DEMONS | Nikolai Lantsov

Chapter 9

---Mara's POV---

Fear and despair threatened to consume her, but a flicker of determination still burned within her soul.

Summoning the remnants of her strength, Mara fought against the encroaching darkness. She clawed her way towards the light, her hands outstretched, searching for an escape from the suffocating abyss.

With a surge of energy, she unleashed a burst of light from within, pushing back against the suffocating shadows. The darkness recoiled, momentarily retreating.

Breathing heavily, Mara struggled to her feet. Despite the pain that coursed through her veins, she refused to yield. She couldn't let the Darkling win, not after everything they had been through.

"Is that all you have?" she spat, her voice laced with defiance.

The Darkling's eyes blazed with fury as he realized his momentary setback. The darkness converged around him once more, threatening to overwhelm Mara completely. But she refused to back down.

Gritting her teeth, Mara channeled her newfound strength, her wounds a testament to her resilience. With a surge of determination, she conjured a barrier of brilliant light, shielding herself from the encroaching shadows.

The room erupted into a battle of opposing forces—light versus darkness. Mara fought with every ounce of her being, the pain a constant reminder of the stakes at hand. She unleashed beams of light, cutting through the veil of darkness, pushing back against the Darkling's malevolence.

But the Darkling was relentless. He conjured more shadow creatures, each more formidable than the last, hoping to break Mara's spirit. Their monstrous forms snarled and lunged, threatening to tear her apart.

Mara fought valiantly, her body bruised and battered, but her resolve unyielding. She danced between the shadows, her movements swift and precise. Light clashed with darkness, a symphony of power and resistance.

In a final surge of determination, Mara channeled every ounce of light within her being. She unleashed a blinding burst of brilliance, piercing through the darkness with an intensity that shattered the shadows in its wake.

As the radiant light washed over the room, the Darkling let out a scream of defeat. He retreated, his power waning in the face of Mara's unyielding spirit. His agony echoing in her ears, but she continued to shine brighter. Her light burning his skin and causing his clothes to catch fire. He dropped suddenly to the ground, falling into a pile of ash.

The great hall fell silent once more, the darkness dissipated, and Mara stood amidst the remnants of the battle. Her body trembled with exhaustion, her wounds still throbbing, but her spirit unbroken.

Through sheer willpower, she had triumphed over the darkness that threatened to consume her. With every breath, she renewed her determination to protect Ravka and its people from the Darkling's reign of terror. But she was fighting for more than just that. She was fighting to live, for her future, one that she began to see Nikolai be a part of.

Though the pain lingered, Mara's resolve burned brighter than ever before. She knew that the battle was not yet won, but she was ready to face whatever lay ahead, armed with the power of light and an unwavering determination to see the darkness defeated once and for all.

---Nikolai's POV---

As the monstrous shadow demon closed in on Nikolai and his loyal comrades, a desperate battle ensued. Each soldier took turns launching attacks, their weapons striking the creature with a mix of bravery and desperation. Yet, their efforts seemed futile as the shadow demon effortlessly repelled their assaults.