place. He could feel why. This was a creature of pure rage and pain. It hated everything, and wanted to destroy anything it could reach. Itself, perhaps, most of all.

[That’s a top-quality human vessel you have.

He had chosen to believe it. So he chose to continue believing.

And she remembered her Archlord revelation. It wasn’t to fight monsters. Yerin was meant to kill them.

I want you to remember that this is a tool to help us see where you are going to begin. It doesn’t tell you where you will end up.”

A voiceless, formless force of determination. A will that would conquer rather than surrender. Akura Malice.

It was a flickering, buzzing gray that looked like the world hadn’t made up its mind what color it should be. And it shifted and twitched in place like it was made of ten million tiny insects. Little Blue shuddered back from it, while Orthos gave a gasp. “Void Matter,” Lindon said. “The ultimate treasure of destruction aura.”

and its eight clones shone blue-and-gold as they spread out behind him. Three black shells circled around him, a vast white halo covered his head, and a cloak of liquid blood spilled from his shoulders.

She’d just been standing quiet and still. A specialty of trees.