The world tilted, and Kaayes stumbled forward, clutching his chest with trembling fingers.
His breath came in short, sharp bursts, his silvery Qi scattering like dust in the wind.
Even in that state, his instincts as a cultivator kicked in. He reached for the chest, snatched the fruit, and staggered backward, desperate to escape. But something felt strange. The weight in his hands wasn't right.
He looked down.
Instead of the smooth, golden surface of the fruit, his fingers were wrapped around something wet and warm—his own beating heart.
His mouth fell open in disbelief. The real Golden Rebirth Fruit was floating a few meters away, glowing faintly in the dark corner of the cave.
"Wh–o… aaargh…" he coughed out, blood spilling from his lips. "Who are you?"
His voice was weak, shaking between rage and fear.
