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    Naon tilted his head, the darkness that formed his face shifting into a semnce of surprise. The flickering blue mes in his hollow eyes betrayed a moment of hesitation as they studied Alisha.


    "To think a divine incarnate would dare follow me into this abyss," he said, his voiceced with mockery. A low, menacingugh bubbled up from his throat. "It seems you''ve grown tired of life. These gates are tenuously held together—they''ll copse, trapping you here for eternity. And yet, youe alone. Tell me, where does this reckless confidence stem from?"


    Alisha met his gaze without flinching, her stance unwavering despite the oppressive aura Naon exuded. The holy crown upon her head shimmered faintly, a beacon of defiance against the encroaching darkness. "With the power of Olion, our god, I will defeat you," she dered, her voice clear and resolute.


    Naon''sughter grew louder, echoing across the deste expanse of the realm. The shadows seemed to shift and tremble in response, as if emboldened by his mirth. "Oh, my dear," he said, his tone dripping with condescension, "you are gravely mistaken. Allow me to educate you. This is not the world of Olion. That name holds no power here. You''ve stepped into thend of the dead, where even the mightiest gods falter."


    The air around him darkened as his aura red, an oppressive wave of purple energy emanating from his form. The ground beneath his feet withered, the jagged edges of rocks crumbling to dust in its wake. His presence was suffocating, his power undeniable.


    "You might bear the title of a divine incarnate," Naon continued, his voice a silky venom, "but you are young and untested. Do you evenprehend the true power of the holy crown you wear? Tell me, little one, were the humans so desperate that they bestowed such a burden upon someone as inexperienced as you?"


    Alisha''s eyes narrowed, the holy energy surrounding her intensifying. "You underestimate me," she said, her voice cold as steel. "I will show you the depths of my power and the knowledge I wield. If it''s a test you want, I will dly oblige."@@novelbin@@


    Naon chuckled darkly, the mes in his eyes burning brighter. "A test? No, no, my dear. This is not a mere trial. I speak only the truth."


    With a sweeping gesture, he motioned toward Jack, still bound in glowing chains a short distance away. "But tell me, divine one, whatpels you to risk so much for this boy? Does he mean so much to you?"


    Alisha''s gaze flicked to Jack, her expression unreadable. "Nonsense," she retorted, her voice dripping with disdain. "I would never taint myself by associating with such filth. My purpose here is simple: I have unfinished business with him. And you insult my intelligence if you think I''d mistake this pitiful creature for the lord of the dead."


    Jack''s mouth fell open, the insult striking a nerve. ''Pitiful creature?'' he thought bitterly. ''I''ve been fighting tooth and nail to survive in this hellhole, and this is the thanks I get?''


    Naon''s hollowughter pierced the air once more. "How amusing," he said, addressing Jack now. "She deems you unworthy, and yet here you stand, bearing the soul of our lord. How tragic for you, young one. My master, Zamazo, has grand ns for that soul of yours. With it, he will ascend as the next lord of the dead and usher in a new era of destruction. Earth will crumble, and even the heavenly nes will fall."


    Jack''s face paled as the weight of Naon''s words sank in. He had tampered with forces beyond his understanding, and now the consequences loomed like a storm on the horizon. ''This wasn''t supposed to happen,'' he thought, his mind racing. ''Zamazo wasn''t meant to act this soon. Is it because I activated the dark powers earlier than nned?''


    Alisha''s expression hardened, her grip tightening on her spear. "Such ns cannot be allowed toe to fruition," she said, her voice trembling with righteous fury. "I will put an end to your schemes here and now."


    Naon grinned, a chilling sight even without lips or flesh. "Indeed, you won''t live to see theme to pass. But tell me, have you forgotten the most crucial detail?" His skeletal finger pointed behind her. "Look."


    Alisha turned, her heart sinking as her eyes met the sight of the portal. Its once-stable edges now flickered erratically, shrinking with every passing second. The gateway back to the mortal realm was closing.


    "Shit!" Jack muttered, paning his voice. The chains around his body suddenly felt unbearably tight, each second a reminder of his helplessness. He tugged at them desperately, his mind racing for a way out.


    Naon''sughter echoed through the realm. "I held you here long enough, didn''t I?" he said, his tone gleeful. "Now, you''re trapped."


    With a feral cry, Alisha hurled her spear, its radiant light cutting through the darkened air like aet. "Die!" she shouted, the force of her attack reverberating through the realm. Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire


    Naon raised both hands, dark energy swirling to form a protective dome around him. "~Shielding Dome~," he intoned in the ancient demonic tongue, his voice a guttural whisper that sent chills down Jack''s spine. Purple runes materialized in the air, their sinister glow coalescing into an imprable barrier.


    The spear struck the dome with a deafening crash, sparks flying as divine energy shed with demonic might. The shockwave rippled outward, forcing Jack to shield his face as debris scattered around him.


    Jack''s eyes darted between the twobatants. ''She''s strong,'' he thought, watching Alisha with a newfound respect. ''But so is he. She won''t be able to defeat him alone.''


    He gritted his teeth, frustration bubbling within him. "Hey! Princess with the glowing tiara!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Get these damn chains off me! I''m not going to sit here while you hog all the fun." Jack shouted out, as he stared at the information disyed on his system screen.


    [Summon bone army!]