Dreadgod (Cradle Book 11) (109)

“Yeah, well, that’s like being scared you’ll find the Weeping Dragon in your bathtub. No point worrying. If it happens, you’re dead anyway.”

Yerin opened her void key and began changing into a new set of robes. The Archlady didn’t follow her in, but she stayed at the entrance. “I’m certain we can find a set of Redmoon Hall robes to fit you.”

Yerin held up the black outer robe she planned on wearing. “This is close enough.”

“It’s more of a symbolic gesture.”

“How many of those would you contend I need?”

Kahn Mala massaged her temples, and Yerin could have sworn the scarlet cobra around her neck rolled its eyes. “Where can we find the Void Sage, to send him a message? Or are you going to find him yourself?”

Yerin was sure the Archlady was really poking to find out if Yerin was planning on using her Moonlight Bridge to run. She didn’t trust the soul oath completely, which was sharp of her, in Yerin’s view.

“Not much of a need.” Yerin threw on the last layers of her robes and tied them shut. “He’s almost here.”

It would have been nice to take the time for a bath and three days of sleep after a bloody battle, but Yerin had to move. And if Lindon was heading her way before contacting her, that meant something had gone upside-down, so she expected another bloody battle anytime soon. Scraping herself clean with aura and throwing on some new clothes would have to do.

Kahn Mala didn’t look relieved. She scanned Yerin’s face. “Not to question the honor of the Void Sage, but we are vulnerable to his attacks now that we no longer have Red Faith’s protection.”

“Bet you three swords against a chipped stone that Lindon didn’t hold back because Red Faith was here. If anybody snaps and takes the heads of everybody onboard, it won’t be him.” Yerin gave Kahn Mala a reassuring clap on the shoulder, next to her Blood Shadow. “It’ll be me.”

“Oh,” the Archlady said. “Good.”

Then Yerin’s spirit screamed in warning and, without a moment of thought, she blinked out of existence and back onto the deck.

A gold-edged rift swirled over the cloud fortress, and powerful storm madra boiled beyond.

No, not just ‘powerful.’ Overwhelming.

Multi-colored lightning, blue and white and gold, swirled around a figure that looked down and met Yerin’s eyes. The Remnant looked like a man formed from madra even denser than Little Blue’s, and he stood on a floor that wasn’t “down” from Yerin’s perspective. It was just because of the way the portal was facing, but it looked like he was standing on a wall and staring at her from above.

She recognized his aura and instantly called Netherclaw back to her hand.

“I’m sorry,” said Tiberian Arelius’ Remnant.

A river of storm madra thundered out of the portal from the sky and crashed down on the ship.

Yerin unleashed the Final Sword and met that power.

She couldn’t just block the technique and weather it; she didn’t have any techniques that were so useful for defense or protection. The Path of the Endless Sword was all about cutting things.

The flows of silver-crimson madra and multi-colored lightning crashed into one another, and the air tore as they met.

Yerin gritted her teeth as her spirit and body trembled. This was her limit, but the Remnant had more in him. Even if this was all he could do, she would run out of madra long before he did.

The Monarch’s Remnant gave her a regretful smile.

Two more gold portals opened to either side of Yerin. This time, she felt the origin of the technique, and she cast out her perception.

Reigan Shen. He hovered nearby, watching while his weapons prepared to destroy Redmoon Hall.

Then the launchers inside the other portals took aim, and Yerin knew his target wasn’t the Hall.

He was after her.

If she used the Moonlight Bridge, Tiberian’s technique would destroy the Dreadgod cult. That would be a violation of her oath. She’d survive for another second, but then her spirit would turn in on itself and Shen could kill her anyway.

Yerin extended her Goldsigns and smelted her anger and fear into stubbornness. If she hadn’t died when the stars went out, she wasn’t going to die now.

And besides, help was on the way.

A voice echoed over the whole scene, dwarfing even the clash between techniques.

“Close.”

The portals to Yerin’s sides zipped closed as fast as they’d opened, but the one containing Tiberian’s Remnant only trembled. Shen was keeping his focus on it.

The space behind Yerin warped, and someone was standing behind her. She let out a breath of relief at the familiar presence, and Little Blue gave a cheer like frozen bells.

A thick bar of Blackflame shot through the portal and toward Tiberian’s spirit.

The Remnant reacted immediately, shielding itself with a crackling bolt of lightning, and the Striker technique slammed into it.

“Put away your toy before I break it,” Lindon said.

Shen allowed the portal to close, and responded at a normal volume. Lindon and Yerin were likely the only ones on the ship with ears sharp enough to catch it.

“You already took one of mine away,” the Monarch said. “I had prepared the labyrinth for myself. It’s only fair that I take a toy of yours in return.”