Maya's POVThe collision between our opposing forces held suspended for one agonizing moment, silver-white light and corrupted dark energy locked in perfect, devastating balance, before Vesper's centuries of accumulated blood magic began, gradually, overwhelming my own considerable but ultimately more limited reserves."You're stronger than before," Vesper acknowledged, strain evident despite her continued advance, "but sacrifice this significant, this desperate, provides power beyond simple accumulated practice."I felt my defensive barrier beginning to crack, exhaustion mounting rapidly against her overwhelming assault, and understood with sudden, terrible clarity that simple confrontation might genuinely prove insufficient this time.*Maya.* The Goddess's voice cut through the chaos, urgent despite her usual careful economy. *You cannot defeat this through power alone. Her sacrifice has purchased considerable strength, but strength purchased through corruption carries inherent inst
Last Updated : 2026-08-23 Read more