"Karina!!"
Karina opened her eyes to the urgent voice calling her name.
'Jeremiah?'
In her hazy consciousness, she tried to come to her senses. Her consciousness was unclear as if a thick fog had filled her head. At first, she thought she was hallucinating when she heard his voice. When she lifted her heavy eyelids, she saw Jeremiah looking at her desperately. His eyes were still full of worry and concern, just like in her memory. Those eyes were completely focused on her, almost blindly. It was pleasing, but also strange.
'How is he here?'
She had thought about going to see him in her memories, but she didn't expect to see him right away when she opened her eyes. The situation around her was also not much different from the bleak and horrifying sight she had seen in her consciousness, so she was bewildered.
'What is this place? Why is it such a mess?
Before she realized why.
"It would be better to extract the dragon's power before using it as a sacrifice."
The warlock raised the corners of his mouth and wiggled his fingers.
"...!"
The man's muttered words brought Karina to her senses.
'Sacrifice?'
Before she fell into her memories, Karina remembered the situation where she confronted an unidentified man, she tried to get up quickly, but it wasn't easy.
'ahmm?'
She felt something tightly wrapped around her body. Karina lowered her gaze to look at her chest.
'What?'
Something cold and shiny, with black scales, wrapped around her tightly, preventing her from moving. Karina forgot to breathe and checked the end of the black body. There, a large snake was licking its long, thin tongue, split in two. Its black, gleaming eyes, torn vertically, were studying her closely.
"...!"
The moment she met the snake's eyes, the back of her head stood on end with goosebumps. Karina struggled to escape the magical bonds. She struggled, thinking that she had to get away from the snake as soon as possible, but she couldn't escape. The more she twisted her body, the tighter it became.
"Ugh!"
She felt like she was going to lose her mind and was in excruciating pain as if her body was being torn apart.
"Huh?"
The warlock glanced at Karina, who was resisting with all her might.
"It's been a long time since I've seen such a rebellious sacrifice."
He smiled, one corner of his mouth raised as if he found it amusing.
"But if you rebel, it will hurt more."
The warlock spoke kindly and in a tone that did not match the situation. As soon as he finished speaking, the snake bit Karina's nape as if it had been waiting for it.
"Ugh!!"
Karina felt like her skin was being pierced and blood was draining from the area where she was bitten. At the same time, the blood vessels and internal organs leading to her heart felt like they were shrinking in an instant. A terrible pain she had never felt before surged through her.
"Oh my god...!"
Karina couldn't even scream.
"Stay still until it's all over."
She felt a sharp thorn stinging her whole body, starting from the area where it had bitten her, along with a buzzing sound in her ears.
"Karina!!"
Jeremiah jumped up as if his death was a lie. He tried to break the magic circle to save her, but it was no use. No matter what he did, an impenetrable barrier stood firmly between him and Karina. At that moment.
"I got a response."
The warlock's smile deepened. As he drew the dragon's power from Karina, the sleeping dragon's heart responded in sympathy with the power.
"You were in a place like this."
The warlock looked down at his feet and smirked.
"They say the darkness is under the lamp. It was exactly like that."
As he stomped his foot on the ground, a loud "Koo-kung!" sound rang out and the ground split apart. And from the crack in the ground, a dark red boulder emerged, emitting a strong energy. The rough boulder, black as if filled with pitch black and with reddish hues here and there, was emitting light at a constant speed as if it were alive. The warlock smiled contentedly as he watched the dragon's heart sympathize with his power.
"It's useful. It's not lacking as a sacrifice either."
And the evil light approached Karina with young eyes.
"I will absorb everything without leaving a single drop behind."
The warlock pulled a dagger out of thin air and held it in his hand. Jeremiah went berserk at the sight.
"Stop it!! Don't touch her!!"
His neck was bloodshot. However, the warlock only laughed mockingly at Jeremiah. Every time Jeremiah tried to go to Karina, the surrounding monsters would rush in again and magical attacks would block his path. The monsters would rush in again, revealing their sharp teeth and claws. The magic would stop him, sending out sparks. Thanks to this, his already messed up body became a mess. Even so, he did not give up. He cut and destroyed whatever was blocking his path. It didn't matter if his body was broken and torn. He could endure anything as long as he could save Karina. He only thought that he couldn't let her die like this.
He doggedly aimed for the one magic circle closest to Karina. However, despite his earnest wishes, the warlock did not hesitate and aimed for Karina's heart. He aimed for her heart with the tip of his sharp dagger and struck it down with all his might
“Nо!!!”
Jeremiah let out a scream. Just before the dagger pierced Karina's heart. He eventually succeeded in removing all the obstacles blocking his path. At one point, the solid magic circle burst open, unable to withstand the impact. The aftermath devastated the surrounding area, and the magic circle that had bound Karina also shattered. The black snake wrapped around her body quickly turned into smoke and dispersed. Jeremiah threw himself without hesitation and pulled Karina into his arms. It happened in an instant. But unfortunately. The floor where Karina was cracked and split. Jeremiah tightly hugged Karina's body so that she would not get hurt by the impact of the fall. The magic circle completely disappeared, and their bodies fell through the gap that had formed in an instant.
"This."
The warlock clicked his tongue with a displeased expression.
"I haven't pulled them all out yet."
The warlock stared at the gap between them as if he were looking through it. It was like a monster in the darkness opening its maw to swallow its prey.
"It's a shame, but..."
He's found the dragon's heart, so his goal has been achieved. And...
"I fell in there, so I won't be safe."
It was a crack that started from the place where the dragon's heart was held. Without the heart, this area would soon collapse. The warlock who had been showing a regretful expression soon shook off his emotions. And then he checked the dragon's heart that was in his hands...
"It's finally in my hands."
A satisfied smile spread across his face.
"Now, only the final step remains. I can take this and return to the capital."
The warlock floating in the air carefully held the dragon's heart and turned around. His floating figure disappeared into the air. The monsters surrounding him also scattered. Only cold snowflakes fell silently between the cracks in the ground.
***
The terrible pain that made her feel like she would die at any moment disappeared like a lie the moment she was held in Jeremiah's arms. A warm comfort and peace enveloped Karina as if she was soaking in warm water. She felt very relieved by the warm heat that was transmitted from where they touched.
How much time had passed?
A cold snowflake fell on her cheek. Karina's eyes opened at the feeling of being soaked in cold water.
“Ha.”
Karina let out a trembling breath.
'Where am I?'
The inside of the ice cave, sparkling like a transparent crystal, entered her vision. The place where the dragon's heart was sleeping. It was the very place where Jeremiah had made a contract with the dragon, as seen in her consciousness. It was unintentional, but it seemed like they had fallen into the ice cave.
'This is where he saved me in the past.'
As Karina searched her memories, she felt Jeremiah's strong arms holding her tightly. At the same time.
"Karina, are you okay...?"
I raised my head and looked at him at the voice that seemed to be fading away. weakly. And I was so surprised that I swallowed my breath.
"Jeremiah?"
His condition was indescribably serious. His entire body was covered in wounds and blood. His injuries also looked serious. One shoulder had a large wound that exposed the bone, and his legs and thighs were bent in the opposite direction, soaking in blood to the point where it was doubtful whether he would be able to walk again. Karina was so shocked that she froze for a moment. Then.
Cough! Cough!
Jeremiah crouched down and trembled, spewing a handful of blood from his mouth.
"...!! Jeremiah! Are you okay?"
Even though she asked that it was obvious to anyone that he wasn't in good shape. His body looked as shabby on the outside as it did on the inside. He was clearly having a hard time even breathing. The blood vessels in his eyes had burst from the pain he endured.
"Ah..."
Karina didn't know what to do. She was sad that she couldn't do anything, let alone use healing magic. Karina's body trembled. She wanted to say something, but no sound came out of her gaping teeth. Jeremiah, who saw her pale face, reached out and caressed her cheek.
"I'm okay."
It was a gentle voice patting her. Then, she remembered him desperately reaching out to her right before he fell here. His gaze never took his eyes off her, even while being attacked by a flock of monsters and magicians rushing toward him. His hug that he held onto with all his might so as not to let her go even while falling. And even the way he put her safety first while he was a mess. She remembered Jeremiah, who had come to rescue her when she was kidnapped to the cabin before, and who had always put her safety first even while talking about divorce.
'Even back then, I thought his words and actions were so different!
Now she knows. It was all because he loved her. After going around and around for a long time, Karina finally realized it.
"Jeremiah..."
Karina's eyes turned red and tears welled up. She was so scared that Jeremiah would die soon. But she was overcome with helplessness and despair at the reality that she could do nothing. Soon, a tear overflowed from her eye and flowed down her cheek.
"Karina. Don't cry. You... don't have to cry because of me."
Jeremiah continued to speak, barely moving his dry lips. The sight was so pitiful and sorrowful that it hurt her heart. Karina held his hand that was touching her cheek.
"Jeremiah... Please hold on. I have something to ask you."
She wanted to check his heart. If what she realized was right. If he still loved her. If...
'If he truly loves me...'
If he still loved her, then she should have told him.
'I love you too.'
Now, she felt like she could accept his heart. The long-standing resentment and hatred that had tormented her melted away like the frost on a warm spring day after she learned the truth and realized that he had loved her in the past. She finally cleared up the misunderstanding and understood his heart. She was finally able to take out the wounded heart that she had kept deep in her heart for a long time and heal and embrace it. She was able to find comfort in a long time of suffering, bleeding from the terrible wounds.
'But it can't just go on like this!
The tears that had filled her eyes flowed down silently.
"Please... don't die! You said you were giving me a chance. I'll give it to you. I'll give it to you. I'll give it to you as much as you want!"
Karina held Jeremiah's hand and pleaded earnestly.
You can't just leave me behind and die...
A faint smile appeared on Jeremiah's lips as he listened to her words. Jeremiah was glad and grateful for Karina's attitude of not wishing for his death. He still loved her for being sad to see him dying.
'I'm glad I could see her one last time.'
He thought it would remain as a regret. He felt so lucky to be able to see her one last time. However, he felt uneasy seeing her crying so much. Jeremiah had already lost so much blood and had become numb that it didn't hurt anymore. Rather, she seemed to be in more pain than he was. He wanted to wipe away the tears streaming down her cheeks and comfort her. He wanted to kiss her reddened eyes and pursed lips gently. He felt the urge to hold her in my arms again and whisper in her ear that he loved her. At the last moment. Jeremiah decided to be greedy. He knew it was selfish, but he decided not to hide his feelings for her.
"Karina."
He called her with force through his still lips. And...
"I love you."
Jeremiah confessed. With all his heart and sincerity.
"I love you."
It seemed like he could only say this now. It didn't matter if he regretted it later when he was dead.
"...!"
Karina's crying suddenly stopped. Her eyes, wide open as if she couldn't believe it, stared at Jeremiah. He loved that look so much. It was okay if she didn't accept it. He wasn't so shameless as to wish for it. He just felt relieved that he wouldn't have any more regrets. He hoped that she would be happy in a world without him. Jeremiah looked at Karina's face earnestly and engraved her appearance one by one into his memory. But after a while.
"...!!"
Karina smiled brightly, her tear-stained eyes curling prettily. Even in his blurry vision due to the loss of so much blood, the image was so vivid that it was blinding.
"I love you too."
She gave him an answer to his confession.
"...!"
It seemed like a dream. He was sure he had a blank expression on his face like he had lost his mind.
"I love you, Jeremiah."
Her smile as if she was happy and laughing happily even with tears in her eyes, was heartbreaking. Her lips, which were getting closer and closer, touched his lips. Although his senses had become dull and he couldn't even feel pain, the place where her lips touched felt hot as if it was on fire. It felt like his breath would stop. His heart felt like it was going to burst because Karina was the first to approach him. Jeremiah hugged her tightly and explored her lips without thinking. She didn't reject him. He felt her hands embracing his blood-soaked body without hesitation.
The kiss mixed with tears was crazy and sweet enough to drive him crazy.
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