Tarian charged forward. His steps pounded like hammer blows. He hacked at the nearest vines with raw force, tearing through them to carve a path toward me.

  The vines hissed like living things, lunging for his legs. Tarian deflected masterfully, his sword gleaming in the dim light. He managed to sever several tendrils, but one coiled around his ankle.

  "Not today!"

  He shouted it out. With one precise motion, he cleaved the vine. Barely free, three more vines whipped at him simultaneously, writhing like serpents.

  He blocked one, but the second caught his shoulder, leaving a long gash. Blood began seeping through, but Tarian, teeth clenched, kept fighting, hacking his way forward.

  "Am I that weak to you?!"

  His face twisted with pain. But determination burned in his eyes, like he'd sacrifice everything for me.

  Camelia turned her head, her smirk widening. Suddenly a vine shot forward and wrapped around Tarian's torso with crushing force, squeezing like steel vises.

  "Vines are enough."

  He screamed as the vine coiled around his torso, writhing. Its grip was relentless, like a serpent's, crushing ribs until they cracked. Thorns sharp as blades pierced flesh, puncturing armor and exposing the muscle beneath.

  Blood erupted outward, flooding the stone tiles. The vine jerked violently, and I heard a sickening crunch—Tarian's shoulder was wrenched out, and the flesh at his side was torn down to bone. Camelia's gaze was merciless, as if she savored every second of his agony. A torn piece of armor fell beside Tarian, splattered with blood.

  "Luten... trust yourself..."

  His breathing became ragged, hoarse, then gradually faded. It was the last spark of life.

  Camelia tilted her head, watching with ghastly satisfaction. The vine jerked with monstrous force, and Tarian's body ripped apart—chunks of armor, muscle, and bone scattered across the roof. The crack and wet pop echoed off the walls, filling the silence with pure horror. His sword slipped from weakening fingers, clanging against stone. The body convulsed in spasms, then crashed to the ground. A crimson pool slowly spread, surrounding the lifeless figure.

  "NO!"

  I screamed, rushing forward. But my legs wouldn't obey. The Gatekeeper squeezed my consciousness, preventing movement.

  "It's useless. His death was predetermined."

  The Gatekeeper's words tore through me like daggers. Rage boiled, but my body remained under his control.

  "You're weak, Luten. Your role is to become my instrument."

  My gaze froze on Tarian's torn body. His last words echoed in my head like a bell's toll. He'd sacrificed himself for me. For what?

  "Shut up."

  The Gatekeeper smirked, but his grip loosened momentarily. My illusion of freedom instantly evaporated when he stepped forward. Camelia, head tilted, studied us with a wild smirk:

  "Amazing. Even now you don't resist him, Luten. Isn't it interesting what he'll do with your body when you finally break?"

  She raised her hand, and new tendrils burst from stone, writhing like snakes. They coiled around the Gatekeeper's legs, but he tore them easily with one motion.

  "You really want to play these games?"

  Camelia laughed.

  "Maybe I just want to watch you break this boy."

  The Gatekeeper took another step, but suddenly the air trembled. A hum, low and insistent, filled the space. The sound came from above, and looking up, I saw them.

  Otherworlders.

  A ship hung in the air, like a black shadow spreading over the charred roof beams. Through a cloud of dust, people—or not quite people—descended from its belly in armor that breathed, shimmering with cold metal at their every movement. Ghostly light trembled along their weapons' edges.

  "Target acquired. Drones—deploy."

  Two massive containers dropped from the sky. The containers opened with a dry click, releasing a cloud of smoke.

  These were robots. I'd read about them in books: Dead men in service to the otherworlders. They don't tire, obey orders, and feel no pain—perfect soldiers.

  A mechanical voice spoke from one helmet:

  "Camelia, resistance is futile. You are charged with murdering an otherworlder."

  Camelia laughed. Her voice rang like cracking glass.

  "Surrender? You're joking?"

  Her hand shot up, and from her blood, like thin wire, a small object flew out.

  "This is your judgment!"

  Hitting its target, it began coiling around the robot like a snake. I didn't understand what she was doing—this wasn't a living person.

  The answer came instantly. The robot jerked, then straightened, its movements becoming smooth but strangely uneven. The next second it opened fire on its own allies. Precise shots tore through armor, and metal bodies fell like mowed grass.

  "She controlled it..."

  Camelia just smirked, watching chaos overtake the battlefield. Her plants, alive with blood energy, reached for fallen bodies, covering them with roots.

  The Gatekeeper stood aside. His gaze tracked Camelia unblinkingly. He was like a beast waiting to strike. I felt him gathering power.

  I turned to Alice, still struggling to hold the building.

  Approaching her, I carefully touched her shoulder. For a moment her magic flooded me. It was like touching stars. Power penetrated every cell, but with it came pain. Alice was at her limit. I felt her body trembling under the impossible burden.

  I saw how she suffered. Her body at its breaking point.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  "No!"

  The Gatekeeper didn't wait. His hand reached out, and Alice's magic began flowing into us like water into an empty vessel.

  "What are you doing?!"

  "Saving us."

  Alice cried out, her legs buckled, and she crashed down. Magic no longer held the collapsing structures. The building shuddered, then began crumbling like sand through fingers. People's screams filled the air, but the Gatekeeper paid them no attention.

  "Is this all you can do?"

  She turned to us, her gaze sharp as a blade.

  "Will people's deaths change anything? You only have a body. But I am an entire world."

  Her plants began changing. Vines thickened, covering with metallic sheen, and roots grew skyward, forming crimson flowers. One glowed with pulsing light, making everything around tremble.

  "That's an obelisk..."

  The obelisk's light struck my eyes. My consciousness seemed to spin, losing anchor. Space around warped. I saw myself, but in another time, another place. Camelia stood beside Tarian. His face expressed pain, and her gaze—cold enjoyment.

  From beneath the rubble came Elliot's cries. He'd been trying to find Alice all this time.

  "Luten! Fight!"

  I shook my head, trying to rid myself of visions. The Gatekeeper lunged forward, his body crossing warped space. The obelisk's light began fading under his assault.

  Camelia didn't retreat. She threw seeds that began singing, their song luring into illusion. I felt myself drowning in dreams again, but the Gatekeeper delivered a powerful blow, tearing these images apart.

  Her strength was depleting, but Camelia's gaze remained defiant.

  "You're too slow, Heart. And you know why?"

  He didn't answer. Instead his hand rose, directing destructive magic straight at the obelisk's heart. His hand trembled, and the stream of magic rushed toward the obelisk. Crimson light flickered, reflecting the blow, but couldn't withstand it. The "heart's" petals began falling with a crack, and from within came a muffled roar, as if this flower was a living creature dying in agony.

  Camelia froze momentarily, her face contorting with strain. She whispered something, as if begging the obelisk to revive. But its light faded. The Gatekeeper didn't wait. He stepped forward, and his hand rose again, ready to deliver the finishing blow.

  However, the otherworlders managed to regroup and this time shot to kill.

  "You're excess in this world."

  Hundreds of tiny seeds flew from her body, filling the air. The smell was sweet, almost intoxicating. The first otherworlder who inhaled them froze, his body beginning to shake as if feverish. Then he turned to his comrades.

  "No... Don't come closer!"

  Soldiers around began shooting each other, their faces twisted with madness. One fell to his knees, clutching his head, then with an inhuman scream shot himself in the chest. His body collapsed, and new vines sprouted from it, filling the space. The Gatekeeper watched this with cold contempt.

  "Think this will work on me?"

  Camelia laughed. The laughter dragged on too long, becoming increasingly forced. But she no longer radiated her former lightness and excitement. Now she was serious and focused.

  "On you—no, on them—yes."

  Camelia didn't take her eyes off me, but her appearance changed. Strange flowers began sprouting from her head. Three flowers detached and began levitating above her like a halo.

  "Enough jokes."

  Her voice sharply cut the silence. At that instant something struck me from a blind spot, knocking me down. I felt the world flip. My body flew through the air, and a crunch sounded in my chest that stole my breath. I hit the ground so hard that snow mixed with dust and blood rose around me. Trying to rise, I heard a deep growl. My heart hammered. I looked up.

  It was something like a wolf or bear, but house-sized. Its elongated muzzle stretched out, and eyes glowed crimson like two coals. Paws wrapped in powerful muscles easily crushed stones under their weight. The monster's breath scorched the air.

  I tried to stand but felt strength leaving me. The Gatekeeper didn't hesitate. My body rose on its own, and hands reflexively formed a magical barrier.

  The creature pushed off the ground. I didn't even notice how it appeared behind me. Its paw struck so hard I flew through the air again. Ribs crunched, and dark spots danced before my eyes. The landing was brutal. The barrier barely softened the impact. I felt cold penetrating my lungs.

  "Stop. This won't help."

  My body raised a hand. Around the creature, air suddenly warped, as if being sucked into an invisible vortex. The creature roared, but that only increased the pressure. I watched it begin to change.

  Its paws twisted at impossible angles. The spine cracked, and bones scattered. Blood gushed from torn flesh, soaking the snow. Its maw opened, but the scream remained soundless. The creature collapsed in torturous agony, then its entire body turned into a shapeless mass of meat and bones.

  For a moment everything froze. Even snow stopped falling, as if nature itself feared this scene. Then came a wet pop as the creature's remains fell apart. Blood stained the snow, and the air filled with the nauseating smell of iron.

  I swallowed convulsively, feeling my chest constrict with revulsion.

  "This... Isn't right..."

  Snow began falling again, now with a pinkish tint. I looked away, trying to find something to focus on to avoid thinking about the mess before me.

  Camelia stood aside, her face twisted in a volatile mix of fear and admiration.

  "How horrible. Who gave you such power?"

  A root burst from the ground, like a giant spear's tip. It rushed at my body with terrifying speed. The impact was instant. The root knocked me down, throwing me aside, but didn't pierce through. My body rose as quickly as it fell. I felt something pulling at muscles, every cell screaming in pain.

  Camelia raised both hands, and a strange plant burst from beneath the snow. It slowly opened like a bud, and a bright beam struck my chest. Searing pain pierced my body, as if magic penetrated straight to the bones.

  I heard skin cracking, then felt blood running down my chest.

  "No! Dodge!"

  I screamed, but the Gatekeeper remained motionless.

  "Dodge? This body is too sluggish."

  Another beam pierced my shoulder. This time I felt bone snap. Blood poured onto snow, but my body didn't even sway.

  Camelia screamed. Her face contorted with anger.

  "Why won't you fall?!"

  She fired again. The beam hit my leg, bone cracked, and pain echoed in every cell of my consciousness. I wanted to scream, but instead my lips just twisted in a smirk. It wasn't me. It was him.

  The Gatekeeper took another step forward, not even trying to defend. Light tore flesh, leaving charred holes.

  "You fight to survive, and I—to destroy."

  The Gatekeeper mocked her while extending his hand toward the stem from which Camelia drew her powers. Her face paled, but she stepped back, gathering the last remnants of her magic. Roots wrapped around her body as if protecting her, but the Gatekeeper only increased his assault.

  "This is the end, Camelia."

  I felt my body fill with a new wave of power. It drew energy from the earth itself, from everyone around. Space around the stem warped, its leaves withering before our eyes.

  Camelia screamed, her voice full of horror and rage.

  "You... You shouldn't have withstood!"

  The Gatekeeper grabbed her throat. Her feet left the ground, roots rushed at him but instantly crumbled to dust.

  I didn't understand exactly what happened, but her eyes widened even more, and she looked at me with surprise.

  "So that's how it is..."

  She laughed quietly before her body vanished in a whirlwind of petals.

  For a while I just stood there. Pain disappeared, like everything else. As if I'd turned into a mannequin behind glass.

  When I felt my body again, pain hit in waves. Into every cell, every bone. I swayed but somehow stayed on my feet. Adrenaline forced movement, but I knew it wouldn't last.

  "Elliot... Alice..."

  In the distance I noticed movement. Elliot was crawling from the debris, face covered in dirt and cuts, but alive. His voice was weak, but he managed to stand.

  "Luten!"

  I took a step, feeling my legs buckle.

  "Alice... there."

  Elliot pointed at a motionless figure beside him.

  I sped up, ignoring the burning pain. Alice was under debris, and her breathing was barely audible. Elliot tried pulling her out unsuccessfully.

  "Help!"

  I struggled to grab the debris, yanking it aside. Pain flared so bright I screamed.

  Alice didn't open her eyes, she urgently needed help, but she was breathing. That was a relief to me. I helped Elliot take her shoulders to carry her out. Every step was difficult. Adrenaline was fading, and I felt strength leaving me.

  We exited the destroyed building, but I couldn't let go of thoughts about Camelia.

  Why did she leave? What did she see?

  Weakness overwhelmed me, I fell to my knees, feeling the world begin to dim before my eyes. The last thing I heard was otherworlder soldiers approaching me.

  "We're taking him."

  One of the otherworlder soldiers gestured toward my unconscious form.

  "What about the other two?"

  "They're not our concern."

  How would you rate Volume 1?