Numerous pure and impure combinations fought in a battle that had transcended any normal concept of combat.

The air was filled with creatures that had no names. Beings that existed between classifications, that violated the fundamental categories by which all was normally organized. Each one was a unique horror, a one-off experiment in what happened when corruption was given free rein to redesign life itself.

Victor quickly evaluated the situation.

The stalemate was obvious: neither his side nor the enemy was gaining significant ground. But staying in constant combat wasn’t an option for them when they only had a fraction of an hour to maintain fusion.

Their enhanced forms operated on borrowed time, while their enemies seemed capable of fighting indefinitely.

A cold realization settled in his mind: they were destined to lose by attrition.

“Zhao!” he shouted, throwing the diamond potion toward the silent flyer. “Take Dragarion back! Now!”

The decision was painful but necessary. Every second they delayed was another second closer to complete exhaustion, another moment their enemies could use to press their advantage.

Zhao caught the potion without questioning, though he could see the painful logic behind the order.

Among all the group members, he was one of the least powerful in terms of direct combat. His time and skills would be better used in a rescue mission than trying to face aberrations that were out of his league.

“Understood!” he responded, directing his beast toward where Dragarion floated near the ground, clearly exhausted.

He arrived just in time.

Corruption roots or lines had been extending from the ground, trying to reach the weakened King. Zhao dodged them by centimeters, taking Dragarion and administering the potion in one fluid upward movement.

“You seem to be my private hero,” Dragarion laughed weakly, accepting the help without resistance.

Yet the casual humor couldn’t quite mask the profound weariness that had settled into his bones. His voice had the exhaustion of someone who had used more power than any mortal should handle.

The potion began taking effect immediately, restoring some of the energy he had expended.

But Dragarion could feel it wasn’t a complete solution. The power of the seven diamond dragons at the center of the chamber had no comparison with a single healing potion, even one of the same rank, and the intensive use had left devastation in his system that was as difficult to regenerate as the huge overtiredness itself.

Full recovery would take time they didn’t have.

’And the amount of energy I have left is no longer even close to enough to destroy the chamber under their castle,’ he realized with growing concern. ’But at least it’s recharging a bit.’

He looked up, where Victor and the others continued fighting against impossible odds.

The aerial battle was a nightmare of flesh and energy, beautiful and terrible in equal measure. His son was fighting with a new courage after previous trauma that made him proud… It revealed hard-earned wisdom after Ren’s gift.

“Maybe I should support Victor with this energy before trying to go to the castle,” he murmured, but his words were interrupted by the arrival of an urgent message.

A medium sized but very fast flying beast approached them, carrying a scroll that glowed with the color denoting highest urgency.

♢♢♢♢

Back in the second chamber, Ren had completed preparations for the rescue mission.

Several castle guards had joined the new found mission, each carrying, with some difficult, a fraction of the seven dragons’ power that Ren had transferred to their systems.

The process had been delicate, requiring absolute precision to avoid overloading the carriers. Too little energy and the mission would fail; too much and the volunteers would die from power they couldn’t contain.

Each volunteer now pulsed with narrowly contained energy that made the air around them shimmer with heat distortion. They were living temporary vessels.

“Are you sure you understand what this can do to you?” Ren asked one last time, watching how the volunteers pulsed weakly with draconic energy.

“As sure as we can be,” Wei responded, his voice tense but determined. “It’s for the kingdom.”

Julius approached, his commanding presence immediately noticeable.

“My messenger beast is very fast,” he declared. “Having been a few minutes, it will already be in my father’s hands.”

The confidence in his voice was comforting, but Ren could detect the underlying concern. Everyone knew they were racing against time that was running out with each passing moment.

“Perfect,” Ren nodded. “Then…”

“Ren.”

Han’s voice interrupted him. The boy approached from behind with an expression that mixed determination and something that could have been desperation.

His usual composed facade had cracked, revealing the emotional turmoil beneath.

“I want to go too,” he declared.

“Han, you’re not carrying energy,” Ren reminded him. “Your corrupt beast can’t…”

“I can’t help feeling something is wrong in Yino,” Han interrupted. “And I feel there’s no better time to try to find my sister. If Yino’s monarchy falls, I could…”

His eyes showed a vulnerability he rarely allowed others to see.

The admission was raw, honest.

Ren considered the words, understanding the weight behind the request.

“Alright,” he finally decided. “But you stay away from any major concentration of pure energy. And if your corrupt beast starts reacting badly…”

“I return immediately,” Han promised. “Thank you.”

Larissa, who had been coordinating the final details, approached.

“Everyone’s ready,” she announced. “Messages have been sent, carriers are stabilized, and we have the fastest route mapped.”

She turned toward Ren with an expression that tried to show confidence to hide her concern.

“Let’s help my father finish the job,” she said simply.

“We will,” Ren promised.

♢♢♢♢

Deep beneath Yino’s castle, in the chamber where purple light pulsed with alien intelligence, Selthia maintained her connection.

The communication was necessary. Through her, the crystal could ’talk’ better.. So it could coordinate responses, direct resources, adapt to rapidly changing circumstances.

“Father was recovered in time,” she announced to the assembled figures, her childish voice carrying a weird echo. “And most of the accumulated energy will soon be safe in the new refuge.”

Kassian had become more integrated into the crystal’s network, positioned where the golden window had once been. The transformation was nearly complete… soon he would be as much a part of the system as Selthia herself.

Prince Rhys and Hagen approached the young oracle, their expressions mixing concern with curiosity.

“Selthia,” the Prince asked gently, “are you going to move to the hideout too?”

The question was logical. If the primary crystal was relocating, surely its most important interpreter should accompany them to ensure continued communication.

Selthia tilted her head, listening to voices only she could hear. Her expression shifted, becoming more serious than any child’s should be.

“That one isn’t so safe,” she said slowly. “The crystal wants me in another place.”

Her words carried implications that made both men exchange concerned glances. If even the crystal’s carefully prepared refuges weren’t considered secure, what did that say about the true scope of the threat they faced?

“Where?” Hagen asked, his explorer’s instincts kicking in.

Selthia’s eyes unfocused as she listened to guidance from intelligences that operated on different scales.

“Deeper,” she said simply. “Where the real power now sleeps.”