Han Ye’s world dissolved into a searing, golden agony. It wasn't just pain; it was a violation, a parasitic invasion of his very being.
The Arch-Guardian’s seal, once a faint pulsing beneath his skin, had become a living entity, its light spreading like wildfire, consuming his flesh, his bones, his very soul.
He felt his own consciousness being overwritten, replaced by an ancient, relentless purpose that was not his own.
"Han Ye!" Mo Ran’s voice, distant and strained, cut through the blinding light. It was a fragile sound, a lifeline in the encroaching, golden void. He felt her presence, a faint warmth against the chilling invasion, struggling to reach him.
"I can't hold it," Han Ye grunted, his voice a ragged whisper that seemed to come from a great distance. His body, now encased i
