Rising from the Ashes (Andrew) novel Chapter 2581

Shiloh screamed from beneath the water, but Andrew could no longer hear her. An indescribable burning heat and violent impulse surged wildly from his energy core.

He grimaced helplessly. Of all times, why now?

Wounded and drained, he could no longer suppress the raging energy that belonged to the Blood Pith within him.

He cursed silently, 'Sheesh! When it rains, it pours.'

Not only was his body badly injured, but the Blood Pith's power inside his energy core had started to spiral out of control again.

"Get out of here. Stop worrying about me," he gasped.

Using the last shred of his strength and the final traces of clarity in his mind, Andrew pushed against her body, shoving her upward toward the surface. Meanwhile, he allowed the chaotic currents to drag him toward the iron sword.

Through the churning water, Shiloh's eyes burned red without her realizing.

"Andrew!" she screamed, her voice cracking as it echoed underwater.

Gritting her teeth, she swam back toward him. "You idiot! Trying to play hero again, huh? I'm not leaving you behind. If you die, we die together!"

Meanwhile, Andrew's consciousness was fading fast. The suppressed Blood Pith power went berserk, slamming into his energy core and tearing through his organs.

Blood streamed from the corner of his lips as his head buzzed violently, like thunder roaring nonstop inside his skull. His hand flailed until it caught onto something solid.

Without thinking, he gripped it tightly so the current would not drag him away. He did not realize that what he held was the iron sword. His blood and energy seeped into the blade, wrapping around it in chaotic bursts.

Slowly, the rust on the sword began to flake off, piece by piece, revealing a faint golden sheen beneath the corroded surface. It looked almost alive, like scorched skin peeling to reveal the tender flesh underneath.

Light shimmered along the blade, spreading through the water in golden ripples until the entire lake glowed like sunrise beneath the waves.

Shiloh froze in awe, forgetting even to move.

Before she could break free, her head spun, and everything went black.

When Shiloh finally regained consciousness, she realized she had already been carried out of the lake and back into the damp cave. A sharp, indescribable pain tore through her lower body.

Shiloh moaned, her eyes fluttering open to an impossible scene. The man was on top of her, completely naked, while her own black dress was in tatters. What was left of the fabric did little to cover her.

His heavy, ragged breaths echoed directly in her ear, and another wave of that intense pain in her lower body shot through her.

The twin shocks of agony finally jolted her blurred consciousness into stark, horrifying clarity.

"Andrew, you… How could you… I'm going to kill you!"

Her shriek echoed off the walls of the cave.

A pity there was no one else there to witness the magnificent scene.