SWNOVELXO Chapter 49: – The Flames That Shield Us
[SCENE – VILLAGE SQUARE – NIGHTFALL]
The air was heavy.
The darkness surrounding the Apostle of Tyrus had taken shape — writhing, ethereal tentacles that bent time, poisoned the soil, and cracked the very ground.Houses groaned.Children screamed.Hope retreated with each step he took.
At the center of the square, Annie Halloway and Abby Fountier stood facing the enemy. Their bodies trembled — not from fear, but from exhaustion.
Abby gasped for breath. Her outfit was torn. A vein pulsed dangerously at her temple.
Abby (weakly):"Annie… I can only use my full power two more times.If I try a third… I might die."
Annie's eyes widened, smeared with sweat and dust.
Annie:"Two…?"
Abby nodded, trying to smile despite her weakness.
Abby:"My father warned me… too much emotion breaks the body.The Sentinel Cannon… demands soul and blood.And I've already used one."
The Apostle laughed, voice echoing with disdain.
Apostle of Tyrus:"A power limited by your own life?Fascinating… You really are pathetic."
With a flick of his fingers, the dark tendrils surged forward.
Annie threw herself in front of Abby, activating her Prismatic Light Blade, blocking the first wave.But the force sent them both crashing into a stone wall — the ground cracked beneath their feet.
Blood dripped from Annie's lips. She dropped to her knees.
Annie (breathless):"Abby… you have to run."
Abby crawled toward her, tears forming in her eyes.
Abby:"I'm not leaving you to die here…I can't."
[FLASHBACK – HOSPITAL ROOM, MONTHS AGO]
Liv (weak but smiling):"You failed the mission…"
Abby (teary-eyed):"I know…"
Liv:"But you know what's worse than failing…?It's stopping… because you're afraid to try again."
[BACK TO PRESENT]
Abby's fists clenched. Her tears ignited into burning conviction.
Abby (shouting):"SATELLITES IN POSITION!!"
The sky opened — beams of emotional light rained down.
Abby:"Shower of Emotions – Second Activation!!"
Explosions of guilt, hope, love, rage, forgiveness…The entire village lit up in a living aurora.
The Apostle screamed, hurled back as his body twisted in pain.
Apostle:"RAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"
But he pulled himself together — laughing madly.
Apostle (snarling):"You'll DIE for this."
He launched forward, monstrous, hand cloaked in burning darkness, ready to crush her.
Annie (screaming):"ABBY!!!"
CLANG!
A blade cleaved the air. A flaming sword streaked across the sky like a comet of gold.
🔥💥
The Apostle stopped.
A second later…his body was sliced clean in half.The darkness shattered midair.A golden-red flash consumed everything.
Standing in front of Abby and Annie, his red hair flowing in the wind, his eyes blazing like the sun…
Was Dante Valtier.
Dante (calmly):"You both were incredible…But now it's my turn."
His sword still burned in his hand.The sacred heat lingered in the air like a silent vow.
Dante:"Solar Blade – Light of the Promise.A technique from my mother, Diana Flamesoul.To protect those who believe… even when all hope is lost."
The Apostle's body fell, melted by divine light.There was no explosion.Only stillness.
Then… a warm breeze passed through the ruins.
Abby collapsed to her knees, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Abby:"I… survived?"
Dante knelt beside her, smiling.
Dante:"Yes.Thanks to you, to Annie… and to what you believe in.This village is safe… because you didn't run."
Annie reached for Abby's hand, gripping it tightly.
Annie:"We were saved…But we weren't defeated.We've still got growing to do."
Dante looked up at the sky, now tinted gold.
Dante (softly):"But the world…is darkening fast."
📍End of Chapter 49 – The Flames That Shield Us"Sometimes, the ones who burn the brightest are the ones who chose to rise… from ashes."