The parasites swarmed through the air like a living ck cloud, their chittering sounds echoing across the barren valley. I stood my ground as they circled menacingly, my blue spiritual mes providing temporary sanctuary.


    "Conrad, stay close to me!" I shouted.


    Conrad stumbled toward me, his face pale with revulsion and rm. Blood trickled from dozens of small wounds where the parasites had attempted to burrow into his skin.


    "What are these abominations?" he gasped, pressing his back against mine as we faced the circling horde.


    I expanded my me barrier to cover us both. The parasites retreated momentarily, hissing at the contact with my spiritual energy.


    "Products of Earth Fiend Valley''s dark cultivation," I muttered. "And someone''s controlling them."


    From behind a rocky outcropping, an old man emerged. His withered face contorted with frustration as he observed us within my protective barrier. Unlike the Twin Elders who had deceived us, this man wore tattered gray robes stained with mysterious dark substances.


    "Impressive," the old man called out, his voice surprisingly strong despite his frail appearance. "Few possess spirit fire pure enough to repel my little friends."


    I kept my focus on maintaining the barrier. "Call them off and take us to Earth Fiend Valley''s inner sanctum."


    The old man cackled. "You stand in Earth Fiend Valley already, fool. And my pets are hungry."


    With a flick of his gnarled wrist, the parasites surged forward once more, crashing against my me barrier like waves against rock. Each impact made the mes flicker dangerously.


    "I can''t hold them off forever," I warned Conrad. "My spiritual fire has limits."


    The old man seemed to hear this. His eyes gleamed with malicious satisfaction.


    "All energy eventually depletes," he said, making another gesture. "Even yours."


    The assault intensified. The parasites no longer merely crashed against the barrier—they began forming patterns, concentrating their attacks on specific points. I gritted my teeth, redirecting my mes to reinforce these weak points.


    "Liam," Conrad whispered urgently. "We need to end this quickly."


    He was right. This was a battle of attrition I couldn''t win. As powerful as my spiritual fire had be, it wasn''t infinite. And there seemed to be no end to the parasites.


    I studied our opponent carefully. The old man remained stationary, both hands now performing intricate movements that directed the parasites'' attacks. My eyes narrowed as I spotted a dark energy cord connecting him to the swarm.


    "He''s their controller," I murmured to Conrad. "Cut the connection, and we might have a chance."


    Conrad nodded grimly. "Distract him."


    I let my spiritual mes dim slightly, making it appear as though my energy was fading faster than it actually was. The old man took the bait, his weathered face splitting into a triumphant grin.


    "Your resistance ends now!" he crowed, bringing his hands together in aplex seal.


    The parasites responded immediately, coalescing into a massive, humanoid shape. The creature towered over us, at least fifteen feet tall, with limbs formed of writhing,pacted parasites. Its "head" was featureless except for a gaping maw lined with what looked like thousands of tiny teeth.


    "What is that?" Conrad breathed, horror evident in his voice.


    The parasite giant took a thundering step forward. My weakened me barrier crackled ominously at its approach.


    "Your doom," the old man answered, eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction. "My parasite colossus has consumed countless powerful cultivators. You''ll be just two more meals."


    I let my mes flicker more dramatically, feigning exhaustion. "Conrad," I whispered, "when I drop the barrier, be ready."


    Conrad gave an almost imperceptible nod, his muscles tensing in preparation.


    The parasite giant raised one massive arm, poised to crush us. The old man''s face lit up with anticipation.


    "Now!" I shouted, deliberately extinguishing my me barrier.


    The giant''s arm crashed down—but we were no longer there. Conrad dove left while I rolled right, drawing the bronze sword from my back in one fluid motion. The de gleamed with an inner light, radiating pure qi that made the nearest parasites recoil.


    The old man''s triumphant expression faltered. "That sword—"


    I didn''t give him time to finish. With a surge of energy, I shed through the giant''s leg. Unlike my spiritual fire, which merely repelled the parasites, the sword''s pure qi was utterly destructive to them. Where the de passed, parasites dissolved into ck mist.


    The giant stumbled, its form momentarily destabilizing. The old man hissed and made frantic gestures, trying to maintain his control.


    "Conrad, the controller!" I shouted, continuing my assault on the giant.


    Conrad needed no further instruction. He darted toward the old man, his hands glowing with concentrated energy.


    The parasite giant tried to intercept him, swinging its regenerated limb, but I leapt upward, my sword trailing light as I sliced clean through its arm. More parasites rushed to rece the lost ones, but the giant was noticeably slower now.


    The old man realized his danger toote. Conrad closed the distance, striking directly at the dark energy cord connecting him to the swarm. The connection shattered with a sound like breaking ss.


    The effect was immediate and dramatic. The parasite giant shuddered, its form beginning to disintegrate as the creatures lost their unified purpose. The old man staggered backward, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.


    "Impossible!" he gasped.


    I didn''t pause to savor the victory. While the parasites scattered in confusion, I charged toward their former master. My sword shed once, opening a deep gash across his chest. The old man howled in pain, copsing to his knees.


    "Take us to where you keep ra Vance," I demanded, pressing my de against his throat. "Now."


    Blood soaked through his gray robes, but fear had reced the arrogance in his eyes. "I—I don''t know any ra."


    I pressed harder, drawing a thin line of blood. "Wrong answer. The woman with dark energy parasites inside her. Where is she?"


    The old man''s eyes widened with recognition. "The girl with the pure dark body? She''s not here—she was taken to the inner sanctum!"


    "Where is it?" Conrad demanded,ing to stand beside us. His hands were still glowing with energy, ready to strike again if needed.


    "Through the valley... northern passage..." the old man stammered. "But you''ll never reach her. The Elders will—"


    "You''ll take us there," I interrupted, hauling him to his feet. "Any tricks, and you''ll wish these parasites had eaten you instead."


    The old man nodded frantically, his earlier confidencepletely shattered. With my sword at his back, he began leading us deeper into the valley, asionally ncing fearfully at the bronze de that had so easily countered his dark powers.


    "How did you know?" Conrad asked quietly as we walked. "About the sword?"


    I kept my eyes on our reluctant guide. "I didn''t. But dark energy and pure qi are natural opposites. I gambled that the bronze sword''s properties would prove effective."


    Conrad nodded thoughtfully. "A calcted risk."


    "A necessary one," I corrected. "We''re running out of time to save ra." <dfn ss="frag-b9621c">The<i ss="node-sep"></itest<i ss="node-sep"></i>chapters<i ss="node-sep"></i>are<i ss="node-sep"></i>uploaded<i ss="node-sep"></i>first<i ss="node-sep"></i>on<i ss="node-sep"></i>*.</dfn>


    * * *


    In a dimly lit underground chamber far from where we fought, ra Vance huddled against a cold stone wall. Her once-vibrant eyes were dull with exhaustion and fear. Beside her, Maia sat with her knees drawn up to her chest, her small face streaked with dried tears.


    "Do you think he''lle for us?" Maia whispered, her voice barely audible in the oppressive silence of their prison.


    ra stared at the heavy iron door that sealed them in. "I don''t know anymore."


    Days had passed since they''d been brought to this ce—how many, she couldn''t be sure. The darkness made it impossible to track time. Food came irregrly, shoved through a small opening at the bottom of the door.


    "I was so stupid," ra murmured, more to herself than to Maia. "Thinking I could handle this on my own."


    Maia shifted closer, seeking warmth in the damp chill of the dungeon. "It''s not your fault. They tricked us."


    ra closed her eyes, remembering how easily she''d fallen for their deception. A simple message, promising information about her condition—about the darkness that had been growing inside her since that fateful day in the tomb. She should have known better, should have been more cautious.


    "Liam warned me," she said bitterly. "He told me not to trust anyone."


    "Liam Knight?" Maia asked, a flicker of hope crossing her face. "The one who helped you before?"


    ra nodded. "If anyone could find us here, it would be him." She paused, swallowing hard. "But I don''t think even he knows where to look."


    A heavy silence fell between them. ra leaned her head back against the wall, trying to ignore the constant, gnawing sensation inside her—the parasites, growing stronger each day as her own strength faded.


    "What will they do to us?" Maia finally asked, her small voice trembling.


    Before ra could think of aforting lie, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from beyond the door. Both girls tensed, instinctively pressing closer to the wall.


    The heavy lock turned with an ominous nk. The iron door swung open, flooding the chamber with harsh torchlight that made them squint after so long in darkness.


    Two figures stood in the doorway—old men in ck robes, their faces partially hidden by deep hoods. They surveyed the chamber with cold, calcting eyes before their gazes settled on ra and Maia.


    "The darkness in this one has progressed nicely," the taller of the two said, pointing a bony finger at ra.


    "And the child shows promisingpatibility," the other agreed, his eyes fixed on Maia''s frightened face. "The cleansing ritual can begin tomorrow."


    ra pushed herself to her feet, positioning herself in front of Maia despite her weakened state. "Stay away from her," she warned, her voice hoarse but determined.


    The robed men exchanged amused nces.


    "Your defiance is pointless," the tall one said dismissively. "The darkness will consume you soon enough. But first, it must be... properly directed."


    They stepped fully into the chamber now, the torchlight revealing the ancient, almost inhuman quality of their faces. Their eyes gleamed with an unnatural light that made ra''s blood run cold.


    "Please," she whispered, hating the desperation in her voice but unable to suppress it. "Let the child go. She has nothing to do with this."


    "On the contrary," the shorter man replied, his thin lips curving into a cruel smile. "She has everything to do with what is toe."


    As they moved closer, ra felt the parasites within her stir in response to their presence, as if recognizing kindred darkness. She backed away until she hit the wall, Maia clutching at her tattered clothes.


    "Liam," ra thought desperately, closing her eyes as the robed figures reached for them. "Please find us."