Chapter 177. The Beast

Xerina’s POV

The world around me spun into darkness, the searing pain in my chest burning through every nerve. My vision blurred, the sounds of battle fading into a dull roar. I could feel my body being dragged deeper into the abyss of unconsciousness, but I clung to the last thread of awareness, forcing myself to stay in the fight.

Above me, Valeria’s twisted grin stretched wider, her dark energy rippling like a malevolent storm. The force of her presence was suffocating, pressing down on me like a weight I could not escape.

“Give in, Xerina,” she hissed, her voice a haunting whisper that seemed to echo from every direction. “There’s no point in resisting. You were never meant to win this fight.”

Her eyes gleamed with malice, her form shimmering as the darkness coiled around her, warping her body. Her once-human features began to shift, her skin taking on a sickly, pale hue. Black veins pulsed beneath her skin, twisting and writhing as the energy insi