Chapter 3

In the midst of her unbridled rage, Sami's fury compelled her to grasp a small glass container filled with a white, malevolent, venomous substance. She clenched it tightly in her hand, her fingers trembling with the weight of her wrath. The glass container seemed fragile, a mere vessel for the turmoil she carried within.

The glass trembled under the pressure, and with a forceful motion, she cast it upon the cold, unyielding floor of the study. It shattered into a thousand jagged fragments, releasing the sinister entity contained within. The malevolent essence didn't move.

For a fleeting moment, the released creature lay dormant, as though it were absorbing the sheer turmoil and anger that suffused the chamber. The atmosphere quivered with the malevolence it harbored, awaiting the catalyst for its awakening.

However, as Sami's relentless rampage persisted, a malevolent energy seized the creature, rousing it from its torpor. It was as though the chaotic aura in the room had breathed life into this sinister presence. A wicked vitality coursed through its sinewy form, and it sprang to life.

Undulating with a menacing grace, the creature slithered across the floor. Its movements were both hypnotic and eerie, like a serpent on the prowl. It was as if the very chaos Sami had incited fueled its wicked purpose.

Its inexorable journey led it into the neighboring chamber, which teemed with glistening riches—piles of gold, sparkling gemstones, and intricate jewelry. The creature moved with a sinister intention, drawn by the allure of the opulent treasures that adorned the room.

Without hesitation, the creature initiated a grotesque transformation. It was as though the lure of wealth had twisted its form, molding itself to its newfound surroundings. The treasures seemed to beckon the creature, becoming a part of its monstrous being. As it absorbed the riches, it began to take on a shape reflective of its insidious desire. It was a nightmarish metamorphosis that defied the bounds of reality and reason.

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Sami stood frozen, her eyes wide with shock and her heart heavy with disbelief. She couldn't begin to fathom the nightmarish reality that had abruptly thrust itself upon her.

"Yuri…?" Her voice trembled, barely able to form the words, as she peered at the colossal golden hand that had tossed Yuri aside like a lifeless doll.

Turning her gaze away from the brutal scene, she scanned the chamber with wide, disbelieving eyes, trying to find some explanation, some way to make sense of the unspeakable horror she was witnessing.

But when her eyes once again fell upon Yuri, the full extent of the nightmare became painfully clear. Her beloved Yuri, whose grace, beauty, and delicate pink hair had once been a source of solace and delight, was now a gruesome spectacle. Blood-soaked and broken, her body contorted in painful ways, she lay there, helpless and ravaged.

The scene was so horrifying, it was almost beyond Sami's comprehension, yet it demanded a response.

Sami's determination surged, overpowering the pain that surged through her battered body. She forced herself to her feet, her limbs protesting against the torment they had endured. Her single purpose was to reach Yuri, to cradle her in her arms and offer what little solace she could.

But before she could take a single step, the colossal golden hand struck again. This brutal blow sent her hurtling across the study, her body crashing against the unforgiving walls. Her vision blurred, and an excruciating agony surged through her head, finally plunging her into darkness.

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"Isn't it strange how the world works," Yuri mused, her voice carrying a hint of melancholy. She was adorned in an elegant white dress that accentuated her ethereal beauty, and she sat gracefully by the riverside, absently toying with a crimson flower. Sami observed her in quiet awe, mesmerized by her presence.

Yuri's words, imbued with a sense of inevitability, drifted to Sami's ears. "Sometimes it feels as though our fate is etched in an invisible, unalterable book. No matter our efforts, we remain unable to rewrite it," Yuri continued, her gaze shifting to fix upon Sami.

Sami felt as if she were floating in a picturesque dreamscape, caught in the enchanting web of Yuri's words. It was a moment of serene beauty, but it was soon shattered.

The idyllic scene abruptly shattered like fragile glass, plunging into an abyss of darkness, and Sami cried out in desperation, fearing the loss of that fleeting beauty. "No!" she exclaimed, trying to hold onto the ethereal moment that had slipped away.

A dissonant voice interjected, its words tinged with distortion, echoing through the inky void. "We cannot defy Fate... We cannot change it..."

With a somber exhale, the darkness dissolved, unveiling an unsettling tableau. Sami bore witness to a town consumed by flames, the air heavy with desperation as people fled, their voices raised in cries for salvation. Amidst the chaos, a younger Sami watched as her parents, figures in their prime, faced a brutal end before her young eyes.

"We cannot alter the destinies of others," the voice chimed in, sending shivers down Sami's spine. She implored in heart-wrenching despair, "Please, no..."

The world once more gave way to shadow, yielding a new narrative. An adolescent Sami, shrouded in tattered garments, scavenged through a rubbish bin for sustenance. Her forlorn hands clutched a piece of rancid meat, which was promptly snatched away by a bold rat. Defeated, she retreated into a corner, shedding tears of helplessness.

"And we are powerless to change our own," the dissonant voice persisted.

Yet, amidst her vulnerability, a mysterious figure cloaked in obscurity entered the alley, bearing a meager loaf of bread as an offering. It marked the beginning of a journey, as the man took her under his wing.

In later years, Sami was a teenager, huddled on the floor, a letter in her trembling grasp. Her savior had vanished, leaving her stranded once more.

"We are destined to lose those closest to us, as we are destined to be alone," the teenage Sami intoned, directing her words towards the present-day Sami.

"Just how we lost our parents, our best friend, so too we will lose Yuri…"

"No matter how hard we plead, or how hard we fight… We can't change what has already been written."

In response, present-day Sami uttered a heartfelt confession, her voice filled with pain and longing. "I love you more than words can ever convey."

The fragmented memories merged into a montage of her shared experiences with Yuri, from battles against colossal beasts to their cozy moments and endearing dances, their first kiss, every memory a testament to their bond. And at the center of it all, Yuri's smile, radiant as the sun.

"I love you more than words can ever convey." Sami's voice trembled as the montages concluded, culminating in the memory of Yuri's peril, her body flung across the chamber by a colossal, gilded hand.

Sami felt herself drowning in a sea of inky water, her mind filled with the relentless refrain: "We can't challenge Fate... We can't change what has been preordained…"

Yuri's voice then surfaced, breaking through the dark waves. "I don't want you to cry for me; I want you to smile and laugh with me."

Sami found herself questioning, "How can we be sure if we don't try? How can we claim that without trying to fight, to rewrite?" Her determination grew. "I refuse to lose her, as I lost them, and I won't accept solitude. So, I'll fight and continue battling until I can redefine our fates, or until my bones are shattered from the effort!" Sami cried out with fierce conviction.

The echoes of her resolve faded as Sami shockingly opened her eyes, her blood-soaked form slowly rising from the unforgiving ground. She grasped a resplendent sword and shield from the debris surrounding her. Broken, battered pieces of her armor clung to her frame, a stark reminder of that creature's strength.

"I got careless, and I allowed this to happen," she muttered, a tinge of blood coloring her words.

Sami's determination was unwavering as she steeled herself. She knew her mission was twofold: confront the colossal golden golem that had hurt Yuri and ensure Yuri's safety.

"You hurt a person very close to me, big guy, and now my heart is aching to do the same to you," Sami declared. Her body, cloaked in blood from head to toe, bore no trace of defeat. With a fearless smile, she tightened her grip on her sword, then surged forward, ready to confront the colossal golden Golem, vengeance burning in her eyes.

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Before Sami stood an unprecedented monstrosity, a golem like no other, forged not from the conventional materials of stone or mud, but rather from the very treasures that littered the chamber. Its form was a grotesque yet awe-inspiring fusion of wealth, composed of shimmering gold, precious gemstones, and glistening diamonds. This towering behemoth surpassed any golem Sami had encountered in the past, its colossal size casting a daunting shadow over the chamber.

The creature possessed not two, but a staggering four massive arms, each laden with countless rings, bracelets, and scepters. As the golden titan took notice of her approach, its swiftness defied the very laws of physics. It moved with unnatural agility, its massive form defying the weight of its own opulence.

With lightning speed, one of its gargantuan arms swung forth, an earth-shaking attack aimed directly at Sami. She reacted just in time, her shield intercepting the devastating blow. The impact sent shockwaves through her arm, rattling her very core. But in that fleeting moment, she glimpsed another arm, adorned with a blinding gold-studded gauntlet, lunging toward her from the side.

Sami, a master of combat, nimbly countered, her blade cleaving through the golden arm with impeccable precision. The severed limb fell to the ground, leaving a trail of glistening jewels and precious metals in its wake.

She swiftly stepped back, her shield raised in anticipation of the next onslaught. Despite what she said, In her heart, her main priority was clear: rescuing Yuri. Yet, the imposing golden guardian stood as an insurmountable obstacle in her path.

In the heat of the battle, her mind raced, searching for a strategy. The golem's relentless assault came from all directions, its remaining three arms poised to strike. To Sami's astonishment, the severed arm, which she thought she had vanquished, regenerated almost instantaneously. The chamber, replete with boundless wealth, supplied the inexhaustible resources for the golem's regeneration.

Each time Sami blocked a blow with her shield, the ferocious impact pushed her back, the overwhelming force straining her muscles and bones. The excruciating pain welled within her body, but she pushed her physical limits, refusing to succumb. The relentless golem was an unwavering force, and Sami knew she had to find a way to overcome it and reach Yuri.

Despite her exceptional combat skills, there was an unsettling realization that her efforts were futile. The golden behemoth regenerated its severed limbs faster than she could remove them. The relentless assault continued unabated.

"It's an endless cycle," Sami thought, each arm she severed replaced by another. Desperation etched her face as she scanned the chamber for an opportunity, a chink in the golem's defenses. If she could find that opening, she believed she could strike a devastating blow.

The golden guardian showed no vulnerability, no respite, and the relentless onslaught bore down on Sami, her strength waning under the ceaseless assault. With each strike, her shield grew heavier, her arms weaker, and her heart heavier.

Her once unyielding spirit now battled the encroaching realization that her body couldn't endure much more. But even as her strength flickered like a dying flame, the golden golem seemed to grow ever more powerful, each strike of its golden limbs more powerful and swifter than the last.

In a desperate moment of realization, Sami's gaze locked onto a colossal statue, one of many supporting the chamber's towering ceiling. It was a daring gamble, a desperate move borne of necessity, and she knew she had to take it.

Summoning the last reserves of her unwavering determination, she slid away from the golden golem, their clashes having littered the chamber with destruction and rubble. With a burst of speed, she raced toward the colossal statue, narrowly evading the creature's relentless assault.

As she reached the statue's base, Sami's body initiated a controlled slide, her blade slashing through the monument's colossal feet. The earth-shaking crash of the statue falling sent tremors through the chamber, a tumultuous cascade of golden coins, diamonds, and debris engulfing the golden guardian in a shower of opulence and destruction.

The cataclysmic impact of the statue's fall sent a shockwave throughout the chamber. The ceiling above groaned, and ancient stones gave way, cascading down into the chaos below. The chamber's wealth, once meticulously hoarded, became a sea of chaos, a testament to the cataclysm Sami had unleashed.

Undistracted by the pandemonium, Sami made her way back to Yuri's unmoving form. Gently, she lifted Yuri onto her shoulder, her determined gaze fixed on the side of the chamber where the colossal golem would soon emerge, fully regenerated and undeterred by the chaos and destruction surrounding it.

With the precious weight of Yuri on her shoulders, Sami started ascending the grand circular staircase, each step a herculean effort. Her determination was a beacon of hope in the midst of turmoil, a silent promise to herself and to Yuri that she would endure, she would prevail, and she would not let their fates be sealed by the relentless forces that sought to keep them apart.

The sheer exhaustion of the battle clawed at Sami's body, relentless and unforgiving, her every muscle screaming for respite. Even with her exceptionally trained physique, the burden of carrying another person while enduring her own injuries began to tell on her. The weight of their combined lives bore down on her, a relentless force that threatened to pull her into the abyss of fatigue.

Yet, Sami pushed on, her spirit indomitable, her determination a blazing torch in the darkness. The looming golden golem drew nearer with each passing second, its colossal presence an ominous force, an ever-present reminder of the peril they faced.

Her breaths grew heavy, each step an agonizing effort, but the summit of the plateau was now within reach. The world around her seemed to blur, the edges of her vision darkening as exhaustion tightened its grip.

As they reached the halfway point, Sami felt a strange sensation, a subtle touch on her butt. Yuri had found a way to signal her, a touch filled with life and a hint of mischief. It was a small, bittersweet moment, a silent reassurance that Yuri was still with her, fighting to hold on.

A small, wistful smile graced Sami's lips in response to Yuri's mischievous touch. The touch kindled a fire of determination within her. Ignoring her own exhaustion and the relentless advance of the golden golem, Sami continued her ascent, each step closer to her goal.

She had a plan, one final, daring gambit that she had devised in the midst of chaos. "I don't even know if this will work," Sami murmured to herself. "But it's the only plan I've got."

With her last reserves of strength, she reached the pinnacle of the plateau. Her pulse quickened as her focus shifted between Yuri and the looming golden sarcophagus, the overwhelming knowledge that time was running out. She hesitated for a heartbeat, then, without a moment's doubt, crossed the strange circles on the ground, opened the golden sarcophagus, and gently laid Yuri inside, her touch tender and resolute.

She followed, her determination unwavering, and sealed the sarcophagus, entrapping Yuri and herself within. The enormous statues, dormant but now alight with an otherworldly glow, after Sami crossed the circles around the sarcophagus, each placed their colossal hands that were holding up the sealing on the ground.

The carefully constructed sealing began to shatter, rocks and debris tumbling as the chamber collapsed in a deafening crescendo of destruction. Sami's heart raced as the world around them crumbled, but she clung to the hope that her gambit might succeed, and they could escape the grasp of Fate's cruel design.