novelburst
Chapter 197: The Shadow of the Council
Chapter 197: The Shadow of the Council
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Dabi straightened his back, his sword still in hand, as two figures emerged from the dark horizon.
Principal Raghnall Ferrin and Oracle Calvin, both Saints of immense renown, carried themselves with an air of authority that immediately drew attention.
Raghnall’s silver-and-blue robes were immaculate despite the journey, the sigil of the Council of Saints emblazoned proudly across his chest.
Beside him, Calvin’s wiry form seemed fragile in contrast, but his glowing green eyes hinted at a vast reservoir of power and knowledge.
"Dabi," Raghnall said, his deep voice resonating in the air like a comforting yet commanding echo. "You’ve done well to make it this far."
Relief flickered across Dabi’s face for a moment but was quickly replaced by suspicion. His knuckles whitened as he gripped his sword, his gaze darting between the two Saints.
"Well?" Dabi’s voice was sharp. "Where were you when the Council’s hunters were trying to gut us in the forest? Or when we barely escaped the plateau?"
Calvin raised a placating hand. "An unfortunate complication," he said in a tone as smooth as silk. "Not all of the Council shares our intent. There are factions... diverging in their motives for the Core."
Loira’s voice was laden with venom as she leaned heavily on her staff for support. "We’ve been hunted like animals! Ambushed! Nearly killed! What part of that aligns with your noble ’intent’?"
Raghnall sighed deeply, his massive frame seeming to slump under the weight of the truth.
"The Council is not united, Loira. Some among us see the Core not as a threat but as an opportunity—a weapon to tip the scales of power. Calvin and I have worked tirelessly to intercept them, but we could only move so fast. Even we don’t agree with all aspects of the Council’s decisions."
Calvin stepped closer, his voice low but firm. "It’s not just an artifact— it’s the key to saving this world." He gestured toward the pulsating orb encased in a magical barrier.
"The Core can seal the Rift Gates (which didn’t open neutrally) permanently, but it must be channeled properly through ancient sanctums designed for this purpose."
"We can use the core to open a gate forcefully or close a gate which was open forcefully. This is the purpose if this core."
Loira’s brow furrowed, parsing Calvin’s words. "So you’re saying this Core isn’t just dangerous— it’s catastrophic if mishandled."
"Exactly," Raghnall admitted. "If the Council gains control of it, they’ll try to weaponize its power, potentially opening more gates instead of closing them. That’s why Calvin and I need your help to close the gates before it’s too late."
Loira tightened his grip on her staff, glancing back at the group. Their exhaustion was clear, their injuries fresh. But their resolve was unbroken. "Why should we trust you? For all we know, you could be leading us into a trap."
Calvin’s gaze was steady, his green eyes glowing faintly. "I don’t expect you to trust us. But look around you— every day the Rift Gates spew more creatures into this world. If we don’t act now, there won’t be a world left to protect."
Before Dabi could respond, the air shifted. A cold wind howled across the plateau, carrying with it a faint, otherworldly hum.
"They’re here," Loira whispered, her staff glowing faintly as she extended her senses.
From the scorched shadows of the wasteland, figures began to materialize.
Dozens of them, cloaked in flowing black robes and adorned with masks etched with glowing runes. Their movements were unnervingly synchronized, exuding an aura of dread.
"Shadow Agents," Calvin said through gritted teeth. "The Council’s enforcers. Silent. Merciless. And unrelenting."
The leader of the Shadow Agents stepped forward, their mask more elaborate than the others, glowing with intricate patterns that pulsed rhythmically. Their voice emerged, distorted and mechanical, echoing with an unsettling resonance.
"Hand over the Core," they said, their tone devoid of emotion. "This is your only warning."
Dabi stepped forward, his sword gleaming faintly in the dim light. "You’ll have to pry it from our cold, dead hands."
The Shadow Agents attacked in unison, their precision unmatched. They moved like a single entity, their spells and weapons striking in calculated waves.
Amid the chaos of battle, the Core began to glow brighter, resonating with the Rift energy lingering in the area.
"Dabi!" Loira shouted, her voice cutting through the din. "The Core— it’s reacting to the gate nearby!"
Calvin’s eyes widened in alarm. "If we don’t stabilize it, it’ll rupture, and this entire area will be consumed!"
Raghnall swung his warhammer with divine fury, scattering the Shadow Agents long enough to clear a path. "Then we move now!"
Loira and Calvin worked together, weaving complex spells to stabilize the Core’s energy. Meanwhile, Dabi, Zen, and Jeni formed a protective circle around them, fending off wave after wave of attackers.
As the Core’s energy began to pulse rhythmically, a faint portal shimmered in the distance— the nearest Rift Gate.
"It’s drawing us to the gate," Loira realized, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and determination. "If we channel the Core’s energy directly into the gate, we can seal it!"
Dabi nodded, slashing through an Agent that lunged at Loira. "Then let’s finish this!"
The group fought their way toward the Rift Gate, the Core’s energy growing more unstable with each passing moment.
"Calvin, can you stabilize it long enough to seal the gate?" Raghnall called out, crushing two Shadow Agents with a single blow.
"I’ll need time!" Calvin shouted, his voice strained. "Keep them off me!"
Dabi and Zen launched into action, cutting through the ranks of Shadow Agents as Loira lent her strength to Calvin’s spell. The Core began to emit a brilliant light, its energy surging toward the gate like a beacon.
The Rift Gate shuddered violently, its edges fracturing as the Core’s energy collided with its unstable structure. With a deafening roar, the gate collapsed inward, sealing the tear between worlds.
The battlefield fell silent, the oppressive tension lifting as the Shadow Agents retreated into the shadows. Dabi sheathed his sword, his body trembling with exhaustion.
"We did it," Zen muttered, his voice hoarse. "One gate down."
Loira collapsed to her knees, her staff clattering to the ground. "But how many more are left?"
Calvin placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression grim. "Too many. But this is a start. If we can reach the sanctums, we have a chance to close them all."
Dabi glanced at the Core, now dim and quiet in Calvin’s hands. His resolve hardened. "Then we don’t stop. Not until every last gate is sealed."
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