The very next moment—
all five guards tightened the formation at once, pushing it into an even fiercer surge. From it, hundreds of spiritual spheres formed of green light erupted powerfully into the sky— and without a moment's pause, they rained down toward Lily.
Boom—boom—boom—!!!
The air tore apart. The ground trembled violently.
Lily stepped forward. A wall of spiritual energy rose around her. She cut through, deflected, and shattered every sphere that came her way— yet the assault did not stop.
One after another. Relentless. Unceasing.
Lily's breathing grew slightly heavier. Her brows knit together.
"If this keeps going…"
she thought to herself,
"then I'll be exhausted. And exhaustion— is the beginning of defeat."
At that very instant— The wind suddenly stopped.
The entire battlefield— As if someone had seized time itself.
Lily's hand froze mid-motion. Because she had felt it.
A presence— Not something that pressed with words, but something that bore down directly upon the soul.
The next moment— A soft laugh echoed.
Calm. Filled with absolute confidence.
"Today…"
Master Jins' voice spread through the air,
"there could be no better opportunity…"
"to test the power of my new stage."
Lily turned sharply. Master Jins was standing there. Simple robes. A tranquil expression.
But— The atmosphere around him had begun to crackle.
He merely extended his hand forward.
Just that much.
Boom—!!!
The air froze solid. Cracks raced across the sky. The entire environment felt as if it were being crushed beneath an invisible weight.
All five guards— began to tremble uncontrollably.
"Th-this…!"
"This pressure…!"
"S-seventh Stage—!!!"
"Who is this—?!"
Their faces drained of all color. The guards, who had been arrogant just moments ago—
turned and ran toward the portal to save their lives.
But— They couldn't take even a single step.
Their bodies froze in place, as if they had been nailed directly into reality itself. They screamed. They begged for mercy.
But— It was far too late.
The entire sky transformed into a vast spiritual dominion— where, in every direction, the overwhelming authority of Jins' spiritual power was clearly visible. Lily's eyes widened.
From her lips escaped involuntarily—
"Domain…"
"Seventh Stage— so terrifying…!!!"
The next instant— screams. All at once.
The five guards— were crushed without even a chance to draw a single breath.
Their bodies—
disintegrated into dust and scattered into the air. And the formation— which had bound the sky just moments before— was ground into powder and blown away by the wind.
Within only a few moments— Everything was quiet. The sky clear. The wind normal. As if nothing had ever happened. Lily looked at Master Jins in disbelief.
"Master…"
her voice carried both reverence and astonishment,
"you've… reached the Seventh Stage?"
Jins nodded with a faint smile.
"Hm—"
"Yes."
Lily immediately lowered her head.
"Master, congratulations."
"And… thank you as well."
Jins laughed.
"Thanks?"
"Ah, forget it."
"This was simply my duty."
A faint smile appeared on Lily's face— holding both respect and relief.
But when she looked again— Master Jins, who had been gazing at her steadily…
had already vanished.
Only a faint echo of his presence remained lingering in the air.
And Lily understood— Today, she had not merely witnessed a battle. She had seen the true terror of the Seventh Stage.
In the South— A sudden, violent jolt struck Shon Yakshini's mind.
In that very instant— she saw everything. The death of her guards… and Master Jins. The moment the vision became clear, her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened in fear, and a sharp scream tore from her mouth. The two Yakshinis seated beside her— Jury Yakshini and Lith Yakshini— jumped in shock.
Jury immediately grabbed Shon, asking in a panicked voice—
"What happened?!"
Shon's lips were trembling. Her voice came out heavy and broken—
"She… is alive…"
Jury shuddered.
"Who?"
Shon's eyes quivered violently, and she spoke that name—
"Lily."
The moment they heard it, Jury and Lith felt their minds shake. A wave of fury surged within them.
"How did she survive?!"
Shon clenched her fists and said in a low but firm voice—
"Keep this to yourselves."
"If this gets out— Humbha will not spare us."
Her words had not even finished when—
the air inside the room began to distort.
Without any warning—
a heavy presence descended.
Humbha Yakshini had already appeared inside the chamber.
Her voice was calm— but it carried an authority that made one's soul tremble.
"Oh?"
"So you think you can hide things from me as well?"
Shon's body went rigid.
Humbha stepped forward. Her gaze was cold and merciless.
"You are my slave," she said flatly.
"How could you forget that?"
Cruelty was clearly visible in her eyes.
Behind her stood Mascar— looking no less than a starving wolf, waiting for the moment to pounce on its prey.
The course of the game had now completely changed. Until now— Humbha Yakshini had always believed that Lily was dead.
That illusion had been her greatest shield.
But now—
the truth stood naked before her. Lily was alive. And not only that— behind her stood an existence like Master Jins.
This realization was no ordinary matter for Humbha. It was a warning. A challenge.
Now Humbha knew— that this game could no longer be won with half-measures. She would now use her full power, complete cunning, and every cruel method at her disposal.
But—
Lily was completely unaware of this truth.
She had no idea that the enemy she still believed to be hidden in the darkness—
had now awakened.
And upon awakening… had chosen its prey.
At this moment— Lily was happy about Master Jins reaching the Seventh Stage. A faint smile rested on her face, and relief filled her heart.
She did not know that this peace… was the silence before the storm.
And far away,
beyond the darkness— Humbha Yakshini was already preparing her next move.