Crimson Bonds

Chapter 46: The Final Revelation

The aftermath of the battle left the city in eerie silence, broken only by the distant sound of crumbling stone and flickering magic in the air. Babe stood at the center of it all, chest heaving as he looked down at his hands, still trembling with the raw power he'd unleashed. Dark tendrils of Leviathan energy hovered at the edges of his vision, a constant reminder of what lay just beyond the veil.

Billy moved closer, his usual playful smirk absent. His face was drawn, eyes shadowed with the weight of their victory—and the cost it had come with. He reached out and took Babe's hand, grounding him for a moment. "You did it," he said quietly, though both of them knew it wasn't over. Far from it.

Babe nodded, but the tension in his body remained. "They're still out there, aren't they?" he whispered, his voice tight with the knowledge that the Leviathans were now closer than ever.

Billy looked away for a second, jaw clenched. "Yeah. We stopped them today, but the seal is weaker. They're not just watching anymore, Babe. They're... reaching."

The Leviathans' influence had stretched farther than either of them had imagined. What once felt like distant whispers had become a suffocating presence, threading itself through the cracks of their world, corrupting everything it touched. Babe's blood magic had saved them in the battle—but he could feel the Leviathans pulling at him, like shadows desperate to slip free from their eternal prison.

Suddenly, a sharp voice echoed behind them. "You think this is a victory?"

Babe and Billy turned to see Elara, her face pale, eyes wide with the realization that had come too late. The Council, battered and broken, gathered behind her, some standing, others collapsed in exhaustion. Draven had fallen silent, no longer demanding control, as even he couldn't deny the shifting tides. The factions of the supernatural world were on the brink of collapse, barely holding together.

"They're not just trying to break free..." Elara's voice faltered, and her gaze fixed on Babe, eyes filled with something close to horror. "They want your blood, Babe. The prophecy—it's you."

Babe's heart skipped a beat, cold fear gripping him. "My blood? What do you mean?"

Elara's eyes darkened, her voice trembling as she spoke. "The Leviathans need your blood magic to break the seal completely. The prophecy... it wasn't just about amplifying magic. The seal was created with blood magic centuries ago, and only blood magic can destroy it. That's why they've been drawn to you."

Billy's grip on Babe's hand tightened. "No. There's got to be another way."

"There isn't," Elara said, shaking her head. "They've been waiting for this moment, for someone like you to come along. They need you, Babe. You're the key to their freedom."

Babe's breath hitched, and the weight of his destiny crashed down on him with crushing force. His entire life, he had feared his powers, feared the destruction they could bring. And now, he realized why. His magic wasn't just a gift—it was a weapon, one that the Leviathans would stop at nothing to claim.

Billy stepped closer, his voice low but fierce. "We'll find a way to stop them. We won't let them take you."

But even as he spoke, Babe could feel the pull. The dark energy of the Leviathans was already inside him, whispering, beckoning. His blood burned with it, the ancient magic that ran through his veins tied to something far older, far more dangerous than he had ever known.

"I can feel them," Babe whispered, fear creeping into his voice. "They want me to..."

"No," Billy said, his voice hard. "You're stronger than they are. We'll fight this."

Babe turned to face Billy, his heart torn between the love he felt for him and the weight of the truth he now carried. "What if I can't stop it? What if I'm the one who brings them back?"

"You won't," Billy insisted, his eyes locked on Babe's. "We're in this together. I won't let you face this alone."

In that moment, Babe felt a surge of determination—mixed with something deeper, something darker. He didn't know if he could stop what was coming, but he knew one thing for certain: he would not let the Leviathans use him. He would not let them take his blood, his magic, his life.

But even as he stood there, resolute, the shadows of the Leviathans loomed closer, their whispers growing louder, more insistent.

Elara stepped forward, her eyes filled with sorrow. "There's more. The prophecy—it doesn't just end with you, Babe. If the Leviathans break free, they won't just consume this world. They'll consume everything."

Babe swallowed hard, his pulse racing. "Everything?"

Elara nodded slowly. "They don't just want to return—they want to conquer. Every realm, every dimension. Once they're free, there will be no stopping them."

The weight of it all crashed down around them—the truth of the Leviathans' plan, the unimaginable consequences if they succeeded. Babe's blood was the key, and the only thing standing between the Leviathans and total destruction was the strength of his will.

As the cold night settled over the city, Babe and Billy stood together, the silence between them filled with unspoken promises. They had come this far, but the battle ahead was far greater than anything they had faced before. The Leviathans were stirring, and the final chapter of their prophecy was yet to be written.

Babe closed his eyes, his voice barely a whisper. "Whatever it takes... we'll stop them."

Billy nodded, his hand still holding Babe's, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "Together."

The Leviathans were coming. And they were ready.