The Shadowbound Prophecy

Chapter 27: The Breaking Point

The air had a stillness to it as Harry, Seraphina, and Victoria continued their trek across the desolate, rocky terrain. The looming mountains in the distance, shrouded by low-hanging mist, were a stark reminder of the unyielding gods that stood in their way. They were closer now than ever to finding the Fallen God, but the weight of their journey bore down on them. The energy in the atmosphere had grown thicker—denser—like the calm before a storm.

Harry could sense it. A pressure building in the air, a pull that sent ripples through his already-fraying nerves. His magic, bound by the divine seal, stirred uneasily within him, and every moment felt like it could snap the thin thread of control he had left. But he had to keep going. For Seraphina. For Victoria. For all of them.

Seraphina walked beside him, her eyes scanning the horizon, ever vigilant. Her presence was an anchor to him, a reminder that he didn't have to face the darkness alone. Victoria, however, had been quieter than usual, her sharp demeanor dulled by the weariness that had overtaken her during the past few days.

Victoria's demon energy was waning. Harry noticed the flicker in her steps, the slight tremble in her usually steady hands. Even though she tried to hide it, he could see the toll their quest had taken on her. The Seventh Demon Queen had been pushing herself beyond her limits, and despite her immense power, she wasn't invincible.

Seraphina turned to Victoria, her concern clear in her eyes. "We should rest. Just for a moment."

Victoria's eyes flicked toward Seraphina, her expression steely, as if refusing to show weakness. "There's no time for rest," she said, her voice hoarse but determined. "The gods won't stop. We can't afford to linger."

Harry exchanged a glance with Seraphina. They both knew Victoria was right, but that didn't make the situation any less worrying.

"I know," Seraphina said gently. "But if we push too hard, we'll be no use when the time comes."

Victoria's gaze softened ever so slightly. She opened her mouth to reply, but the words never came.

A sudden, violent gust of wind tore through the valley, sending rocks scattering across the ground. The earth beneath their feet trembled, and the sky above them darkened unnaturally. Harry felt it instantly—the presence. A god was near.

His heart pounded in his chest as he looked up, his eyes scanning the shifting shadows. The air itself seemed to crackle with divine energy, thick and suffocating. A looming figure appeared from the swirling darkness, descending from the sky with a grace that belied the raw power it radiated.

The god stood before them, towering and otherworldly. Its body was cloaked in a shimmering, silver aura, its features sharp and angular, as though carved from the essence of the stars themselves. Eyes like molten gold bore into Harry, Seraphina, and Victoria, burning with an intensity that felt like it could strip the soul from one's body.

"You have come far," the god intoned, its voice reverberating through the air like a thousand echoes at once. "But your journey ends here."

Harry's breath caught in his throat. This was no demigod, no lesser being. This was a full-fledged god—a force of nature, a being beyond comprehension. The weight of its presence pressed down on him like the crushing pressure of the deep sea, threatening to smother him.

Seraphina's hand instinctively moved to the hilt of her sword, her muscles tense as she prepared for the worst. Victoria, however, stepped forward, her eyes narrowing with defiance.

"We won't turn back," Victoria spat, her voice filled with venomous determination. "Not now. Not ever."

The god's gaze shifted to the Demon Queen, and a cold, humorless smile curled its lips. "You think you can defy us? You are but a speck of dust in the wind."