Damned Healer-Chapter 468: We’re Even

Darian listened to everything carefully, then asked about the academies and what had happened to their territory.

Howlyn explained that the Celestia Academy was doing relatively well... but over the thousand years, more than half of the Spiritual Guardians trapped in that universe had died. The survivors, however, hadn’t just endured — they had become way stronger.

That shocked everyone, since those Spiritual Guardians had managed to evolve their rings without ever returning to their own universe. Because of that, they were able to protect that galaxy from invasions.

That was only possible because the Risen Lords had opened the gates of a very ancient place in the universe, known as the Enfield’s Sacred Tree.

That place was like a separate world, created by the rules of a powerful Array built by Enfield itself. It was a sacred land where its descendants could evolve faster.

It was located in a distant galaxy, but the Risen couldn’t invade or break its rules, since there was a terrifying self-destruction mechanism there. If they tried anything, they’d lose everything with no chance of recovery. So, right after conquering that galaxy, they simply sealed the place forever.

However, there was something there that probably helped the Celestial Shadow recover more easily. For everything to work, they needed to keep that world completely open.

All that happened less than a hundred years after the universe had been sealed.

With the place open, people could enter and leave freely. Inside it, the Spiritual Guardians discovered that they could absorb Merit Power and evolve.

They didn’t know it — because that information had been lost — but that place, just like other forgotten ones across the universe, had been created by the Primordial Beasts themselves, designed to help Mannaz and Spiritual Guardians evolve much faster without needing to return to their home universe.

Inside that world, everything was safe, and since most Summoners had Enfield Bloodlines, everyone managed to grow stronger really fast. The survivors eventually reached nine rings.

"As for our galaxy and the Shadows of Heaven Academy..." Howlyn took a deep breath before continuing.

"When the Celestial Shadow’s soul fully recovered, he launched a surprise attack on our territory. He had the power to infiltrate through the Risen who were still alive on a few planets in the galaxy. As you already know, My Lord, the Risen have a direct connection to the Celestial Shadow, and he can move through that link and enter from within."

She explained that on that day, a terrifying battle broke out — everyone against just that soul. But obviously, they didn’t stand a chance.

At that moment, Howlyn saved Niara’s body along with the academy’s core, which could maintain the galaxy’s defensive inscription. It was a bold move — she drained all the power from the inscription and vanished.

The Celestial Shadow destroyed everything, stealing all the immense resources that had been stored in the academy. Luckily, he still had limitations since he didn’t have a physical body, which was still injured and far away. So, he ended up leaving quickly with everything he could take.

In the end, Howlyn returned and reactivated the galaxy’s inscription. And then...

"I’m sorry... I heard about the mutation in Lady Niara’s Bloodline. So... everyone with draconic Bloodlines offered their lives. We forcefully nurtured her Bloodline, quickly restoring the inscription’s energy and raising the galaxy’s defenses again," she said, her voice filled with pain.

"With that, I managed to keep this galaxy protected. But everything else was taken or destroyed, so the Celestial Shadow didn’t bother trying to attack again. He’s probably focused on recovering his body and saving energy."

"Where’s Athven..." Darian muttered.

"Athven was the one who helped me seal everything and save the galaxy. But to do that, they had to sacrifice all their children and their true body. In the end, they created a single seed and sealed their soul inside it," Howlyn answered quickly. "They always said that one day you would return — and when that happened, they could be reborn completely with your help."

Darian nodded, but there was no joy in his expression. Then, in a low, pained voice, he asked — remembering the egg he carried, "Lanalia... she... she sacrificed herself along with the others?"

Howlyn took a deep breath... and the pain cut through Darian’s chest like a blade.

He had managed to revive the egg and intended to give it back to the mother so she could raise it, but...

"I’m sorry, sir. I failed..." Howlyn lowered her head, feeling the deep pain in his eyes. It was confirmation — one that shattered him inside.

Darian had saved her daughter... but at the same time, he had caused everything that led to her death. It felt like fate — a cruel and twisted fate. The mother had never even seen her child; right after the egg appeared, it had been taken to Earth by Oliver.

"Shit... shit..." Darian clenched his fists, feeling indescribably miserable.

’Dan... she definitely wouldn’t mind dying, now that her daughter will truly live. We’ll take care of her together... this isn’t your fault. You did everything you could — you didn’t know.’ Niara murmured softly, trying to calm the storm of pain tearing him apart.

Darian took a deep breath.

Life was merciless... he’d never defeat the Celestial Shadow with just a third of his strength, using only his spiritual form in this world. Which meant, inevitably, he’d have to find a way to cross the universe with his real body — and all of this would unfold one day, whether he wanted it or not.

Blaming himself now would be madness.

He turned to Howlyn with a firm, determined look in his eyes. "Take me to Niara’s body. Then gather everyone who survived."

She nodded seriously, feeling a deep impact in her soul.

Darian was no longer controlling his semi-immortal soul. Both Howlyn and Ari swallowed hard — that’s when they realized he was in a completely physical body, radiating the pure aura of a human.

They had seen his human form before, when Darian was taken over by the Demon Heart, but that was just a transformation — a created form, not his real body.

The black wolf returned to her true form and rushed off in one direction, carrying them with her. In the distance, on a mountain, there was a secret entrance leading into a deep underground cave.

At the end of that path, Darian saw the academy’s core floating and pulsing. Inside it was a female body, suspended, holding a small spiritual dragon in her arms.

Darian approached and reached out, pulling both bodies out. He held Niara against his chest, one hand resting on her back. With the other, he touched her forehead, and Niara instantly returned to her place.

As for the little dragon, he picked it up with a slightly nostalgic air. He didn’t need it anymore, so he sealed it with the power of chaos and stored it in his inventory.

That sealing technique he’d obtained in that world really lived up to its name — "Divine Seal." Anything non-physical could be easily sealed with it and stored away.

At that moment, Darian felt a faint tremor in his arms. He was holding Niara, supporting her by the back, when he saw her slowly open her eyes and look up at him.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, all of Darian’s frustration faded away. If he couldn’t change what had already happened, then he needed to take care of what he still could. And now, in his arms, was that woman staring at him with concern.

He realized she was struggling to think — desperately wanting to comfort him and make him feel better. Just feeling that from her made Darian let everything go.

"I’m fine. We’ll fix everything and make things stable. Now, we’ve got about thirty years to return, right?" he murmured softly.

Niara felt everything inside him calm down, then sighed and gave him a bright, relieved smile.

She couldn’t take her eyes off him for even a second. Her breathing quickened slightly in her chest.

Seeing that he didn’t push her away, Niara moved slowly. Instead of creating distance, she nestled even closer, wrapping her arms around him from the front. Darian didn’t mind letting her do whatever she wanted.

They were almost the same height. Her wings folded around him, as if embracing him too.

So much time apart. Now, for the first time, they could truly feel each other completely. Darian took a deep breath, intoxicated by her soft scent. Niara buried her face in the curve of his neck, as if trying to memorize every inch of him.

Feeling that warmth and the softness pressing against his body, Darian’s heart sped up, bringing back old memories.

"Hehe... were you wishing you could go back to being small and nice and cozy here with me?" Niara murmured, turning her head to look at him — her eyes filled with playful satisfaction.

Darian sighed. Trying to deny it was pointless; she could feel every fragment of his mind, and she’d definitely sensed how he’d gotten lost for a moment, feeling her so dangerously close.

Then he suddenly remembered the outside world and turned his head.

Only now did he notice that Lucy, his Summoner, and Howlyn had left them alone a while ago.

Niara kept that light smile. "Hehe... little sister left before I even got back to my body. You were pretty focused on me..."

Darian snorted, turning back to her. Not only was she still there, she was pressed so close it felt like she wanted to melt into him. Her hands moved softly over his body, feeling his muscles carefully, while her eyes sparkled. Her temperature was clearly higher, and her heartbeat was fast.

He coughed lightly.

The sound snapped her out of it. Niara blinked, realizing she couldn’t just take over his space like that. They’d have time to get close again, and she was being a bit too hasty right now.

She sighed, trying to hide her frustration, and started to pull away slowly.

But when they were barely a few inches apart...

...she felt a hand gently touch the back of her neck — and in one swift motion, pull her back in.

"!"

Niara’s eyes widened.

A second later, she felt Darian’s lips press against hers. It wasn’t a soft kiss — it stole her breath, urgent and direct. The initial shock melted away, and she closed her eyes, feeling the world disappear and her body connect to his in a way she’d never felt before.

Her arms moved and wrapped around his face. Instinctively, they both got lost in each other.

They didn’t know how long it lasted. Then Darian pulled away as quickly as he’d moved in, realizing that if he kept going, there’d be no turning back — and things would escalate fast.

Their faces stayed just inches apart, their hot, uneven breaths mingling.

Niara stayed breathless, staring at him, dazed.

"Now we’re even," he said, voice a bit rough, forcing his gaze away from her lips, struggling to hold himself back.

"Come on... if we take too long, Lucy’s gonna get the wrong idea."

Niara bit her lip and nodded slightly. Then she grabbed onto his arm, and the two of them walked out slowly.