———
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
– Izayami Tsukihiro
———
I took off skyward, dodging the lighting arrows while the ground while jagged earth erupted beneath, clawing at him from below.
Minutes of relentless dodging had begun to wear me down. "I need to somehow escape this situation." I muttered, my breath sharp, until a thunderbolt speared down just inches from my chest.
"Shit!"
I thrust my hand forward. A vortex spiraled into existence, distorting the very air around him.
[Fictional Devour – Activate]
The stormfire froze mid-descent, pixel by pixel unraveling as if reality itself was being consumed. Fragments of luminous data flickered in the air before dissolving into him—glowing shards of stolen power drifting like embers.
[You have acquired Lightning Skill – Thunder Strikes.]
I let out a heavy sigh. "I should have done that from the start…" The storm faded from my arm as I scanned the battlefield for the Apostle.
———
Elsewhere, Yurina was trapped inside a blazing hurricane. "If not for these scales, I'd already be ash in this storm." her wings weren't strong enough to fight the air currents.
A familiar red orb drifted its way towards her after its sudden disappearance. Yurina noticed a faint crack running across its surface. The moment her fingers brushed it, the orb shattered into glowing particles—reshaping itself into a lozenge-cut jewel blazing with ancient runes. "Dragonstone?"
That transformation brought hope upon her powers. Mana poured from the jewel into her veins. With a single powerful beat of her wings, she managed to break free from the heart of the storm.
Unaware of the situation, the Apostle's eyes wandered across the land of destruction he caused. "Now there's no more insect in my way…" he murmured, lowering his guard down. "…I need to find that Toťęm."
Then his eyes caught Haruza, crawling desperately from the ruins. "Found you~" vines lashed out, coiling around Haruza and dragging him helplessly toward the Apostle.
Haruza struggled against the vines. "I won't give you anything!" he shouted, breaking one arm free.
The Apostle chuckled, sculpted ice spearing from his arm. "Oh, you will." a devilish smile spreading across his face.
VYYYUUUUUUMM
A thunderous punch slammed into the Apostle, hurling him across the battlefield.
Haruto cracked his knuckles with a weary breath. "What a pain in the ass." he unsheathed his katana, slicing through the vines. "Do you hurt anywhere, bro? I meant, sir?" his voice heavy with concern.
Haruza coughed out blood, his voice faint. "I'm fine…" his trembling hand reached into his robe, a totem carved with gold and arcane glyphs was revealed. "He's here for this. Don't let him have it." He forced the relic stick into his hand, blood trickled from his temple, his head began to bleed.
Haruto pushed it away. "But I can't just—!" he objected, his voice sharp. Suddenly, a boulder hurtled toward them. Instinctively, he drew his blade and cleaved it in two—the impact sent shards and dust spiraling upward, defying gravity itself.
DHUMMMMM
From a distance, the Apostle's roar split the earth. "YOU WRETCHED INSECT!" Vines twisted into tentacles, hauling him skyward. "I had you trapped in the ravine." He calmed himself down as he clenched his fist.
Haruto stood firm in the midst of elemental disaster. "Try and figure it out yourself." His voice echoed in the Apostle's mind, grating on his nerves.
Out of nothingness, the Apostle conjured multiple orbs—fire, lightning, ice, earth, and wind—each swirling with destructive force. "Let nature judge your life." At his command, the storm of elemental orb surged toward them.
[Dream Cutter]
Haruto reinforced the blade with the night skies. Stars shimmered each time he countered the elemental orb—waves of explosions erupted.
———
"JUST DIE ALREADY!" the Apostle roared, halting his assaults as the swirling orbs collided, merging into a colossal asteroid.
The asteroid loomed, vast as the moon—perhaps even greater. With a single command, the Apostle sent it plummeting down towards the collapsed city.
Overwhelmed by the sheer dread of the looming attack, Haruza collapsed into unconsciousness once more.
Haruto let out a heavy sigh. "This old man…" he fixed his horse stance, being prepared for the worst.
[True Rewrite: Conceptual Override ]
Object: Asteroid
Current Concept: Elemental enhancement
Rewrite: Butterflies
The Apostle froze in shock, unable to process what had happened. For a moment, he felt something. Is it fear? Everything felt silent to him. His asteroid was not only nullified but turned into blue butterflies—particle by particle, wavering apart.
Haruto exhaled a ragged breath he didn't realize he was holding. The weight pressing on his shoulders eased—just a little. Relief flickered in his eyes as he glanced at me. "Always showing up at the very brink."
I descended between them, the ground cracked against my weight. "I'm not done with you yet, Luqie." My eyes glowed faintly, a swirling mix of violet and dark gold devoured the chaos itself.
Haruto playfully jabbed Izayami's shoulder. "Get away… you're stealing my spotlight!" He walked past him, rolling his shoulders and loosened his arms in a lazy stretch.
I smirked, my wings disintegrates as warning popped out in my vision.
[Caution: Excessive use has severely compromised your existential stability.]
['True Rewrite' will be sealed for the time being.]
"Oh, great the only ability I truly relied on." I scoffed, rolling my eyes.
Haruto laughed at me. "BWAHAHAHAHA! Is that all you had, bro?" He laughed uncontrollably, hitting his thigh as tears welled up in his eyes.
The Apostle watched their childish behaviour. "SILENCE!!" His voice thundered with annoyance. "How foolish of you—to think you could ever underestimate me." He stomped the ground—earthquakes followed in his wake. "That's unforgivable!"
Haruto and I staggered back, startled by the sudden quake that roared beneath them.
As the trembling ceased, Haruto shot the Apostle a mocking grin. "Short tempered like always." He folded his arms with a sigh.
———
Unnoticed amidst the chaos, Yurina slipped behind the ruins, pulling Haruza to safety. "You're heavy, old man." Little by little, she managed to get him far away from the battle.
High upon the hill by the shimmering lake, knights in diamond armour raised their banners and built a sanctuary for those who survived the chaos.
One figure stood at the highest point of the watchtower — likely their leader — silently observing the battle raging in the distance. "Bring me my weapon," he murmured, his tone laced with vengeance. "I'll deliver justice with my own hands."
A knight standing beside him bowed deeply. "Yes, sir!" he replied, then quickly departed.
Beside the staircase, a girl in mage robes sighed, crossing her arms. "There you go again—acting on your own. Our job is to escort the survivors." She rolled her eyes, twirling a strand of her hair.
The general's jaw tightened. "The Apostle's raging had crossed the lines years ago." He stared out at the ruined city as if measuring it. "This time, I will take him—alive."
She tipped her witch hat down, avoiding his eyes. "Whatever you say. Don't tell me I didn't warned you." She sighed, following his gaze to the chaos.
———
The earth shook as lightning ripped across the ruined city, carried by roaring tornadoes that swallowed what little remained.
"You're only wasting mana throwing around large-scale attacks." I rolled my shoulder with a smirk. "The citizens have already evacuated—knights and local adventurers took them somewhere safe."
"Yeah," Haruto said with a smirk. "How about you stop wrecking the city and fight us properly for once?" He said mockingly, a grin tugging at his lips.
Suddenly, the Apostle froze — then laughter cracked from his throat, twisted between fear and madness. "Ah~ yes~ I remember now. "His gaze locked onto Haruto, eyes widening in hatred. "You… the Dream Apostle, And The cursed vessel of the Dream Architect." His voice dripped with disgust, each word spat like venom.
Haruto loosened his stance, eyes steady. "So, you remember now…?" He raised his glowing katana. "…Then fuck off."
The elemental catastrophe dissolved into stillness, its chaos consumed by light. Swords of divine light shimmered, floating around the Apostle—ready to strike at his command. From the air, a radiant blade forged itself, humming with unbearable purity.
The Apostle turned his glance towards me. "But you…" his voice dipped, low and unsettled. "Who are you, really?"
With a snap of his fingers, the blade obeyed—launching forth like a divine meteor, streaking straight for both Haruto and me.
Haruto weaved through the strikes, deflecting each one, while I circled the battlefield, waiting for a chance to counter.
"Stop running, you wretched insects!" the Apostle roared, snatching one of the radiant swords hovering beside him. "Where do you think you're going?" In a blinding flash, he vanished—blitzing straight toward Izayami.
[Omniblade – Shield]
A massive shield materialized, deflecting the Apostle's strike with a thunderous impact. I braced myself but was still sent skidding backward. From above, Haruto leapt through the smoke, his katana shimmering as he struck down upon the Apostle.
The Apostle ducked swiftly, dodging Haruto's strike. Twisting his body, he countered with a fierce back kick to Haruto's stomach, sending him crashing towards me.
"I have no time for this," the Apostle muttered, stretching his neck with a tired sigh. "I know you have the Toťęm, Dream." His tone dripped with irritation as his eyes narrowed at them. "You're only wasting my time."
Haruto got himself up before me. "Over my dead body." He spat to the ground.
"I… don't even know what that is," I said, my breath uneven but eyes burning with resolve. "But I won't let you have it."
———
📄 End of Chapter 8
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