I didn''t waste my advantage. With the Spiritual Fire Seal still binding Nigel, I pulled my bronze sword andunched into my third strike. The de gleamed with golden energy as it sliced through the air.


    Nigel''s hand shot up despite the mes. He caught my de between his palm and fingers, but winced as blood trickled down his wrist.


    "Not bad," he admitted, pushing back against my sword. "You actually made me bleed."


    The Spiritual Fire Seal flickered and dispersed. My technique had reached its limit.


    Nigel examined his injured hand with mild curiosity. "It''s been years since anyone drew my blood."


    Instead of looking weakened, something changed in his eyes. The wound seemed to awaken something primal in him. His aura intensified, pressing down on me like a physical weight.


    "Allow me to show proper respect by not holding back any longer."


    His fingers traced a character in the air. Unlike before, this one pulsed with malevolent energy—the character for "Annihtion."


    I barely had time to brace myself before the attack hit. Pain exploded across my chest as the character burned through my defenses, leaving a smoking wound in its wake.


    I staggered backward, blood soaking through my shirt. The injury was deep, and I could feel my energy draining rapidly.


    "That''s the difference between us, Knight," Nigel said calmly. "You''ve reached your limit. I''m just getting started."


    Behind me, I sensed Emerson hiding in the shadows. He''d returned despite the danger, presumably to help me. But his presence onlyplicated things. If I fled now, Nigel would find him for sure.


    I couldn''t run. I wouldn''t abandon Emerson.


    "You''re right about one thing," I said, straightening despite the searing pain. "I''ve reached my limit—my normal limit."


    Nigel raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"


    I closed my eyes, essing the forbidden technique Jackson had warned me never to use except in life-or-death situations. A technique that would burn through years of cultivation progress in exchange for temporary power.


    "Celestial Dragon''s Sacrifice," I whispered.


    Immediately, I felt the change. My meridians widened forcefully, allowing energy to flow at dangerous speeds through my body. My cultivation base surged from early-stage Military Marquis to mid-term in seconds.


    Power flooded my system, intoxicating and terrifying at once. Every cell in my body screamed in both ecstasy and agony.


    Nigel''s eyes narrowed. "Interesting choice. Sacrificial techniques usually end careers—or lives."


    "I only need thirty minutes," I replied, golden light emanating from my skin.


    When Nigelunched another "Annihtion" character, I caught it with my bare hand. The malevolent energy sizzled against my palm but couldn''t prate.


    I crushed the character, dispersing its energy.


    Nigel''sposed mask finally cracked. "Impressive. You''ve essentially borrowed power from your future self. But you realize what happens when those thirty minutes expire, don''t you?"


    "I''ll worry about thatter," I said, rolling my shoulders as unfamiliar power coursed through me. "Right now, I just need to defeat you before my time runs out."


    Nigelughed, the sound echoing off the buildings around us. "You think you can defeat a purple robe in thirty minutes? With borrowed power?"


    "I don''t think," I replied, sliding into an offensive stance. "I know."


    His eyes hardened. "Bold words from a man signing his own death warrant."


    We shed again, but this time was different. My speed matched his. My strength rivaled his. Each blow Inded carried devastating force.


    Nigel blocked my punch, the impact sending shockwaves through the street. Windows rattled in nearby buildings.


    "Where was this power earlier?" he demanded,unching a counter-attack that I barely avoided.


    "Saving it for someone worthy," I taunted,nding a kick to his ribs that sent him skidding backward.


    For the first time, Nigel looked uncertain. He hadn''t expected this level of resistance. <em ss="phantom-imprint">S*p#o^t* an e+rr#or?% V.i^s^it the or-i&gi@nal! p@o@st@ on M&V.L-EMP-Y-&$R.%</em>


    "Even with this power boost, you can''t maintain it," he said, recovering hisposure. "Each minute that passes brings you closer to ruin."


    He was right. I could already feel the strain. My meridians burned as they channeled more energy than they were designed to handle. Blood vessels burst beneath my skin, creating a spiderweb of red lines across my body.


    But I couldn''t stop. I had to push forward.


    I charged,unching abination of strikes that forced Nigel on the defensive. Each blow carried the full weight of my sacrificial power.


    "Five minutes gone," Nigel noted, evading a particrly vicious attack. "Twenty-five remaining. You''re no closer to victory."


    I didn''t respond, conserving my breath. Instead, I focused on my internal clock. Nigel was right—five minutes had already psed, and though I''dnded some solid hits, he was far from defeated.


    Time was my enemy now.


    "Tell me, Knight," Nigel said, circling me cautiously, "what happens when your thirty minutes expire? Does your body simply give out? Or is it worse than that?"


    "Why don''t you wait and see?" I replied, though I knew the answer. Jackson had been clear—using this technique meant sacrificing years of cultivation progress. I''d essentially be starting over, vulnerable and weakened.


    Assuming I survived at all.


    Nigel''s lips curled into a smile. "I think I will. The Guild will be interested in studying the aftermath."


    "You assume you''ll be conscious to witness it."


    Iunched another attack, driving Nigel back. This time, I incorporated the Divine Dragon Power into my strikes, creating golden arcs of energy with each movement.


    One connected solidly with Nigel''s shoulder, tearing through his purple robe. He grimaced, genuine pain shing across his features.


    "Ten minutes," he announced, his voice tighter now. "One-third of your borrowed time gone."


    My chest heaved with exertion. The wound from his earlier attack still burned, but I couldn''t spare energy to heal it. Every ounce of power needed to go toward offense.


    "You''re bleeding more than I am now," I pointed out. Several of my attacks had found their mark, leaving Nigel with cuts across his chest and arms.


    "Flesh wounds," he dismissed, though his breathing had grown heavier. "Hardly worth mentioning."


    "Then why mention them?" I pressed my advantage, sensing his difort.


    Nigel''s eyes shed dangerously. He traced another character—"Mountain"—and mmed it toward me.


    The impact was like hitting a solid wall. I flew backward, crashing through a brick wall and into an abandoned building.


    Painnced through every inch of my body as I pulled myself from the rubble. Despite my enhanced state, that had hurt.


    "Fifteen minutes," Nigel called, walking calmly through the hole I''d made. "Halfway there, Knight. How are you feeling?"


    In truth, I was feeling the strain intensely now. My borrowed power was still strong, but my body was beginning to reject it. Blood trickled from my nose and ears.


    "Never better," I lied, spitting blood onto the concrete.


    Nigel shook his head. "Your determination is admirable but misced. Even if you somehow defeat me, you won''t survive whates after."


    "If I take you down, it''s worth it."


    I summoned thest reserves of my strength, channeling everything into one final push. Golden light erupted from my body, coalescing around me like armor.


    Nigel''s eyes widened slightly. "The Dragon''s Aura. You''re full of surprises."


    We collided again, the impact creating a shockwave that shattered every window within a hundred feet. His power against mine, technique against technique.


    For several exchanges, we seemed evenly matched. Then, gradually, I began to push him back. The surprise on his face was worth the agony coursing through my veins.


    "Twenty minutes," he growled, blood trickling from a cut above his eye. "Ten left. You can''t maintain this."


    "I don''t need to," I replied,nding another powerful blow to his chest. "I just need to break you first."


    For the first time, real concern shed across Nigel''s face. He hadn''t expected this level of resistance. The legendary purple robes weren''t ustomed to being challenged.


    "Enough games," he snarled, hisposure cracking. His hands moved inplex patterns, gathering dark energy between his palms. "Let''s end this properly."


    I recognized the form he was preparing—another "Annihtion" character, but muchrger and more concentrated than before. This would be his attempt to finish me.


    I had one chance left. One final technique.


    As Nigel''s dark energy coalesced into the deadly character, golden light swirled around my body. The Dragon''s Aura intensified, taking on a more defined shape—scales, ws, a serpentine form.


    Nigel hesitated, watching the transformation with wary eyes.


    "What is this?" he demanded.


    The golden light solidified, forming a translucent dragon that coiled around my body. Ancient power thrummed through the air, and a faint chanting sound echoed from nowhere and everywhere at once.


    "Twenty-five minutes," Nigel said, but his voicecked its earlier confidence. "You''re almost out of time."


    I smiled through blood-stained teeth. "I only need five more."