Chapter 14 – After the Storm
As the thunder began to subside, the aftermath was far from over. The monstrous behemoth slowly raised its colossal hand, which had just ripped through the ground, leaving a trail of pulverized debris and dust in its wake. The gaping void in its chest seemed to barely faze the beast, not even slowing its movements for a second. It was as if there wasn’t a force in this world capable of truly stopping it.
Princess Filisia gazed upon the scene ahead with a mixture of awe and horror. Struggling to her feet while leaning heavily on her massive sword, she faltered mid-motion, collapsing back to her knees.
The sound of rock breaking echoed through the once deathly quiet passageway, only to be interrupted by the sharp crack of a long halberd wreathed in black flames. Moving like a dark ink-stained arc of light, it countered the beast’s mountainous arm with a single fluid thrust, tearing straight through its defenses with the ferocity akin to a dragon erupting from the depths of the ocean. A swirling vortex of black fire followed in the wake of the halberd’s trail.
In an instant, the creature’s impenetrable hide and dense musculature dissolved like mud meeting water, revealing its utter powerlessness before this newfound threat.
Golden hair danced effortlessly as emerald eyes glimmered with icy resolve.
The black halberd sliced cleanly through the monster’s flesh, leaving a trail of scorched destruction in its path. The beast, vast and grotesquely misshapen, split clean in two as if torn apart by the crushing force of a black hole itself. Slowly but surely, it broke apart into countless fragments, scattering into oblivion.
“The Blade of Annihilation – fully unleashed.”
That single slash seemed to cut not just through flesh, but time itself, tearing apart the very fabric of reality. The world around the creature began to unravel, rejecting his very existence as though reality itself conspired to wipe him from existence.
In the distorted air around them, it seemed the creature’s sealed mouth finally wrenched open, revealing a ghastly grin as it bellowed something inaudible.
But no sound reached Tillysha’s ears, for both its being and the space it occupied were rapidly disintegrating.
The beast’s grotesque face and monstrous form dissolved into a fine dust, swirling for a moment before vanishing into the ether, leaving only a crumbling tunnel and scattered rubble to confirm that the battle had been no mere illusion.
A gentle night breeze swept through the area, stirring Tillysha’s flowing white-gold tresses. As her divine weapon dissipated, remnants of black flame flickered and faded like star dust, leaving her feeling utterly spent.
With no protective realms to shield her, Tillysha had endured blow after blow, leaving her both physically and spiritually exhausted. Gracefully yet wearily, she adjusted her posture until she lay sprawled out on the cold stone floor.
“You’re all tapped out, huh?” she muttered to herself, noting the extent of her power’s depletion.
Initially, she’d believed the Collective Forest Authority’s divine mandate would suffice against such a foe, but the monster’s resilience far exceeded her expectations. It wasn’t alive in any conventional sense—more likely, it was a construct fabricated for cleanup purposes, a tool with no business existing in this world.
Against such a force, the Blade of Annihilation—a tool forged for destruction—was perfectly suited. Its might was effortless, terminating the monster’s unnatural existence in one clean strike.
“Without this golden ticket,” Tillysha thought, her lips curling into a rueful smile, “we might’ve really been done for today.”
And yet, there was a price to pay. For five whole days following its use, all active abilities of the Blade would be unavailable. It was a heavy toll, but necessary.
As Tillysha gazed at the faint embers of black fire still glowing in her hand, a shadow of doubt crossed her features. Was the cost truly as simple as a five-day cooldown? Could arbitrarily forcing something into nonexistence—without regard for rules or reason—come without greater consequences?
The contemplative silence was interrupted by a sharp “clink!” As she turned her gaze downward, she noticed an orange shard lying near her foot, its translucent surface glinting faintly in the dim light.
“Another drop?” she mused.
Had this been part of the creature they had just vanquished? It seemed odd given that she’d obliterated it so thoroughly, yet here it was—automatic loot.
Attempting to rise to retrieve it, Tillysha quickly realized she was beyond spent. With not a trace of strength left, she could do little more than lie there helplessly.
At that moment, a delicate hand appeared to pluck the crystal from the ground. Turning her head, she saw Princess Filisia approach with her characteristic calm, her steps steady and deliberate.
Examining the shard closely, Filisia seemed unusually captivated by its presence. Though she’d never been particularly interested in gems before, this one held a unique allure that she couldn’t quite place.
“Thanks to you, we’re still alive,” Filisia remarked, taking a seat beside the exhausted warrior. “Seeing as we’re sticking around for the long haul, should I call you Miss Tillysha or perhaps Mister Dillin?”
Tillysha remained silent, weighing her response carefully—or perhaps simply exhausted.
“Come now,” Filisia continued after some time had passed, “surely there’s something on your mind. What’s worrying you?”
When Tillysha still refused to speak, Filisia shrugged, dismissing the matter. “No matter. If you don’t wish to divulge, that’s quite alright.”
“Forgive me, Princess Filisia,” Tillysha eventually offered, “but I never intended to deceive any of you.”
“Why apologize? Besides, didn’t you once tell me that mere apologies fix nothing?”
“Ah, I see why Mister Dillin didn’t last long in the Crown Cup tournament,” Filisia mused aloud, turning the gemstone over in her slender hand. “Truly brilliant work, Tillysha, creating a male persona to enter the competition. Must’ve been quite the balancing act, playing the part of two different people!”
Tillysha couldn’t help but glance questioningly at Filisia, surprised by her deduction—or perhaps misinterpretation.
She had been contemplating how to explain things convincingly when Filisia began spinning her own tale. In her mind, Tillysha had simply created ‘Dillin’ out of necessity to compete in the Crown Cup, which justified her interactions with the team.
But this wasn’t quite accurate…
Tillysha herself knew the truth: she had always been male in mind and spirit, her current form merely a facade. Feeling a pang of guilt at Filisia’s wrong assumptions, Tillysha hesitated.
“Um, Filisia… I actually…”
“Ah, no need. If you’d prefer not to talk about it, that’s fine by me,” Filisia said, her playful grin returning. “I’m not particularly interested in prying into others’ secrets, though I’d certainly listen if you wanted to share.”
Her tone shifted, curiously probing further. “What I am curious about is how both Tillysha and Dillin managed to exist at the same time. Care to enlighten me?”
“Filisia,” Tillysha began, her voice measured, “are you enjoying this moment?”
“Huh? What gives you that idea?” Filisia feigned innocence, though the flush of excitement on her cheeks betrayed her.
“Don’t play dumb, Princess. Look in a mirror sometime—your face is practically glowing with glee.”
“Oh really?” Filisia touched her cheeks, feigning ignorance as her hair swayed with her movement.
Tillysha couldn’t help but note the mischievous gleam in her companion’s eyes. It seemed Filisia’s playful nature had fully awakened, her thoughts undoubtedly turning to more… interesting possibilities.
“And what about that gesture earlier? What was going on there?”
“Which gesture, you say?” Filisia echoed, her tone teasingly coy. The roles had certainly reversed now.
The conversation grew increasingly flirtatious until Tillysha finally intervened. “Filisia, do you even realize how amused you seem?”
“If only you would let me indulge a bit further,” Filisia dared, her expression daring.
“Perhaps you should first clarify what you intend to indulge in,” Tillysha countered dryly.
“Could I perhaps… step on you?” Filisia’s suggestion came with the promise of a playful smirk. “Just once, I promise, and it won’t hurt a bit.”
“I decline.”
“Ah, what a pity,” Filisia sighed dramatically. “It might be a while before I can get this close to you again.”
“Surely you wouldn’t want others to discover this… unusual penchant of yours?”
Filisia paused, the implications of Tillysha’s words sinking in. “Is that what you think?” she countered. “You don’t trust me?”
“To ask for help would mean admitting one’s pride,” Tillysha remarked, recalling past conversations with the princess. “In that, we are alike.”
At this, Filisia mustered a bit more energy, rising to her feet. “Enough talk. Tillysha, let me assist you.”
Before Tillysha could react, strong arms swept around her waist, lifting her effortlessly into the air.
“Goodness, Tillysha, this is a first, isn’t it?” Filisia teased, cradling her companion in the classic bridal style.
The roles were now fully reversed. Filisia couldn’t help but recall a past instance where Tillysha had saved her in a similar fashion, carrying her away from danger.
“Are you enjoying yourself, Filisia?” Tillysha inquired dryly, though the bemused expression on her face suggested otherwise.
“Not at all! It’s merely practical,” Filisia quipped, adjusting her grip slightly. “If you can walk on your own, I’d be happy to let you.”
“I…” Tillysha hesitated, finding herself at a loss for words.
Satisfied with her handiwork, Filisia hummed a cheerful tune as they made their way towards the exit.
“Could you perhaps shift your grip?”
“Excuse me? Speak up, dear. Not everything you say should be taken so seriously.”
“Filisia, you really are childish,” Tillysha lamented, smiling faintly.
“Nonsense. If anything, it’s you who seems the younger one right now, unable to handle a bit of teasing.”
As the two finally reached the surface, the sight of the starry sky brought a momentary calm. It was time to reunite with their companions.
“Before we go further,” Tillysha requested quietly, “could I return to my male form?”
“Of course,” Filisia conceded, smiling knowingly. “Let’s meet the others, Dillin.”
Behind the cover of a large rock, Tillysha performed the change, shedding her feminine appearance and golden locks for a darker, more masculine presence.
With Filisia’s support, Dillin activated the Divine Analysis Technique to navigate their return. They eventually met up with Aistride and Wenfu, all exhausted from their ordeal, making their way through the night toward Coleman Forest and finally back to Coleman Academy.
As they caught sight of the darkened Crown Mansion in the distance, a sense of relief washed over them. It felt like coming home after a long journey.
