My Shard Bearer System - Elias's Legacy
Chapter 65: Graveling Dirt

Chapter 65: Graveling Dirt

She shot a glare at Silas, her voice sharp and unwavering. "Gladly. Lights, time for some action."

A small golden light appeared above her, hovering in place before it surged into her chest. Trails of golden energy radiated off her body, giving her an aura of raw heat and power. With a crack, the ground beneath her shattered as she launched herself forward, her body a blur of motion.

Silas stood his ground, his palms suddenly clapping together. The sound echoed sharply as a dozen violet tendrils materialized in front of him, writhing and snapping like serpents made of slime. They lashed out with terrifying speed, forcing Kikaru to skid to a halt just short of their reach.

She smirked, a quick motion bringing her hand to a small button near her neck. A faint hum followed as her body flickered and disappeared entirely.

"Tch," Silas muttered, his annoyance clear. "Invisibility suits? Of course, they’d hand those out. If they didn’t think they could beat me, they should’ve used it to run from the start."

His eyes darted left and right, scanning his surroundings. Then—without warning—Kikaru materialized right in front of him. Her fist collided with his chest, a crushing blow aimed directly at his core. The impact sent ripples across the purple slime coating his body, the substance absorbing the hit like water breaking around a stone.

"You’re going to need more than that," Silas sneered.

Kikaru’s smirk didn’t falter. "This trick won’t work again. If there’s nothing for it to slip off of, it’ll go right through."

She spun, her second strike charged with golden energy. The impact shattered the protective slime, sending Silas stumbling to the edge of the cliff. He clutched his chest, his breathing uneven, but his smirk remained intact as he coiled on the ground.

Kikaru stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she closed the distance. But the crunch beneath her boot made her freeze.

Her gaze dropped to the capsule now crushed beneath her. A sharp hiss escaped as a gas cloud exploded outward, enveloping her in a dense plume. Kikaru lunged forward, desperate to escape, and just managed to clear the edge of the cloud.

But it was too late.

Her vision blurred as the effects took hold. Her knees buckled, the strength in her legs vanishing. The world around her tilted and warped, her body pitching forward.

She hit the dirt, her breathing labored. Her mind fought desperately to stay awake, but her limbs refused to obey. Darkness crept into her vision, her consciousness hanging by a thread.

As Colby moved toward Kikaru, his steps unsteady but determined, a sudden grip around his neck stopped him cold. Rirana’s soft yet firm hands wrapped around him, her voice low and mocking. "That’s enough now," she said with a saccharine edge. "Didn’t you hear? Silas would rather you not die—don’t you remember?"

Colby’s mind swam as her words seeped in like poison. His vision blurred slightly, but his instincts kicked in. Gritting his teeth, he clawed at his uniform, ripping a piece off in desperation. He pressed it against his palm, the sharp pain briefly grounding him. His free hand darted to Rirana’s side, gripping her hip in a weak but defiant attempt to push her away.

"Damn idiot," Rirana muttered, wincing as she let him go. She brushed at her hip with annoyance, glaring down at the unconscious Colby sprawled on the ground. "Didn’t have to pinch me," she mumbled under her breath.

Her gaze shifted forward.

Silas stood hunched over, his posture swaying but defiant as blood dripped from his chest.

He coughed, the sound strained, before speaking. "It’s a shame... I was hoping this would end with a little more discovery on your part,"

he said, his voice hoarse. "Developing a gas that reacts so violently to blood infused with soul energy—it was a fun challenge. I might’ve explained it all if you hadn’t chosen to fight..."

Silas wiped his mouth with a shaky hand, straightening as much as his battered body allowed. "But I must admit," he continued, "I’m not built for taking hits. Unlike Vincent..." His voice trailed off, and he winced, holding his chest where blood continued to seep through his uniform. "I’ll trust Rirana to handle the rest. But the win is yours, Kikaru."

Rirana stepped beside him, sliding an arm under his to steady him. "You don’t get to act cool when you got your ass kicked, you know," she snapped. "Without that gas, you’d be a smear on the ground."

Silas smirked faintly, the corners of his mouth twitching beneath the streaks of blood that painted his face.

His breaths were shallow, each one wheezing as if dragged from the depths of his chest.

He staggered, leaning heavily into Rirana as she slipped an arm under his shoulder, steadying him with surprising ease.

The effort she put into hauling his weight didn’t show on her face; her expression remained sharp, her eyes scanning their surroundings with practiced precision.

Ahead, the small craft perched at the cliff’s edge emitted a low, rhythmic hum, the sound growing steadily louder as Rirana reached for its console.

She keyed in commands with swift, calculated motions, her fingers dancing over the buttons like a pianist playing the final notes of a concerto.

The craft responded, its metallic undercarriage releasing a faint vibration as its propulsion system powered up.

Behind them, the unmistakable crunch of boots pressing into the loose gravel grew nearer, accompanied by muffled voices.

The sound carried the weight of urgency—a relentless pursuit closing in fast. Rirana’s gaze darted over her shoulder briefly, her lips pressing into a tight line before she returned her focus to the controls.

"Almost there," she muttered under her breath.

With a sharp exhale, she slammed her palm against the final button, the craft lurching to life.

The engines roared as the vehicle’s underside glowed faintly, lifting it from its resting position in a sudden burst of motion.

Dust and pebbles swirled around them, scattering across the cliffside as the thrusters engaged.

Without waiting for another second, Rirana pulled Silas into the open hatch. The door sealed behind them just as the craft rocketed upward, leaving a trail of displaced air and debris in its wake. Below, the soldiers reached the edge of the cliff, their rifles raised, only to be met with the sight of the craft disappearing into the sky, its hum fading into the distance.