Gold slithered forth, merging into one strand. The vine transformed instantly, turning brilliant gold and as hard as steel. It speared forward like a lance, piercing straight through the ape's third eye and into its brain.
Ray collapsed.
Darkness flooded the edges of his vision as sweat poured from his body.
At the same moment, an overwhelming torrent of energy surged into him.
This absorption was different from any before.
The energy has split into two.
One portion flowed into Gold, which absorbed it greedily. The other rushed directly into Ray's brain, causing the stabbing pain that tore through his consciousness.
He let out a muffled groan and lost consciousness.
Alfred appeared beside him in a flash, his face ashen.
Only now did realization strike him like ice.
This was a ten-thousand-year soul beast.
Even at the lower bound, the spirit energy it contained far exceeded what Ray should have absorbed.
