Chapter 22

  Last Sacrifice

  Part One

  The relentless push of Trishark had weakened the barrier. Ira exerted all her strength to push Manya away from her. Manya watched in horror as Trishark destroyed the barrier and pulled her best friend into her clutches.

  Manya mustered up the strength to reach her, but her insides constrict, causing her to vomit. Air around her felt thick with an unsettling heaviness. Every breath seemed to carry a wave of discomfort. The atmosphere seemed conspired against her well-being. She clutched her stomach.

  Consumed by the need to stay afloat, her last effort was a desperate struggle against the churning waves of pain. Knowing she wouldn’t die; she was determined to bridge the growing gap between them by any means possible.

  She exhausted every weapon and ability at her disposal to propel herself in the desired direction, but with each use, her body sank further into critical condition. She couldn’t even utter a word to call Yajvan.

  Every display in front of her was flashing urgent warnings about the critical state of her body. So much power, and she still can’t save the ones dear to her. And Yajvan had said that she was meant for greatness. She altered the formation of SL to support her joints.

  In exchange for regaining control over her body, SL’s strength diminished tenfold. Despite her ability to move, the weight of the rifle had become unbearable.

  With precision, she manipulated the crucial nerves and muscles that kept the gun steady and ready to fire. A support, no matter how weak, is better than no support at all.

  Despite Ira’s agility, a single strike from Trishark left her body in a critical state. Manya’s support acted as a shield, granting her respite from the few critical ones.

  “Manya, even if it was for a shorter period,” Atharv said. “I got to see you smile and at the centre of a war, ripping off your way towards the end.”

  Mamu? It’ll be over soon, mamu.

  Few golden patterns appeared on Trishark’s wings. Manya targeted her wings rather than preventing the attacks. She was confused by Ira not having such patterns. Was she lower rank?

  Manya’s powerful shots forced Trishark to unleash a flurry of feathers at her. They passed through her body. She could feel their presence, like a tingling sensation running through her veins. At least the pain killers working fine.

  She had a grasp of supporting particles, but her body couldn’t stop shivering. Her own blood filled her mouth, making it difficult for her to aim and accuracy. I-I have to save.

  At least both of them will be alive. Manya pushed herself with the waterspout creator towards Trishark. She turned the gun into several daggers and teared off most of her wings.

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  Both Manya and Ira let out a sigh of relief, but what caught them off guard were Trishark’s tears, defying gravity as they fell upwards into her shining halo.

  Oh, please.

  “I. Trishark. Invoke divine punishment upon the sinner who has defiled the honour, dignity and virtue of angels.”

  “What?” Manya looked at Ira. Tears glistening down her cheek and falling over the warmest smile.

  Ira’s lips moved, barely whispering the words. “I’ll miss eating pizza with you.” A feather from Ira’s wings pushed Manya away from the land.

  Manya’s only support was a feather keeping her airborne and the last remnants of particles on her critical nerves.

  An eerie pressure surrounded her. It was descending from the heavaths. Within seconds, four immense white beams of energy merged and came crashing down onto Sevavann and Ira. Unleashing a forceful gust of wind, travelling the ocean with the grains of Sevavann.

  All that came out of Manya’s mouth was a creak. 5.5 seconds later, the feather she was hanging onto lost its power to stay afloat, but she remained mid-air.

  A minute later, the powerful beam halted. Everything she once knew, the land and her best friend—vanished. A notification popped up before her.

  ‘Congratulation on completing your last test mission, Ira Wings.’

  ***

  Memories of Ira flooded her senses, and a bittersweet smile touched her lips. A girl who became her best friend. Their silly conversations and fight over clothes. Her eyes brimmed with emotion, ready to spill at any moment.

  “I know you are having your moment, but can you do it later?” Upon opening her eyes, she saw Yajvan flying beside her. “Congratulations.” The smile that always brought her comfort now fuelled her anger.

  “You could have saved her!”

  “Was it me? Who helped her escape?”

  “From prison! I. I never thought it could turn. That she could die! Please bring her back! I know you could!”

  “Every smallest decision in a war can become critical.”

  “I never wanted this war! All I wanted was to save—” Mamu? Her chest tightened. Heart pounded in her ears. “Mamu!!”

  With a sharp inhale, she dashed to the exact spot where the impact had occurred. And couldn’t find the single sight of any land or the place he was supposed to be hiding at. Just a big hole in the ocean. The car had vanished without a trace and also had disappeared from the section of owned vehicles.

  “Manya, even if it was for a shorter period. I got to see you smile and at the centre of a war, ripping off your way towards the end.”

  The ocean seemed to blur, the remnants of the impact still smouldering in her memory.

  “No, no, no!! Why? I don’t want such a life!” She fired several gun shots at herself but they all got absorbed by the SL, which increased it strengths. She tried to cut her throat with the dagger, which went through her skin for it being a friendly surface. “Stop it! Let me die!”

  ‘Ms., SL prevents self-harm.’

  Manya’s eyes widened with aggression at the sight of the heavaths encircling the planet, and prepared herself, summoning all her weapons and abilities. But as her attacks reached the planet’s surface, they dissipated into thin air.

  “Why can’t I attack them now?” Manya roared.

  ‘The war is over, Ms. And Sevavann had never attacked first.’

  “What Sevavann? All of it… they all died. Nothing left, its people, those kids, nothing!”

  ‘But Ms. Nobody died.’

  Her anger burned like a wildfire, consuming every other emotion, all directed towards Yajvan. “What?”

  ‘Yes, Ms. In fact, the natives are watching your fight.’

  “Vega. Where are you?”

  ‘At our place, drinking cola.’

  Manya’s eyes darted across the surroundings in a matter of seconds. There was nothing—only the desolate ocean floor.

  After a few seconds, a figure emerged from the depths of the hole. Manya’s anger flared. It was Trishark. Healed. With a wide grin on her face and a familiar substance in her hands. Her hands were stained black with the blood that dripped from Ira’s wings. And she was headed to the heavath.

  Manya charged at her, leaving a blur in her wake. However, she soon slowed down, her senses heightened. Her brows arched over the doubtful expressions on Trishark’s face. Trishark’s movements seemed unnatural and forced. Trishark stopped and looked at Yajvan and, in a blink, her smile grew wider.

  “You don’t like those wings, right?” Yajvan said. His voice echoed in Manya’s ear.

  “I… I don’t.” Trishark gasped.

  “Then why are you holding them?”

  “I… I.”

  “Drop them.”

  “Yes, Master.” Trishark released the wings she was proudly holding.

  Master? Manya faced Yajvan, but he ignored her gaze.