CHAPTER 329: CHAPTER 329 THEY CAN ONLY BE ONE QUEEN

The Greater Evil’s eyes gleamed with dark delight the moment she saw the Queen. Their smile widened, and their hand in the air tightened its invisible grip.

Seraphina’s body jerked violently, her feet dangling higher. The sound of her choking filled the battlefield. Her nails clawed at her throat, desperate for air that wouldn’t come.

"Seraphina!" Alaric’s roar broke through the chaos, his rage snapping the last thread of his control. His body trembled, muscles rippling under his skin as a guttural growl erupted from his chest. His claws dug deep into the ground before he lunged into the air.

He tore through the corrupted witches like a shadow of death. Each swing of his claws sent bodies crashing into the dirt, blood splattering across his black fur. He sped through the battle like he had gone berserk, his only focus was her.

’Seraphina.’

The moment he cleared the last of the corrupted witches, he leaped into the air, his golden eyes blazing, and his fangs bared. He aimed for the Greater Evil’s throat.

But she had already sensed him.

Without so much as turning her head, her serpent-like eyes slid to the side. Alaric froze mid-air, his body suspended as if caught in time. His muscles strained but refused to move, his claws hung inches from her.

A swirl of black smoke wrapped around his neck, tightening slowly. His golden eyes widened in pain, but only a low growl escaped his throat.

"You think you can touch me?" Their voice slithered through the air like poison, then they turned to the Queen. "Queen, surrender yourself... or I will crush them both before your eyes."

The Queen’s gaze flickered upward, her eyes glowing with blinding fury. "You wouldn’t dare." The calm she carried cracked, revealing the raw storm that lived beneath her skin. Her pupils vanished, replaced by pure, searing white light.

The air stilled, as if the battlefield held its breath.

Then, a single wave of power exploded from her body. The air trembled. The earth cracked open. Every corrupted witch screamed as the energy threw them across the ground like ragdolls. Dust and debris spiraled into the sky, darkening the air.

The Queen descended through the storm, her feet brushing against the ground so lightly it seemed the earth itself dared not touch her. Her whitish grey hair swayed behind her like ribbons of light.

Her fingers lifted slowly as if time bent to her commands.

The Greater Evil gasped as their body was yanked forward by an invisible force. They struggled to break free, their staff shaking violently in her hand.

Seraphina dropped from the air like a puppet whose strings had been cut, gasping as she hit the ground. Her lungs burned. She coughed, wheezing, air finally filling her chest again.

Alaric fell too, hitting the dirt with a thud, his claws scraping against stone as he struggled to rise. His throat burned raw where the smoke had coiled, but he forced himself to his feet, his body trembling.

Around them, the witches began to cheer. Their voices cracked with exhaustion and awe. "The Queen fights for us!" one of them screamed, and soon, their cries joined into a desperate chorus of hope.

The Queen’s power radiated like the sun. Her presence was overwhelming, divine, and terrifying. Her gaze fixed on the Greater Evil, who hissed, her black smoke thickening as she resisted the invisible pull.

"You shouldn’t have started this fight? I see you have merged your souls... despicable." The Queen’s words were cold like frost.

The air around them snapped. The clash between their powers split the sky apart. The heavens turned dark, lightning streaked through the clouds, and the ground trembled beneath their feet. Magic collided like the wrath of gods.

"Says the one who ended up using a forbidden spell. Tell me how many hours do you have left?" The Greater Evil’s voice was high-pitched and maniacal.

"Enough to deal with you." The Queen said, as they clashed against each other, their magic bombarding the air around them.

Gwen ran toward Seraphina, panting, her face pale. "We have to move! Now!" she shouted, grabbing her by the arm.

Seraphina nodded weakly, her body shaking. "The Queen... she’s using the forbidden spell. She won’t last long," she whispered.

"Then we can’t waste time." Gwen’s arm wrapped around her waist, helping her move.

Behind them, the earth rumbled again. Alaric tried to follow, but his steps faltered. His claws dug into the dirt as he steadied himself, the world spinning in front of his eyes. Something felt wrong.

"Seraphina." He called, but his words were unheard by her.

He wanted to follow them, but his vision blurred. All he could do was watch as the two witches disappeared into the castle, the sound of magic clashing echoing behind them.

Inside the castle, the noise of battle dimmed. Only the distant hum of destruction remained. The walls trembled faintly with each surge of power outside. Gwen led Seraphina into a quiet chamber.

Seraphina slumped against the wall, breathing hard, her eyes half-closed. She coughed, and blood trickled down her chin. Gwen knelt before her, her tone deceptively calm.

"Why does the corrupted witch want your life?"

Seraphina shook her head weakly, closing her eyes. "I don’t know... "

The words barely left her mouth before a sharp pain shot through her chest. She gasped, her eyes snapping open. The metallic scent of blood filled the air.

A knife was buried just inches away from her heart.

Seraphina’s breath hitched, her trembling gaze lifting to find Gwen standing before her, her hand gripping the hilt. The same Gwen who moments ago had carried her through the battlefield.

"I’m sorry," Gwen whispered, her voice soft but laced with malice. "There can only be one Queen."

Seraphina’s eyes widened, disbelief painting her pale face. "Gwen..."

Gwen’s expression didn’t change. "You knew this was bound to happen... one of us has to die, and I would prefer it should be you." She pulled the knife out, blood dripping down the blade, and raised it again.

Seraphina dodged just in time. The blade sliced across her arm instead of her chest. Pain flared through her, but she forced her shaking hands to move. Her palms glowed faint red, and a thick smoke burst from her fingertips, filling the chamber instantly.

Gwen cursed, her vision clouded. "Coward," she spat, her voice echoing through the haze. "Come out, Seraphina. I’ll make it quick. I’ll give you a merciful death."

Seraphina stumbled backward, her wound bleeding profusely. Her heart pounded in her ears as she pressed her palm to her chest, gasping for breath.

Gwen’s silhouette appeared through the smoke, her tone calm and haunting. "You can’t hide from me. Come out, Seraphina... and let me finish what fate has already begun."