Chapter 43: The Door Between Worlds
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The cave shook beneath the force of the battle.
Ocean waves crashed violently against the cliffs outside while holy light and dark energy tore through the narrow shoreline passage in violent bursts.
Steel clashed.
Wind screamed.
Stone shattered.
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And Seri watched it all with amusement.
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Blue ducked beneath a glowing spear strike before driving both hidden blades toward the knight's ribs. The holy warrior twisted smoothly, armored gauntlet slamming into Blue's shoulder hard enough to send him skidding backward across the wet stone floor.
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Fast.
Way too fast.
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The knight didn't even hesitate.
He pressed forward immediately, spear moving like flowing water as holy energy exploded across the cave walls with every strike.
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Blue blocked another thrust barely in time.
The impact rattled his arms.
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Behind him—
Rito's light magic burst outward in bright green arcs while vines erupted from the cave floor, wrapping around another knight's legs long enough for Mira to rush in with blinding speed.
Her blades flashed directly toward his throat.
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The knight leaned backward just enough to avoid the killing strike before smashing his elbow into Mira's stomach.
The vampire flew backward into the stone wall with a sharp gasp.
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"Damn it—" Mira hissed.
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"Heavy right side!" Gus shouted.
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Dark flames exploded through the cave as Gus unleashed a wave of shadow fire toward the third knight. The holy warrior crossed both arms as golden barriers erupted around him, absorbing most of the impact before he burst straight through the flames.
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Kin intercepted him instantly.
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Shadow exploded beneath his feet as his staff collided against the knight's glowing blade again and again.
Fast.
Precise.
Violent.
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But the knight kept matching him.
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Every strike.
Every movement.
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Kin's eyes widened slightly.
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"They're seriously human?!" he shouted.
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Nearby, Lirael moved through the battlefield like drifting mist itself. Wind spiraled around her body as she slipped between attacks, using bursts of compressed air to redirect strikes and create openings for the others.
But even she couldn't gain ground.
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The knights handled everything.
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Every spell.
Every attack.
Every angle.
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And slowly—
The group realized something terrifying.
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These humans were trained specifically for beings like them.
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Seri smiled faintly from the edge of the cavern.
Hands folded behind his back.
Watching.
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"You're all very strong," he said calmly.
A pause.
"…But if you continue fighting without intent to kill…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…you will never defeat my knights."
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Blue blocked another spear strike before kicking the knight backward.
His chest rose heavily now.
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They were holding back.
All of them were.
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Even Mira wasn't aiming for lethal strikes.
Even Gus was suppressing his flames.
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Because none of them wanted a massacre.
Not here.
Not against humans.
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Seri sighed softly.
Almost disappointed.
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"Knights," he said quietly.
"…Stop holding back."
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The atmosphere changed instantly.
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Golden light erupted across the cavern.
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The three holy knights surged forward simultaneously with overwhelming force, holy energy roaring around their bodies as their speed and strength rose dramatically.
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Blue barely reacted in time before the spear knight slammed into him hard enough to blast him through a stone pillar.
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Rito's vines were shredded apart instantly.
Mira was forced completely on the defensive.
Even Gus' shadow flames were being pushed backward by overwhelming holy pressure.
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Kin gritted his teeth as his opponent's sword crashed against his staff over and over again with monstrous force.
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Too strong.
Too fast.
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The knight swung again—
And Kin's shadow reacted before he could.
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Darkness erupted beneath him instinctively, pulling his body sideways unnaturally as the glowing blade missed his neck by inches.
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Kin blinked.
"…That wasn't me."
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Again.
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The knight attacked—
And the shadows moved first.
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Like they were alive.
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At the edge of the battlefield, Seri's smile deepened slightly.
His eyes lingered on Kin.
Then shifted toward Gus.
Watching carefully.
Studying.
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Interesting.
Very interesting.
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"Kin!"
Blue rushed toward him—
But the spear knight intercepted instantly, forcing him backward again.
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The group was losing ground fast now.
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Rito's breathing became uneven.
Mira's arms trembled from blocking impacts.
Gus' flames flickered unstable under the pressure.
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And then—
Kin made one mistake.
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Just one.
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The knight caught him by the throat instantly.
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Kin's eyes widened as his body lifted completely off the ground.
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The holy knight's grip tightened slowly.
Easily.
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He could snap his neck whenever he wanted.
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Blue froze.
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Everyone did.
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Seri stepped forward calmly.
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"Well?"
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The cave quieted.
Only the crashing ocean remained.
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Seri looked directly at Blue now.
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"What will you do?"
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His voice stayed soft.
Almost curious.
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"Will you let him die?"
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Kin struggled violently against the knight's grip as shadows twisted wildly around his body.
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"Or…"
Seri's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…will you finally stop pretending?"
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Blue's heart pounded violently now.
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His instincts screamed at him.
His power pushed against his control.
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If he transformed fully—
If he stopped holding back—
They could win.
Probably instantly.
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But then what?
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More knights would come.
The city would see them as monsters.
War would start.
People would die.
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But if he did nothing—
Kin dies.
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Seri laughed softly.
Lighthearted.
But real.
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Such a simple choice.
And yet…
So difficult.
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Blue lowered his head slightly.
His breathing slowed.
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His claws slowly began forming.
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"…Sorry," he muttered quietly.
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Then—
The air exploded.
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A black blur tore through the battlefield faster than anyone could react.
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The knight holding Kin vanished instantly.
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An impact like thunder detonated across the cavern as the holy warrior's body launched across the shoreline cave and flew directly toward Seri.
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But Seri simply stepped sideways.
Calmly.
Effortlessly.
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The knight crashed through solid stone behind him.
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Darius stood where the knight had been.
One arm holding Kin effortlessly by the back of his jacket.
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Kin blinked repeatedly.
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"…Okay."
A cough.
"…That was cool."
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Darius dropped him onto the ground before looking around the battlefield.
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"…What the hell's going on, guys?"
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Blue exhaled sharply in relief.
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Then Seri laughed again.
Louder this time.
Genuine amusement filling his voice.
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"This is splendid."
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Everyone stared at him cautiously now.
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Darius frowned slightly.
"…Who the hell is he?"
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Seri placed one hand over his chest politely.
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"I'm no one important."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"…Just the humble leader of this nation."
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No one believed that for a second.
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Seri turned slightly toward the glowing Veil entrance behind him.
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"I made a simple game with these children," he continued calmly.
"And now that you've arrived…"
He glanced back toward Darius.
"…they've won."
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Blue stared at him in disbelief.
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"You're actually letting us leave?"
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Seri smiled faintly.
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"A promise should mean something."
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Then he began walking away.
His knights immediately followed.
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But before disappearing into the tunnel shadows—
Seri stopped.
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His eyes shifted toward Lirael.
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"Do be careful in the Veil…"
A pause.
"…especially you, Mistborn."
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Lirael's expression darkened immediately.
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"Last I heard…"
Seri smiled faintly.
"…your kind wasn't welcome in their homeland anymore."
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Then he left.
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Silence filled the cave once more.
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Darius looked around slowly.
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"…Alright."
He pointed toward the tunnel.
"…Somebody explain what the hell just happened."
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"Later," Blue said immediately.
"We need to move before he changes his mind."
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Lirael nodded quickly.
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"He's right."
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Everyone regrouped quickly despite the exhaustion.
Bruised.
Shaken.
Still breathing.
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Then Lirael stepped toward the Veil entrance.
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The cave walls began glowing softly as she raised both hands.
Silver-green mist spiraled outward around her body while ancient symbols lit across the shoreline stone.
The ocean itself began reacting.
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The water trembled.
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Then split apart.
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Not naturally.
Not magically.
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Reality itself seemed to tear open above the crashing waves, revealing endless swirling mist and glowing ancient skies beyond the fracture.
The air changed instantly.
Ancient.
Alive.
Watching.
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Blue felt it immediately.
Every instinct in his body sharpened.
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This world was different.
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Lirael stared into the opening quietly.
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"…Once we cross," she said softly.
"…turning back becomes much harder."
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Blue stepped forward first.
His eyes locked onto the unknown world beyond the rift.
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"…Then we don't turn back."
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And together—
They crossed into the Veil.
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End Chapter 43