Hearing the loud shouting in his head, Batara regained his consciousness and was back in the Lord’s Court Hall inside his own body. Then the dark spirit appeared before Batara in the form of a faceless draconic humanoid. The dark spirit said to Batara “Greetings human. So you are the one who possesses my Hood of Facade.” The dark spirit released a menacing aura that sent shivers down Batara’s spine. The dark spirit continued “My name is Jaram, a manifestation of wrath. What is your name human?” Batara couldnt talk as he was overwhelmed with fear. Jaram continued “Not a word? Very well human, the dead shall remain silent. I will feast on your soul and return to the physical world once again!.” Jaram started to rush towards Batara with his claws from the opposing edge of the Lord’s Court Hall. For a brief moment, Batara saw there was a crown behind where Jaram was standing on top of the Lord’s table. In panic, Batara quickly casted his magic “Wind Leap!” and jumped to the side dodging Jaram’s claw thrust. Jaram said “It seems I got rusty. Thats what years have done to me.” Batara wondered why Jaram talked a lot in the middle of a fight. Seeing Batara’s reaction, Jaram said “Why look confused? I am merely playing with my prey haha.” Jaram then disappeared from Batara’s sight. Batara then quickly enchanted his weapon with “Gust Blow!” when suddenly Jaram re-appeared before Batara slashing its claw.

Batara managed to parry Jaram’s claw with his scepter causing it to get pushed back slightly. Jaram laughed and said “HAHAHA what is that weak magic!? Did you just use commoners' magic against me!?” Jaram then got angry and said “How dare you underestimate me you little shit!” as he overwhelmed Batara with a rain of slashes. Batara couldnt keep up with Jaram’s speed and ended up getting slashed on his chest. Batara then got blown away from his own Gust Blow after failing to parry Jaram’s strike. He groaned in pain “Akh… ssshh…” as he fell helplessly on the ground. Jaram said “This is not fun. I just grazed you and you almost died. I’ll end this fast then.” Jaram casted its magic in ancient language “Zhar Thann!” and black spheres started to form around Jaram. Jaram then pointed his index finger towards Batara and the black spheres started to move quickly following its direction. Batara quickly got up on his knees and casted his magic “Force Diversion!” that created a force barrier to redirect projectiles using rotating pressure. Batara’s magic was too weak to form a working defensive barrier so he modified it to something he could handle.

Batara’s magic worked. Jaram’s black spheres got redirected away from Batara upon hitting his barrier. However, his barrier wasnt strong enough to hold off all of Jaram’s spheres, and he ended up with holes all over his body. Batara writhed in extreme pain “Akk-ahhhk..” as he pushed himself to the limit just to uphold the barrier. Batara tried casting his new magic Fool’s Charade, but it had no effect since Jaram doesnt have eyes or even a face. Eventually, Jaram stopped casting his magic and Batara immediately collapsed lifeless on the ground. Jaram said “I thought you were just playing tricks… turns out…” Jaram moved quickly towards Batara and continued “YOU’RE JUST EXTREMELY WEAK HAHAH!!” Batara exhausted all his mana and vitality that he was unable to move let alone respond, but he was still conscious. Jaram said “I will end this now. A weakling like you dont have much to live with anyway. At least now, your physical body will have a use, FOR ME TO TAKE OVER HAHAHA.” Jaram then casted its magic in ancient language “Azrath Kaal!” that summoned a massive dark spear with a devastating aura above Batara. Jaram said “TASTE MY WRATH!” as the spear started to fall. Just when the spear came close to hitting Batara, he lost his consciousness.

Batara then opened his eyes and found himself in the middle of the Lord’s Court Hall. Batara saw his body lying on the ground and Jaram next to it. However, everything around him froze, as if time had stopped. Suddenly, a man in his 30s approached him and said “Hey! Thank god I managed just in time!” Batara looked confused in response and said “Huh?” The man replied “Your soul almost left your body due to the dark spirit’s attack. But I managed to pull your soul to the Inbetween Realm where my soul lingers.” Batara didnt quite understand whats happening and instead asked the man “Who are you?” The man replied “I am Berg Iver.”

Berg said to Batara “Listen, I dont know how much time we got, but I will tell you how to defeat Jaram.” Batara looked down and replied “How could I even get out of this situation? Didnt you see the state of my body there?” Berg looked at Batara’s body on the ground and said “Sssh… looks like you’re on the verge of death…” Batara replied “Besides, what Jaram said was true, there is no point for me to keep living.” Seeing Batara’s reaction, Berg understood Batara’s despair as he had experienced a similar feeling when Jaram possessed him. Berg then replied “I understand where you’re coming from. But, countless years of being trapped had given me the time to think and realize that life is always worth living. No matter what life throws at you, you have to see it yourself until the end. Because I refuse to let life pass without ever experiencing what good things might still be ahead.” Batara thought “what a simple and naive way of thinking.” and yet when he really thought about it, he had not encountered any good things so far in his life. Berg continued “Its better than dying without knowing right?” Batara needed to put it into more thought, but as it seemed like there is no time for that, Batara went straight to ask “What were you trying to tell me?” Berg replied “Thats the spirit!”

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Berg continued “Jaram’s spirit is indeed trapped inside this ruin. But what it didnt tell you is that its soul was trapped inside an artifact.” Berg pointed to the crown behind Jaram and said “That crown is the artifact where Jaram’s soul is stored. Just like mine stored in the hooded vest you’re wearing.” Everything made sense now to Batara, as to why the Hood of Facade was showing him the way inside the ruin and why Jaram tried to hide the crown from Batara’s sight. Seeing Batara’s reaction, Berg said “I’m truly sorry that I used you for my own desire. But I wanted my soul to be free, reunited with my family and Jaram was too dangerous to be left in Eidel.” Batara shouldve felt angry that his life was put at risk for someone’s selfish reason, but instead he was at the acceptance phase that at least his life has a use in the end. Batara sighed and replied “It doesnt matter. Its not like I have any options anyway. What do you want me do?” Berg’s eyes lit up in joy as he replied “Thank you thank you o kind adventurer! I promise I will repay your debt as best as I can. Alright back to the point, what you’ll need to do is grab that crown and bring it out of this ruin. That way Jaram’s soul will be separated with his entrapped spirit and both our souls will be finally freed from this world.” There are some holes in Berg’s instructions but Batara didnt bother to ask given the short time they had. Batara just nodded in approval.

Berg said “Good luck Batara. I have seen how you lived since you put on the hooded vest and I know that you still have much to live for if you open up to it.” Berg continued “We will be back in the physical world in a moment. I hope you could live with many happiness to come, in place of me.” as he bowed to Batara. Batara got lost in thought thinking how can he get out of his current situation where death is just above his forehead. He then remembered about the blessing he received from Nyx just before his soul returned to his body. The time suddenly moved again as Batara regained his consciousness. As Jaram’s spear was about to fall on Batara, Batara casted his blessing “Nihility!” which immediately turned his body into mist and disappeared. Jaram’s spear hit the ground where Batara’s body was and created a devastating magical explosion. Jaram laughed and said “HAHAHA MY POWER IS SO TERRIFYING!” He then looked around and noticed that Batara’s body had disappeared. Jaram said “Whoops. Did I put too much power and ended up destroying the human’s body? But its impossible as I perfectly targeted my magic to destroy only his soul.”

Jaram didnt notice that Batara had turned into a mist to avoid its magic. In the mist state, Batara quickly moved towards the crown behind Jaram. However, throughout being in the mist state, Batara had this overwhelming desire to not return to the physical world. He was aware that it must be the effect Nyx was talking about and if he followed the desire, he will entirely become Nihil. Upon reaching the crown, Batara decided that he refused to die yet, at least not until he experienced one good thing in his life. So he shook off the desire of Nihility and able to return to his original human form to grab the crown. As Batara grabbed the crown, Jaram noticed him and shouted “HOW DARE YOU TRICKED ME HUMAN! THIS MUST BE BERG’s DOING. SHOW YOURSELF YOU UNGRATEFUL BASTARD!”. Suddenly, the Lord’s Court Hall was changed back into the ruin and the pattern lights around the area moved before Batara and formed a line guiding towards a direction. Batara understood that it must be Berg’s guide to get out of the ruin. Jaram then said “GIVE ME BACK MY CROWN!” as he ran towards Batara. Just when Jaram almost reached Batara with his claws, Batara once again casted “Nihility!” turning into mist and evaded Jaram’s claws.

Jaram got extremely irritated and shouted “Haargh! Show yourself you COWARD!” Jaram seemed unable to detect Batara at all while in his mist form. Batara quickly moved following the guiding lights as Jaram was still in confusion. As Batara moved, he saw a light coming out from the end of his way which looked like the entrance of the ruin. However, halfway through the entrance Batara suddenly got turned back into his human form. Jaram noticed it and shouted “THERE YOU ARE!” as he immediately pursued Batara. Batara ran as fast as he could, but Jaram will caught up to him in no time since Batara was limping due to his wounds. Batara then came up with an idea to escape. Just as Jaram was about to reach him, Batara transferred his mana to his belt and used the remaining mana to cast his magic “Wind Leap!”. As his weight became lighter due to his belt’s enchantment, he leaped fast and far towards the exit. Jaram said “I will not let you get away!” as it casted its magic “Zhartunn Jar!” that shot a quick dark bolt towards Batara. Batara tried to dodge in mid-air but it still managed to graze Batara’s shoulder.

Batara then finally managed to fly off the ruin through the entrance. He immediately fell to the ground as his mana was depleted. Jaram’s scream was heard outside the ruin “HUMAAN! DONT THINK THIS IS OVER. I WILL HAUNT YOU AND I WILL KILL YOU. For where there is wrath I SHALL RISE…” Jaram’s voice slowly faded as its spirit body turned into dust.