"The Shadow Eminence has awakened! We need to act!" one of the Five Elders exclaims, his voice filled with urgency.
"The world is already in chaos because of that damned Go Lao Wei," another elder growls, his expression dark. "And now, the awakening of this transcendent being… It will either bring hope or catastrophe. We cannot afford to take risks."
"Before it becomes another threat, we must eradicate it," a third leader states coldly, his sharp gaze scanning the chamber.
"Is the restoration plan being carried out?" another elder inquires, shifting the conversation to their next course of action.
The room falls into a tense silence as the weight of the decision looms over them.
----
Tang Su Yan drifts into unconsciousness, her body finally succumbing to exhaustion. Meanwhile, Dylan and Overseer continue their fierce exchange of blows, their movements swift and deadly under the moonlit sky.
Dylan clenches his jaw, barely glancing at Ivanna as he blocks another strike from Overseer. "Miss, if you don't mind, take Tang Su Yan and get out of here," he instructs, his tone firm but hurried. "You're just in the way. I can't afford to get distracted."
Ivanna hesitates, her grip tightening around Su Yan's limp body. She doesn't want to leave, but she knows Dylan is right. Staying here would only make things harder for him. With a deep breath, she gathers her strength and prepares to retreat, carrying Su Yan away from the battlefield.
"Thank you," Ivanna says, her voice filled with gratitude as she spreads her wings. With Tang Su Yan in her arms, she begins to ascend, her wings beating against the night air.
But before she can get far, Overseer's eyes narrow, his expression darkening with menace. "Where do you insects think you're going?" he sneers, his voice dripping with malice.
With a flick of his hand, tendrils of void surge toward Ivanna like hungry serpents, twisting through the air with terrifying speed.
Just as the darkness is about to ensnare them, a scorching blaze erupts between them. Dylan steps forward, his mouth still glowing from the unleashed power of his Dragon's Breath, reducing the tendrils to nothing but ash.
"Your fight is with me," Dylan growls, his eyes locked onto Overseer. "Stay focused."
Dylan clenches his fists, summoning the raw power of **Primordial Magic**. The air crackles with energy as golden arcs of light swirl around him, condensing into a devastating force.
With a fierce roar, he unleashes the attack—**a colossal blast of pure primordial energy**—rushing toward Overseer like a celestial storm, ready to obliterate everything in its path.
But Overseer merely smirks. At the last moment, **a void shell erupts around him**, swallowing the attack into its endless darkness. The primordial energy vanishes, devoured by the abyss, leaving not even a ripple behind.
"Futile," Overseer taunts, his voice echoing from within the void. "Your power may be strong, Dragon King, but against the endless abyss... it is meaningless."
Dylan grits his teeth. "Tch... looks like I'll have to break that shell open myself." He tightens his grip, flames dancing around his fists as he prepares for another round.
Prophetess's voice crackles through the transponder.
"Dylan, I've secured Tang Su Yan. You can retreat now."
Dylan exhales sharply, keeping his gaze locked on Overseer. "Understood," he replies. But he knows he can't just leave without covering his escape.
Summoning every ounce of his remaining strength, he gathers a vast amount of Primordial Energy—far more than before. The sheer force of it distorts the air around him, golden and crimson currents surging like a storm ready to consume everything in its wake.
With a powerful thrust, Dylan launches the attack. A massive surge of pure Primordial Energy hurtles toward Overseer, its brilliance cutting through the darkness like a divine judgment.
Overseer's smirk fades. Even he knows that taking this head-on would leave him severely wounded. His only choice—envelop himself in the void.
As the devastating explosion erupts, the battlefield is swallowed by blinding light and raw energy, shaking the very earth beneath them. For a moment, nothing exists except pure destruction.
When the dust settles, Overseer emerges from the void's protection, unscathed but visibly irritated. His eyes scan the area—Dylan is gone.
A low growl escapes his lips. His fingers curl into a fist, his smirk returning, but this time with cold determination.
"Evasive rat… you can run for now. But one day, I will catch you."
His vow lingers in the desolate air, a promise of the chaos yet to come.
----
**"Keeper, do you have any idea what comes next?"** the being inside me asks, its voice reverberating like a distant thunderstorm, neither angry nor amused—just absolute.
Milena stands firm, her presence unwavering. **"I do."**
The being chuckles, dark and knowing. **"Then you understand that all the curses inside that core—the very essence of Pandora's Box—have now been unleashed into this world. This is no longer just a battle. This is the beginning of the end."**
A vision flashes before me—**cities burning, the sky choked with black smoke, famine gripping the lands, the cries of the helpless swallowed by chaos.** Armageddon is no longer a myth or a prophecy whispered in fear. **It is here.**
"This world will plunge into madness—war, starvation, death. Do you think humans can survive the calamity they have brought upon themselves?" The being's voice is laced with contempt. "Foolish creatures, always hungry for power, blind to the consequences. They seek to wield the power of gods and call it evolution."
Milena's expression darkens, but she remains composed. "And yet, they still fight to survive."
The being scoffs. "Survival? Against divine destruction? Tell me, Keeper—will you fight to contain what has already been set free? Or will you, like them, be swallowed by the storm?"
"Hey Eminence of stupidity" I shout at the being
"Cut your crap and do not just talk to yourselves as if I'm not here"
The being lets out a low chuckle, the sound vibrating through my consciousness like an earthquake. "Eminence of stupidity?" it repeats, as if savoring the insult. "You've got quite the tongue for someone who stands on the edge of oblivion."
Milena exhales sharply, but I don't give her a chance to cut in. My fists clench, and I glare at the shadowy figure before me. "Listen here, whatever-you-call-yourself—I don't care about wielding the so-called power of gods. Maybe some humans do, those greedy bastards who think power is the answer to everything. But I am not one of them."
The being tilts its head, seemingly intrigued.
I step forward, my voice unwavering. "I didn't ask for this. I never wanted it. All I want is to protect myself and those important to me. That's all."
A heavy silence follows.
Then, the being smirks. "And yet, here you are—standing before me, wielding power you do not understand, speaking of protection as if you are not already walking the path of destruction."
My chest tightens, but I don't waver. "If power is what I need to protect them, then I'll use it. But don't mistake me for one of those power-hungry fools. I won't be your puppet."
The being's laughter echoes through the void of my mind, neither mocking nor approving. Just… amused. "Very well, child. Let us see if you can back up those words."
The being's voice drips with condescension, its dark, endless eyes piercing through me like they can see every thought I have ever had.
"Child, you are still wet behind the ears."It shakes its head, amused. "I have seen countless worlds rise and fall, and I can tell you this—everything that is happening now is merely a prelude to destruction. You humans have brought this upon yourselves."
I grit my teeth, my hands balling into fists. "Maybe so, but that doesn't mean we'll just sit back and let it happen."
The being laughs, deep and resonant, like a god looking down on an ant trying to defy the storm. "You truly believe that?"
I meet its gaze without flinching. "I don't just believe it. I'll prove it."
"Do not underestimate our perseverance and stuborness old fossil"
The being chuckles, the sound reverberating like a distant storm. "Old fossil? How amusing." Its expression remains unreadable, but there's a flicker of something—perhaps curiosity or mild amusement.
I cross my arms, refusing to back down. "Do not underestimate our perseverance and stubbornness. No matter how many times we fall, we humans always get back up."
The being gaze and tilts its head slightly, as if considering my words. "Such defiance… I wonder if it will be your greatest strength or your inevitable downfall."
"That's for me to decide." I hold my ground, unwavering.