Page 311 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

“H-how?” I ask in a broken whisper.

All my hopes were pinned on that one trick. It had never failed me before, regardless of my adversary’s strength or abilities. Though I may not boast a high level like others, my inherited powers were enough to see me through any challenge.

But this…this is something new entirely.

Eternal ice—the name itself hints at its indestructible nature. This substance cannot be melted, vanquished, or even destroyed. It is one of the strongest and most resilient materialsin existence, with no being in the world able to survive it. And when fine particles of it enter the body, clogging arteries and stopping vital organs, there is no chance for survival. Not only does it cause harm, but it also prevents any form of healing.

No matter how strong one’s spiritual energy may be, if they can’t heal, they are doomed to die.

But Cerenios isn’t dying. Far from it. He stands before me with an amused look on his face as if he were indulging a small child with a simple party trick.

“I have heard, of course, of your eternal ice,” he starts, walking casually toward me.

I take slow steps backward, each one sending a jolt of agony through my abdomen. My heart races in terror as I see the nonchalant expression on his face, a stark contrast to the pain and fear consuming me.

My body feels like it’s being weighed down by chains, my energy levels drained from the intense battle. But despite my weakened state, I refuse to back down.

“You think you know enough about eternal ice? You can barely control it,” he taunts.

My eyes widen in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

He smirks. “Eternal ice may be invincible in theory, but in practice, it is only as strong as its wielder.”

“That’s not true!” I argue desperately.

“Isn’t it? Then how do you explain the fact that I am still standing?” he challenges.

I stumble backward and fall to the ground, the impact causing more pain to erupt from my already injured stomach. My movements are sluggish and weak, and I feel like I’m drowning in my own blood.

He looms over me now, just a few paces away. “If your energy level was even close to mine, perhaps your attack wouldhave been effective. But as it stands…” His voice trails off with a mocking chuckle. “I suppose it just tickled.”

“It…tickled?” I gape at him in disbelief.

He shrugs casually. “A cold tickle,” he clarifies with a smirk.

I don’t know whether I should laugh or cry at his statement.

I end up doing both.

The tears are from the pain while the laughter is from the hopelessness.

I was quite arrogant to think someone like me could defeat the great Cerenios, wasn’t I?

I can still fight. I still have energy left. But as my stomach injury heals, I realize that it is moot.

Everything is moot.

With one motion, he lifts me in the air, staring at me.

“You might have lived still, if you did not cross paths with Wyn,” he tells me. “I take her safety very seriously, and your mere presence jeopardizes it.”

“I only talked to her for a moment,” I protest. “And we didn’t speak of anything scandalous!”

“Perhaps you did, perhaps you did not. I do not take risks with her safety. Therefore, you will have to be exterminated.”

“You’re crazy.”

He shrugs. “I am crazy good at my job.” And with that, he opens his palm and gathers a ball of dark energy that he presses into my stomach.

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