Immortal Healer: Immortal Stonekeeper Prequel (2025) Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Scars Of War

Read chapter 22 of Immortal Healer: Immortal Stonekeeper Prequel (2025) by Mercynarie on NovelPedia.

Duncan faced Miguel with open palms held in an awkward stance in front of his face. He eyed the glyph on the cult leader’s face nervously, preparing to cover his eyes at the first sign of it glowing. Miguel, on the other hand, made no attempt to attack. He remained rooted to the ground with his hands behind his back, an irritating smirk hanging on his face. “You, sir, truly are an angel.” He was practically beaming. “You know, I was right to worship when I first saw what you could do all those years ago. But sacrificing yourself to save two people you barely know? What a true saviour… You must be the Messiah himself!” “Who says I’m sacrificing myself?” Golden glyphs materialised around Duncan’s wrists. “I’m here to take you down for good.” “Drop the tough guy act, ‘Charlie’ Ward. You’re not good at it. You were always a saviour, not a killer.” Duncan tilted his head at the odd choice of words. “You knew me?” “What can I say?” Miguel shrugged. “It was an honour serving beside you.” Duncan faltered as the memories of the First Great War came flooding back to him. That voice, his backstory… No wonder they all felt slightly familiar to him… “You were there…” he breathed. “At the trenches. I— You were one of the soldiers I saved…” “And yet you left everyone else to die when the Germans attacked the hospital.” Miguel’s smile slipped slightly. “It was only thanks to my family’s black magic protection that I survived the bombing with just a disfigured face.” “Are you blaming me for that?” “Heavens, no. It is our fate as mortals to be subject to the whims of nature.” Black particles began swirling around Miguel. “But no more. Not if we remake ourselves in God’s image of perfection. Not if we have what you have. You saved us in the trenches. And with your power, I will save the whole world in your perfect image.” “I am far from perfect, and so are supernatural creatures.” Duncan almost felt sorry for the man’s delusions. “We are not the answer to humanity’s sinful nature.” “Lies… Lies! ” Miguel bellowed, shaking his head violently. “Why won’t you save us? We’re suffering… The whole world is suffering! Why won’t you do more?! ” Duncan pursed his lips. “I can’t. I am but another witch, just like you.” Miguel staggered back as though he had been shot multiple times, but a sinister look quickly spread on his face. “You’re right…” He kept his head low, chuckling darkly. “If you won’t save the world from itself, then I will.” The Cuban witch darted forward with supernatural speed, sinking his fingers into Duncan’s chest. A sickening discomfort shot through Duncan’s spine immediately as he felt Miguel dig deep into his soul, forcibly pulling the elixir of life from his body. Raw magic exploded from Duncan’s body, sending his foe cringing away. Miguel landed after a performative twirl and tossed something out of his pocket. Duncan exhaled sharply as several dozen Kiseigumos landed on the floor, scuttling towards him like a horde of bloodthirsty cockroaches. Without wasting a beat, he fished out a satchel from his coat and flung it out as well. Inky darkness covered his surroundings as the last of his Instant Darkness Powder spread through the room rapidly. Sure enough, the Kiseigumo went motionless on the spot, falling into hibernation from the lack of light. Golden light burned in the witch doctor’s eyes as he magically restored his vision in the dark. He wasted no time crushing as many parasites as he could under his heel. “ Disipar! ” Miguel yelled, and the darkness fled like a bat out of hell. He lunged towards Duncan without losing a beat, finally managing to pin him to the ground. Duncan writhed as the glyph on Miguel’s face started glowing again. He shielded his eyes in a desperate attempt to block out the effects, but the glyph’s latent magic was already beginning to paralyse his magic channels. “ Impedir movimiento! ” Miguel roared as a black ripple of magic ran through Duncan’s body. An invisible force bound his limbs together, not un