Chapter 36: Dan’s Final Sacrifice and Malkar’s Fall

Vitar said to Adrian, "My mission here is complete. The rest of the journey is yours to finish. But before I leave, I want to give you something."

Vitar pulled out a small white ball and held it between his fingers. "Take this. It will grant you great power, but it won't activate until its smell and color change."

Adrian took it and looked at it curiously. "What kind of power does it have?"

"You'll find out later. All I can tell you for now is that it will help you defeat Eldar."

Adrian looked at him. "Thank you for not killing me."

Vitar smiled. "You're welcome. But be careful... I might kill you next time."

Then he added, "By the way, here's your weapon."

Vitar moved his palm through the air. Suddenly, black particles gathered inside it and began swirling together before slowly taking the shape of Adrian's weapon, the Flagerum.

Adrian's eyes widened with excitement. "My weapon!"

He quickly grabbed it and looked at it happily. "I thought I had lost it forever... But how did you do that?"

Vitar replied confidently, "You underestimate my power too much, Adrian."

He then turned around. "Come on. Let's go home before they wake up."

As they walked, Adrian looked at Vitar and asked, "Why does the Nerathion race look so similar to your race?"

"Because the Nerathion are a hybrid race born from humans and demons. That's why they aren't as powerful as us."

He continued, "As for us, we are the original demon race... the race that has gone extinct."

Adrian entered the house and gave Vitar one last look before Vitar turned around to leave. But Adrian stopped him.

"Lord Vitar, wait."

Vitar turned toward him.

Adrian asked, "Where can I find Eldar's daughter?"

"She is currently in a place called the Kingdom of Orankos."

Adrian raised an eyebrow. "What is the Kingdom of Orankos?"

Vitar's expression changed, and he answered sadly, "It is a kingdom that was cursed by the Guardians because of their mistakes. The curse trapped them inside their own kingdom."

"How can I enter it?"

"When you pass through its gate, you will find yourself inside. But there is something you need to know... You can only pass through the curse if you carry a great sin within you, something you have done in the past."

Vitar paused for a moment before warning him, "But be careful... If you enter, you may never be able to leave again."

Adrian stared at him in disbelief. "My God... You're saying all of this like it's easy!"

Vitar gave him a faint smile. "You'll learn a lot on your journey. This is one of the things you must face. Consider it training."

Vitar left, and morning came.

Adrian, Dan, and the old man continued their journey. As they walked, the old man said, "My God, I slept so deeply last night that I don't even remember when I fell asleep."

Dan nodded. "Yeah, that's true. But remind me again, Adrian. Where did the old man go?"

"He told me he had some work to take care of."

They continued walking, but after a while, Adrian suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head.

Then Eldar's voice echoed inside his mind.

"You will do as I command. When you find my daughter, kill her. And because you carry a part of me, I will be the one to kill her."

Adrian gritted his teeth. "I won't do what you tell me anymore. You no longer control my body."

He calmly closed his eyes. Suddenly, the pain disappeared. The black aura around him faded, and Eldar's voice vanished completely.

Dan looked at him with concern. "Adrian, are you alright?"

Adrian answered with an unusually calm voice, "I'm fine."

Dan looked at him suspiciously. "What happened to you?"

"Nothing. Let's keep moving."

Elsewhere, Eldar shouted angrily, "Adrian managed to drive me out of his body... Damn it!"

Malkar asked, "What are we going to do now?"

Eldar stood up. "We've lost control over Adrian and the power inside him. Now he must die before he can use that power against me."

He looked at Malkar.

"And that will be your mission."

Malkar asked, "How? I can't travel to their world."

"I can open a portal for you for a few minutes. That will be enough time for you to finish them."

Malkar laughed. "As you command, Lord."

Meanwhile, Adrian and the others continued walking when the weather suddenly changed. Dark clouds covered the sun, and heavy rain began pouring down.

Adrian stopped and looked around suspiciously. He then looked at the puddles forming from the rain.

His expression changed.

"We need to hide now."

Dan pointed toward a cave that extended underground. "This way."

The three of them entered the cave. It was small, but large enough to keep them hidden from sight.

They stayed inside and watched the area carefully until Bemor creatures began emerging from the cracks.

The old man looked outside in disbelief. "My God... How long are they going to keep appearing?"

"Until the rain stops," Adrian answered. "Once the puddles dry up, the portals will disappear."

They waited for hours, but the rain still didn't stop. Eventually, the entire area was filled with Bemor creatures as they began spreading everywhere.

Adrian looked outside and said, "There's no point in hiding here. They'll find us soon. Their numbers keep increasing, and they're searching everywhere for food."

Dan asked, "What are we going to do?"

Adrian looked behind him and said, "We'll sneak through this cave. Come on."

Dan sighed. "My God, I have a fear of tight spaces."

"Then why don't you go outside? Let's see if you're more afraid of tight spaces than the Bemors."

Dan gave him a sarcastic smile. "What are you talking about? How can you even compare the two?"

The three of them then began moving through the darkness. The deeper they went, the wider the passage became until there was enough space for them to move comfortably.

They continued without stopping until they found a waterfall pouring down into a large river below.

The old man looked at the water. "It seems this water was formed from the rain."

Dan looked down. "How are we supposed to get down there?"

Before he could finish, they noticed a group of Bemors emerging from the water.

"Damn it..." Adrian muttered. "We're surrounded from every direction."

Dan looked at him. "Why don't you release that power?"

Adrian shook his head. "Every time I release it, Eldar gains more control over me."

He looked around at the approaching Bemors.

"But I have no other choice."

Adrian became furious, and suddenly, black energy exploded from his body. His eyes turned completely black.

The Bemors noticed the sudden appearance of the energy and immediately turned toward Adrian below.

Adrian jumped down into the river. The moment he touched the water, he moved across its surface with incredible ease, as if he were walking on solid ground.

He grabbed the Flagerum wrapped around his chest. Its form suddenly changed, transforming into the Advanced Flagerum.

Adrian then charged toward the Bemors, and a fierce battle began in the middle of the river.

A group of Bemors rushed toward him from the front while another group moved in from both sides, trying to surround him.

Instead of charging straight at them, Adrian took a step back across the water. He fired one of the Advanced Flagerum's whips toward a nearby rock and pulled himself toward it with great force, suddenly changing his direction and avoiding the first attack.

The Bemors quickly turned and chased after him.

Adrian smiled, then suddenly stopped. One of the whips wrapped around a Bemor's leg, and he pulled it toward him with all his strength.

The creature crashed into two Bemors behind it, creating a small opening.

Adrian immediately rushed through the gap. He struck the surface of the water with the Flagerum, sending a wave of water into the Bemors' faces and blinding them for a moment.

He didn't wait.

Using one of the whips, he launched himself across the water, spun through the air, and struck three Bemors directly in the head before landing.

But even more Bemors began emerging from the water.

Adrian looked around and noticed that some of them were avoiding the deeper parts of the river.

He realized that the water was slowing them down.

Adrian began using the Flagerum's whips to pull the creatures toward the deeper parts of the river, forcing them into the water before taking them down one after another.

Dan watched from a distance.

"He's using the water against them!"

Adrian didn't answer. He tightened his grip on the Flagerum and looked at the growing number of Bemors.

"If they won't stop coming..." he muttered, "then I'll make sure they can't reach me."

Adrian looked up at Dan and the old man, who were still above him, then swung the Flagerum toward them.

One whip wrapped around Dan while another grabbed the old man.

Adrian pulled hard, bringing both of them down to the ground.

"Go this way. I'll distract them for a while so you can get far enough away. Then I'll catch up with you."

"Okay."

Dan looked at Adrian. "Take care of yourself... and don't die."

Adrian smiled. "Don't worry. Now go."

Dan and the old man ran ahead while Adrian remained behind, fighting the Bemors and using the Flagerum to keep them away from the two.

He continued battling them until he was sure Dan and the old man had gotten far enough away.

Then he wrapped the Flagerum around his body and rushed in the same direction.

But the Bemors didn't stop.

They chased him at incredible speed, and the faster Adrian ran, the closer they got.

Adrian finally reached the end of the path, where he found Dan and the old man standing before a deep cliff leading down to a dark and terrifying sea.

"Jump now!" Adrian shouted as he ran toward them.

The two looked at him, but before they could understand what he meant, Adrian reached them and pushed them straight off the cliff.

Then he jumped after them.

A few minutes later, their heads emerged above the water.

The Bemors stood at the edge of the cliff, staring down at them from a height of nearly seven meters.

The old man looked at them in confusion.

"Why didn't they jump after us?"

"It seems they can't swim," Adrian replied. "That's why the Bemors can't come out through the sea. They can only emerge from narrow, thin places that they can pass through easily without drowning."

The old man struggled to breathe.

"I'm going to drown if I stay here for another few minutes."

Adrian looked around and spotted a massive rock in the middle of the sea. It was nearly ten meters long.

"There!"

The three of them swam toward the rock.

As soon as they reached it, Dan looked up.

"How are we supposed to climb onto it?"

Adrian pulled out the Flagerum, and it transformed into its advanced form again.

He fired one of its whips toward the rock. It stretched rapidly, becoming much longer until it reached the edge and wrapped itself around one of the small protrusions.

Adrian pulled the Flagerum with all his strength, launching himself upward until he landed on top of the rock.

He then fired one of the whips toward the water. It wrapped around Dan and the old man and lifted them onto the rock.

The three of them collapsed onto the surface, breathing heavily as they tried to recover from their long escape.

Adrian slowly stood up and looked around.

Tornadoes were tearing across the sea, massive waves crashing against the rock from every direction, while the heavy rain continued to pour down.

Dan stood behind him.

"Adrian, what are we going to do now? How are we going to get out of this mess?"

Adrian remained silent as he thought.

For the first time in his life, he felt truly helpless.

If they jumped into the water, Dan and the old man would die. If they tried to go back, the Bemors would be waiting for them.

There was nowhere to go.

Adrian looked out at the raging sea.

"I think we should wait a little until the storm calms down."

But the old man was trembling from the cold.

"I'm going to freeze to death if I stay here any longer."

Adrian looked at him, then turned his eyes back toward the raging sea.

What am I supposed to do? How am I going to get them out of here?

Suddenly, while Adrian was lost in his thoughts, a portal surrounded by golden lines appeared. A powerful light began shining from within it.

Adrian felt relieved, thinking Vitar had returned. But the moment he saw the person stepping out of the portal, his expression completely changed. His teeth clenched, and fear and caution appeared in his eyes at the same time.

It was Malkar.

Malkar stepped out calmly, wearing his usual irritating, evil smile. Adrian quickly glanced at Dan and the old man, as if he had become more worried about them than himself.

Then he shouted in a deep, furious voice, "Malkar!"

The moment Malkar stood before them, the portal behind him remained open.

Malkar smiled. "Adrian... we meet again. But I promise you, this will be the last time—for you and everyone with you. I've come to kill you, so prepare yourself."

His words struck Adrian like lightning.

The moment Adrian looked into Malkar's eyes, he remembered the day Malkar had killed his brother. Every detail came rushing back, as clear as if it were happening right in front of him.

Adrian glanced at Dan and the old man. They had both stood up, staring at Malkar in fear.

Adrian turned back toward Malkar and shouted, "I won't let you hurt what's left of my family! You and I have an old score to settle, Malkar. I will never let you get away with what you did to me and my family!"

Suddenly, Adrian's anger exploded from his body like a massive storm overpowering the raging rain around them.

Adrian let out a powerful roar.

A black aura burst from his body and formed the shape of a terrifying beast behind him. His eyes turned completely black, with dark sparks flying from them. His entire body became black, leaving not a single trace of white.

This time, his power was a hundred times stronger than before.

Adrian grabbed the Flagerum and squeezed it so tightly that the veins on his hand bulged from his rage. Black energy gathered around his body before flowing directly into the Flagerum.

In an instant, its shape completely changed.

The Flagerum evolved.

Its seven whips shot out from around Adrian at incredible speed, attacking Malkar from different directions.

Malkar gave a mocking smile and raised his hand at the last moment.

The whips slammed into a black barrier that suddenly appeared in front of him. The impact cracked the ground beneath Malkar's feet.

Yet Malkar only took one step back before disappearing.

Adrian's eyes widened.

In the next moment, Malkar appeared directly in front of him and threw a punch at his face.

Adrian raised his arm and blocked it, but the force of the punch sent him flying several meters backward.

Malkar didn't give him a chance to recover. He rushed after him and unleashed a rapid series of punches.

Adrian blocked them one after another while the seven whips of the Flagerum moved independently behind him.

One of the whips suddenly wrapped around Malkar, but Malkar grabbed it with one hand and pulled it toward himself.

At the same moment, Adrian sent the other whips toward him from the side.

Malkar was forced to release the whip and leap into the air.

But Adrian was already waiting for him.

He jumped after Malkar and swung the Flagerum with tremendous force.

The attack slammed Malkar into the massive rock behind him, destroying part of it.

Malkar rose from the dust and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

Then he smiled.

"You've gotten stronger."

Adrian charged at him without hesitation.

The seven whips wrapped around his arm before shooting forward at the same time.

Malkar moved between the attacks, dodging some and blocking others. But the evolved Flagerum gave him no chance to rest.

One of the whips smashed into the ground beside Malkar, sending rocks flying in every direction.

Adrian used the opening and rushed through the dust, throwing a powerful punch toward Malkar's chest.

Malkar managed to block it, but Adrian grabbed his arm and pulled him closer.

He drove his knee into Malkar's stomach, then wrapped one of the whips around his body and hurled him away.

Malkar flew over the rocks and landed near the edge of the massive stone platform.

He managed to stop himself just before falling into the sea.

He raised his head and looked at Adrian.

The black aura around Malkar's body began growing denser.

He smiled calmly.

"Don't let your anger blind you, Adrian. Power alone won't save you."

Adrian roared and charged at him again. The two collided in the middle of the battlefield, and the fight became even more brutal. Malkar's fist met Adrian's punch, then another, and every clash between them shook the massive rock beneath their feet.

At one point, Malkar managed to grab Adrian by the neck and lift him off the ground. Adrian quickly wrapped one of the Flagerum's whips around Malkar's arm and pulled with all his strength. Malkar was forced to let go, giving Adrian the chance to strike him hard in the face and send him crashing to the ground.

Before Malkar could stand, the seven whips shot toward him from every direction. He tried to block them, but one wrapped around his leg, another around his arm, and a third slammed directly into his chest. The remaining whips attacked at the same time, forcing Malkar to release a massive wave of black energy that sent Adrian flying backward.

Adrian was pushed several meters away, but he planted his feet firmly and refused to fall. His body was covered in wounds, yet his eyes remained locked on Malkar.

Malkar slowly stood up as black energy gathered around his hand.

"You still don't understand..."

He raised his hand, and a massive wave of energy shot toward Adrian.

Adrian slammed the Flagerum into the ground. The seven whips shot forward and twisted together, forming a barrier that blocked the attack. His body shook under the pressure, and his feet began sliding across the rock.

Adrian pushed forward with all his strength as the seven whips moved behind him like seven giant black snakes. Malkar tried to block the attack, but Adrian changed the Flagerum's direction at the last second. One whip wrapped around Malkar's arm while the others struck him from both sides.

Adrian pulled the Flagerum with all his strength.

Malkar was dragged toward him, and Adrian drove his fist directly into his face.

Part of the rock beneath them shattered from the force of the impact, sending Malkar flying a long distance backward.

Adrian remained standing, breathing heavily as the black aura surrounded his entire body.

He raised the evolved Flagerum in front of him.

"I won't let you take anyone else from me."

Malkar smiled despite the blood running from his mouth.

"Then show me... how far that power can really go."

After Adrian continued attacking Malkar with the evolved Flagerum, the two moved across the battlefield as their attacks collided with tremendous force.

Adrian charged at him again, sending all seven whips toward Malkar from different directions. But as the battle continued, Malkar began blocking his attacks more easily.

In a split second, Malkar managed to get close and grabbed one of the whips. He pulled Adrian toward him with tremendous force and drove a punch straight into his face.

Adrian staggered backward several steps.

But Malkar didn't give him a chance to recover.

He rushed forward and began striking Adrian again and again without stopping. Each blow was stronger than the last, sending Adrian crashing against the rocks several times.

Adrian desperately tried to block the attacks, but he couldn't keep up.

Malkar continued beating him without mercy until Adrian finally collapsed onto the ground, completely unable to move.

The Flagerum lay beside him.

Adrian tried to stand, but his body refused to move.

Malkar stood over him with a cold smile.

"My master will be proud of me when I bring him your soul, Adrian."

Malkar raised his hand.

Adrian slowly looked toward the old man and Dan one last time.

The moment Malkar released his white thread connected to Adrian's soul, Dan suddenly rushed forward and stood in front of him.

The thread pierced Dan's body.

His soul began being pulled out with tremendous force.

Dan let out a scream of pain as Adrian stared at him in complete disbelief.

"Dan...?"

Adrian tried to move toward him, but the energy surrounding the thread prevented him from reaching Dan.

The old man rushed toward Dan, but Malkar moved his hand in a different motion.

In an instant, the old man disappeared from where he stood.

Only moments later, Dan's lifeless body fell to the ground.

Malkar pulled the body toward himself, then grabbed it and burned it until it completely disappeared.

Dan's ashes scattered into the wind.

Some of them landed on Adrian's face.

Adrian's eyes widened.

Then he released a scream that shook the entire area.

The black energy surrounding his body began changing.

Slowly, it turned into a dark crimson red.

The air around him trembled violently.

Malkar took a step backward as he stared at the transformation.

"Impossible..."

Adrian slowly stood up, breathing heavily from rage.

His teeth were clenched tightly.

He grabbed the Flagerum with one hand and clenched his other fist.

Then he charged toward Malkar at incredible speed and threw a direct punch.

Malkar raised his arm to block it, but the force of the punch sent him flying backward.

Both of them fell into the water.

They sank deep beneath the surface of the sea.

And there, the real battle began.

Adrian charged toward Malkar and unleashed a barrage of punches with all his strength.

Every strike violently tore through the water around them.

Malkar tried to block the attacks, but he could no longer keep up with the new power that had awakened inside Adrian.

The assault continued until Malkar was completely unable to fight back.

In an instant, Adrian stopped punching and grabbed the Flagerum. He swung it directly toward Malkar's neck.

Malkar tried desperately to break free, but he couldn't.

Adrian kept pulling with all his strength, his eyes filled with rage, until the Flagerum finally tore through Malkar's neck.

Malkar's head separated from his body, and his lifeless body sank into the depths of the sea.

Adrian raised his head toward the surface.

Then, from the depths of his heart, he let out a deafening scream.

"Daaaan!"