THIRD STAGE (2)

Marshall wiped the sweat from his brow, panting. It felt worse than endurance training in Jilu Sect, where he had to run laps in thick snow. But being tired after the first try was embarrassing, so he would never admit it.

"Focus! Stand your ground! Push forth!" Gi Gaia barked, her voice loud and clear. From that moment on, Marshall had no doubt that she was General Gi's cousin. 

In all honesty, her energy was suffocating. The disciple felt like he had aged five years over the course of two months. Once he would get out, he'd go off to live like a monk for a year to recharge... No, it was a lie.

First, he would go to Nai Eatery for a filling meal. But no—Nai Eatery was destroyed. Then... he would find another place with a good view, enjoy some delicious food, and watch people pass by without doing anything.

"Hello?" Gi Gaia snapped her fingers in front of his face. "No slacking off! I want your maximum effort!"

Marshall shook his head and steeled himself for the next attempt. His eyes locked on the demonic cloud and he pushed the energy from his fingers, more than he had used last time. At least it didn't lag behind like his damaged spiritual flow.

Gi Gaia crossed her arms across her chest, watching him intently. She seemed on edge, her fingers drumming on her arms. "Come on! It's not that difficult! Are you waiting for the energy to float over and enter the sphere in its own?"

Marshall didn't know what he was supposed to do. He was already giving his best. It felt like he was trying to push a mountain. Wasn't it a bit intense for his first try at using demonic energy? Having such a thought in his restless mind made him want to cry. If he was impatient, then Gi Gaia was ten times worse.

"Grab it and pull!" Gi Gaia's voice was a whip, slicing through his hesitation and exhaustion.

Marshall grunted, pushing himself even harder. The demonic energy was like a slippery eel, wriggling and twisting out of his reach. It was like trying to grab water with his hands. He clenched his jaw, sweat dripping down his face. 

"Tighten your grasp! You're losing concentration!" Gi Gaia shouted, her sharp gaze scrutinizing every movement of his hands.

Frustration bubbled within him. And suddenly, the energy surged from him, engulfing the dark cloud. He seized it! Now, all that was left, was to pull it out of the array and into the tiny quartz sphere.

As he tugged it towards himself, the cloud of energy resisted, thrashing and seething. It hissed eerily, fighting back with the power of a thousand vengeful spirits. 

Marshall felt like he was losing control, but one glance at the irked scowl on Gi Gaia's face reignited his anger, and he managed to push a part of the cloud into the sphere in his other hand. It was happening! It was truly happening!

He chuckled, excitement rustling in his chest like laundry hung out for drying on a spring day. Success was so light, so close!

But that satisfaction was cut short as the remaining demonic energy jumped out and coiled around his arm, crawling up like a black serpent. "Ah, why is this..." he murmured, trying to wave it off. "Wait, no, get off...!"

Gi Gaia gasped behind him, but Marshall didn't notice. All that mattered was the demonic energy, and it had already wrapped around his throat, like a snake choking its prey.

Instead of clutching his throat, the disciple forced out a furious shout, "Listen to me!"

Something unimaginable happened. The serpent of demonic energy obeyed his command and bent at his will. Marshall flexed his fingers, commanding it to unwrap from his neck and limbs, and it flowed into his palm like a cool breeze. 

Once his airways were released, he lifted the sphere and said in a hoarse but authoritative voice, "Enter this vessel."

The demonic energy, understanding what he wanted, slowly seeped into the sphere, like mist through leaves. The clear quartz began to swirl and roil, the pristine surface becoming opaque, turning into a black storm.

As the last tendril of demonic energy was absorbed into the sphere, it felt heavier in his hand. But the energy was finally trapped inside it.

Marshall's breath was uneven, his chest heaving. He stared at the sphere in his hand, half-disbelieving what he had just done. Yet, a victorious grin stretched his chapped lips wide—he had done it!

The disciple turned to the exit with deep longing. Finally, finally! He could leave!

"Alright!" Gi Gaia snatched the black sphere from him and slapped his back. "Moving onto the next stage!"

She turned to walk into the depths of the dark tunnel, beckoning him eagerly. "Come on! We don't have all day," she hummed cheerfully.

Disappointment pressed Marshall against the wall as he panted from the effort. He blinked into the darkness. "What...? You said there were only three stages."

"The third stage is not over!" came an echo of Gi Gaia's voice, her tone purely chipper. 

The disciple had noticed a pattern—whenever Gi Gaia got a bit too happy, he would end up in pain.

He exhaled, his eyes moving to the exit. If he tried to run, would she have stopped him? Who was he kidding? Gi Gaia had the ability to erect a wall from smooth ground or drop a bunch of rocks on him from above. 

However, aside from the dangers of running away, a part of him was curious about the next challenge. Marshall swallowed hard. He had a bad habit of starting an never finishing things. It had been a while since he had wanted to get rid of that habit. What better time than now?

"Let's bring the third stage to an end, eh?" he told himself, patting his own shoulder. "You can do it."

The disciple pushed himself away from the wall, took a deep breath, and entered the tunnel.