The boy's body twitched, a faint movement in the wreckage. His arms trembled as he struggled to push himself up, blood dripping from his mouth and down his chin.
He coughed, his body shaking with the effort. Despite the searing pain, despite the weight of his broken form, a defiant smirk tugged at his lips.
Seeing that, the beastly immortal's lips curled into a twisted smile. He lifted his massive foot, bringing it down with a brutal force onto the boy's chest.
The sound of it landing was like a sickening crack, the air rushing from the boy's lungs.
The boy gasped, his chest compressing under the weight, but his defiance didn't falter. He gritted his teeth, refusing to give in.
"You've got spirit," the immortal said mockingly, his voice thick with disdain. "But spirit won't save you."
The boy's vision blurred, his ribs threatening to give way under the pressure. He gasped again, the pain almost unbearable, but through the haze, he heard her voice.
"Stop! Leave him alone!"
The girl's voice pierced the tension in the air, frantic and filled with desperation.
She dashed toward them, her eyes wide with fear, but as she neared, something strange happened.
A shimmering barrier materialized in front of her, an invisible wall that stopped her in her tracks.
She slammed her hands against it, the smooth surface giving no give.
"No! Let me through!" she cried, her voice breaking. Panic rose in her chest like a tidal wave.
She backed away, trying to circle the barrier, but it shifted with her, forming an impenetrable cube that trapped her inside.
She turned, her fists pounding against the barrier with growing fury. The force of her strikes seemed to dissipate the moment they hit the smooth surface.
"Please!" she cried out, her voice cracking with desperation. "Let him go!"
Above her, the golden immortal watched the scene unfold, his glowing form unmoving, untouched by the chaos below.
His gaze was cool, indifferent, as if the life-and-death struggle before him was of no consequence.
Tears streaked down the girl's face as she lifted her eyes to the immortal, her expression pleading. "Please, remove this barrier! I have to save him!"
The golden immortal's voice was calm, almost detached.
"You are destined for greatness," he said, his words echoing in the vast courtyard. "Your path leads to the celestial world. Why do you waste your time on this boy? His life is insignificant compared to what lies ahead for you."
The girl's fists clenched, her hands trembling with fury. She pressed them harder against the barrier, as if hoping to will it away.
"You don't understand!" she shouted, "You're someone who stands atop countless lives, untouched by emotion. You'll never understand what it means to care about another."
The golden immortal's expression remained impassive, his eyes flicking toward her for a brief moment before returning to the scene below. "Your emotions are a hindrance. The celestial path requires clarity, not attachment."
Her voice grew louder, more forceful, her eyes blazing with determination.
"Then watch closely," she said, turning her gaze downward, toward her own body. Her trembling hand rose toward her abdomen, hovering over the point where one's core lay hidden.
The crowd fell silent, watching as she pressed her fingers to the place where her very life force resided.
"If you let him die," she said, her voice steady and unwavering, "I'll destroy myself."
Her words echoed through the courtyard, and gasps rippled through the crowd.
Before the girl could respond, he extended his hand. A radiant sphere of golden light surrounded her, lifting her gently off the ground.
Her body went limp as her consciousness faded, her form cradled within the protective glow.
The golden immortal turned to the beastly immortal, his expression calm but unyielding. "I have to upheld my promise. You cannot kill him."
The beastly immortal snarled, frustration twisting his features. His claws flexed, the need for violence clear in his eyes.
After a moment, he growled, "Fine."
But his gaze shifted to the boy, and a cruel smile crept across his face.
In an instant, he moved.
The crowd gasped as the beastly immortal crouched before the boy's broken body, his clawed hand pressing against the boy's abdomen.
"You never said I couldn't cripple him," the beastly immortal said, his grin widening.
Dark energy pulsed from his palm, spreading through the boy's body like poison.
His veins bulged and twisted unnaturally, the dark force wreaking havoc within.
His meridians snapped like brittle threads, unable to withstand the assault.
With a sickening crack, his energy core shattered into fragments, leaving his body in ruins.
The boy's scream tore through the air, raw and filled with agony. Blood gushed from his mouth and poured from his nose and ears.
His body trembled violently before collapsing, his strength drained entirely.
The beastly immortal leaned close, his voice a venomous whisper. "Remember my face. Remember who you dared to offend."
Straightening, he turned to the stunned crowd, his fiery eyes sweeping over them like a storm about to break.
"No one shall kill this boy," he declared, his voice booming across the courtyard. "Let him live his crippled life in regret. That is my decree!"
The boy knelt weakly in the rubble, his trembling hands barely holding him upright. Blood smeared his lips, his vision swimming with dizziness and pain. Yet, through it all, he forced his head up.
His heart ached as he watched the golden immortal ascend the spiraling pathway of light, the girl's glowing sphere trailing behind him.
She had sacrificed herself to save him, trading her freedom for his life. He knew this was all part of the golden immortal's plan, a carefully orchestrated scheme to claim her as his prize.
Even so, the truth would remain unspoken. No one would believe him if he tried to explain.
His bloodied gaze lingered on her unconscious face within the light. She seemed so peaceful, untouched by the horrors unfolding around her. It was a small comfort, bittersweet and fleeting.
As the last traces of her figure disappeared into the portal, a wave of helplessness crashed over him. Pain clawed at his chest, not just from his shattered body but from the realization of his powerlessness.
He had failed to protect her, failed to stand against forces far greater than himself.
Tears mixed with the blood on his face as he lowered his head.
This is the end,
he thought bitterly.
I'm nothing. Weak. Powerless.
...