Chapter 96 - A True Friend Will Never Abandon You

The air around them was electric with tension, each breath heavy with uncertainty. The battlefield, once a chaotic clash of wills, had been plunged into a moment of surreal confusion. What Lord Varek had done was beyond anything any of them had witnessed before.

Still catching his breath, Adam was the first to sense the true gravity of the situation. His ‘Cursed Eyes’ flickered with a faint glow, parsing fragments of information that left him more unsettled with every passing second.

Then it happened.

A system notification materialized before the eyes of all the users—Adam, Li, Nikolai, and Emir. The translucent panels floated in mid-air, their ominous glow illuminating the stunned faces of the group. The text burned itself into their minds:

⌠Issuing an Emergency System Quest!⌡ ⌠Destroy 'Minor Dark Galactron Spawn: Rank S-'⌡ ⌠Difficulty: S-⌡ ⌠Reward: Title 'Moderator Role' + Appropriate base reward based on contribution⌡

For a moment, there was nothing but stunned silence. Then panic erupted among them.

“What… what is this?!”

Nikolai stammered, his eyes darting over the notification in disbelief.

“System Quest? We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

Adam’s mind raced as he pieced together the implications of what was happening. His thoughts, typically calm and logical, churned with unease. If the system itself had issued a quest, it meant that Lord Varek’s actions had transcended the boundaries of this world.

Whatever he had done threatened the very structure of the system they relied on. This wasn’t just about survival anymore—this was about preserving the balance of their reality.

“What have you done?!”

Adam shouted, his voice sharp and filled with accusation as his gaze locked onto Lord Varek. The man’s towering figure responded with a cruel, mocking laugh, his deep voice resonating through the battlefield.

“What have I done?”

He echoed, his tone dripping with disdain.

“I’ve simply leveled the playing field. You outsiders aren’t the only ones who can exploit the tools of this cursed system.”

And then, to their collective horror, Lord Varek raised one hand. A faint shimmer of light materialized in front of him, resolving into something unmistakable—a system window. The sight alone was enough to freeze everyone in place, disbelief etched into their faces... A system window, conjured by Lord Varek.

[Skill: Portable Shop Lv9] [A specialized skill granting the user on-demand access to the “system shop,” typically restricted to the main lobby. Upon activation, a holographic interface materializes, allowing purchases, trades, or equipment management without leaving the scenario.] [Cursed Vision Knowledge] [Warning: Er■ror■ ... ■E■rro■r … Er■ror■ ... ■E■rro■r]

Adam’s eyes activated instinctively, pulling in every piece of visible data from the window. The information flooded his mind, and his stomach churned as realization struck. He didn’t know what Group 1 had uncovered about Varek’s true abilities, but now it was painfully clear: somehow, Lord Varek had gained access to the system’s shop.

“He’s doing something in the system shop.”

Adam muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over his heart pounding.

“He’s using the system like one of us…”

But there was no time to process the revelation. His analytical mind snapped back to the urgency of the moment. Whatever Varek was selecting, it couldn’t be good.

“Everyone, attack him! Now!”

Adam’s voice rang out like a gunshot, spurring the others into action.

Li was the first to charge, his metallic boots slamming into the ground with a deafening impact as his ‘Atomica Armor’ propelled him forward. Abbess followed closely, her corrupted Ki flaring dangerously as she leaped into the fray, her sharp nails glinting with lethal intent. Park Zhen and Jianfeng moved in unison, their bodies blurs of motion as they closed the distance with practiced precision. Adam brought up the rear, his arm transforming grotesquely into a blade through [Parasitic Mutation], ready to strike at the first opening.

Lord Varek, however, was unfazed. With a sneer, he dismissed the system window, his hand moving to intercept the first of their attacks. Li’s armored fist met Varek’s forearm in a thunderous collision, the shockwave rippling through the air. Abbess’s claws slashed toward his torso, but Varek twisted at the last second, deflecting her strikes with inhuman precision. Park Zhen’s palm strike sent a wave of Ki crashing toward him, but Varek countered with a barrier of his own, nullifying the attack.

The battle was relentless. Every blow was met with resistance, every strike barely missing its mark. But despite his skill, Varek was clearly overwhelmed. The group’s coordinated assault pushed him back, step by step, until the edges of his calm began to fray.

And then it happened.

Before Varek could retaliate, a new system window appeared directly in front of him:

⌠Notice: SR-class Plot Device: ‘Goal-Oriented Evolution’ has been used⌡

“What the hell is that?!”

Li shouted, his voice tinged with panic as the notification flickered ominously.

Adam’s heart sank as his ‘Cursed Eyes’ analyzed the new information. The notification detailing the activation of ‘Goal Oriented Evolution’ was alarming enough, but before he could fully process it, another system window appeared before him:

⌠Plot Device ‘Goal-Oriented Evolution’ will progressively build the user's resistance to something specific they choose⌡ ⌠Beginning Building Resistance to Skill [Silver Tongue Lv1]⌡ ⌠Resistance: 0.05%⌡

Adam’s eyes widened in horror as he watched the resistance increase in real time, ticking up by 0.01% every few seconds. The implications were clear and catastrophic. If they didn’t stop Lord Varek soon, Nikolai’s invaluable skill would become useless, leaving them with no way to hold him back.

“He’s building resistance to Nikolai's skill!”

Adam shouted, his voice ringing with urgency.

“We have to stop him before the count gets too high!”

The group’s eyes flicked toward Adam, each face mirroring the gravity of his words. They didn’t need further explanation. The stakes had just been raised, and failure was no longer an option. With a unified resolve, they launched into action.

Abbess moved first, her corrupted Ki flaring like a dark beacon as she surged toward Varek with lethal intent. Her claws lashed out in a flurry of strikes aimed at his head and neck, each swipe a blur of motion. Park Zhen followed closely behind her, his body a study in controlled power as he focused his Ki into a devastating palm strike aimed at Varek’s midsection. The force of his attack lit up the battlefield, the shockwave ripping through the air with a deafening crack.

Jianfeng moved in an arc, his martial prowess on full display as he closed in from the side. His strikes were fluid and precise, each one aimed at disrupting Varek’s balance and keeping him off-guard. Adam, meanwhile, charged head-on, his arm still transformed grotesquely into a jagged, spectral blade. The weapon pulsed with an eerie energy, its edges glinting dangerously as he closed the distance.

But despite their coordinated assault, Lord Varek held his ground. His movements were impossibly fast, his body twisting and turning as he deflected their attacks with inhuman precision. Every strike they landed was met with a counter of raw power, bursts of energy exploding from his hands and forcing them to retreat momentarily. The seconds ticked by, each one marked by the steady rise of the resistance counter Adam could still see.

“We can’t let him buy more time!”

The boy yelled, his voice straining as he pushed himself harder.

Then, from behind, Nikolai’s voice tore through the chaos.

“Stop!”

He shouted into the megaphone, his amplified command echoing across the battlefield.

The effect was instantaneous. Lord Varek’s body froze mid-motion, his limbs locking in place as if bound by unseen chains. For the briefest of moments, the relentless storm of his power was silenced, leaving him completely exposed. The group didn’t hesitate.

Abbess’s claws found their mark, raking across Varek’s chest with a ferocity that left deep, glowing gashes. The corrupted Ki lingered in the wounds, sizzling and spreading as Varek let out a guttural roar of pain. Park Zhen followed with a devastating strike, his fist glowing brilliantly as it finally collided with Varek’s midsection, sending a shockwave rippling through the ground and cracking the earth beneath them.

Jianfeng’s fists were next, striking Varek’s side with a flurry of blows that forced the Lord to stagger. Each impact was a testament to the martial artist’s skill and determination, his strikes landing with unerring precision. Finally, Adam closed the distance, his spectral blade driving forward with all his strength. The weapon pierced cleanly through Varek’s stomach, pinning him to the ground with a sickening crunch.

The battlefield trembled under the force of their combined assault. Dust and debris swirled in the air, and for a moment, it seemed as though they had gained the upper hand. But even as his body bore the brunt of their attacks, Lord Varek began to laugh. It wasn’t a laugh of desperation or fear—it was full and deep, resonating with unyielding confidence, sending chills through everyone present.

Li’s eyes narrowed as he watched Lord Varek’s defiance, refusing to let it deter him. His ‘Atomica Armor’ flickered and then dissipated entirely, its energy drained from the relentless battle. Without hesitation, he reached for his spellbook, its golden-edged cover glinting in the dim light. As he opened it, the pages began to glow intensely, radiating an almost blinding brilliance that seemed to pulse with the power of the spell contained within.

Li’s voice rang out, steady and commanding, as he invoked the words of his most destructive spell.

“Gigano Laser!”

The air around him vibrated with raw energy as the incantation took effect. High above them, the front section of an enormous iron steampunk zeppelin materialized in the sky, its intricate design of the Stratos Technology shining in all its splendor. Pistons hissed, gears turned, and glowing energy conduits hummed ominously as the weapon charged. A blinding beam of atomic energy gathered at its tip, crackling with unrestrained power.

On the ground, Adam didn’t hesitate. His lance-like arm was still pinning Lord Varek to the ground. As the ominous glow of the laser beam intensified, Adam’s form shimmered, dissolving into an ethereal mist just in time to avoid the catastrophic blast.

“Run!”

Li shouted, his voice filled with urgency as the beam fired. The zeppelin unleashed its devastating attack, a colossal atomic-energy beam tearing through the battlefield. The ground shook violently as the beam roared toward Lord Varek, its sheer power radiating waves of heat and blinding light.

Most of the group reacted instantly, trying to retreat. But Park Zhen didn’t do it. Instead, he sprinted directly toward the impact zone, his movements a blur of supernatural speed.

Milliseconds before the explosion could engulf the area, Park Zhen reached the epicenter, planting his feet firmly into the ground. His arms blurred as they moved with a speed that defied comprehension, the sheer velocity making them appear invisible to the naked eye. Ki flared around him, forming a radiant aura that encased his hands. With impossibly precise movements, he began to manipulate the volatile energy of the explosion, guiding it with such finesse that it seemed he was "touching" the raw atomic energy itself.

His hands moved in synchronized patterns, weaving through the energy like a master sculptor shaping molten metal. The explosion that should have spread outward in a devastating wave instead compressed inward, condensing into a singular, blinding point of light. Park Zhen gritted his teeth, sweat pouring down his face as he channeled every ounce of his Ki into containing the blast. The air around him warped and shimmered from the intense heat, but he held firm, his determination unwavering.

Finally, with a final, Herculean effort, the explosion extinguished. The searing light faded, and the battlefield fell eerily silent. Park Zhen staggered slightly, his arms with visible burns from the ordeal. His chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, but he remained standing.

As the dust and smoke began to clear, all eyes turned to the epicenter of the attack. Lord Varek’s body lay there, battered and charred, his once-imposing form now marked by the blast. But then, an unsettling sound broke the silence. A low, guttural chuckle that grew into another full-throated laugh.

Lord Varek pushed himself up, his body bearing only minor blackened marks from the previous energy blast. The burns were superficial, hardly hindering his movements, and his mocking laughter reverberated across the battlefield.

“Is that all?”

He sneered, his voice laced with disdain. The sight of him, barely affected despite the immense effort the group had put in, sent a wave of unease through everyone present.

Without warning, Lord Varek lunged forward, targeting Park Zhen with devastating speed. Their fists clashed, the impact sending a shockwave that rippled through the ground. Park Zhen strained against the overwhelming strength of his opponent, his feet digging into the dirt to hold his ground. But Varek’s sheer power proved superior, forcing his body to skid back several meters.

The martial artist’s expression remained calm but determined, even as the strain began to show in his posture.

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“Nothing you do will work on me.”

Lord Varek declared, his voice booming with confidence.

“You’re only delaying the inevitable.”

With a thunderous roar, he slammed both open palms into the ground. The earth trembled violently beneath their feet, sending loose rubble skittering across the battlefield. Park Zhen’s eyes widened in recognition.

“Another underground attack!”

He shouted, his voice urgent. Nikolai froze momentarily, dread washing over him. But Shen was ready this time.

“Grab Emir and run!”

Shen ordered, his voice firm and resolute.

“I’ll cover you.”

Before Nikolai could say anything, the ground erupted with a deafening roar. A dozen living shark-like missiles burst forth, their sleek metallic bodies gleaming ominously under the dim battlefield light. Their mechanical fins sliced through the air with a predatory grace as they honed in on their targets.

Alongside them, towering mechanical octopus-turrets emerged from the rubble, their gleaming eyes glowing with a menacing red hue. Tentacles equipped with rotating cannons swiveled with deadly precision, unleashing a relentless barrage of bullets aimed directly at Nikolai and Emir.

Shen’s body tensed as he stepped forward without hesitation, his Bo staff already in motion. The first missile screamed toward them with terrifying speed, its trajectory aimed directly at the kid. Shen spun his staff in a wide, deliberate arc, the wood striking the missile’s sleek surface with a resonating crack. The impact sent the missile spiraling off course, where it detonated against a nearby wall in a brilliant explosion of fire and debris.

Without time to rest. Another missile veered in from the side, its mechanical teeth snapping as it surged forward. Shen twisted his body, pivoting on his heel, and delivered a rapid series of strikes to its body, redirecting its path into the sky where it detonated harmlessly above them..

The octopus-turrets unleashed a storm of bullets, their metal tentacles recoiling with each shot. Shen’s staff became a blur, intercepting the projectiles with an almost inhuman speed. Sparks flew as bullets ricocheted off the spinning Ki-infused wood, and the air around him seemed to hum with the sheer force of his movements.

With a fierce downward strike, he created a powerful gust of wind that crushed one turret, its metallic frame crumpling under the pressure. He followed up with a sweeping strike that sent the remaining turret’s bullets scattering, leaving it vulnerable. One final thrust of his staff pierced its core, causing it to explode in a shower of sparks and scrap metal.

“Faster! Don’t stop!”

Shen shouted over his shoulder, his voice cutting through the chaos. His eyes darted between the remaining missiles and the vulnerable figures of Nikolai and Emir.

Nikolai’s chest heaved as he clutched Emir tightly against him, his legs burning from the effort of sprinting across the uneven terrain. Each step was a desperate push to escape the deadly chaos unfolding behind them.

Emir’s face was pale but resolute, his small hands never letting go of the cube as the Nikolai carried him. The sound of explosions and the metallic screech of the mechanical monstrosities filled the air, a cacophony that threatened to drown out all thought. But Shen was relentless, his presence a shield against the onslaught.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, the rest of the group launched another coordinated assault on Lord Varek. Adam unleashed a barrage of spectral spikes from his body, the ghostly projectiles hurtling toward their target with unrelenting ferocity.

At the same time, Li raised his spellbook, the golden edges glowing as he chanted the incantation for [Begiru Rakketen]. Ten missiles materialized around him, their sleek forms crackling with energy as they locked onto his target and launched in unison.

Lord Varek stood his ground, his movements a blur as he deflected Adam’s spectral spikes with bursts of raw Ki. Each missile from Li’s spell met a similar fate, intercepted by precise counterattacks that sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. Despite the relentless onslaught, Varek managed to hold his own, his laughter ringing out once again.

Park Zhen and Jianfeng surged forward, their combined martial prowess unleashed in a dazzling display of skill and ferocity. Park Zhen’s hands radiated with concentrated Ki, glowing like molten fire as he unleashed a barrage of rapid strikes.

Each blow was calculated, aimed at exploiting even the smallest chink in Lord Varek’s seemingly impenetrable defenses.

Jianfeng moved alongside him, his motions fluid yet deadly, a sharp contrast to Park Zhen’s explosive power. His strikes targeted Varek’s sides and legs, each one aimed at unbalancing the seemingly unstoppable adversary. His footwork was impeccable, weaving between Varek’s counterattacks with an almost supernatural grace.

Abbess joined the fray behind them, her corrupted Ki manifesting around her sharp claws as she launched herself into the frenzied clash. She aimed for Varek’s torso, her attacks swift and lethal, hoping to overwhelm him with sheer ferocity. Her presence added an unpredictable edge to their assault, forcing Varek to divide his attention among three highly skilled combatants.

For a brief moment, the battlefield became a chaotic storm of blows and counterblows. Lord Varek met their attacks with almost casual ease, his fists colliding with theirs in a symphony of raw power. Each impact sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, fracturing the earth beneath their feet. Sparks flew as Ki clashed against Ki, and the air itself seemed to vibrate with the intensity of their struggle.

Varek’s grin twisted into a snarl, his voice laced with fury.

"You dare betray your own world for these outsiders? Traitors, rebels, all of you disgust me!"

His movements became a blur as he shifted his stance, redirecting Abbess Xinhui’s claws with brutal precision. With a sudden surge of power, he countered her attack, his knee driving into her stomach with devastating force. The impact sent her hurtling backward, her body slamming into a crumbling wall with a sickening thud. She crumpled to the ground, her corrupted Ki flickering as she struggled to regain her footing, clearly winded and momentarily out of the fight.

Park Zhen and Jianfeng, however, pressed on, refusing to falter even as their comrade was struck down. Park Zhen’s strikes intensified, each blow carrying the weight of his Ki-infused resolve. Jianfeng mirrored his tenacity, his movements growing sharper and more aggressive as he aimed to exploit any opening Varek might leave.

But Lord Varek was unrelenting. His fists met theirs in a relentless exchange, his snarl growing more venomous with every strike. The ground beneath them was now a battlefield of shattered stone and scorched earth, a testament to the ferocity of their clash. And still, Varek stood tall, his rage burning brighter than ever, as if the fury within him fueled his every move.

“You will all die now!”

Lord Varek bellowed, his voice shaking the battlefield.

Park Zhen and Jianfeng were pushing their limits just to contain the warlord, who, despite his seemingly insurmountable power, did not appear to be using his full strength yet. Every strike from the two warriors met an almost casual resistance, and yet, the effort required to maintain their assault was monumental. Lord Varek’s Ki began to flare violently, like a raging inferno, the air around him distorting with its oppressive heat and intensity. His overwhelming energy made it clear that if he unleashed his full might, the battlefield would be obliterated.

Nikolai, preoccupied with running and shielding Emir from further danger, had no chance to use his skill to make Lord Varek stop. This left the others in a precarious position. Adam gritted his teeth, watching as the resistance counter on his enemy’s system window steadily climbed. It now read 24.50%, a number that filled him with dread.

He clenched his fists and began to move forward, determined to intervene despite the danger. But before he could close the distance, a new system window appeared in front of him and the other users.

⌠Quest complete!⌡ ⌠User Drake Shaw has contributed 100% of the quest completion.⌡

Adam froze in place, his body refusing to move as the words registered in his mind. The surreal nature of the message left him speechless. Drake… had managed to defeat an entity ranked as S- all on his own? How? The battlefield, once filled with chaos, seemed to pause as the weight of that realization settled over everyone.

This time, there was no elation, no shared smiles of relief or triumph. The moment was too surreal, too far removed from their expectations. Even Adam, whose mind was typically sharp and calculating, was struck dumb by the revelation. The disbelief was shared by all, but none more so than Lord Varek himself.

His expression twisted into something unrecognizable—a mixture of shock, disbelief, and unbridled rage. His eyes widened, and his mouth hung open for a moment before contorting into a furious snarl.

"No… that’s not possible!"

He bellowed, his voice shaking the very ground beneath them.

In a fit of rage, Varek pushed Park Zhen and Jianfeng back with a ferocious burst of energy, forcing them to retreat several meters. His focus now entirely shifted to the system notice hovering before him. His trembling hands reached out as if trying to grasp the floating text, his face contorted in denial.

"What… what is this?! This can’t be real!"

Another system window appeared above him, one that only he and Adam could see.

⌠All the user’s high-tier subordinates have died or betrayed him. The effect of the title: 'Supreme Lord: Ruling with Iron Fist' has ended.⌡ ⌠The buffed stats will now return to normal.⌡

Visually, the effects were immediate and profound. Lord Varek’s body convulsed as an audible roar of agony erupted from him. Wisps of steam-like energy began to seep from his body, dissipating into the air as his once-intimidating Ki drastically diminished.

His aura, which had loomed over them like a crushing wave, now flickered weakly. He remained standing, but his shoulders sagged, and his breathing became labored. His once-imposing figure now seemed almost… mortal.

He gasped violently, clutching his sides as he tried to steady himself.

"It doesn’t matter…"

He growled, his voice hoarse but defiant.

"I’m still capable of dealing with all of you by myse—"

His sentence was cut short by a sudden, visceral cry of pain. Lord Varek’s hands flew to his head as he doubled over, his agonized shout echoing across the battlefield. His expression was one of utter confusion and torment as he clawed at his temples, trying to comprehend what was happening to him.

Adam, still frozen in place, was jolted back to awareness as yet another system window appeared before him:

[Notice: The unknown energy blocking the effects of the skill [Soulcrusher Virus (Variant)] has been lifted.]

His eyes widened in shock. The virus—after all this time—could finally take effect. If that were true, then it was over. They had a chance to end this nightmare once and for all. But before Adam could process the full implications, another window materialized in front of him, revealing something he had been waiting for since the beginning of the battle.

⌠Name: L̷͕̣̿͜ǫ̴̻͇̉͒̌ŗ̶̯̃̑̃̕ḑ̶͕̻̃̔͆ ̸̡̗͊̓͛V̴̯̻̳̒̈́͌͐a̷̗͔̤̎̌̍r̶̟̮̫͖͒̾̌͊e̶̯̙͗͛͠k̶͙̭͂͒͛⌡ ⌠Age: 5̵̱͓̟͐̌90̶͂̽͜⌡ ⌠Species: H̵̛̤͂͋̿u̵͔͖͈͎̾m̴̡̹̹̪̈̿͝ă̸͚͎̠͆͆̇n̵̼͈̲͒ ̶̞͎͐̓͠-̵̮͖́̄̄̚ ̶͉̤̲͒́̚R̷̹̩̘̈́a̵̱̳͕̍̂ͅṇ̵͓̐k̴̠͋ ̸̱̘̩̰͌A̴̜̾̄̉̄+̴͔̼̳̆̉͝͠⌡ ⌠Points: 1̷̗͌̾͝͝5̷̺̳́̐̐̇9̵̙̘̆0̸͔̄͒⌡ ⌠Potential: F̶-̸⌡ ⌠E̴̬̅̕r̸͑̊͜ͅr̷͎̅o̷̹͆̓r̶͇͘⌡

Adam’s mind raced as the system window continued to display Lord Varek's information. The detail that stood out the most was Varek’s potential: F-.

For a moment, Adam was taken aback, the revelation sending a wave of disbelief through him. It wasn’t just because other characters, like Abbess Xinhui and Bai Huolong, had much higher potential levels—it was because he had seen this exact potential grade before.

Teo.

The veteran who had fought alongside Adam in the very first scenario. Teo, who had been slain by the Undead Empress. Adam could still recall Teo’s potential being stripped, reduced to F- before his death, leaving him vulnerable to abilities and curses that, maybe, would not have worked on a stronger user. And now, here was Lord Varek, one of the most powerful beings Adam had ever encountered, yet burdened with the same damning potential grade.

Adam’s eyes narrowed as the pieces clicked into place. That was why the virus had worked so effectively on Varek. That was why Nikolai’s skill had taken hold. Both abilities thrived on exploiting the weakness of those with lower potential. Despite Lord Varek’s overwhelming strength and skills, his potential had dragged him to this vulnerable state.

But why? How had it come to this? Adam remembered Teo’s situation—how a user’s potential could drop. Was it because of the countless worlds Varek had tried to merge, the lives he had taken, or the dark powers he had abused to fuel his strength? The truth eluded Adam, but he knew one thing: this weakness had granted them the sliver of a chance they so desperately needed.

The boy’s gaze snapped to the warlord, whose agonized screams still echoed through the battlefield. His immense figure trembled, not from physical pain but from something deeper—something tearing at the very fabric of his mind. The virus was reprogramming him, distorting his memories, reshaping his reality. Adam felt a chill as he realized what was happening.

Lord Varek’s cries of anguish deepened, becoming raw and guttural. His hands clutched his head as if trying to hold his very being together. He wasn’t just experiencing a rewriting of his memories—he was fully aware of what was happening. He could feel every shift, every fracture in the foundation of his identity.

The group watched in silence, frozen by the surreal display. Varek's voice cracked as he cried out, pleading.

“No! Don’t take him from me! Don’t make me forget again!”

Tears streamed down his face, not from physical torment but from the grief of losing the one memory that mattered most to him: Han Zhenwu, the Immortal Emperor, his brother in all but blood. Varek’s once-overwhelming presence crumbled into raw desperation as he clung to the fading image of the man he had cherished above all else.

“Han Zhenwu!”

Varek shouted, his voice trembling with heartbreak.

“Don’t go… please, not again!”

Adam’s stomach twisted. He had seen enemies fall before, but this felt different.

But then… something changed.

Lord Varek’s cries softened, and his trembling ceased. His tear-streaked face tilted upward, his bloodshot eyes widening in stunned recognition. Though no one else could see it, Varek’s gaze locked onto something—or someone—standing before him.

His lips quivered as he whispered.

“Zhenwu…?”

An ethereal, golden hand rested on Varek’s shoulder. It was invisible to everyone else, but to him, it shone like the sun itself. The hand’s presence exuded warmth and solace, radiating a serenity that cut through his torment like a balm. Lord Varek’s expression shifted from despair to awe, then to bittersweet acceptance. His lips moved silently, mouthing words that no one could hear, but the depth of his emotion was unmistakable.

A single tear slid down his cheek as he bowed his head. Whatever the apparition told him, it brought peace to his turmoil. The raging Ki around him began to calm, and his agonized screams faded into silence. For a moment, an almost divine stillness settled over the battlefield.

Then, Varek’s eyes opened.

They burned with renewed intensity, brighter and more furious than ever before. His aura flared violently, a raging inferno of Ki exploding outward with a force that rocked the entire area. The shockwave blasted across the battlefield, forcing everyone to shield themselves from the sheer intensity.

Adam stumbled back, his vision blurred by the force of the blast. As the debris settled, his gaze snapped to the system window that appeared in front of him. His heart dropped as the words materialized before him, the weight of their meaning hitting him like a hammer:

⌠Name: M̷̗̏̈́o̷͎̹͓͘͘ ̴͙͍͇͆̕͝Y̷̜̖̺̾́ă̴̼̪̏̚ň̶̙̖ḧ̵̖̭̱̽ȕ̵͎ì̷̧̺̈́͌⌡ ⌠Age: 5̵̱͓̟͐̌90̶͂̽͜⌡ ⌠Species: H̵̛̤͂͋̿u̵͔͖͈͎̾m̴̡̹̹̪̈̿͝ă̸͚͎̠͆͆̇n̵̼͈̲͒ ̶̞͎͐̓͠-̵̮͖́̄̄̚ ̶͉̤̲͒́̚R̷̹̩̘̈́a̵̱̳͕̍̂ͅṇ̵͓̐k̴̠͋ ̸̱̘̩̰͌A̴̜̾̄̉̄+̴͔̼̳̆̉͝͠⌡ ⌠Points: 1̷̗͌̾͝͝5̷̺̳́̐̐̇9̵̙̘̆0̸͔̄͒⌡ ⌠Potential: A̴̜̾̄̉̄+̴͔̼̳̆̉͝͠⌡

⌠Ụ̷̅s̸̢͍̑͌ẽ̴̳̬͆̉r̷̘͂̄͑ Mo Yanhui’s potential is brimming with determination!⌡ ⌠The system is resonating with the user’s ambitions and memories!⌡ ⌠Congratulations!⌡ ⌠’Personal Skill: The Person I Treasure the Most’ has been created⌡ ⌠" Er■ror■ ... ■E■rro■r … Er■ror■ ... ■E■rro■r"⌡

[Personal Skill: The Person I Treasure the Most Lv1] [Extremely high-level skill that gives the user the ability to use a boosted version of the most powerful skill of its most beloved individual.] ⌠…⌡ ⌠‘Personal Skill: The Person I Treasure the Most’ has selected the character ‘Han Zhenwu’⌡ ⌠Ụ̷̅s̸̢͍̑͌ẽ̴̳̬͆̉r̷̘͂̄͑ Mo Yanhui has inherited the character ‘Han Zhenwu’s skill [Celestial Unity of Yin and Yang Lv14]⌡ ⌠Ụ̷̅s̸̢͍̑͌ẽ̴̳̬͆̉r̷̘͂̄͑ Mo Yanhui is the 15th Ụ̷̅s̸̢͍̑͌ẽ̴̳̬͆̉r̷̘͂̄͑ in the realm to have successfully emulated another Ụ̷̅s̸̢͍̑͌ẽ̴̳̬͆̉r̷̘͂̄͑’s “Personal Skill”, something that shouldn’t be possible, the■re wi■ll ■be ■a s■pec■ial r■ewar■d at t■■he ■end of ■the sc■ena■ri■o!⌡ ⌠" Er■ror■ ... ■E■rro■r … Er■ror■ ... ■E■rro■r"⌡ ⌠Ụ̷̅s̸̢͍̑͌ẽ̴̳̬͆̉r̷̘͂̄͑ Mo Yanhui has temporarily raised to ‘Human - Rank S’⌡ ⌠Warning: You are in the presence of an enraged demi-god.⌡