“James… you’ve got skill—and a sharp mind.”

Encircled by violently surging auras, James wasn’t attacked right away. Instead, Waitara Path’s voice cut through the chaos, low and venomous.

“Everything you did just now was an act. Even the injuries—you staged it all. You were waiting for this moment, weren’t you?”

James narrowed his eyes. “Whatever you’ve got left, use it.”

“Hahahaha!” Waitara Path burst into wild laughter. “You think this ends here? Without the Light Heavenly Path, you think I can’t return?”

“Let me make it clear—your counterattack has pushed both the Light and Dark Heavenly Paths to the brink of collapse. If they don’t merge, they’ll fall into eternal damnation—no reincarnation, no escape.”

“But if they do merge… my true return will be complete.”