Chapter 30

30

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Casterline jumped back into the fray, snapping her fingers once again in order to wreak havoc on her struggling opponent. This time, the snapping caused the rain to pound down even harder than before. This time, what fell from the skies was pure acid. Before the kneeling creature could rise up to its full stature, Caste leapt toward the beast's horn, careful to shield her eyes from the acidic rain drops pelting down onto her hood, and began to twist it off with all her might. She envisioned herself being the strongest woman on Earth and Magic coursed through her muscles and veins in order to acquiesce to her desires. Sickly and weak as she was, though, this physical strength came at a price, taking a grave toll on her health like no Magic had done before. She twisted and pulled with the force of ten thousand soldiers until the horn finally broke free from Sevius's head with a sickening snap. She turned the heavy horn 'round in her hands and plunged it deep into Sevius's many beating hearts. They exploded all at once in a sickening spray of blood. The Title Sevius suddenly changed to Save Us then disapeared completely along with the HP bar. The horse went down on all fours, anguished Souls bursting from within its dying body.

To Casterline's horror, she recognized each escaping Soul as a citizen of Krowne. Some she remembered only from Delia's shared memories while many others she recognized as her earlier opponents. All those she'd thought she'd freed from despair, weeping and wailing yet again inside Sevius...a winged beast now mutating into the form of a dying woman near and dear to Delia's heart. "Lady Gwenavier?" Just then a funeral organ sounded off a congratulatory tone, announcing Casterline's rise to Level One Hundred. A hollow victory as Gwenavier grabbed Casterline's hand and sputtered, "Thank you for releasing us. Thank you...for saving us. This...was all I...could do for them. I was...trying...to keep them everyone safe..." So that was it. Gwenavier used her transformed state as a bastion for lost Souls. Those monsters Fiaerna saw fit to torment, a place where they could hide themselves in Death. But it was power over Death that Fiaerna sought most. And now, thanks to Casterline's unknowing hand, that power was hers to wield. Caste turned to Harumi, whose face was now melting and contorting in truly horrific ways.

"I'm Harumi, Mother." Harumi appeared behind Caste. "I'm Harumi, Mother." To her left. "I'm Harumi, Mother." To her right. "I'm Harumi, Mother." The sweet voice deepened, changing in tone and pitch. "i'M hArUmI, mOtHeR." The visage of her child surrounded her from all sides. A rage filled scream ripped through the night and Caste lunged for the source of her anguish. A black and purple dome enveloped the little girl, all clones vanishing the moment Casterline raised her bare fists to pierce through to her true target. The attacks bounced off pitifully, leaving Casterline's knuckles bloodied and bruised. She was appalled to noticed the blank canvas of Harumi's face bubbling up like boiling water. Fiaerna's eyes, nose and mouth burst through the old skin, accompanied by grotesquely sickening sounds. It was enough to make Casterline's stomach heave. As she leaned forward to wretch, a new Description Menu appeared before her. "Fox Bloom Grove: Delia's Acid Rain Garden. Consists mainly of Poisonous Fox Blooms. Defining floral features include pink and green petals with bright yellow thorns and stem. Upon blooming, a fox-like tail and ears sprout from the blossom and backside of the flower to emit a gaseous poison. In combination with Acid Rain, the effects of Paralysis Poisoning will occur. A powerful attack that would subdue even the mightiest of mounts. The Great Pegasus Servius being no great exception. Threat Level: Murderous"