The Rise Of The Omega Luna

CHAPTER 72

The mob pressed in like a living wall—sweaty faces twisted by rage, torchlight turning their eyes into molten fire.

Elise could smell the smoke on their breath, the sour reek of fear and fury.

The heat clawed at her skin, the roar of voices beating against her like waves. Still, she moved forward, one step after another, each stride defiance hammered into flesh and bone.

Becky stood at the center, high on a cart, framed by fire like a queen of ruin. Her smile never wavered.

“Elise!” Kai’s voice cracked through the noise, desperate, raw. He shoved and hacked his way through the crush of bodies, but they swarmed against him, an ocean pulling him back. Mira’s curses rose sharp through the clash of steel—her sword flashing like a stubborn beacon—but even she was being dragged under.

A stone smashed against Elise’s shoulder. Pain tore through her, sharp and hot, but she didn’t slow. Another hit her ribs; she forced her face blank, refusing to give them her flinch. The mob roared louder, torn between awe and hate.

Becky raised her arms, her voice a silken knife.

“See how she walks to me, unafraid? Not for you. Never for you. She comes for chains, for silence, for obedience. She’ll turn your fear into her crown.”

The chant rose like thunder.

“Down with Elise! Down with Elise!”

Elise stopped at the cart. Close enough to smell Becky’s perfume, sweet and cloying over the stench of sweat and smoke. Her spear trembled faintly in her hands—not fear, but the strain of holding herself back.

“You’re not a savior,” Elise said, her voice hoarse from smoke. “You’re a fire, and they—” she swept her eyes across the crowd “—are your fuel.”

The mob wavered. Just for a breath. Becky’s smile twitched.

Then Becky leaned low, close enough that Elise could see the fever bright in her eyes.

“And you’re the spark that lit them,” she hissed.

Her hand snapped upward.

From the rooftops, shadowed figures rose—mercenaries, bows drawn tight. Flames licked the tips of their arrows. The crowd screamed, stumbling back as fire streaked the sky.

“Elise!” Kai’s voice was raw. He’d broken through at last, his sword red with blood. Mira was beside him, limping, her arm slick with crimson.

The first arrow slammed into a stall. Flames roared. Another smashed against a guard’s shield. The third streaked straight for Elise—

She twisted, spear flashing, splitting it mid-air. Splinters rained down. The mob panicked, their frenzy shattering into chaos.

Kai was running now, blade carving a path. “Fall back! Elise, you’ll die here!”

But Elise didn’t move back. She vaulted onto the cart, muscles burning, and landed in front of Becky. Gasps rippled through the mob, stunned into stillness.

Becky laughed, low and sharp. “So brave,” she breathed. “So stupid.”

She struck first. The dagger flickered in the torchlight, fast and ruthless. Elise blocked with a c***k of wood on steel, her arms shaking with the force. She shoved Becky back a step, but the woman only grinned wider.

“You think you can break me?” Becky spat. “I’ve snapped men twice your size.”

“Then you’ll learn I’m not so easy to break.” Elise lunged, spear slicing the air. Becky ducked, cloak snapping. The blade skimmed her throat by a hair. She slashed upward, grazing Elise’s sleeve, too close to flesh.

Below, Kai roared her name. He was fighting like a man possessed, but for every step forward, the mob shoved him back. Mira staggered with him, her breath ragged, blood dripping from her arm.

On the cart, Becky was relentless. Her dagger flashed again and again, each strike aimed to cripple. Elise’s arms burned, muscles screaming as she blocked. She countered with the butt of her spear, slamming Becky’s wrist. The dagger clattered to the boards—

Becky only laughed, lunging like a wildcat, nails raking at Elise’s throat. They grappled, bodies straining, the cart swaying beneath them. Elise jammed the spear shaft between them, forcing Becky off, chest heaving, lungs raw with smoke.

Arrows hissed again. Screams tore the air as more fires spread. The square was collapsing into an inferno.

“Call them off!” Elise growled, driving Becky toward the railing.

Becky only laughed louder, eyes fever-bright. “Let it burn! Let them all burn!”

She yanked another dagger from her boot, this one serrated. The blade tore across Elise’s arm. Hot blood gushed. Elise staggered, teeth grinding against the pain.

Kai reached the cart at last, only for two mercenaries to drop before him. His sword clashed, sparks flying, his roar unhinged with fury. Mira followed, limping badly, but she still struck one down with a ragged cry, nearly falling with the effort.

On the cart, Elise knew she had seconds left.

Becky lunged. Elise didn’t dodge. She let the blade cut her side—white-hot agony—and drove her spear forward at the same moment.

The tip punched through Becky’s cloak, grazing her ribs, pinning her against the railing.

Gasps tore the night open. Becky’s smile slipped.

Elise’s voice broke from her throat, raw and fierce. “This ends with you.”

But Becky, cornered and bleeding, leaned close. Her lips brushed Elise’s ear, her breath hot with iron and smoke.

“No. This ends with everyone.”

She shoved. Hard.

They toppled together, crashing into the mob below. Elise’s spear was ripped from her grip. Stone slammed into her back. The world spun.

Becky was already on her feet, blood dripping down her side, dagger high. She screamed and brought it down—

Kai hit her like a hammer, blade intercepting steel, sparks exploding between them. His roar tore through the chaos.

“Elise, MOVE!” Mira stumbled into view, pale and shaking, her sword dripping, her face ghostly in the firelight.

Elise rolled, her fingers closing on her fallen spear. She surged up, chest burning, blood running down her arm. Becky twisted free of Kai, dagger flashing for his throat—

And Elise struck.

The spearpoint slashed across Becky’s shoulder, spinning her away. Blood sprayed the stones. Becky shrieked, her perfect composure tearing apart. Her eyes went wild, her smile gone, replaced by a feral snarl.

“Kill her!” Becky screamed at the mob, her voice cracking, raw and vicious. “Kill them ALL!”

The crowd surged like a tidal wave.

Kai grabbed Elise’s arm, dragging her back, his grip bruising. “We can’t hold them—move!”

Mira collapsed against Elise’s other side, barely standing.

And all around them, the city burned.

Through the fire and blood, Becky still stood—bleeding, laughing, her cloak aflame, her voice rising like a hymn of ruin.

The war had begun.

And there was no going back.