Aftermath

Julian knelt silently on the cold ground, his eyes blazing with fury and anguish.

"YUR!" His roar echoed across the barren field, carrying the weight of his pain.

He stared numbly at the empty space where Yur had vanished, nothing remained except dried bloodstains on the lifeless earth. Yur was gone, and the ritual circle had vanished completely.

In an uncontrollable surge of rage, Julian slammed his fists down, shattering the ground beneath. Again and again, he pummeled the earth mercilessly, sending rocks flying with each savage strike.

His knuckles began to bleed, skin torn open as jagged stones embedded deeply into his flesh, yet the pain meant nothing compared to the torment that ripped through his heart.

Each punch reminded him of his failures.

He saw Xia's face, twisted in agony as she begged him to end her suffering; the daughter he had to kill because he couldn't save her.