White-gold energy exploded from my fist as it plunged straight through Adrian''s defenses. The impact sent him flying backwards, his body crashing through stone pirs before mming into the far wall of the cavern.


    "It''s over," I said, my voice echoing through the debris-filled chamber.


    Adrian struggled to his feet, blood streaming from his mouth. Even with the stolen holy body, he could barely stand. His right arm hung uselessly at his side, mangled from my counterattack.


    "This... isn''t possible," he sputtered, genuine fear in his eyes for the first time.


    I stepped forward, the Third Layer of my Saintly Body Skill still radiating blinding light. "You''ve lost, Adrian. Surrender what remains of your dignity."


    A desperateugh escaped his broken lips. "Dignity? I''ve sacrificed everything for power. Why would I stop now?"


    Before I could react, Adrian lunged—not at me, but toward the cave entrance where Conrad Thornton stood watching.


    "Liam, behind you!" Conrad shouted.


    I whirled around, but Adrian had somehow summoned a final burst of speed. His left hand glowed with dark energy as he thrust it directly at Conrad''s chest.


    "If I die, I''m taking someone with me!" Adrian screamed.


    I moved with everything I had, but I was too far away. Time seemed to slow as Adrian''s hand pierced through Conrad''s chest, dark energy exploding outward from the impact.


    "NO!" I roared.


    Conrad''s eyes widened in shock and pain. He looked down at the gaping wound in his chest, then back up at me with an expression of disbelief before crumpling to the ground.


    Something inside me snapped. The white-gold energy surrounding my body darkened to a crimson hue. I wasn''t just channeling power anymore—I was bing it.


    "You shouldn''t have done that," I whispered.


    Adrian stumbled backward, his triumphant smile fading as he witnessed my transformation. "What... what are you?"


    I didn''t answer. In less than a heartbeat, I crossed the distance between us. My hand closed around his throat, lifting him off the ground with terrifying ease.


    "Please," Adrian choked out, wing at my grip. "Mercy—"


    "Like the mercy you showed Conrad?" I snarled.


    My free hand plunged into his chest, not with physical force but with divine energy. I could feel Adrian''s divine sense—the core of his being that had possessed this holy body—trying to escape.


    "No escape this time," I growled.


    I activated Divine Judgment, a forbidden technique I''d discovered in ancient texts but never dared use before. Golden sigils appeared in the air around us, binding Adrian''s divine sense to his stolen body.


    "What are you doing?" he shrieked, true terror in his voice now. "Stop! STOP!"


    I ignored his pleas, focusing my energy into a single, devastating purge. "Divine Judgment."


    Adrian''s scream cut off abruptly as golden light erupted from his eyes and mouth. His body convulsed violently in my grip as his divine sense was not just expelled but utterly obliterated—erased from existence.


    When I finally released him, the holy body dropped lifelessly to the ground, now just an empty vessel.


    I turned immediately to Conrad, rushing to his side where Marvin Howard was already trying to stop the bleeding.


    "Conrad! Stay with me!" I knelt beside him, cradling his head.


    Conrad''s eyes fluttered open, recognition dawning despite the pain. "Did... did we win?" he whispered.


    "We won," I assured him, though victory felt hollow now. "Just hold on."


    Blood soaked through my fingers as I pressed against his wound. The dark energy Adrian had used was preventing my healing techniques from working. Conrad''s life was slipping away right before my eyes.


    "I can''t stop the bleeding," I said desperately to Marvin. "The wound''s been corrupted."


    Marvin shook his head grimly. "Adrian used Void Essence in that attack. It prevents healing."


    Conrad coughed weakly, more blood spilling from his lips. "It''s alright, Liam. We knew the risks."


    "No!" I refused to ept it. "I won''t let you die like this!"


    I gathered Conrad in my arms, determination hardening my features. "We''re leaving. Now."


    "Where?" Marvin asked, following as I carried Conrad toward the cave entrance.


    My eyes locked on the deeper regions of Earth Fiend Valley visible in the distance. "There must be someone left alive down there. Someone who knows how to counter Void Essence."


    "Liam," Conrad whispered, his voice growing fainter. "It''s toote..."


    "It''s not," I insisted, increasing my pace. "I''ve lost too many people. I won''t lose you too."


    As we emerged from the cave, I could see the destruction our battle had caused. Parts of the mountain had copsed, and fires burned throughout the valley. Yet through the smoke and rubble, I could make out movement—survivors of Earth Fiend Valley''s inner sanctum.


    "Who''s still alive down there?" I demanded of Marvin.


    He squinted through the haze. "The elders, probably. They would''ve been in the protected inner chambers."


    "Good," I said grimly. "Because they''re about to save Conrad''s life, or I''ll finish what Adrian started."


    I began marching down the path toward the valley, Conrad''s lifeblood leaving a trail behind us. With each step, my resolve hardened. Every member of Earth Fiend Valley would pay for their part in this tragedy—after they saved my friend.


    The survivors saw us approaching. Several figures in ck robes gathered at the entrance to a partially copsed building, their expressions fearful as they recognized me.


    "You!" I shouted at the oldest among them, a white-bearded elder who seemed to be organizing the others. "Conrad needs healing. Now."


    The elder''s eyes widened as he took in the severity of Conrad''s wound. "That''s Void Essence damage. Conventional healing won''t—"


    "I know that," I cut him off. "Fix it, or everyone here dies."


    The elder hesitated, then something changed in his expression—a realization. "Wait. There might be a way."


    He gestured for us to follow him into the damaged building. Inside, past fallen beams and cracked walls,y a chamber mostly untouched by the destruction. At its center stood a circr formation etched into the stone floor, surrounded by strange symbols.


    "The Resurrection Formation," the elder exined hurriedly. "It can transfer his divine sense to a suitable vessel before death ims himpletely."


    Hope flickered in my chest. "What kind of vessel?"


    "Ideally, another holy body," the elder said. "But since none are avable..."


    Marvin stepped forward. "We have one." He pointed back toward the cave where we''d left Adrian''s empty vessel.


    Understanding dawned on me. "The body Adrian stole."


    The elder nodded. "If we act quickly, we might be able to transfer your friend''s divine sense into it before the connection between his spirit and body is severedpletely."


    "Do it," Imanded, gentlyying Conrad on the formation. "Whatever it takes."


    The elder barked orders to the survivors, who scrambled to prepare the ritual. Marvin volunteered to retrieve Adrian''s discarded body, returning minutester with the lifeless vessel slung over his shoulder.


    "This goes against everything I believe in," Marvin muttered as he ced the holy body beside Conrad.


    I stood at the edge of the formation, watching as the Earth Fiend Valley survivors arranged themselves around the circle. "Today, your beliefs take a back seat to saving Conrad''s life."


    The elder approached me cautiously. "We need your power for this to work. The Third Layer of the Saintly Body Skill contains pure life energy that can stabilize the transfer."


    I nodded, taking position where he indicated. "Tell me what to do."


    "Channel your energy into the formation when I give the signal," he instructed. "But be warned—this ritual will drain you significantly."


    "I don''t care," I replied, my eyes fixed on Conrad''s increasingly pale face. "Just save him."


    The ritual began with a low chant from the elder. The symbols around the formation began to glow with an eerie blue light as the survivors added their own energy to the circle. Conrad''s breathing had be so shallow it was barely visible.


    "Now!" the eldermanded.


    I thrust my hands forward, channeling the Third Layer''s energy into the formation. White-gold light streamed from my palms, merging with the blue glow of the ritual. Painnced through my body as the formation drew more and more of my power.


    Conrad''s body suddenly arched upward, a faint mist rising from his chest—his divine sense beginning to separate. At the same time, the holy body beside him started to glow, epting the transfer.


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    "It''s working," the elder whispered in amazement.


    My vision blurred as the formation continued draining my energy. I could feel myself approaching dangerous limits, but I refused to stop. Conrad''s divine sense hung suspended between the two bodies, vulnerable and flickering like a candle in the wind.


    With a final push that nearly sent me to my knees, I channeled everything I had left into the formation. The ritual circle red with blinding light, forcing everyone to shield their eyes.


    When the light faded, Conrad''s original bodyy still and empty. Beside it, the holy body twitched, then slowly sat up.


    Conrad—in his new vessel—looked down at his hands in disbelief. "I... I''m alive?"


    Relief flooded through me as I staggered forward, exhaustion threatening to overwhelm me. "Wee back, friend."


    Conrad stood, testing his new body with cautious movements. The holy vessel that had housed Adrian''s corrupt spirit now contained Conrad''s noble one—a fitting reversal of fortune.


    "This power..." Conrad marveled, flexing his hands. "It''s incredible."


    "You deserve it more than Adrian ever did," I said, sping his shoulder.


    The elder approached us, bowing slightly. "The ritual was sessful. Your friend''s divine sense has fully integrated with the holy body."


    "Thank you," I acknowledged, my tone softening slightly.


    A tense silence fell over the chamber as the surviving members of Earth Fiend Valley exchanged nervous nces. Finally, the elder spoke again, his voice careful and measured.


    "We''ve fulfilled our part," he said. "We saved your friend. May we... may we go now?"


    I looked around at their fearful faces—these people who had allied themselves with Adrian, who had participated in countless schemes that had hurt innocents. These people who had helped create the very circumstances that nearly cost Conrad his life.


    My expression hardened as I remembered my vow from earlier.


    "Sorry," I said coldly, killing intent filling my eyes. "You can''t."