The clearing fell silent except for Vedik's muffled sobs against Jasmin's shoulder. Tears streamed down his face as his mother held him close, whispering words of comfort.

William's golden aura was fading but a fierce glint was still present in his eyes, as he stood guard nearby.

Taking a deep breath, Jasmin released Vedik and wiped away the tears from his cheeks. "Remember, Vedik," she said, her voice firm but gentle, "anger clouds judgment. We need to be clear-headed if we're to survive this."

Vedik listening to this finally calmed down. He wanted to ask William about the Golden qi stage, but he knew now was not the time for that.

William, the golden glow around him receding with each passing moment, approached them. Exhaustion etched lines on his face, beads of sweat were present on his forehead but his resolve remained unwavering.

William was using Mana breathing to regain his qi . After some deep breaths William said "Those warriors I killed mentioned a church," his voice low. "Seems that's where Thalnos came from."

Jasmin frowned. "A church? We haven't heard of any dark magic affiliated churches."

"There's always a first time for everything, I suppose," William said, a grim smile playing on his lips.

He glanced at the bracelet adorning his wrist, the red gem now dull. "I… had to activate it," he admitted, his voice tight. "The warriors were too strong, and I needed to protect Vedik."

Jasmin understood the unspoken worry in his voice. Using the golden qi stage needs enormous qi , and through the bracelet William can access vast qi but it is a double-edged sword – immense power at the cost of immense harm.

She wanted to voice her disapproval of using the bracelet without discussing it, but the grim reality settled in.

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It can be said that the artifact provided William with enormous qi but it takes a huge toll on his body .

But even with her full power, Jasmin couldn't break Thalnos's hold. William's desperate gamble, however reckless, had saved them momentarily.

Suddenly, a new sound filled the air – the clash of steel. They turned towards the commotion to see the two warriors who had previously served Thalnos now locked in a fierce battle against him.

"What's going on?" Vedik gasped, confusion clouding his features.

William's eyes narrowed. "Betrayal."

Thalnos, enraged, roared a curse. "How dare you betray me!" He then unleashed a wave of dark energy from his amulet, engulfing the two warriors in its sinister glow.

Their screams were cut short as their bodies withered and turned to skeletal remains, crumbling to dust before their eyes.

A chilling laugh echoed through the clearing. Thalnos, his eyes glowing with dark malice, turned towards them, a menacing smile twisting his lips. "Fools," he cackled. "You truly believe you can defeat me?"

The air crackled with an oppressive energy as Thalnos advanced towards them. The revelation of his affiliation, the brutal display of his power, and the unsettling transformation on his face filled their hearts with dread. They were outmatched, yet they stood united, a family facing an unknown darkness.

Thalnos stopped a few paces away, his amusement momentarily replacing his malice. He clapped slowly, his eyes fixed on William.

"Well, well, Mr William," he drawled, "I must confess, I didn't expect you to be a Golden Qi warrior. It seems there's always something new to learn about the legendary warrior."

William forced a smile, the exertion etched on his face. Each deep breath he took felt like a furnace was burning in his chest, the aftereffects of the Golden Qi stage taking their toll.

He stole a glance at Jasmin, her jaw clenched, her eyes locked on Thalnos. They had to find a way out of this.

Thalnos smirked. "And you, my dear lady," he continued, his gaze shifting to Jasmin, "escaping my 'Cease Area' spell was quite impressive. It seems the rumors about the disciple of the strongest sorcerer hold some truth."

Anger flared in Jasmin's eyes, but she forced it down. Now wasn't the time for pride. "Which church do you belong to?" she demanded, hoping to glean some information about his motives.

Thalnos's laughter erupted again, a chilling sound that sent shivers down their spines. "Church? Belong? My dear, we were simply using each other," he chuckled. "They needed my power for a task, and I needed their intel on your whereabouts. But those fools," he spat, his amusement turning into cold fury, "they betrayed me!"

"They betrayed you?" William echoed, grasping at any intel they could acquire.

Thalnos smirked and said the deal was that I would get the little boy while they keep you busy. But the two warriors wanted to kill Vedik as they thought i will be busy fighting you .

However," Thalnos continued, a cruel glint in his eyes, "after I secured him, I had every intention of eliminating those five buffoons."

Jasmin narrowed her eyes. "You still haven't answered my question. What church is it?"

Thalnos threw his head back and laughed, a harsh, grating sound that echoed through the clearing. "Enough with the questions!" he bellowed, his amusement gone. Do you think I am a fool ?

You're simply trying to buy some time for your husband to recover his strength. But it's futile! Even at your peak, both of you would pose a challenge, but certainly not an insurmountable one."

Thalnos scoffed. "Spare me the theatrics. You have nowhere to run, and your little games won't save you." He than raised a hand, dark energy crackling around his fingertips. "Now, prepare to face the consequences of defying me."