Married To The Last Ice Dragon-Chapter 246: ATTACK (3)

With a deep breath, she outstretched her arms, and a sigh of relief escaped her lips as the warmth of her flames enveloped her. Her eyes snapped open, and her body erupted in a blaze of fierce fire.

The whispers around her escalated to shrieks, then screams.

"Ioas, I need you," she whispered urgently.

In response, her flames surged, flashing and swelling with intense power. She felt the strength coursing through her veins, mind, and soul, and a triumphant smile spread across her face as the energy blasted out fiercely.

Suddenly, everything went black, and she found herself plunged into darkness.

....

Beyond the portal, a fierce battle raged on as Katherine, Mirabella, Darren, and the treacherous four fought valiantly against the Statkus mages, whose numbers seemed to be endlessly multiplying.

Despite the odds, they were managing to hold their ground. Katherine wielded her water magic, transforming it into razor-sharp whips that slashed through the mages, sending their bodies crashing to the ground. As the fight intensified, Katherine and Darren found themselves back to back, their movements synchronized.

"Should I go after Sage?" Darren asked, his breathing labored.

"Let’s focus on taking down the Statkus mages first." Katherine replied.

Darren nodded, but his expression hinted at a growing concern. "The thing is..." He paused, his sword slicing through a mage.

"What is it, Darren?" Katherine asked, her eyes locked on the battle ahead, her water whips slashing through the Statkus mages with lethal aim.

Darren’s expression was tense, his eyes darting around nervously. "There’s something I didn’t get to tell you and Sage... or anyone..." He trailed off, his voice heavy with anxiety.

Katherine’s gaze snapped back to him, her blue eyes flashing with concern. "What’s wrong, Darren? We’re winning! We have a home to return to!"

She unleashed a happy scream, her whips expanding, and struck down over twenty Statkus mages in a single, swift motion.

Darren’s eyes widened in shock, and Katherine turned to him, her chest heaving heavily. "Why are you so nervous? We’re gaining the upper hand here!"

Darren nodded slowly. "I know we’re winning, and I’m grateful. But there’s something... I discovered recently."

Katherine’s curiosity was piqued, and she cocked her head to the side. "Is this about you being a halfling? We don’t care about that, Darren. It’s not your fault."

Darren forced a smile, his eyes betraying his anxiety. "Destroying the portal will destroy all Statkus mages. It’s their life force, their anchor to this world. If it’s destroyed, they’ll cease to exist. And I..."

Katherine’s eyes widened in horror, and she cut him off. "No, Darren. That can’t be. You have pure water mage blood in you too. You can’t be... You can’t be tied to the portal’s existence as well. You..."

Darren forced a smile, his eyes pleading for understanding. "It’s okay, Katherine. Sage has so many people who care about her, and we’re going to win this battle."

"Why are you telling me this now, Darren? You should have told Sage! We could have found a way to..." Katherine’s words trailed off, her eyes widening in disbelief as Darren’s smile grew wider, though his eyes remained troubled.

"When did you find out about this?" she asked, taking a step closer to him, her tone demanding answers.

"Guys!" Roselle’s scream pierced the air, drawing Katherine’s attention to the treacherous four, who were expertly harnessing their powers to take down the Statkus mages with ease.

Katherine swiftly turned to face the threat behind her, her water whips slashing through a Statkus mage. Darren followed suit, unleashing a powerful water wave that decapitated the mage behind him.

As the battle raged on, Darren caught his breath and locked eyes with Katherine, whose eyes were now tinged with tears.

"It’s just a hunch," he shrugged, forcing a laugh, though his eyes betrayed his own uncertainty.

Tears streamed down Katherine’s face as she shook her head in disbelief. "No, no, no... Why didn’t you tell Sage? She would never consider destroying the portal if she knew the truth!"

Darren chuckled, shaking his head. "That’s precisely why I kept it a secret, Katherine. The Statkus mages wanted to exploit Sage’s fire core to empower the portal, but they’ve realized her core is too weak. That’s why they’re fighting with all their might. They know that if Sage destroys the portal, she’ll also destroy them... and me."

Katherine’s anger and desperation boiled over. "This is madness! You can’t just sacrifice yourself like this! You should have told us, we could have found another way!"

Darren’s shoulders slumped, his head bowed. "I’ve made many mistakes, Katherine, but this choice... this is one I want to make."

Katherine’s eyes widened in horror, her hands shaking. She was at a loss, her mind racing, unsure of what to say or do. "Sage... she won’t... she can’t..."

Darren’s voice cut through her words, his smile faint but determined. "Beg her for me, Katherine. Please."

But Katherine’s response was a desperate scream, her body propelling her towards the portal as she frantically cried out, "No! NO! NO!"

Katherine unleashed her water whips, slashing through the Statkus mages that stood in her way. Tears streamed down her face as she fought to reach the portal, her heart heavy with the thought of losing Darren. She couldn’t bear the thought of Sage carrying the guilt of destroying the portal, knowing it would mean Darren’s demise.

As she approached the portal, she was taken aback by the intense battle between Anghel and the ice god, their blows exchanged with insane aim.

But her attention was quickly drawn to the portal, where an eerie silence had fallen. The whispers, once a constant presence, were gone.

Her brow furrowed in confusion. "Huh?" she breathed, her eyes fixed on the portal.

Something was wrong.

The more she looked at the portal, she noticed something ominous.... glowing fiery red cracks spreading across its dark surface, like veins pulsing with an inner flame.

Her eyes widened in realization. "It’s destroying itself!" she gasped, rushing towards the portal in a desperate bid to stop it.

But Mirabella was too quick, swooping down to grab Katherine’s arm and yanking her into the sky.

Katherine struggled and screamed, her voice echoing across the battlefield. "No! Let go of me! SAGE!"

The Statkus mages paused, their attention drawn to the commotion, just as the portal erupted in a blaze of flames.

In an instant, the Statkus mages vanished into nothingness, their dark forms disintegrating like dust in the wind.

Darren, his eyes locked on Katherine’s, smiled softly as tears streamed down his face. His gaze held a deep sadness, yet a sense of acceptance, as if he had finally found peace.

And then, like the others, he was gone, leaving behind only the memory of his brave sacrifice.

Katherine’s scream echoed through the sky, a heart-wrenching cry of grief and loss, as she watched her dearest friend disappear before her eyes.