Chapter 85 - The Missing Part of the Story
The group—Gregor, Kazue, Katya, and Chloe—stood frozen, their breaths shallow, their minds racing to process what they were witnessing. The scene before them was entirely beyond their expectations. Lord Varek, the man they had been warned about, the monstrous figure whose power and malice had been drilled into their minds, was thrashing on his knees within the barrier. His screams echoed off the pulsating walls, raw and guttural, filled with a desperation none of them could have predicted.
This was not the plan.
The plan had been straightforward. Each group had been given a role, a specific task that, if executed properly, would ensure their survival and eventual success. Communication between groups had been deemed unnecessary—there were no communicators, no phones, no magical links to relay information. The reasoning had been sound at the time: if every group did their part, the sequence of actions would flow seamlessly.
But no one had accounted for this.
Kazue’s hands were trembling, clutching the edge of her skirt as she stared at Lord Varek. He wasn’t attacking, wasn’t breaking free or countering their efforts. Instead, he was... suffering. She glanced at Gregor and Chloe, her voice barely above a whisper.
“What... do we do?”
Gregor shook his head slowly, his expression grim. His voice was hoarse, strained from his earlier near-strangulation.
“I don’t know.”
The silence between them was suffocating, broken only by Lord Varek’s anguished cries. He clawed at his head, his fingers digging into his scalp as though trying to tear something out. The sight was grotesque, almost unbearable to watch.
“We didn’t plan for this.”
Chloe muttered, her eyes darting nervously between her companions.
“We didn’t think—what if the plan worked too well?”
Her voice cracked, and she bit her lip to steady herself. The truth was, the plan had worked perfectly. The skill [Karmic Suppression Barrier] had activated flawlessly, trapping Lord Varek within its confines. Inside the barrier, all of his system-given skills and abilities were sealed. It was supposed to buy them time—five precious minutes to give the second team enough time to make their move. The plan had accounted for Lord Varek’s strength, his cunning, his overwhelming power.
But it hadn’t accounted for this.
The original intent had been simple: trap him, slow him down, and run. Yet now, Lord Varek’s cries of agony filled the air, and the group was paralyzed, unable to reconcile the image of the supposed villain with the man writhing in pain before them.
Gregor clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he stared at Lord Varek. This wasn’t what he had envisioned. The man in the barrier was not the embodiment of evil they had been told about. He was a man—a person—reduced to a vulnerable, pitiable state.
Chloe took a hesitant step closer to the barrier, her brow furrowed.
“This doesn’t make sense, why is he like this? Why does it look like... like he’s suffering?”
She murmured. Kazue swallowed hard, her voice trembling.
“Maybe... maybe it’s the barrier. Maybe it’s doing something to him.”
Gregor shook his head.
“No. The barrier seals skills, nothing more. It doesn’t inflict pain. It’s not supposed to, This is something else.”
His gaze darkened as he added. Lord Varek let out another agonized scream, his body convulsing as he pressed his hands against his temples. His voice was raw, hoarse from the force of his cries.
“Please! Let me out! I can’t take it! I can’t have my mind so clear!”
He begged, his tone desperate, broken. Kazue flinched at his words, her stomach twisting. She had never imagined hearing such desperation from someone so feared.
Lord Varek’s pleas grew more frantic.
“Bring it back! The darkness, the noise—anything but this! Kill me if you must, but don’t leave me like this!”
He pounded the ground with his fists, his voice cracking as he screamed. Gregor turned away, his jaw clenched. He couldn’t watch anymore. It was too much.
The four of them stood there, their minds racing with conflicting thoughts. They had heard the stories about Lord Varek, about the atrocities he had committed, the destruction he had caused. He was a monster, a villain, someone who had to be stopped at all costs. But now, standing before him in his most vulnerable state, they couldn’t see the monster.
Katya’s voice broke the silence, a little bit hesitant, something weird in her now that her timid facade was no more.
“Do we... do we end it? Now? While he’s like this?”
Gregor didn’t answer immediately. He glanced back at Lord Varek, his expression unreadable. Killing someone was never easy, not even someone like him. But this was their chance—perhaps their only chance.
And yet, how could they?
The dilemma weighed heavily on them. One thing was clear: this moment, this opportunity, would never come again. And someday, they might regret their inaction. But in that moment, with Lord Varek’s anguished screams echoing in their ears, they couldn’t bring themselves to act.
Kazue was the first to react. Her heart raced as she stared at the kneeling figure of Lord Varek on the other side of the barrier. The sight was jarring: the man who had exuded an aura of indomitable power was now reduced to a trembling shadow of himself. His hands gripped his head as if to keep it from splitting apart, and his shoulders shook violently with each suppressed sob. His head hung low, strands of his disheveled hair obscuring his face. The sound of his ragged breaths and his broken mutterings filled the tense silence of the field.
"Please... get me out of here."
Lord Varek murmured, his voice cracking under the weight of his desperation.
"My mind... it’s too clear. I can’t... I can’t take it anymore. Please, just kill me if you have to, but I’ll go mad if I stay here any longer."
Kazue’s feet felt rooted to the ground, her body hesitant to move. Yet, something about the sheer pain in his voice urged her forward. She took a step, then another, her movements slow and deliberate, until she stood directly before him. The shimmering barrier separating them flickered faintly, its translucent glow casting eerie reflections on both sides. She swallowed hard, unsure of what to say or do.
Finally, her voice broke through the oppressive tension, soft and timid.
"Are you... are you okay? What’s happening to you?"
She asked hesitantly, her tone shaky but laced with genuine concern. However, Lord Varek didn’t respond. He didn’t even look up. His fingers dug into his scalp as his whole body quivered.
"Get me out... please. My thoughts—everything is too sharp, too vivid. I see it all, over and over. I can’t take it. Please, just let me out, or... or end it. End me."
Kazue’s hands fidgeted nervously at her sides. She bit her lip and turned her gaze back toward her companions, her eyes pleading for guidance. Gregor and Katya exchanged uncertain glances, both of them shrugging in helplessness. Neither of them seemed to have an answer.
It was Chloe who stepped forward, her expression unusually serious. She walked up to Kazue’s side, her eyes narrowing as she activated her skill, [Lifeweaver’s Gaze]. A soft glow enveloped her pupils as she focused on Lord Varek. The system responded immediately, displaying a diagnostic interface visible only to her.
Her breath hitched as the information unfolded before her eyes, and she read it aloud for everyone to hear:
[Patient: Mo Yanhui] [Affliction: None] [Condition: Mentally Unstable, Severe Stress, Mental Trauma, Severe Depression, Schizophrenic Tendencies.]
Chloe blinked in shock, struggling to process the overwhelming list.
"I’m not a psychologist or anything, but this... this is bad. I mean, really bad. No one could have this many mental disorders without being seriously ill."
She admitted, her voice tinged with unease. Gregor’s face darkened as he crossed his arms, his shoulders slumping slightly.
"That sounds a lot like what soldiers go through after a war, I’ve seen it before... comrades who couldn’t deal with the memories, the nightmares, the guilt. But this... this doesn’t feel right. It’s not supposed to just... appear like that. It’s like he’s stuck in that state constantly."
He said, his voice low and melancholic. His tone carried a weight that made everyone look at him. Lord Varek let out another anguished groan, his head sinking lower. Kazue turned back to him, her brow furrowed deeply with concern. She hesitated before speaking again, her voice soft but steady.
"Please, tell us what’s happening. We’ll help you if we can. But we need to know how."
For the first time, Lord Varek stilled. His trembling subsided slightly, though his hands remained firmly on his head. His voice came out in a strained whisper, filled with despair.
"If you want to help me... then get me out of here. Please. This barrier... it’s killing me. My mind isn’t supposed to be this clear. I can’t... I can’t take it anymore."
Kazue winced at his words, her chest tightening. She shook her head slowly.
"We can’t do that, we don’t know what you’ll do if we let you out. It’s... it’s too dangerous."
She said, her voice barely above a whisper. At that, Lord Varek raised his head. His face was pale, his bloodshot eyes rimmed with tears. His expression was raw and vulnerable, a mixture of desperation and resignation.
"Then kill me, if that’s what you’re here for, just do it. I won’t fight back. But please... if you’re going to do it, do it now."
He pressed a trembling hand against the barrier, the shimmering energy rippling slightly under his touch. His gaze locked onto Kazue’s, and for a moment, she felt paralyzed. His eyes didn’t hold malice or anger—only suffering. All she could see was a man broken beyond repair, pleading for release.
Without understanding why, Kazue raised her own hand. Slowly, almost instinctively, she pressed her palm against the barrier, mirroring his gesture. To her astonishment, her hand passed through the translucent wall as if it didn’t exist. Her palm met his, their skin touching for the briefest moment.
A system notification exploded into view before her eyes, its words burning brightly in the air:
[Skill [Synchrony] is analyzing the compatibility between user ‘Kazue Rima’ and character ‘Mo Yanhui’.] [Analyzing...] [Compatibility: 100%] [You are soulmates, congratulations!] [Skill: [Imperial Ki - Dragon Ascension Lv10] has been added to the skillset of the user ‘Kazue Rima’.] [Due to the difference in both abilities, the skill: [Imperial Ki - Dragon Ascension Lv10] will be sealed until reaching a proper power level.]
Kazue gasped audibly, her eyes widening in disbelief. She could barely comprehend the words in front of her. Chloe was the first to break the silence, her voice sharp with astonishment.
"One hundred percent compatibility?!"
She exclaimed, taking a step back.
"What?!"
Gregor and Katya shouted simultaneously, their tones filled with disbelief.
Katya’s reaction was the most visceral. Her fists clenched tightly, her jaw set in anger. She bit down on her lower lip so hard that a small trickle of blood ran down her chin, but she didn’t seem to notice. Her entire body shook with suppressed rage as she glared at her precious Kazue and the man behind the barrier.
Immediately after, Lord Varek seemed to calm down. Though his breathing remained labored, it was evident that his body had relaxed considerably compared to a moment ago. His trembling subsided, and his shoulders, once taut with tension, lowered slightly. For a few fleeting seconds, Kazue and Lord Varek locked eyes through the faint shimmer of the barrier. Neither of them spoke, yet it was as if some unspoken understanding passed between them, something neither could fully articulate but both could feel.
The silence was abruptly broken when a firm arm appeared behind Kazue, pulling her backward. The sudden motion snapped the fragile connection she had with Lord Varek. Stumbling slightly, the girl turned her head in surprise to find Katya standing between her and the barrier. The blonde’s posture was tense, her stance protective, and her eyes burned with something primal. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and though she said nothing, the barely restrained anger in her gaze was unmistakable. Her body language screamed defiance, as if daring Lord Varek to even think of harming Kazue. It was clear she was not just angry—she was jealous, though she would never admit it.
Kazue, momentarily stunned, took a moment to process what had just happened. Her heart still raced, not just from the abrupt interruption but from the lingering sensation of the connection she’d shared with Lord Varek. She glanced at her hand, her fingers trembling slightly as if they still felt the ghost of his touch. Finally, she looked back at Lord Varek. Her voice was soft yet carried a weight of certainty as she spoke.
“You’re suffering...”
She said, her words not a question but a statement of fact. Lord Varek’s gaze remained fixed on her. His red-rimmed eyes no longer appeared wild and frenzied but were instead filled with an unfathomable depth of sorrow. He tilted his head slightly, his voice low and raw as he replied.
“You are too...”
The surroundings seemed to freeze for a moment. Chloe’s sharp intake of breath broke the stillness, and she stepped forward, her expression incredulous.
“Kazue, what the hell are you talking about?”
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
She demanded, her tone laced with confusion and frustration. Kazue’s gaze flickered to Chloe for a brief second before returning to Lord Varek. She took a steadying breath, as if searching for the right words.
“I... I’m not sure, but when I connected with him Lord—”
She admitted, her brow furrowing slightly. Then she paused, her voice faltering for just a moment before she corrected herself.
“With Mo Yanhui…”
She said, emphasizing the name.
“I saw it. He’s suffering, but not in a physical way. It’s deeper. It’s... spiritual. For a moment, I could feel the guilt eating away at his mind, the pain it causes him. It’s overwhelming.”
Katya, who had remained silent, shifted uncomfortably. Her jaw tightened as she stood like a barrier between Kazue and Lord Varek, refusing to move. Kazue stepped forward, but the blonde blocked her path, her arms slightly raised in an instinctively protective gesture.
“Katya, it’s okay. Really. I know what I’m doing.”
Kazue said softly, placing a hand on the older girl’s shoulder. The touch was gentle yet firm, and her voice carried an unusual calmness. Katya hesitated, her eyes darting between Kazue and Lord Varek. For a moment, it seemed like she might refuse, but then she sighed heavily and stepped aside, though her reluctance was evident.
Kazue moved past her and returned to the barrier. Her steps were slow but deliberate, and when she reached it, she hesitated for a heartbeat before speaking. Her voice was warm, almost soothing, as she offered a small smile.
“It’s okay. You can tell me. Whatever it is, I’ll find a way to help you. I promise. But I need to know—what is this guilt that’s tormenting you? What’s causing this pain?”
Lord Varek’s lips parted slightly, but no sound came out at first. His expression flickered with uncertainty, a battle waging within him. For a brief moment, he appeared ready to withdraw into himself, but something stopped him. There was a pull he couldn’t explain—a quiet but persistent voice in his mind telling him that he could trust this girl. Her sincerity was disarming, and despite the weight of his shame, he found himself considering her words.
Something else was happening that no one seemed to notice, though. The [Karmic Suppression Barrier], which nullified all system-related skills and effects within its area of influence, was still active. Yet, Kazue’s [Synchrony] skill had not only activated but was continuing to function without interruption. The barrier should have rendered it inert, but the skill remained unaffected. If any of them had paid closer attention, they might have uncovered a critical truth about the nature of [Synchrony], something that could have changed the course of their understanding. But at that moment, their focus was entirely on the fragile connection between the girl and the scenario's main villain.
Lord Varek sighed deeply, lowering his gaze as if the weight of the centuries bore down on him. His voice, though calm, carried a sorrowful tone that seemed to echo through the area, each word laced with the burden of memories long past.
"My name…"
he began, his tone heavy with the weight of revelation.
"Was once Mo Yanhui. I was no one—an orphan cast aside by those who should have protected me. A simple warrior with no great destiny to my name, and yet... life had other plans for me."
He paused, his hands resting heavily on his knees as he looked into the distance, his eyes unfocused as though staring into the past.
"I was born into a small sect. Nothing noteworthy, nothing grand. My family..."
His voice faltered, bitterness creeping in.
"They exiled me when I was a child. In those days, anyone born with Void Ki was seen as a monster. An aberration. Something unnatural that tainted the world. They feared me, though I was just a boy who wanted nothing more than to fit somewhere."
The silence stretched for a moment before he continued, his tone softening slightly.
"I wandered alone, scavenging what I could to survive. I became used to the stench of garbage and the gnawing hunger that never seemed to leave me. One day, as I rummaged through the refuse in a small village, I met someone who would change everything."
His lips curled into a faint, bittersweet smile.
"Han Zhenwu."
He said, the name carrying a warmth that felt out of place amidst his somber recollection.
"An orphan like me. Too optimistic for his own good. Too loud, too wild. A dreamer in every sense of the word. At first, I hated him."
His gaze sharpened, and his voice grew animated as he recounted those moments.
"He was always talking about grand ideas—changing the world, becoming someone who mattered. It annoyed me. I thought, ‘What’s the point of dreaming when the world is this cruel?’ But Zhenwu... he wouldn’t leave me alone. He insisted we stick together. He called us brothers even though we were nothing alike."
A chuckle escaped him, though it was tinged with sadness.
"I remember the time he saved my life. A group of thugs cornered me in an alley, ready to beat me to death just for fun. I was helpless, just a scrawny boy with nothing to defend myself with. Then Zhenwu appeared. He didn’t have any weapons, no plan—just sheer determination. He threw himself at them, shouting like a madman."
His voice broke slightly as he recalled the scene.
"He was beaten bloody, but he didn’t stop. In the end, they left, and we survived. I hated him for it. I hated that he risked his life for someone like me. But... that was Zhenwu. He was always willing to give everything for the people he cared about."
Varek’s gaze darkened, the warmth in his tone fading.
"As we grew older, his talent for martial arts became undeniable. When we were finally accepted into our first school, he amazed everyone with his abilities. They called him a prodigy. A once-in-a-generation genius. Meanwhile, I was the outcast—the boy with Void Ki, the thing everyone feared and despised."
He paused, his hands clenching into fists.
"But Zhenwu never let me face it alone. He stood by me, even when it would have been easier to turn away. He taught me that strength wasn’t just about power—it was about heart. Together, we became martial artists. Together, we dreamed of something greater."
His voice grew softer, almost reverent.
"One day, we returned to the village where we first met. We wanted to thank the few people who had shown us kindness: the old woman who gave us cookies, the baker who gifted us bread on our birthdays, and the street dwellers who shared their meager scraps. But when we reached the hill overlooking the village..."
He trailed off, his jaw tightening.
"The village was gone. Burned to the ground. Nothing remained but ashes. It had been caught in the crossfire of the endless wars between sects and schools vying for power."
Varek’s voice dropped to a whisper.
"I had never seen Zhenwu like that. The fury in his eyes... it was like a storm about to break. He swore then and there that he would end the faction wars, no matter what it took. And I..."
He swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly.
"I promised to follow him. He was my brother, and I believed in his dream."
His gaze turned distant again, the memories playing out vividly in his mind.
"Years passed, and Zhenwu’s strength grew beyond anything I had ever seen. He became known as the Immortal Emperor, a title that struck awe and fear into the hearts of all. He even discovered the secret to immortality, something he shared with me because..."
Varek hesitated, his voice thick with emotion.
"He didn’t want to face eternity without me. ‘A brother should never be alone’, he said. That was Zhenwu."
He exhaled shakily, his tone growing heavier.
"We fought together in the unification wars, conquering territory after territory. Zhenwu shone brighter than anyone else, and I was proud to stand at his side. I never envied him. Never resented him. I was content to be his shadow, his advisor, his brother."
Varek’s expression darkened as his voice grew colder.
"But then... they came. The invaders from another world. At first, they seemed like a threat, but Zhenwu saw something in them—strength, perhaps, or a kindred spirit. He even formed a bond with some of them. Some in the Council of Six disapproved, but I trusted his judgment. He had a keen eye for people, always able to see the best in them. These visitors even warned us that another group might soon arrive, one more dangerous and hostile. So I took immediate action, alerting all sects, schools, temples, and alliances under my jurisdiction to report any suspicious activity."
Varek’s voice grew heavier, his words tinged with sorrow.
"But nothing prepared us for what happened next."
He glanced at the others in the area, his eyes shadowed with pain.
"It started with a message from Bai Huolong, one of my comrades in the Council. He claimed to have found evidence of the invaders in a distant province. He urged me to come immediately, and I didn’t hesitate. The Emperor was away, training with the original group of visitors, so I couldn’t inform him. I left without delay, running at full speed for half a day to the location Bai had indicated."
He clenched his fists as his voice hardened.
"When I arrived, Bai was there, waiting. But as I began to question him, he attacked me. The assault was sudden, catching me off guard. I barely had time to react before Abbess Xinhui struck me from behind, and then Sung Ja-In joined the fray. They were relentless. Each of them was a martial artist of exceptional skill, and though I fought with everything I had, the three of them overpowered me."
Varek’s expression darkened as he recounted the fight.
"I tried to escape, but their coordination was flawless. Every time I thought I had an opening, one of them blocked my path. Eventually, they subdued me. I was restrained, unable to move, when a stranger appeared before me."
His voice wavered, and his gaze fell to the floor.
"This figure... they whispered something—words I couldn’t comprehend. And then... darkness. My mind was shrouded as if I had blinked and everything went black. When I opened my eyes again, I was no longer in that place. I was standing face-to-face with Han Zhenwu—the Emperor, my brother."
Varek’s breath hitched as he spoke, his voice cracking.
"My hand... it was buried in his chest. His blood stained my arm. I tried to move, to speak, to scream, but my body didn’t obey. I didn’t know what was happening. All I saw was his face, his gentle smile—the same smile he had when we were boys. His last words..."
Varek’s voice broke completely, and he paused, his shoulders trembling.
"He said he was glad it was me. That if his life had to end, he was happy it was at my hands and not some puppet controlled by others."
He took a shaky breath, his fists clenching tightly.
"In his final moments, he transferred all his Ki to me. That act—it shattered whatever had been controlling me. My memories came rushing back, and with them, the horror of what I had done. I saw myself leading an army of sects, schools, and alliances—those who had been our allies—against the Imperial Palace. I had killed guards, residents, and even my comrades, all under their command. And when I faced the Emperor..."
Varek’s voice faltered.
"He didn’t fight with his full strength. Even when he realized what I had become, he hesitated. And that hesitation cost him his life."
He closed his eyes, his voice now a hollow whisper.
"When the truth hit me, rage consumed me. A primal roar tore from my throat as I unleashed my Ki. My Void Ki surged, more powerful than ever before. I became a monster, slaughtering indiscriminately. Friend or foe—it didn’t matter. I stole their abilities, ripped their very essence from their souls, and used their power to destroy them. When it was over, I was no longer Mo Yanhui. I was something else—something different."
He opened his eyes, the sorrow within them immeasurable.
"I became Lord Varek. A man torn between two worlds: the vision of my brother and the darkness implanted by the remaining orders of those otherworlders to “Detroy Murim”. I tried to carry on his ideals while suppressing the monster I had become… I gain control on my brainwashed Council comrades, unable to even break them free… I guide this world to decadence… And in the end…"
He trailed off, his voice barely audible.
"I failed him. I failed them all."
The area was heavy with silence. No one dared to speak, their thoughts swirling with the weight of the revelations. It was as if all the air had been sucked out of the chamber, leaving only a suffocating tension behind. Lord Varek’s explanation lingered in their minds, a grim puzzle piece snapping into place. His condition, his actions, all seemed to point to something eerily similar to the skill that had been controlling Abbess’s mind, yet far more insidious in nature.
Kazue’s eyes darted around the group, her mind racing. The connections were undeniable. It wasn’t Lord Varek’s own doing but the result of interference from a group of users—outsiders who had arrived long ago and left devastation in their wake. Jianfeng’s story, Park Zhen’s tale, and now Lord Varek’s tormented confessions wove together into a horrifying tapestry.
Kazue’s stomach churned. Users. That word echoed in her mind, growing louder with every passing second. Her thoughts spiraled as she began to see the pattern emerging. Every disaster, every upheaval in these worlds, traced back to users meddling in the lives of innocent people. And now, they were doing the same.
Her chest tightened as memories of the previous world flooded her mind. It had ended in fire and blood, with countless lives lost because they had helped Thaddeus execute his plan. She had been part of it, and now the realization hit her like a hammer. Was history repeating itself? Were they doomed to bring more destruction in their wake?
A sharp pain shot through her head, snapping her out of her spiraling thoughts. Kazue winced, clutching her temple as the headache intensified. She tried to steady her breathing, but it was no use.
Lord Varek’s voice, raw with desperation, broke the silence.
“Now that you know the truth, fulfill your part of the deal. Help me. Kill me.”
He said, his tone pleading. His words were a dagger to the heart of the group. The clarity in his voice was almost more unnerving than his earlier anguish. He looked at them with hollow eyes, burdened by the weight of his deeds.
“I can’t keep living like this.”
He continued, his voice cracking.
“Now that I remember everything, now that I can see the truth... I can’t. The things I’ve done weren’t because of the skill controlling me. It was me. My choices. My actions. I destroyed the Emperor’s dream. I trampled on everything he stood for. I am the only one to blame.”
Gregor, standing with his arms crossed, took a step forward, his expression cold.
“Not so fast, you owe us answers first. How is it that you even had access to the user system? Skills and stolen energy aside, that doesn’t explain everything.”
He said sternly. Lord Varek’s composure began to crack, a flicker of agitation crossing his face. He took a deep breath, as if summoning the strength to answer.
“It all comes down to two skills I absorbed.”
He said finally.
“[Portable Shop] and [Quest Log].”
The group stiffened at the mention of the skills. Even Gregor’s usual stoicism faltered for a moment, his brow furrowing.
“The first skill allows me to access a screen with countless options. Weapons, items, information... anything you can imagine, I can buy it. The second skill generates missions over time. Completing them earns points, and with those points, I can make purchases in the shop.”
Kazue and Katya’s eyes widened in alarm. They exchanged a quick, panicked glance. Gregor and Chloe might not have fully grasped the implications, but the other two did. The danger of such a skill was staggering.
Kazue took a step forward, her voice urgent.
“Wait. You’re telling me there’s a skill that gives direct access to the shop? That’s—”
Her sentence was abruptly cut off by a low, ominous hum that reverberated through the chamber. All eyes snapped toward the black sphere encasing Lord Varek. The barrier surrounding him began to dissolve, particles of light scattering like ashes in the wind.
“No.”
Gregor muttered under his breath, his instincts kicking in. He grabbed Chloe by the arm, yanking her back toward the far end of the chamber where Kurayami was still recovering. Katya did the same with Kazue, ignoring her protests as she dragged her away.
“Wait! Stop! We can’t just leave him like this!”
Kazue shouted, her voice breaking with frustration. But her words fell on deaf ears. The others were already retreating, their focus solely on putting as much distance as possible between themselves and Lord Varek.
From behind them, a guttural cry of anguish filled the air.
“No! Don’t leave!”
Lord Varek’s voice was a mixture of rage and despair, his eyes wide with betrayal.
“You promised me!”
Kazue turned back, her heart wrenching at the sight of him. Lord Varek clutched his head, his screams growing louder as the last remnants of the barrier disintegrated. His body convulsed, wracked with pain as a sinister aura began to seep from him.
“Kazue, look out!”
Katya shouted, yanking her harder just as the black sphere shot toward Gregor. It moved with unnatural speed, its ominous glow intensifying.
The area blurred as the teleportation sphere activated. Kazue’s vision swam, but not before two screens flashed before her eyes:
⌠Patient: Lord Varek⌡ ⌠Affliction: [Dominate Person Lv9 (Corrupted)]⌡ ⌠Condition: Enraged, Violent⌡
Simultaneously, another message appeared:
[Skill [Synchrony] is analyzing the compatibility between user ‘Kazue Rima’ and character ‘Lord Varek’.] [Analyzing...] [Compatibility: 0%]
The world around her dissolved into light, her final sight being Lord Varek collapsing to his knees, screaming into the void.
Eventually, Lord Varek's screams began to subside, his trembling form stilling as he knelt on the cold ground. The dark aura that had enveloped him dissipated, fading like a distant nightmare. His breathing steadied, and the strained, twisted look in his eyes softened. The chaotic storm of emotions that had driven him moments before now seemed to retreat, leaving behind an eerie calm. Once again his features bore no trace of Mo Yanhui. His old persona, the fractured mind—gone. What remained was Lord Varek.
But before he could rise, before he could utter a single word to the empty air, a sudden and overwhelming sensation struck him. His head snapped up, his gaze sharp and alert. He turned, his eyes locking onto the distant silhouette of the palace barely visible against the horizon.
“Sung Ja-In!”
He shouted, his voice echoing with raw urgency. Panic flashed across his face, and his body tensed as if bracing for battle. Something had happened—something terrible. Without hesitation, he launched himself into motion. His powerful legs coiled before releasing with immense force that shook the ground beneath him. The impact sent a shockwave rippling outward, uprooting nearby debris and flattening the grass in a circular radius. In an instant, he was airborne, soaring toward the palace, his figure diminishing into a speck against the distant horizon.