I Alone Breed Dragons

Chapter 44: Hollow Heart

*Quinette’s POV*

Huff huff. I hauled myself through the forest with labored breaths.

Misted in the cold. I held my broken arm, my wings twisted at my back, both searing with pain from each of my steps.

It happened so quick I couldn’t realize how he had ended up sending me flying out of the temple.

One moment I was sprinting to aid Walter, cause he needed it. Then that thing seized me by my arm, twisted, then my wings, before sending me flying.

I never expected us to be manhandled, even with SS+ rank.

Shame burned. As a commander I should be showing more competence than this. What got into me.

I wanted to blame this feeling in my chest... this new feeling.

My cheeks flushed at the memory of today, still playing vividly in my head. My moans from his wild thrusts.

Never did I know that side of me existed.

The feeling drowned me, I lost myself into his arms.

This feeling, I had no name for it. No matter how I tried to bury it... my heart hammered.

From the moment I confessed to him about my past. A burden only I knew. Yet I shared it with you... it was humiliating.

I can’t even show any strength. He had been the one protecting me. Even when I think I could truly help him.

I took a breath, then exhaled.

I need to find him. I pushed forward, walking through the forest, I quickened my pace in an attempt to take off with my wings.

It buckled. I tilted in the sky, found my footing before crashing to the ground. My boot splintered the packed snow.

With no other option but to go on foot. I kept marching. Soon I emerged out of the dense forest, where I spotted a trail of fallen trees, laying waste.

The path stretched further down.

To imagine Walter thrown through this camp of trees. My breath stuttered. I stared at the path, scrambling myself to climb through the logs of fallen trees.

I told myself he was fine after all. He always told me he never needed my protection.

—

I reached the end of the trail, my eyes swept around, Searching for him. I yanked my sword by my side, dragging through snow and dirt.

Still my gaze didn’t land on Walter. Then I spotted, from afar, ice formed on the ground.

I crept closer. Crushed a twig beneath my boot.

I then detected his mana signature from above me. After spotting a shadow, I looked up, and I wasn’t prepared for what came next.

My breath caught, my eyes bulged at the sight. Walter suspended in the air by his throat... his throat.

He didn’t resist, his grip slackened from the Dungeon Boss’s arm.

What is he doing. Walter, why isn’t he doing anything... he always had a trick up his sleeve.

Yet now I witnessed him die before me.

I can’t let that happen.

There’s still a lot I still want to tell you.

If you die... what will happen to this... this... I clutched my chest. This feeling in me.

You can’t die. You’re mine. I can’t let you go.

Walter’s hand became lifeless, plunging from its struggle, as the soul knight kept its grip on Walter’s neck.

Without hesitation, I lifted my sword and cast a spell to weaken the sword. Breaking my blade normally wasn’t possible, unless with this magic.

Cracks spiderwebbed through the steel, the energy pulse swelled, bleeding through the cracks.

The dark presence was already Crawling through my bones, Leeching the warmth it held. My arm went numb.

I couldn’t feel anything, the cool. The effect of [Boiling Blood] didn’t apply, it slowed everything I felt.

But I couldn’t stop.

I Drove my blade to the ground, Channelling force to complete the breaking. The dark energy Erupted completely.

The darkness devoured me. It crept through my skin, fusing into my bones.

All I wished — even if I’m possessed by this darkness — I want to remember. I love Walter.

My eyes blackened into darkness, the aura around me Blazed, devouring the little light around. I lost my memories of everything else. I went cold. No smile, no grin. My face was plain...

I looked into the sky, at the soul knight. The only thing I remembered was that thing was my enemy.

Who is he holding?

I couldn’t tell.

Yet something deep inside me raced just looking at him.

I saw the soul knight’s arm.

Snap. Its hand cut off, just at the spot I was looking at. Its wrist.

The one it held dropped from the sky.

I took a step, lunged to catch him before his fall.

But no reason arose why I should do so, just more of instinct.

I didn’t move in the end.

But faced the soul knight.

It examined the stub where its wrist had been. Eyes Widened. "You. How did you do that."

Slash. Another hit Carved at its jaw. It Sagged. Blood gushed from the cut, streaking down its pale skin.

It took a pace backwards. Terror filled its eyes.

No emotion reached mine.

"What are you. Tsk. I’ll make you pay."

Slosh. I locked my gaze to the center of its chest, where its mana core was located. It shredded into pieces, leaving a hole in its chest.

"How is this possible, I can’t see your attack, when did it hit me..." It Wheezed, blood Bubbling at the corner of its lip.

It Shrieked, its words were inaudible. I caught some. It Clawed away from me, Flailing through the ice.

I didn’t want to kill. Anger surged in me to torment it.

"I’ll take out your legs next." I looked into its eyes with my demonic eyes, darker than any abyss.

I watched panic grow in him.

"Argh!!!!"

It lashed carelessly, smashed its hand to the ground. The ground quaked, Twisted. Ice intertwined with earth, a huge surge Reared.

It loomed over me, Threatening to bury us.

I wasn’t moved.

Without his mana core he couldn’t wield mana. Left paralyzed from using magic, his SSS rank power Bled away from him, like steam into the air, dissolving into ambient mana.

With that I knew this was taking more energy than it should, and probably his last counter.

I had more.

The surge Dominated over us, eclipsing the light of the sun. Its great rumble thundered louder than the Howling Blizzard.

Just a look at the surge. A path was cleaved, rending it in two.

It crashed to the ground, the debris and ice by my side. And I Remained unharmed.

"Soul— freeze—" it muttered, but nothing occurred. He’d lost all his mana. With nothing left, the soul knight turned around and Fled away, like a coward.

Blood smeared on the white snow behind him, like a ribbon.

I took its leg next.

Slash.

It Collapse to the ground, Eating snow.

I wasn’t satisfied.

So I took his arms. Both of them. It Groaned, choking back the screams.

It sprawled in a pool of its blood. Limbless, both arms and legs severed from their joints, by me.

Still wasn’t satisfied... but nothing left to cut off.

Its breath rasped uneven, its face pressed in the ground. Couldn’t see the face he was making.

I was done with him.

Final slash. Just a look, and his head tumbled.

Eyes dilated. Lost its life.

The boss Pulsed, its mana fragments Faded from its body into nothing.

[Congratulations: Dungeon Boss DEFEATED!]

[Dungeon Closing]

The environment shattered, twisting as reality warped. I Froze still.

Couldn’t remember why I was in a dungeon. Who I was. In fact, I question my limbs could obey on their own accord.

What is this?

The Hollow feeling in my bones.

Blood must be Shed. Blood. Must be—

Then I Caught a voice from behind. It was the most Gentle sound my ear had ever heard.

"Quinette. Are you still in there."