armor, stepped in front of his lord, ready to thwart any attack Rya might unleash. This unexpected distraction provided Dietrich with the perfect opening.

‘Time to make my move,’ he thought, steeling himself with determination. ‘Hopefully this idiot doesn’t see me coming.’ With that, he lunged towards Jeremiah, aiming for the slaver tool that glinted ominously in the man’s left hand.

Jeremiah hadn’t expected such audacity. “Hehe! This slave will be the end of—Huh? What the hells?” he exclaimed, confusion washing over his expression as he felt a sudden, firm grip on his wrist. The realization struck him too late. “What the—Dietrich! You traitorous bastard!”

In a flash, the scene erupted into chaos, a tug-of-war unfolding between them as they grappled for control of the slaver tool. Each man’s strength was tested as they strained against one another, the outcome uncertain. The clang of armor and distant shouts faded into the background as their individual struggle intensified, focused solely on the weapon that could seal both their fates.

“Goddess be damned! Fucking let go! The dark elf is mine!” Dietrich shouted as he tried to pry the slaver tool free from Jeremiah’s hand.

“Oh! You’re a failure in every conceivable way, Dietrich!” Jeremiah sneered, his voice dripping with disdain as he shoved Dietrich roughly away, the force of the push sending him stumbling back. “And this is just the final nail in your coffin.”

“I’m not letting go, you arrogant prick! That slave is mine!” Dietrich retorted, anger boiling within him as he fought to wrest the tool from Jeremiah’s grip. He could feel the heat of the moment, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he locked eyes with his opponent.

“ENOUGH!” Jeremiah roared, his face twisted in fury. He swung his wooden sword with terrifying speed, aiming for a decisive strike against Dietrich. Reacting instinctively, Dietrich raised his mana-charged war hammer just in time to intercept the blow.

*BOOM!*

The impact of the two weapons colliding created a mini shockwave that reverberated through the air, rattling the surroundings. Dietrich’s war hammer absorbed the brunt of Jeremiah’s powerful swing, but the force was still enough to shove them both back roughly five feet. As the momentum from the clash took hold, they instinctively released their grip on the tool, sending it clattering to the ground between them. The tension hung thick in the air, electrifying every breath they took.

“Damn it! Why are things never easy for me?” Dietrich cursed as he looked at the slaver tool.

“You’re a dead man, Dietrich! I swear on my honor!” Jeremiah spat as he raised his sword in the air before charging at Dietrich.

***

With Jeremiah no longer holding the tool that had been controlling her, Rya felt a flicker of freedom surge through her, though she wasn’t entirely free from the collar’s oppressive hold. As she hesitated, her grip on Sir George slackened, a mix of relief and devastation flooding over her.

*Cough!* Sir George drew in a ragged breath, a grimace twisting his face as he struggled to speak. “It’s o-okay, lad-y Rya. It’s n-ot your fault,” he managed between painful coughs, blood seeping from the corners of his mouth, staining his once-pristine tunic. Each cough sent tremors through Rya, amplifying the dread pooling in her stomach.

‘No! NO! Please don’t die!’ Rya screamed silently in her mind, horror twisting her insides as she watched the strong figure before her waver.

Sir George, despite the pain racking his body, held her tightly, grounding her in that moment. His fervent grip was a reminder of their bond, one she felt was slipping away like sand through her fingers.

‘God! Fuck it, Nils! Please, stop me! I can’t bear to watch myself kill my friends! I don’t want to hurt Quin! So please! End this however you see fit!’ Rya’s thoughts screamed in despair; the weight of her turmoil became unbearable as she hesitated, easing her attack on Sir George, desperate to override the collar’s influence.

Suddenly, a sharp WHIZZZ pierced the air, followed by a brutal THUMP that resonated in her back, jolting her from her internal battle. Pain erupted, radiating through her body like fire.

“RYA!?” Quinus shouted in shock, his voice echoing with alarm as dread gripped him. His eyes widened as he rushed toward her, horror etched across his face, taking in the sight of the pristine white arrow jutting out from her back, a cruel reminder of the chaos erupting around them. The realization hit him like a tidal wave; he might lose her, just as he had lost so much already.

Rya’s mind drifted in an ethereal haze, a strange tranquility washing over her as her consciousness began to slip away. ‘Huh? Am I… am I dying?’ She thought, an unsettling mix of fear and calm enveloping her. The world around her blurred, and she couldn’t help but wonder why it felt so pleasantly serene, as if she were floating away from all her troubles.

“NO! RYA!” Quinus shouted, his voice breaking through the thick fog of despair that filled the air. He leaped towards Sir George, who was cradling Rya’s limp body in his arms. Blood oozed from the gaping wound in George’s stomach, and he struggled to maintain his balance, the life force draining from him.

“George! Hold on, I’m here!” Quinus urged, desperation clawing at his chest as he knelt beside them, the reality of their dire situation crashing down like a heavy wave.

With trembling hands, he placed one palm against George’s back and the other on Rya’s cool, mocha skin. ‘Don’t go, please don’t go,’ he silently pleaded, feeling the warmth of her fading presence.

*Cough!* Sir George gasped, a spurt of blood escaping his lips and staining Rya’s surroundings. “D-Don’t wor-ry ab-out m… Gah…” His voice was barely a whisper, each word draining his strength further.

“Shhh! You don’t need to say anything. Just rest now, George. Just rest,” Quinus whispered soothingly, his heart aching as he pulled Rya closer to him, cradling her like a precious gem slipping through his fingers.

With a final, shuddering breath, George slumped over onto his side, his eyes closing gently as if surrendering to the darkness. Quinus felt tears welling up, blurring his vision. ‘I’ve got you now,’ he murmured, his voice thick with emotion, but deep down, an agonizing thought gnawed at him: ‘I failed her. I failed to save her…’ The weight of his despair sat heavily on his chest, mingling with the adrenaline of the fight that had brought them to this moment.