The Void of Pure Energy — Nem and Di'or's Collapse
Nem and Di'or stepped into a part of the universe unlike anything they had ever experienced. The space around them was vast, endless, and silent, filled with a pure, void energy that made their bodies feel impossibly light yet unbearably cold. Each breath seemed to carry the weight of eternity, and the air itself pressed on them with a strange, intangible force.
Suddenly, Nem's legs buckled. His body crumpled to the ground, his aura flickering. Di'or's heart skipped a beat. She rushed to his side, gripping him tightly, but his entire body was icy to the touch.
"I… I've used too much of my powers," Nem whispered faintly, his voice barely audible against the eerie silence of the void.
Di'or's hands glowed as she attempted to use her own inner energy to absorb the cold and stabilize him. Every effort required concentration, every breath pulled at her strength. She thought she could control it—until a figure appeared behind her.
The demon was young, but its presence was overwhelming, its hair long and wild, radiating power beyond her expectations. Di'or straightened, ready to confront the intruder.
Wind erupted from the demon's hand, a violent gust strong enough to toss her backward. She cast a magical barrier just in time, forcing the attack to dissipate. Her eyes widened as she realized the demon's next strike was not aimed at her—it was aimed at Nem.
Without hesitation, she flew toward him, intercepting the strike with her own body. Pain shot through her limbs as the attack hit, and she fell to the ground beside Nem, coughing up blood.
The demon approached slowly, raising a hand that flickered with fire and preparing to strike with a powerful kick. Di'or's mind raced—this was it. If she could not act now, they would die in this void.
Summoning every ounce of her remaining strength, she sat upright and cast a spell of extraordinary magnitude. In an instant, the universe around them shimmered and shifted, and they were expelled from the void, quitting the trial.
The Saints arrived immediately, rushing to their sides and ensuring they were unharmed. Saint Lu Qi, normally composed, looked on with disbelief and fear etched across his face.
"At this rate…" he muttered quietly, his voice tense. "We won't be able to stand against the Ansha."