Santino blurred into a storm of molten fists and slicing wings of light. From the gaps between his fingers lanced threads of consecrated brilliance. Every strike pressed the full fury and speed of an Eighth-level Earthly Immortal Realm, denying Jared even a heartbeat of calm.

Jared reeled beneath that gale, his movements ragged. Wounds kept appearing on his body. Each golden beam clung like living fire. It gnawed at flesh, seared blood. Only the marked aura within Jared dulled the burn enough to keep on his feet. Yet in the depths of his eyes resolve ignited brighter.

Santino’s tyranny of holy power offered Insight Instead of despair. Jared began to taste the rhythm behind that radiance, and the Dragonslayer Sword in his grip answered with lines of ever-sharper retaliation.

A hiss split the air, quick and vicious. Jared caught a single flaw. The Dragonslayer Sword darted like a viper, slipped between the golden armor, and instilled a marked aura deep into Santino’s sacred flesh.

Santino grunted. His breath hitched. The golden armor’s glow dimmed, blotched by shadow.

“Courting death!” Rage and astonishment collided in Santino’s face. He did not expect his holy body would be contaminated by the marked aura.

He smashed his palm against Jared’s chest. The impact hurled Jared across the hall. At the same instant, Santino drove his spiritual energy to scour the invading marked aura, but the effort left his face darkened. They drifted apart, both dragging ragged breaths through the charged silence.