I crouched on the ground. The flames that had covered my skin had finally faded, but the burden on my body was immense—my arms and legs felt like lead. I collapsed, breathless, forcing a smile through the exhaustion. Ethan Zhang was still alive.
The woman glared at me, her eyes burning with malice, face twisted as if she might explode from rage.
"What are you two talking about?" The Dark seemed to twist the air itself around her words.
I waved my hand, feigning ease. "Nothing important—just talking with a friend." The Desire Fiend’s shadow lingered in my mind.
"Nothing much. Just a few words between friends," I said, glancing at Oddball Moe. The Vermilion Bird’s warmth still pulsed faintly inside me.
"By the way, what's your name?" I asked. Hatred flashed across her face—then, in a rush of cold air, she shot forward, hand raised to strike.
Still, I felt no fear—not even a tremor. Old Ray’s lessons echoed in my mind.
"You can’t hurt me in this world. As long as someone remains in the Desire Realm, as long as we haven’t vanished, this place will restore itself before long." I thought of Tammy Blade, still fighting somewhere in the shadows.
Before my words faded, the woman lashed out, her fury barely contained. I didn’t flinch—her hand swept through me like mist, powerless. Old Ray would have smiled at my composure.
Yesterday, fighting John Chou, he kept taunting me for being weak. But as the blows landed, I realized—defeating John Chou wasn’t the point. I needed to steel my will. No matter what, I couldn’t let myself be devoured by the Desire Fiend.