The hall was circular. Four pillars held the ceiling, each carved with runes that pulsed red. In the center, an altar burned with a black flame that seemed to eat the light itself.

  The moment they stepped in, the air turned heavy as mercury.

  — Here… — Adriele muttered, clenching her fist. — There’s something wrong here.

  Lukas stepped forward. His palm slicked on the haft of the Glaive Maximus. For a heartbeat he glanced at Valquíria and Luiz. No laughing now. The remaining Valkyries moved in silence, the Copas wearing closed faces. Faces were missing. Faces that would never return.

  Alenna ran her thumb along the haft of her axe, but her eyes weren’t on the enemy — they were on the memory of the bridge collapsing and taking one of theirs.

  Búdica closed her eyes and drew a steadying breath, like she was holding back tears in her throat.

  Lukas opened his mouth, but the black flame on the altar guttered out.

  The floor shook.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  A creature of stone and metal erupted from the ground — three faces, four arms, each limb bristling with blades.

  Valquíria inhaled. — You two — she pointed at Lukas and Adriele — keep the defense. Luiz and I will distract it.

  Luiz smiled, but it had lost some of its old luster. — Time to show how real fighting looks, Lukinhas. Take notes, because you still fight like a drunken hen.

  — IF I SURVIVE, I WILL KILL YOU! — Lukas barked, more to break the weight in the air than out of true rage.

  Then the battle began.

  The monster struck with blades that split the floor. Valquíria met an arm with her warhammer; Luiz slipped under and drove the spear in. Lukas raised the Aegis Invicta to shield Adriele from a sweeping blow. The impact slammed him into the wall, but he came back in time to drive the Maximus into a joint.

  The ancient voice from the shield whispered another Latin word: Virtus.

  For a sliver of a moment, a force rose in Lukas that wasn’t only muscle — a conviction that burned in his chest.

  — I WILL NOT FALL HERE!

  The blade flashed. His cut sheared through an enemy arm; it smoked and dropped. Adriele leapt, burying her Springblade between two faces. The monster howled. Luiz thrust the spear into its chest. Valquíria crushed the final skull.

  Silence fell.

  The colossal body crumbled into stone and dust.

  The smell of powder and blood hung in the quiet. For a few seconds no one spoke. Each of them, in their own way, remembered the ones who were gone.

  Valquíria wiped the sweat from her brow. — Getting better… — her voice cracked, then she hid it with sarcasm. — Still fight like a crippled pig, but at least you’re alive.

  Lukas gasped for breath. — I’m gonna… kill you…

  Luiz slapped his back. — Chill, “General Legionary.” You’ve still got a long way to be half-decent. But… I admit it. Not everyone survives this far.

  Búdica shut her eyes and breathed again, crossing her spears like someone holding back a cry.

  — And it won’t be here that we die, — Adriele said, squeezing her hand.

  The gate creaked. The ninetieth floor waited.

  Even as they laughed to hide it, a cold ran down their spine

  s. Because beyond that gate, nothing would be the same.

  End of chapter 13