Fortress sanctum's rubble-strewn silence broke dawn's first light filtering rune-cracks, air thick lingering curse-rot and ichor-steam. Abraham leaned obsidian-wall, lean frame shuddering exhaustion, shoulder-gash festering black-veins oracle-curse snaking skin marble-pale, meridians void-throb qi-drain phantom. Plum robes muddied gore-splatters clung sweat-salt, dark hair matted brow furrowed steel-resolve. Kaien fled—ritual shards guardian-stir, he thought, Origin Fragment pulsing stabilization faint-warmth counter curse-madness fringes whispering doubt-echoes. Li Wei knelt bandaging, wiry frame resolute jade-slip clutched arm-gash ooze fresh, eyes fierce youth-tempered. �Michael loomed colossus-guard, seven-foot yoke-broad armor shoulder-crack exposing crimson-veined muscle-bulge sweat-beaded split-knuckle gauntlets dripping ichor, coal-void eyes fortress-scanning unblinking. Split-lip bloodied snarl faded grunt: "Red Lotus signals—ally convergence." Disciples remnants—eight bloodied resolute—manned parapets Storm-petals repelling stragglers. Victory pyrrhic; cult crippled but warlord escaped blood-moon ritual fueling calamity.Trumpets hailed east ridge: Murim Alliance vanguard—Red Lotus Sect banners fluttering crimson-gold, led Elder Voss gaunt-bearded silver-qi aura authoritative, five hundred cultivators disciplined ranks spear-phalanx qi-shields gleaming. Abraham emerged gates sword-sheathed, Michael flank shadow-tempest, Li Wei trailing. Voss dismounted bow-formal: "Twin Demons prevail—Hua honors." Eyes appraised gash-festering: "Fortress falls; Kaien routed tunnels. Alliance seals purge."Relief flickered; Abraham clasped forearm: "United front crushes remnants." Voss nodded grave: "Red Lotus scouts east warrens—warlord's gambit unfolds." Feast improvised courtyard—roast boar qi-infused, ale warmed meridians. Voss detailed: "Cult shards guardian-awaken Emberfire-core; blood-moon eclipse peaks midnight." Abraham shared oracle-visions: "Ritual calamity devours light—second key wards." Alliance murmured awe Twin Demons legend.Twilight brewed tension. Voss pulled Abraham aside torch-flicker shadows: "Red Lotus bears loss—my niece fallen cult venom. Vengeance binds." Trust seeded; Abraham sensed qi-pure honorable. Michael periphery vigilant, crimson aura warning distant scouts.Midnight struck betrayal lightning. Alliance camp east ridge erupted chaos—Red Lotus inner-circle Voss-kin Elder Thorne wiry-scarred ambition-glint eyes turned traitor, cult sigils glowing robes-hidden. Thorne orchestrated: poisoned rations qi-sapped ranks, reversal totems ambush-flanked, assassins veiled Thorn-lances venom-dripping. Voss staggered toxin-foam lips: "Nephew... why?" Thorne cackled: "Kaien promises eternity—Alliance crumbles!"Abraham vaulted ridge sword-drawn, Cascade Bloom ghost-feet evading lances, Eclipse Descent crescent-bisecting assassins shadow-shatter. Another Han—ambition rots pure. Inner fury tempered: Trust blade-cuts both. Disciples Storm-petals overwhelmed totems; Li Wei Pinnacle pierced Thorne guards gore-steam. Michael qi-quake CRASH! ridge-fissure, crimson fists pulverizing phalanx crumpling bone-armor.Thorne reversed blood—veins black-red bulge aura-eclipse, Thorn-lance qi-pull yanking Voss sacrifice-hostage. "Die for eternity!" Abraham Throne dragons spiraled shield-pull, coiling serpent-strike lance-shatter. Voss freed staggering: "End him!" Alliance rallied purged poison, ranks reforming spear-unison.Abraham Pinnacle illusory-blossoms masked thrust—sword heart-piercing Thorne convulse gore-black-red implosion. Betrayer gasped: "Kaien... eternal." Thorne crumpled dust; Voss clasped shoulder tear-streaked: "Honor saved." Casualties grievous—twenty fallen toxin-foam, ranks thinned fury-bonded.Abraham panted gash-agony flaring: Betrayals chain—sever roots. Voss vowed: "Red Lotus oath—purge Kaien blood-moon." Alliance steel-forged; Michael grunted approval split-lip curl. Disciples chanted low: "Demons guard dawn."Eastern warrens beckoned ritual-echoes blood-moon rising crimson-eclipse. Abraham cleaned blade ichor-smeared, meridians curse-fight throb: Gambit peaks—united crush warlord. Fragment hummed tactical-boost; wasteland winds howled vengeance-call. Murim's fracture mended fire—betrayal's sting tempered alliance unbreakable.
