Chapter 397 NO!

The air around Seraphina became charged with magic the moment her words faded, as if the world was bending to her will. She lifted her hands slowly, palms open, her chest rising with a shaky breath that carried grief, rage, and resolve all at once.The magic inside her no longer felt wild and uncontrollable. Her whitened eyes changed back to their normal green hue.

A massive wave of power surged outward from her body, spreading across the land like a living shield. The red and white magic fused together, wrapping the territory in a protective barrier that shimmered faintly under the ruined sky. The pull from the golden orb weakened instantly, its greedy grasp sliding off the land and the people like water against stone.

Across the battlefield, the ground stilled. The trees stopped withering. The howls of pain softened into broken gasps as magic settled back into bodies that had nearly been emptied. The werewolves collapsed where they stood, breathing faintly, unable to move. The witches’ shallow breaths filled the air along with faint cries.

In the blink of an eye, Seraphina vanished from where she stood, her body dissolving into light and flame, and reappeared in front of Alaric.

He had been forced back into his human form, his body covered in blood and dirt, lying in the pile of bodies scattered across the ground. His breathing was labored, his face pale, his eyes unfocused as he struggled to stay conscious.

Seraphina appeared in front of him. He thought she was an angel, her fiery hair dancing to the tune of the wind, her aura was commanding yet graceful. ’How beautiful.’ Alaric thought to himself.

Seraphina lifted her arms again as she formed another barrier. This one was smaller but denser, wrapping around Alaric and the werewolves beside him like a protective cocoon.

The Greater Evil’s pull slammed against it instantly and failed.

Seraphina’s shoulders trembled from the strain, but she did not move. She glanced back at Alaric, her eyes softening just enough to betray the fear she had been holding back. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice low and unsteady, like she was afraid the answer would break her.

Alaric swallowed hard, forcing his eyes to focus on her face. Slowly, with everything he had left, he nodded.

Alaric could no longer feel his wolf, and even though he was rescued from having all his life force drawn out, he could feel his life force flickering like a candle before the wind. He wondered if he would ever be able to hold Seraphina, he wondered if he would ever get to see her grow old with him, he wondered if there was more written to their fate.

Relief flashed across Seraphina’s expression for a brief second before it hardened into resolve again.

The air behind them distorted as the Greater Evil appeared only a few feet away, her presence suffocating, her expression dark with irritation as her eyes swept over the barrier and the land beyond it.

She clicked her tongue sharply. "So," she said mockingly, her lips curling upward. "You awakened the inheritance."

Her gaze roamed over Seraphina, lingering on the magic swirling around her body. Then she laughed, the sound sharp and cold. "Looks like the witches have a new Queen now."

For a split second, another voice echoed through her, deeper and layered. "Kill her now. She is not strong yet."

Seraphina’s eyes darkened instantly, the grief inside her igniting into something far more dangerous. "I will make you pay," she said quietly, her voice steady despite the power ripping through her veins. "For the lives of my people, for the life of the former Queen, and for everything you took from us."

The Greater Evil threw their head back and laughed. "Do not worry," they replied lightly. "You will be joining her soon."

Suddenly, dark magic slammed into the barrier like a tidal wave, the impact throwing Seraphina back a step as pain exploded through her chest. She clenched her teeth, forcing more power into the shield, refusing to let it falter even as blood filled her mouth.

She countered with a sharp flick of her wrist, her red fiery magic slicing through the air like blades, forcing the Greater Evil to retreat a few steps. The ground cracked beneath them as their powers collided, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.

Seraphina fought while holding the barrier, splitting her focus between attack and defense, her body trembling from the effort. Every spell she cast felt like it burned a piece of her away, but she did not stop... She could not stop.

Another blast hit her square in the chest.

She cried out as blood sprayed from her lips, her knees buckling slightly as the magic sustaining her strained dangerously. The barrier flickered but wasn’t broken through.

"Seraphina," Alaric rasped behind her, his voice weak and broken. "Stop. You cannot keep this up."

She shook her head, tears streaming freely now as she forced herself upright again. "If I stop," she whispered, "you’ll die."

The Greater Evil watched her with amusement, her eyes gleaming. "How touching," she said softly. "You really are willing to burn yourself out for them... and him." Her eyes flicked to Alaric who lay on the ground as if he was holding onto the straw of his last breath.

How could she forget the duo? They had been nothing but a nuisance during the battle in the witches’ realm. Now she would wipe them off the face of earth... permanently.

Seeing Seraphina struggle, and her attacks slowing, the Greater Evil’s smile widened.

She raised her hands slowly, chanting words that made the air vibrate unnaturally. Dark energy gathered between her palms, forming into a pulsing ball of death. At its center floated a human skull, its empty sockets glowing faintly as corrupted magic wrapped around it.

Seraphina’s heart thudded in her chest, as fear wrapped over her. Although she had awakened her powers, she was still not strong enough to fight against the Greater Evil.

Her breath hitched as she tightened the barrier around Alaric and the others, her body screaming at her to stop, to rest, to give up. She closed her eyes briefly, bracing herself... If only she had enough energy for the obliteration spell... maybe this time, she would have been able to avenge her grudge.

’So this is how it ends,’ she thought quietly. ’At least they will live.’ She channeled all her magic into the barriers she had created, even while she was gone, her magic would still protect them.

The Greater Evil hurled the spell forward with a loud shrill.

Seraphina lifted her arms, ready to take it... But she never did.

A sudden weight slammed into her from behind, knocking the breath from her lungs as she was pushed aside. The world tilted violently, her scream tearing free as she reached out instinctively.

"No!"

Boom...

Alaric stood in front of her.

He had moved faster than she could stop him, his body fully exposed as the dark magic collided with his chest. The impact lifted him off his feet, hurling him a few feet back, the force tearing through him mercilessly.