The first rays of dawn broke over the Convergence Point as the human army crested the final ridge. Thousands of armored soldiers moved in perfect formation, their weapons and armor inscribed with glowing divine symbols. The morning light caught on polished steel and shimmering magical wards, creating a dazzling dispy of martial power.

  Azreth watched from the central stone formation as the forces he once would have proudly led now advanced against him. Through the Soul Binding, his companions felt his complex emotions – grief for what had been lost, anger at the manipution that had turned friends into enemies, and determination to break the cycle that had cimed countless lives.

  "They've arranged in crusade formation," Lyria observed, her crimson eyes narrowing. "Three-tiered approach with ranged support positioned on elevated fnks. Standard Church tactics when they believe they hold overwhelming divine advantage."

  "Their confidence works in our favor," Mara replied, her shadow stretching slightly as she assessed the approaching formation. "They expect disorganized demon resistance, not coordinated defense."

  The human army halted just beyond the outer marker stones, maintaining precise formation as if awaiting some signal. At the front stood Sera, the Divine Sword fragment held high in formal presentation. Even at this distance, Azreth could see the weapon glowing with unusual intensity, its light pulsing like a heartbeat as it neared its former master.

  "The sword recognizes you," Nyx said quietly, cosmic patterns swirling beneath her translucent skin. "The fragment contains your essence from when you were Kael. It seeks reunification despite the conditioning controlling its bearer."

  Behind Sera stood Saintess Era, her white robes glowing with the same unnatural light that emanated from her eyes. She raised her hands, and a wave of divine energy rippled through the assembled forces, intensifying the blue-white aura surrounding each soldier.

  "They're activating the first phase of the ritual," Lord Nebulous observed, appendages creating visualization of energy flows throughout the Convergence Point. "Boundary thinning has commenced."

  As if on cue, the air between the armies began to shimmer like heat rising from sun-baked stone. The ancient symbols carved into marker stones throughout the area fred with pale light, responding to the ritual's activation.

  "Let them make the first move," Azreth instructed as his companions tensed for action. "Their ritual requires precise positioning. Force them to adjust to our defensive configuration."

  The standoff sted several long minutes, tension building across the battlefield as two fundamentally different armies faced each other across the ancient site. Not the chaotic hordes of traditional conflict but organized forces with clear purposes – one believing they served divine will, the other knowing both sides were maniputed by the same entity.

  High Priest Darian's voice suddenly boomed across the Convergence Point, magically amplified to reach every corner of the battlefield: "Forward, holy warriors! Cleanse the corruption that infests our world! Show no mercy to the demonic taint!"

  The human army surged forward in perfect unison, their synchronized movement testament to both rigorous training and the compulsion wards controlling them. The vanguard raised glowing shields that formed a wall of divine energy, while behind them archers nocked arrows wrapped in blue fmes.

  "Defensive positions," Azreth commanded, his voice carrying to all divisions through Selene's void harmonics. "Remember – immobilize where possible, lethal force only when necessary. These are victims, not enemies."

  As the human vanguard reached the first line of defense, Keres's biological barriers sprang into action. The ground erupted with rapidly growing vines that wrapped around advancing soldiers' ankles, while pollen clouds created momentary disorientation without causing permanent harm.

  "They expected scorched earth and blood barriers," Lyria observed with grim satisfaction. "Not living defenses designed to impede rather than destroy."

  The human commanders adjusted quickly, sending specialized units with blessed sickles to cut through the botanical barriers. But as they advanced, the second line of defense activated – shadow pockets created by Mara's operatives that disoriented soldiers by temporarily shifting their perception of distance and direction.

  "Clever," Thorne's voice carried across the battlefield as the dwarven battlemaster assessed the unexpected resistance. "The corruption has taught them new tricks."

  Azreth felt a pang at hearing his former friend's voice, now ft and mechanical where it had once been full of gruff warmth. Through the Soul Binding, his companions shared his pain, their emotional support flowing through their connection.

  The human archers released their first volley, divine-blessed arrows arcing high over the battlefield. But as the missiles reached the peak of their trajectory, Vexera's atmospheric defenses engaged. Swirling air currents caught the arrows, sending them veering off course or slowing their descent until they nded with harmless thuds far from their intended targets.

  "Weather manipution!" Vivian called out, the battle-mage's hands already weaving counter-spells. "The demons have storm controllers! Adjust targeting parameters!"

  The human forces attempted to compensate, archers adjusting their aim while battle-mages prepared spells designed to create corridors of stable air. But Vexera's storm demons had anticipated this response, creating localized pressure differentials that disrupted even magically stabilized trajectories.

  As the battle intensified, Azreth felt something through his connection with the Divine Sword – a pulse of recognition growing stronger as Sera moved closer to the central stones. The fragment in her hands glowed brighter with each step, its light shifting from blue-white to a warmer gold that seemed at odds with the surrounding divine energy.

  "The sword fights its imposed purpose," Nyx observed, her star-like pupils expanding as she sensed phenomena beyond conventional perception. "It recognizes the artificial nature of this conflict."

  The human vanguard finally broke through the outer defensive lines, engaging directly with Thalia's transformers. Instead of meeting steel with steel, the demons triggered environmental adaptations – stone softening beneath armored feet to create temporary immobilization, air thickening around weapons to slow strikes without stopping them completely, localized gravity shifts disrupting combat stances without causing injury.

  "What manner of demonic trickery is this?" a human commander shouted as his soldiers struggled against defenses designed to impede rather than harm. "Where is the blood and fire we were promised?"

  The confusion spreading through human ranks revealed a critical weakness in their approach – they had been prepared for traditional demon warfare, trained to counter attacks designed to kill rather than contain. Their tactics faltered against defense focused on immobilization rather than destruction, divine enhancements calibrated for lethal exchanges proving less effective against non-lethal opposition.

  Through the Soul Binding, Azreth felt his companions' unified purpose as they coordinated their specialized divisions. Lyria's blood mages created stunning visual dispys along the eastern approach, crimson barriers arising to draw attention while shadow operatives worked unseen along western vectors. Vexera's weather controllers intensified atmospheric defenses as Thalia's transformers adapted terrain features to channel human forces away from critical ritual positions.

  High Priest Darian's voice boomed once more across the battlefield: "Press forward to the central stones! The Saintess must reach the Convergence Point to complete the ritual! All else is secondary!"

  This command revealed their tactical priority beyond any doubt – the ritual completion took precedence over combat victory. Human forces began shifting formation, creating protected corridor through which Era and Sera could advance toward central stones where boundary thinning had intensified to visible distortion.

  "They're moving into second phase positioning," Lord Calculus observed, geometric patterns flowing rapidly beneath his gray skin. "Probability analysis indicates extraction opportunity will present within approximately seven minutes as ritual components relocate toward central implementation zone."

  Azreth nodded, sharing strategic assessment with his companions through their connection. The extraction moment approached – critical opportunity to separate Sera from ritual components while simultaneously disrupting Church implementation sequence. Their coordinated strategy had succeeded in forcing human commanders to adjust formation, creating potential vulnerability during transitional positioning.

  As battle continued across the Convergence Point, three figures broke from the human formation, advancing toward demon defensive line with purpose that set them apart from standard soldiers. Thorne, Vivian, and Zephyr – the champions who had once fought alongside Kael, now moving with the synchronized precision of those sharing combat bond forged through countless battles together.

  "They're coming for you specifically," Mara noted, her shadow stretching toward approaching champions. "The compulsion wards likely contain specific targeting parameters focused on confrontation with their former companion."

  Azreth felt complex emotions flowing through him as his former friends approached – grief for connection lost to manipution, anger at entity that had turned them against each other, determination to free rather than defeat them. Through the Soul Binding, his companions shared these feelings, their support providing stability as he prepared to face those who had once been his closest allies.

  "I'll handle them," he said quietly. "Focus on extraction preparations while I keep them occupied."

  Lyria's crimson eyes met his with concern flowing through their connection. "Their combined capabilities present significant threat even to your enhanced abilities. The emotional component creates additional vulnerability through potential hesitation."

  "I know them better than anyone," Azreth replied, determination suppnting hesitation in their shared awareness. "That knowledge extends beyond merely combat techniques to psychological patterns the compulsion wards can't completely override."

  His companions acknowledged this logic while maintaining connection through the Soul Binding, prepared to provide support should confrontation exceed anticipated parameters. The extraction pn continued preparation while Azreth moved to intercept approaching champions before they could disrupt defensive coordination.

  He stepped forward from central position, moving to open ground where confrontation could occur without endangering others. The champions adjusted course immediately, their movements confirming targeted parameters within compulsion wards directing them specifically toward him.

  "Kael," Thorne called out as they drew near, using his former name with mechanical precision devoid of emotional connection that had once characterized their friendship. "The corruption has completely cimed you. The divine light must cleanse what cannot be saved."

  "We mourned you once," Vivian added, her voice carrying same ft affect despite words suggesting personal significance. "Now we must destroy what you've become to honor what you were."

  "The cycle requires completion," Zephyr stated, notching arrow with fluid grace that hadn't diminished despite compulsion controlling his actions. "The fallen must face judgment before purification can commence."

  Their synchronized statements carried programmed quality beneath superficial personalization – words designed to create emotional response while adhering to entity's requirements for cycle continuation. Yet subtle differences in delivery suggested varying degrees of compulsion effect, with Zephyr's reference to "the cycle" indicating potential awareness beneath imposed compliance.

  "Look at yourselves," Azreth replied, making no move to draw weapon despite their aggressive approach. "You speak of corruption while blindly serving the very entity that maintains artificial conflict between realms. Your minds aren't your own – compulsion wards override your true awareness to make you tools for something feeding on our suffering."

  His words carried no magical enhancement, merely truth directed at consciousness potentially still accessible beneath imposed conditioning. The champions faltered momentarily, their synchronized movement showing slight disruption as if conflicting directives created temporary processing conflict.

  "Lies," Thorne growled, though uncertainty flickered briefly in his eyes. "Demonic deception trying to weaken our resolve."

  "The divine purpose cannot be questioned," Vivian stated, hands moving through spell patterns with mechanical precision despite momentary hesitation in her voice. "The purification must be completed."

  "The cycle must continue," Zephyr added, then blinked as if confused by his own words. "I mean... the corruption must be cleansed."

  This verbal slip confirmed Azreth's assessment regarding varying effectiveness of compulsion wards among his former companions. Zephyr's elven heritage potentially provided greater resistance to mental manipution, creating occasional breaks in conditioning where true awareness briefly surfaced.

  Before he could exploit this opening, the champions attacked in perfect coordination developed through years fighting together. Thorne charged forward, warhammer creating shockwave as it struck ground where Azreth had stood moments before. Vivian unched cascading spell barrage designed to limit movement options within confined area. Zephyr's arrows flew with supernatural accuracy, anticipating evasion patterns based on shared combat experience.

  Azreth moved with fluid grace enhanced by crown integration, drawing on accumuted knowledge from generations of Demon Kings without employing lethal counters that instinct suggested. Each attack was met with defensive redirection rather than aggressive counter, his movements focused on demonstrating restraint that contradicted corruption narrative central to their compulsion parameters.

  "You're holding back," Thorne observed, confusion briefly breaking through mechanical determination on his face. "Why aren't you fighting properly?"

  "Because you're not my enemies," Azreth replied, sidestepping another hammer strike that would have shattered ordinary opponent. "You're victims of the same manipution that orchestrated my death and rebirth. I don't want to destroy you – I want to free you."

  These words struck deeper than physical attacks could have, creating visible disruption in compulsion-driven behavior. The champions' movements lost perfect synchronization as conflicting directives – programmed aggression versus recognition of anomalous behavior contradicting expected corruption – created processing conflicts within imposed parameters.

  "Enough talking," Vivian snapped, though her spell casting showed momentary hesitation betraying uncertainty beneath compulsion. "The divine purpose cannot be questioned."

  "Why do you keep repeating that phrase?" Azreth asked, recognizing programmed response triggered when conditioning faced challenge. "Does it feel like your own thought, or words pnted in your mind to prevent questioning?"

  The battle continued across field as human and demon forces cshed throughout Convergence Point. Unlike traditional conflicts characterized by escating destruction and mounting casualties, this engagement revealed fundamental difference in approach – human forces fighting to kill, demon defenders working to contain without causing permanent harm where possible.

  Blood mages created barriers that absorbed energy from divine-enhanced weapons, transforming killing power into harmless light dispys. Shadow operatives used dimensional pockets to redirect soldiers away from critical areas without causing physical injury. Storm controllers maniputed atmospheric conditions to render divine arrows harmless without harming archers who unched them. Living defenses entangled without crushing, contained without suffocating, impeded without injuring.

  The contrast couldn't have been more stark – one side fighting as if facing irredeemable evil requiring extermination, the other recognizing victims requiring liberation rather than enemies deserving destruction. This fundamental difference manifested in casualties dramatically favoring defensive forces, with human wounded vastly outnumbering demon injuries despite Church's superior numbers and divine enhancements.

  As Azreth continued engaging his former companions, keeping them occupied while extraction preparations reached final stage, significant movement occurred within human formation. Sera and Era began advancing toward central stones accompanied by elite guards forming protective corridor through ongoing battle. The Divine Sword fragment glowed with increasing intensity as it approached the Convergence Point's center, its light shifting further from cold blue-white toward warm golden hue that seemed to fight against surrounding divine energy.

  "The second phase transition has commenced," Lord Nebulous announced, voice carrying through Selene's void harmonics to all division commanders. "Extraction window will open in approximately ninety seconds as ritual components reposition at central implementation zone."

  Through the Soul Binding, Azreth felt his companions' focused preparation as critical moment approached. Mara's shadow operatives moved into final positions along extraction vector, their presence concealed from human perception through dimensional techniques coordinated with Selene's void arbiters. Lyria's blood mages prepared synchronized demonstration designed to create momentary distraction drawing attention from extraction target. Vexera's weather controllers adjusted atmospheric conditions to enable localized fog bank providing visual concealment during critical movement phase.

  As these preparations reached completion, Azreth intensified his engagement with former companions, drawing them further from central area where extraction would occur. Their compulsion parameters prioritized confrontation with him specifically, making them unwitting accomplices in strategy to separate them from ritual they were programmed to protect.

  "Something's wrong," Thorne suddenly stated, blinking as if fighting through mental fog. "We should be guarding the ritual, not chasing Kael. Why did we leave our positions?"

  This moment of crity revealed critical weakness in compulsion structure – conflicting directives creating vulnerability when primary parameters faced sophisticated manipution. The champions had been programmed both to confront Azreth specifically and protect ritual implementation, creating potential processing conflict when these objectives required mutually exclusive positioning.

  "The ritual," Vivian echoed, momentary confusion showing on her face. "We're supposed to ensure the Saintess reaches the central stones."

  "The sword must be united with its corrupted half," Zephyr added, then frowned as if uncertain why he had phrased it that way. "I mean... the divine weapon must reach the Convergence Point."

  Their disorientation provided crucial opening as extraction moment arrived. At central area, Sera and Era reached inner stone circle where boundary distortion had intensified to visible rippling across reality's surface. The Divine Sword fragment's glow had become almost blinding, its light pulsing in perfect rhythm that those with void-touched perception recognized as resonance pattern matching Azreth's essence frequency.

  "Now," Azreth commanded through their shared connection, signaling coordinated implementation across all specialized divisions.

  In perfect synchronization, multiple elements activated simultaneously. Lyria's blood mages created spectacur demonstration along eastern approach – massive crimson formations rising from ground in visually dramatic but tactically harmless dispy drawing attention from central area. Vexera's weather controllers deployed localized fog bank precisely as blood demonstration reached peak impact, providing visual concealment extending effective extraction window beyond initial parameters.

  Thalia's transformers implemented terrain modification creating physical barrier between extraction target and response forces, living stone rising to form temporary wall separating Sera from Era at critical moment when ritual positioning required momentary separation between sword bearer and Saintess. Keres's biological network established protective corridor neutralizing any defensive measures triggered by sudden separation, microscopic organisms disabling security protocols without causing harm to human operators.

  Nyx's void-touched team generated targeted disruption patterns interfering with compulsion ward frequencies controlling Sera, creating momentary weakening in conditioning without causing psychological damage that could result from complete removal without proper preparation. Selene's dimensional arbiters established pocket reality creating temporary extraction zone invisible to conventional perception, allowing shadow operatives critical seconds to implement physical extraction without immediate counterresponse.

  Mara's team moved with precision honed through countless operations, shadow pathways allowing instantaneous traversal between previously established positions. The extraction itself took less than three seconds from implementation to completion – Sera simply vanishing from ritual formation between one heartbeat and next, Divine Sword fragment disappearing alongside her before protective cordon could respond to sudden absence.

  "The catalyst!" Era's voice cut through battlefield noise as she realized what had happened. "Find the sword bearer immediately! The ritual cannot proceed without proper alignment!"

  The extraction had succeeded, but battle was far from over. As human forces realized what had occurred, their tactics shifted from advancing toward central stones to searching for missing ritual component. Divine-enhanced soldiers began systematic sweep patterns while battle-mages cast location spells designed to track consecrated objects like the sword fragment.

  Through their shared connection, Azreth felt confirmation of successful extraction – Mara's team had secured Sera and transported her to predetermined location outside immediate battle zone, where Nyx waited to begin careful process of weakening compulsion wards without causing psychological damage from too-rapid removal.

  His former companions reacted to extraction success with varying degrees of confusion and programmed response. Thorne shook his head as if trying to clear mental fog, while Vivian's hands moved through location spell patterns with mechanical precision despite visible uncertainty on her face. Zephyr lowered his bow slightly, green eyes showing momentary crity before clouding again with imposed compliance.

  "The cycle is breaking," the elven archer murmured, words seemingly bypassing conscious control to emerge directly from awareness beneath compulsion. "The pattern changes for first time in... how many repetitions?"

  This breakthrough confirmed Azreth's assessment regarding varying effectiveness of compulsion wards among his former companions. Zephyr's resistance had created small but significant rupture in conditioning, allowing genuine awareness momentary expression despite imposed parameters attempting to maintain control.

  "Many," Azreth replied, addressing consciousness beneath compulsion rather than imposed identity controlling external actions. "The entity has maintained this cycle across countless generations, feeding on conflict created through artificial division between realms."

  Vivian's spell casting faltered as these words penetrated conditioning, creating visible struggle between programmed response and awakening awareness. "Entity? What entity? The divine purpose..." she began, then frowned as if recognizing external origin of this thought pattern. "Something feels wrong about all this."

  "Because it is wrong," Azreth pressed, sensing opportunity to reach friends beneath imposed compliance. "The Church leaders aren't serving divine purpose but parasitic entity feeding on suffering generated through artificial conflict. You're being used as tools to maintain cycle that benefits something existing between realms."

  Thorne lowered his warhammer slightly, confusion breaking through mechanical determination on his face. "Between realms? I remember... something about parasites feeding on essence released during conflict. But that was... a dream? A memory?"

  This recollection suggested compulsion wards had suppressed genuine memories rather than completely overwriting them – critical weakness in conditioning structure that might allow recovery with proper approach rather than merely temporary disruption. Before Azreth could exploit this opening further, commanding voice cut through battlefield noise with magical enhancement carrying directly to champions' consciousness.

  "The corruption attempts to confuse you with lies," Era called out, her glowing eyes fixed on faltering champions with intensity that suggested direct manipution of their compulsion parameters. "Remember your purpose! The divine light must cleanse what cannot be saved!"

  The effect was immediate and disturbing – Azreth's former companions straightened as if invisible strings had suddenly tightened, their expressions shifting from emerging awareness back to mechanical compliance. Whatever progress had been made reaching consciousness beneath conditioning was temporarily reversed through direct reinforcement from primary controller maintaining compulsion structure.

  "The corruption must be cleansed," they stated in perfect unison, voices carrying identical ft affect indicating complete suppression of individual awareness beneath imposed compliance.

  This synchronized response confirmed Azreth's understanding regarding compulsion hierarchy – Era maintained direct control over champions' conditioning, capable of reinforcing parameters when disruption threatened imposed compliance. The Saintess represented more than merely ritual component but active controller maintaining compulsion structure throughout human forces.

  As champions resumed attack with renewed determination, battle continued across Convergence Point with significant tactical shift following successful extraction. Human forces divided focus between continuing ritual preparation and searching for missing sword bearer, creating vulnerability demon defenders exploited to establish stronger containment without causing unnecessary casualties.

  Through shared connection, Azreth received update from extraction team regarding Sera's condition and Divine Sword's unusual behavior. The fragment's glow had intensified to unprecedented levels once removed from ritual formation, its light shifting completely from divine blue-white to warm golden hue that those with void-touched perception recognized as essence resonance pattern matching Azreth's unique frequency.

  More significantly, Nyx reported potential breakthrough beneath Sera's conditioning – sword's resonance appeared to strengthen Verna's suppressed consciousness, creating momentary emergence through imposed identity during periods when fragment's glow reached peak intensity. The connection between sword containing Kael's essence and Azreth's current form seemed to establish resonance pathway potentially capable of reaching consciousness simirly divided by artificial boundary.

  This development confirmed strategy extending beyond merely disrupting ritual implementation – potential recovery of Verna from beneath Sera's imposed identity represented critical opportunity transcending tactical significance to carry personal importance he couldn't separate from rger strategic considerations. The extraction had succeeded in removing crucial component preventing ritual completion while potentially enabling recovery of someone significant to him personally.

  As battle reached critical transition point following extraction success, Azreth faced decision regarding continued engagement with former companions. Their reinforced conditioning made immediate breakthrough unlikely despite earlier progress, while his presence on main battlefield provided strategic advantage coordinating defensive divisions through Soul Binding connection with his companions.

  "Fall back to secondary position," he commanded his forces through their shared connection. "Maintain containment parameters while avoiding unnecessary casualties. Our primary objective has been achieved – prevent ritual completion by keeping components separated while extraction team works with sword bearer."

  This order reflected banced perspective gained through crown integration – not seeking total victory through opponent destruction but focused on specific objective addressing root cause rather than merely symptoms. The demon defenders began coordinated withdrawal toward prepared secondary positions, maintaining effective containment while reducing direct engagement where possible.

  Era's voice cut through battlefield noise once more: "The corruption has stolen our holy weapon! Find the sword bearer immediately! The purification cannot be deyed!"

  The desperation in her tone revealed significance beyond merely tactical setback – the ritual had specific implementation requirements that couldn't be easily modified once initiated. The boundary thinning already underway created timeline requiring completion within certain parameters, disruption at critical phase potentially causing catastrophic feedback through partial dimensional interference patterns.

  "Mathematical probability analysis indicates 97.23% likelihood that ritual interruption at current implementation phase creates significant vulnerability for controlling entity," Lord Calculus observed, geometric patterns flowing rapidly beneath his gray skin. "The boundary disruption without proper catalyst alignment potentially exposes dimensional access points normally protected through structured implementation sequence."

  "Void perception confirms unusual dimensional phenomena throughout Convergence Point," Lord Nebulous added, appendages creating visualization of energy shifts occurring throughout ancient site. "The boundary thinning without proper stabilization creates temporary access vectors potentially exploitable for direct confrontation with entity maintaining artificial division."

  This unexpected development transformed tactical situation beyond mere disruption of immediate threat – potential vulnerability allowing direct addressing of root cause rather than merely preventing specific implementation attempt. The extraction had succeeded beyond initial parameters, creating opportunity for fundamental challenge to entity feeding on conflict between artificially separated realms.

  As human forces continued searching for missing sword bearer while attempting to modify ritual parameters to accommodate catalyst absence, Azreth felt something remarkable through his expanded consciousness – faint but distinctive essence signature emanating from space between realms where boundary thinning had created temporary transparency in artificial division. Not detailed perception but unmistakable presence, entity maintaining cycle briefly visible through disruption in carefully constructed concealment.

  "It's aware of us," he said quietly, expanded perception detecting directed attention focusing specifically on him with intensity suggesting recognition beyond merely tactical assessment. "The entity sees what we're attempting and recognizes potential threat to established cycle."

  Through their shared connection, his companions felt his certainty regarding this development – not specution but direct perception through crown-enhanced consciousness detecting presence normally hidden behind artificial boundary between realms. Whatever manipution had maintained cycle across countless generations, the orchestrating entity had noticed their interference and recognized unprecedented challenge to established pattern.

  The battle continued across Convergence Point, but fundamental nature had transformed beyond merely tactical engagement between opposing forces. The extraction success had created potential breaking point in cycle that had cimed countless lives across centuries of manipution, disruption at critical implementation phase revealing vulnerability in system designed to perpetuate unnecessary suffering serving parasitic consumption.

  Whatever happened next would determine fate of both realms – continuation of artificial division generating sustainable feeding source, or potential healing of unnecessary separation maintained through manipution spanning generations. The entity had noticed their interference, its attention focused specifically on unprecedented challenge to established cycle it had maintained through countless repetitions.

  The battle lines had been drawn, not merely between humans and demons, but between collective awareness and entity benefiting from their continued separation and suffering. The Divine Sword glowed with increasingly intense golden light in extraction team's secured location, its resonance with Azreth creating potential pathway for reaching consciousness simirly divided by artificial boundary between realms.