The flames raced down the corrupted sludge of the Spirit Realm. The sludge led straight to the rift. Through the rift—
Omazz fired at the Ghouls. They dodged the blasts and slammed against the barrier.
Suddenly Omazz’s face washed over with horror. “No...”
A boot she recognized floated inches above the ground, toe dragging as it moved forward. Blood dripped around it. Rising up its owner’s limp frame—
Undead Druveus.
His eyes were hauntingly vacant, and his body was limp. A throaty moan emanated from him. Magical energy crackled around his body.
“Please... No…” Omazz begged.
Druveus neared. Omazz raised her wand. She fired, but lightning crackled near Undead Druveus, intercepting the blast and turning it into a harmless puff of smoke.
Druveus put his hands on the barrier, creating a fissure.
Where the bubble had been, there was now a valve spewing out hate—the portal to hell.
“The schism,” Nimbus said. “Hell lies on the other side. Hurry. If that fire spreads to your realm, the world will burn.”
Nimbus put a hand over a feather. He took a deep breath. Plucked it off. The feather shimmered with power. He handed it to Landar. One left. A look between Nimbus and Alessia.
Energy rushed out of the feather, swirling around Landar. He placed a hand on the Mouth of Hell.
“So...! Much...! Darkness...!”
“You can do this!” Nimbus shouted.
Alessia briefly smiled—maybe the first time in years—when she saw—
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The little girl. Walking toward Landar.
“Wait... Please...” Alessia mouthed.
But she couldn’t muster the energy to speak.
Landar shouted, “I can feel your divine energy. This is incredible!”
The little girl grabbed Landar. The magical energy surrounding him surged outward.
“NOOOOOO!” Alessia shouted.
The little girl sneered. “You had your chance.” She waved her hand, and the rope around Landar appeared and broke off.
Landar shouted, “No, Alessia, stop h—”
The little girl grabbed Landar and pulled them both into the Mouth of Hell.
A magical pulse knocked everyone back. It shattered the ruins around them, sending rubble spraying.
Everyone dove for cover as the world collapsed around them.
Alessia coughed as she climbed out of the debris. The Mouth to Hell undulated with power. The smoke around them had cleared, revealing thousands of corrupted yōkai wading into the Moat of Darkness.
Alessia realized what happened. “She took him... to hell. No one can heal the wound.”
Ex Vis climbed to his feet. He looked around at the group—all bloody and beaten. “So that’s it? We failed? Just like, abandon all hope?”
Alessia stared at the rope in her hands. Shaking. “This is all my fault.”
There was a long beat as the team absorbed the severity of the situation. Corrupted yōkai moved closer.
“Uhhh, guys...” Korr said.
Alessia looked from the rope to the yawning mouth of hell. She looked back at the team. “What if I go to Hell?”
“Have you lost your mind?” Korr asked.
“I’m with him,” Ex Vis said.
Alessia began to convince herself as she talked. “Get Landar’s soul back. Heal the wound at its source.”
“She’ll be down there,” Nimbus said. “If you can’t handle her, then we don’t have a chance.”
Ex Vis shook his head. “Wait— Did you just say go to hell?”
“I can handle her,” Alessia said.
“You don’t have to do it alone,” Nimbus said.
“One of us needs to stay here to guard the transdimensional rope,” Alessia said.
Ex Vis snorted. “Here? Alone? That might be the only thing worse than Hell.”
“Me,” Korr said. “I’ll do it.”
“What about me?!” Ex Vis shouted.
“We’re going to need all the help we can get down there,” Nimbus said.
“Don’t know who has it worse,” Ex Vis told Korr.
The barbarian smiled at the bunny. “You’ve got Alessia. You’ll be okay.”
Ex Vis and Korr clasped forearms. The bunny said, “Don’t lose that rope. Now let’s do this before I lose my damn nerve!”
Everyone went down but Alessia and Korr. As they went through the portal, the rope appeared, hanging over the edge, taut.
“Keep us safe, Korr.”
“Have I ever let anything happen to you?”
“Couple of broken bones. Punctured lungs. That one time all my teeth were knocked out, but—“
“Nothing a little healing potion can’t handle,” they said together.
Korr grabbed Alessia by the shoulder. “Give me the ring.”
“If you use it, you’ll—“
“I know. When I was half-mad, wandering the wastelands, you were the only one that showed me kindness. Believed in me. Over these years, I’ve seen how you treat yourself. Hate yourself. I hope you know I believe in you.” He hugged her. “Win this.”
She let go and handed Korr the ring.
“I will.”
She jumped into the void.