Published at 17th of September 2024 6:24 pm

Chapter 96 The Queen’s Path: 4 Into the Storm

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The winds howled through the barren desert, stirring up clouds of dust that swirled in the distance like the approaching storm they all felt in their bones. Sāra stood at the edge of the ruins, staring back at the broken remains of Rōran. The towering spires that had once stood as a testament to her people’s ingenuity and perseverance were now crumbling into the sand, and in the distance, she could see the faint glow of the Ryuumyaku’s energy pulsing beneath the surface.

She could feel its power calling to her, pulling at the core of her being, tempting her to tap into it again. The last time she had wielded that energy, it had nearly consumed her. But now, there was no other option. If they didn’t stop Mukade here and now, there would be no future for her people—no hope for rebuilding anything from the ashes of the past.

Ryū and Hana were standing beside her, along with the rest of the survivors who had sworn to protect her and their once-great city. Their faces were set with grim determination, their weapons ready. Though they were fewer than they had once been, they still had the courage to face down a foe as powerful as Mukade. Sāra took strength from their resolve, knowing she would not face this battle alone.

“We’ll need to split up,” Sāra said, her voice steady, though her heart raced with the weight of what was to come. “Mukade is too strong for any one of us to face head-on. If we attack him directly, we won’t stand a chance. We need to distract him, buy enough time for me to reach the Ryuumyaku.”

Ryū turned to her, his brow furrowed. “Are you sure you can do this? If Mukade’s power is tied to the Ryuumyaku, getting close might make him even stronger.”

“I have to try,” Sāra replied, gripping the pendant that hung around her neck. The delicate crystal shimmered faintly in the light, a reminder of the power that lay dormant within her. “This pendant was made to control the Ryuumyaku. If I can get close enough, I can use it to seal the energy again. Mukade won’t be able to draw power from it if the connection is severed.”

Hana nodded, her eyes narrowing as she surveyed the ruins. “I’ll take the east side and see if I can lure him out into the open. The rest of you take different positions. We’ll attack him from all sides—keep him guessing where the next strike will come from.”

Ryū glanced at Sāra, his jaw set. “I’ll stay close to you. If anything goes wrong, we’ll need to get you out of there fast.”

Sāra appreciated Ryū’s loyalty, but she knew what he was thinking. If she lost control of the Ryuumyaku, it wouldn’t matter how fast they moved—everything within miles could be destroyed in an instant. But she didn’t voice those thoughts aloud. They didn’t have time for doubts or second guesses. The only path forward was to act, and act quickly.

“Let’s move,” Sāra said, her voice cutting through the tense silence.

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The group scattered into the shadows of the ruins, each taking their positions with practiced precision. Sāra’s heart pounded in her chest as she and Ryū made their way toward the central tower, moving swiftly and silently through the rubble. Her hand tightened around the pendant as the familiar hum of the Ryuumyaku grew stronger the closer they got. She could feel the energy vibrating beneath the surface, a powerful and volatile force that was beginning to stir.

Ahead of them, the glow of Mukade’s chakra illuminated the broken stones of the central chamber. He stood at the heart of the ruins, his form silhouetted against the flickering light of the Ryuumyaku’s energy. His hands were raised, weaving intricate chakra signs as he channeled the power into his body. The ground beneath him seemed to pulse with life, as if the very earth were bending to his will.

“There he is,” Ryū whispered, crouching low behind a crumbling pillar. “He’s already begun.”

Sāra’s stomach churned at the sight of Mukade, his figure somehow more imposing than it had been in her memories. The aura of power that surrounded him was oppressive, thick with malice and greed. She could feel the Ryuumyaku responding to his presence, the energy surging as if it, too, were being corrupted by Mukade’s desires.

“We need to stop him before he fully reconnects to the Ryuumyaku,” Sāra said, her voice tight with urgency.

Ryū nodded, his gaze locked on Mukade. “We’ll draw his attention away from you. Get to the Ryuumyaku and do what you have to.”

With a final nod, Ryū signaled to Hana and the others, and within moments, the first strike was launched. Hana emerged from the shadows on the east side, her hands moving swiftly as she unleashed a barrage of kunai toward Mukade. The weapons sliced through the air with deadly precision, but before they could reach their target, Mukade’s chakra flared, and a shimmering barrier of energy appeared around him, deflecting the attack.

Mukade turned his head, his glowing eyes narrowing in amusement. “Insects,” he sneered. “Do you think you can challenge me?”

Before Hana could respond, Mukade flicked his wrist, sending a wave of raw energy crashing toward her. She barely had time to leap out of the way as the force of the attack blasted through the stone wall behind her, reducing it to rubble.

From the west, two more of Sāra’s allies attacked, launching a combination of fire and wind-based jutsu at Mukade. The powerful elemental attacks collided with his barrier, creating a momentary explosion of light and heat, but when the smoke cleared, Mukade stood untouched, his laughter echoing through the ruins.

“You cannot stop me,” Mukade taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance. “The Ryuumyaku belongs to me!”

As Mukade focused on the others, Sāra knew her moment had come. She moved quickly and silently, darting through the shadows toward the heart of the chamber where the Ryuumyaku’s energy pulsed like a living thing. The glow intensified with each step, the power radiating from the ground almost overwhelming in its intensity.

When she reached the center of the chamber, she knelt down, pressing the pendant to the ground where the Ryuumyaku’s energy was strongest. The moment the crystal touched the earth, a surge of power shot through her body, and for a split second, she felt the vast, limitless energy of the Ryuumyaku flowing through her veins.

Her breath caught in her throat as the sensation nearly overwhelmed her. It was like nothing she had ever felt before—raw, untamed power, so immense it was almost incomprehensible. It threatened to consume her, to pull her into its depths and erase everything that made her who she was.

But Sāra fought against the pull. She had prepared for this moment, trained her mind and spirit to withstand the temptation of the Ryuumyaku’s power. She could not afford to lose control—not now, not when everything depended on her. Gritting her teeth, she focused on the pendant, forcing the energy to bend to her will.

The crystal began to glow, its light intensifying as it drew in the Ryuumyaku’s energy, sealing it within. Slowly, the pulse of power began to weaken, the glow of the Ryuumyaku dimming as Sāra poured all of her strength into the pendant.

But Mukade was not blind to what was happening. His eyes snapped toward Sāra, fury contorting his features as he realized she was attempting to sever his connection to the Ryuumyaku.

“No!” Mukade roared, his voice filled with rage. “I will not be denied again!”

With a flick of his hand, Mukade unleashed a torrent of energy toward Sāra, the raw power of the Ryuumyaku aimed directly at her. Time seemed to slow as the attack barreled toward her, but before it could strike, Ryū appeared at her side, his sword raised to deflect the blast. The impact sent both of them flying backward, crashing into the rubble.

Sāra struggled to her feet, her body trembling from the force of the attack. The pendant was still glowing, but the seal was incomplete. If she didn’t finish it soon, Mukade would be unstoppable.

Ryū staggered to his feet beside her, blood trickling from a wound on his forehead. “We have to finish this,” he said, his voice rough but determined. “Now.”

Sāra nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She could feel the weight of the Ryuumyaku’s power pressing down on her, but she couldn’t afford to hesitate. With Ryū by her side, she stepped forward, holding the pendant high as she channeled the last of her strength into sealing the energy.

But Mukade wasn’t done yet. With a roar of fury, he unleashed his full power, the ground beneath him cracking and splitting as the Ryuumyaku’s energy surged toward him. The air itself seemed to warp and twist under the force of his chakra, and Sāra could feel the sheer magnitude of his power bearing down on them like a storm.

Time was running out.

With a final, desperate cry, Sāra thrust the pendant into the heart of the Ryuumyaku’s energy, willing it to seal, to stop Mukade once and for all.

The light of the pendant flared, and then everything went white.

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