IPUAVNP Chapter 145

Chapter 145

 

The Dark Witch Amidal appeared in the Northern Elders’s Canyon.

When Rubinus received this news from Brody, she was already searching for Amidal.

Before rebuilding the wilderness and forging a new life for herself, she intended to confront Amidal to ensure that the witch could never control her again and ruin everything.

Around the same time, Rubinus had also came in touch with Eileen, who had recently recovered.

Eileen, whom Rubinus had felt too ashamed to reach out to, had instead extended a hand first.

While responding to Eileen, Rubinus also passed along Brody’s information about Amidal’s reappearance.

Coincidentally, Eileen had been preparing to take down Amidal the moment she recovered.

Like Rubinus, after hearing the news, she used her magic to track Amidal’s whereabouts and rushed to the scene.

Today, at last, they would personally eliminate their lifelong nemesis—Amidal, who sought to consume the continent in dark magic.

“Rubinus!”

Amidal had dragged Rubinus into her grasp, but a voice calling her name pulled her back to her senses.

She knew exactly who had rescued her from the abyss.

Turning quickly, she saw Eileen standing protectively in front of her, confronting Amidal.

Though the two had yet to exchange words, their gazes met, and they instinctively fell into sync, just as they had in the past when they were closest friends.

With renewed resolve, Rubinus joined forces with Eileen to attack Amidal.

“Even Ennea has appeared…!”

Amidal found herself struggling against some of the most powerful magic wielders on the continent.

Though she initially defended herself against their combined assault, she was beginning to reach her limits.

‘If only I hadn’t wasted my strength saving that wretched rabbit…!’

Or better yet, if she had consumed Kyle’s fresh blood and soul earlier, she wouldn’t have been forced into retreat.

Now, overwhelmed by Eileen’s relentless attacks, she had no choice but to flee. She turned and dashed toward the magic gate, attempting to escape.

Like any grand sorcerer or dark witch, Amidal could open magic gates regardless of time or location.

However, before she could choose her own destination, Eileen had already cast her spell. The magic gate surface rippled like water, revealing the space beyond.

“!”

Amidal froze in shock at what she saw.

Beyond the shimmering threshold lay a vast, white expanse—a snow-covered land.

At its center stood a blazing altar, around which the witches of the White Fox Tribe had gathered. They were waiting for their leader to bring them a sacrifice.

That sacrifice was Amidal herself.

“Amidal, it’s over. There’s nowhere left for you to run.”

Eileen and Rubinus stepped forward, ready to drag Amidal into the flames of damnation.

But Amidal refused to accept such a fate. With a desperate laugh, she shouted,

“Ridiculous! You fools will never take me! You cannot kill me!”

Raising her hands, she unleashed a surge of blue lightning. But before her magic could strike, Rubinus and Eileen retaliated, their combined powers colliding with Amidal’s in a violent explosion of light.

The opposing forces clashed fiercely, but as the battle wore on, Amidal’s strength waned.

She was exhausted, while Eileen and Rubinus still had power to spare.

Eileen sensed the shift and quickly called out,

“Rubinus! Now! Let’s drag her into the gate!”

Understanding immediately, Rubinus gathered her energy, her power flaring into brilliant, fiery hues. Eileen did the same.

Their flames surged forward, swallowing Amidal’s dark magic.

“Guh…!”

As the overwhelming force pushed Amidal back, she felt herself being pulled toward the gate.

The gate’s magic was irresistible, dragging her in like a tidal wave.

She fought wildly, screaming in fury,

“No! No! AAAAAAHHHH!!”

Rubinus saw her chance.

“NOW!”

She and Eileen lunged forward, grabbing Amidal as she thrashed in desperation.

With one final push, they all crossed the threshold.

Amidal’s final, dying scream echoed through the temple before fading into silence.

 

***

 

“Ugh…”

Brody gasped awake, crossing the boundary between life and death.

Her soul had fully returned to her body.

A sharp, stabbing pain tore through her chest as she gasped for air, eyes flying open in shock.

“Cough! Hrk…!”

She choked violently, as if something had been blocking her breath, then gulped in deep, ragged breaths.

As her breathing steadied and her mind cleared, she was overwhelmed by confusion.

‘What…? I was supposed to be dead…?’

She instinctively touched her chest.

The dagger that had been buried there was gone. Not a single wound remained.

It was as if she had just woken from a dream.

Yet the desperate voice ringing in her ears proved otherwise.

“Lord Kyle! Please! Stay with us! You can’t die!”

Brody flinched at the sound of crying and lifted her head. Her eyes landed on a man—Kyle—who was collapsed against the altar.

“Kyle…!”

Her heart plummeted.

Her legs, drained of strength, refused to support her. Crawling across the floor, she dragged herself toward him.

“Kyle!”

As she reached him, her breath caught in horror at the sight of his clothes, soaked in blood.

She barely managed to stifle a scream.

The blood was flowing from the deep, cruel wounds slashed across his body. Even before she had awakened, Kyle’s eyes had already lost their light…his life slipping away.

“Kyle, stay with me! Kyle!”

She grasped his shoulders, shaking him desperately.

Nothing made sense.

Why was she, who had been dead, alive and unharmed while Kyle, who had been fine when she last closed her eyes, was now on the brink of death?

As she frantically called his name, Kernels, who had finally lost all hope, spoke in despair.

“It’s over. Kyle was attacked by the dark witch. He won’t survive…”

His voice carried the weight of finality, sending a cold shiver through Brody. She turned to him.

“What are you talking about…? The dark witch? She attacked him?”

Unaware that the dark witch had been here, Brody’s reaction was sharp, almost frantic.

Kernels didn’t even look at her as he continued, his voice hoarse from shouting.

“After you died, the dark witch appeared. And Kyle… he made a deal with her. In exchange for bringing you back… he offered his own blood and soul.”

His wings trembled as he covered his tear-streaked face, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Kyle is going to die… No one survives an attack from the dark witch….”

His wailing grew distant in Brody’s ears.

She lowered her head, staring at Kyle.

Having just learned the truth, her face turned pale with shock.

‘Kyle made a deal with the dark witch to bring me back…? That’s why I’m alive and he’s dying…?’

Her body trembled violently.

‘No. That couldn’t be. That shouldn’t be.’

Kyle dying because of her—she could never accept that.

She had come here to save him.

If this was the reality, it was an unbearable despair.

“Brody…”

Kyle’s weak voice called her name.

His hand, moving sluggishly, reached up and touched her cheek.

She gazed at him, feeling the warmth of his palm against her skin.

Tears spilled from her eyes.

Kyle’s breath was as fragile as a flickering candle, but even in this state, he comforted her.

“It’s okay…”

Brody grasped his hand, sobbing.

“Why did you do it? Why…?”

Her voice was thick with grief, her sorrow pouring out uncontrollably.

Kyle, looking at her, managed a faint, fragile smile.

With that smile, he whispered,

“Brody… when you truly love someone… they become more precious than yourself.”

His single sentence shattered her heart.

And as if those words were the last thing keeping him here, Kyle’s hand, which had been gently touching her cheek, slipped away and fell to the floor.

His eyes closed.

The only thing left was his faint, fading breath.

As Brody clutched his body, sobbing uncontrollably, the Oswald twins stumbled into the temple’s main hall.

“Captain! Lady Brody…!”

After entrusting the temple’s entrance to Alexander and his wolves, they had come searching for the two who hadn’t returned.

What they found instead was devastation.

The temple was in ruins.

The lifeless body of Simon Elders lay on the ground.

And Kyle, collapsed, unmoving.

“Captain! What happened?! Why is he like this?!”

They ran to Brody, shouting. But she was too choked with grief to answer.

Turning to Kernels, the twins demanded an explanation. When they heard the truth, their shock turned to denial.

“So what?! Are you saying we just let him die?! There has to be a way!”

They were shouting like desperate children refusing to accept reality.

But their outburst woke something in Brody.

A way to save Kyle…

Still holding him close, Brody slowly lifted her head.

Something had come to her.

Her tear-filled eyes sharpened with realization as she turned to Kyle.