The atmosphere in the canyon, which had just surged from despair to wild relief, plunged once more into a deeper abyss of hopelessness. Once, twice, three times… Each time, Dustin’s sword-light precisely shredded the re-forming crimson energy, scattering it to dust finer than ash. Within his strikes surged a will of annihilation so profound that it could obliterate body, spirit, and even soul imprints. Yet the strange energy born from the humanoid beast clung like bone maggots, cursed with an unending existence. No matter how thoroughly Dustin destroyed it, from the smallest mote of dust it would begin to gather again—each time quicker than the last. The crimson vortex at the center seemed like a mocking pupil, coldly watching every futile effort to erase it. Each resurrection carried a deeper stench of death and hatred. “How… how can this be? It won’t die… it simply can’t be killed!” “Even Mister Dustin… even he can’t destroy it?” Faces blanched as despair clawed at t...