Chapter 42: A Moment Of Rest

The two stood side by side, facing the monstrous colossus. The creature roared, its putrid breath filling the air. From its body, writhing limbs of countless corpses twisted and reached, hungry for their flesh.

Heidi:
"This thing is powered by Nosferatu's influence. No matter how many times we hit it, it’ll keep getting back up."

Mike:
"Unless we sever that influence."

He pointed to the dark, pulsing veins that glowed with an eerie crimson light — a clear sign of the Nightmare King’s power.

Mike:
"That’s our target."

Heidi (smiling with determination):
"Then let’s finish this."

They clasped hands.

A brilliant silver light erupted from them, their forms glowing as one.

The symbols of Love, Trust, and Devotion shone brightly on their chests, intertwining into a single radiant emblem. Their armor transformed, shimmering with reflective silver and gold patterns.

Their eyes glowed, reflecting the unbreakable strength of their bond.

The massive colossus charged, the ground shaking beneath its enormous weight.

But Mike and Heidi didn’t falter.

Mike (summoning his magic):
"Aqua Devastation!"

A massive wave of pure water energy surged from his wand, slamming into the creature’s legs. The colossus stumbled, its rotting limbs weakening under the relentless force.

Heidi (leaping forward):
"Thunder Cleaver!"

Lightning crackled along her Meat Cleaver as she delivered a powerful strike to its chest. The surge of electricity coursed through the monster, igniting the dark veins with a blinding light.

The colossus roared in agony, writhing under the combined assault.

But it wasn’t enough.

The creature's regenerative abilities kicked in, the veins quickly reforming.

Heidi:
"It’s healing too fast!"

Mike:
"Then we hit it harder!"

Together, they unleashed a final, devastating attack.

Mike and Heidi:
"Love-Trust-Devotion Mode: Final Radiance!"

A beam of blinding silver light erupted from their combined power, engulfing the creature entirely.

The monstrous colossus let out one final, ear-piercing shriek —

Before it collapsed, crumbling into ash.

The destruction of the colossus sent shockwaves through the city. The remaining zombies faltered, their glowing eyes flickering before their bodies disintegrated into dust.

The oppressive aura of Nosferatu’s influence weakened.

And the bridge —

It gave way.

Heidi (panicked):
"Mike!"

The stone beneath them cracked and plummeted. But just before they could fall —

Mike summoned one last burst of wind, propelling them upward like a geyser.

They soared through the air.

And as the last fragments of the bridge fell into the void —

They landed safely on the other side.

Collapsed and exhausted, they lay on the cold ground, their breathing ragged. The once cursed city behind them had fallen silent, the last traces of Nosferatu's power fading.

For the first time in what felt like forever —

They were safe.

Heidi (laughing weakly):
"We did it…"

Mike (smiling, equally breathless):
"Yeah… we did."

They turned to each other, their hands finding one another in the aftermath. The glow of their Love-Trust-Devotion form faded, leaving only the warmth of their bond.

After a few minutes...Heidi started laughing.

Mike (raising an eyebrow): “What’s so funny?”

Heidi (grinning, breathless): “I think I almost had a heart attack back there.”

Mike chuckled, rolling onto his back.

Mike: “Yeah. That was… too close.”

A silence followed.

Then, Heidi turned to him, her expression soft.

Heidi: “You didn’t give up back there.”

Mike looked at her, eyes steady.
Mike: “Neither did you.”

She smiled.

Then, before she could stop herself—

She leaned in and kissed him.

A short, soft kiss as encouragement.

When she pulled away, she whispered—

Heidi: “We’re almost there.”

Mike: “Yeah.”

They stared at the horizon.

Beyond it—

Heidi(resolved):
"Nosferatu’s next."

Mike(calmly):
"Yeah, right. We have to save them, Greenhead and Redhead."

After a few moments...Heidi (panting, resting her head on her knees):
"I’m… so tired."

Mike (weakly smiling, equally exhausted):
"Yeah. That one took everything we had."

He winced as he stretched, his body sore from the battle. Heidi's hands were trembling slightly, the effects of maintaining their Love-Trust-Devotion Mode lingering.

But for now—

They were safe.

After a few moments of silence, Mike slowly stood up, his wand supporting him.

Mike:
"We should eat something. We’ll need our strength before facing Nosferatu."

Heidi nodded, though the idea of moving so soon made her groan.

Heidi (playfully pouting):
"You’re lucky I love cooking, or I’d be napping right now."

Mike chuckled and waved at his wand.

From the ground, small, magical orbs hovered as they scanned the nearby terrain for anything edible. It wasn’t much — the Nightmare Dimension wasn’t known for its abundance — but his nature magic detected traces of nourishment beneath the cursed soil.

Moments later, glowing vines broke through the cracks, bearing strange, luminescent fruits. Nearby, patches of pale mushrooms and thick, crimson berries emerged. Though eerie, they were cleansed of corruption as Mike carefully purified them with his holy magic. The glow shifted from unsettling to serene, signaling their newfound purity.

Mike:
"That should do it."

He gathered them in his arms, the light casting a soft glow around him.

Heidi (grinning):
"A magician gathering ingredients like a gardener. I’d say you’re getting good at this."

Mike (smirking):
"And I’d say you’re getting spoiled by my magic. But I’m not complaining."

They both laughed softly.

Despite the grim surroundings, the moment felt almost… normal.

Heidi had set up a small makeshift cooking station using a few stones using her required kitchen utensils and her own gas lighter flame.It was perfect for cooking.

Heidi:
"Alright, let’s see what we’ve got here. Purified mushroom caps, glowing berries, and… whatever this vine fruit is."

She inspected the ingredients like a chef preparing a grand feast, even if the circumstances were far from luxurious.

Mike (teasing):
"Need some help from me?"

Heidi (grinning confidently):
"Oh, please. You already know me by now."

With swift, practiced hands, she began slicing and preparing. The mushroom caps were roasted over the low flame, releasing a surprisingly pleasant, earthy aroma.

The berries were simmered down into a thick, sweet sauce, their glow dimming into a calming golden hue.

The vine fruits, once sliced, had a citrusy scent, which Heidi balanced perfectly with a sprinkle of purified salt.

Within minutes, the campfire flickered with warmth, and the air filled with the smell of a meal that defied the bleakness of the Nightmare Dimension.

Heidi handed Mike a carefully plated dish — roasted mushroom slices drizzled with berry sauce, accompanied by vine fruit wedges. It was simple, but in a world where darkness ruled, it was a rare comfort.

Mike (taking a bite):
"Whoa. This is…delicious as always."

Heidi (grinning proudly):
"You somehow still sound surprised!"

Mike:
"I’m not! Well, maybe a little. This tastes a bit different..."

Heidi gasped dramatically, though her laughter betrayed her amusement.

Heidi:
"Yeah! I made some variations."

Mike (teasing):
"It seems I would have hired you as my cook if I met you in Mystra."

They both burst into laughter, the tension of the battle momentarily forgotten.

After finishing their meal, they sat in comfortable silence, the dim glow of the purified berries providing a soft light.

The Nightmare Dimension remained ominous, but for now, it didn’t matter.

Heidi (softly):
"We’ve come so far."

Mike nodded.

Mike:
"Yeah. And no matter how much this place tried to break us… we’re still standing."

Heidi:
"Together."

She rested her head on his shoulder, the warmth of his presence making her forget the horrors they had faced. Mike hesitated for a moment, then gently rested his hand over hers.

It wasn’t just survival that kept them going.

It was each other.

Mike:
"Tomorrow, we fight."

Heidi:
"And win."

The last remnants of their laughter faded into the night as they rested.