The week passed swiftly, each day filled with growing tension for Tang Mia. Her anticipation to meet the mysterious master had built up a storm within her. She spent the days preparing, not just with plans and strategies, but mentally conditioning herself to face a being as powerful as the old woman in the gloomy valley. Every fiber of her being was taut with a mixture of anxiety and ambition, and the stakes had never felt higher.

When the day finally arrived, Tang Mia traveled alone, as instructed. She didn't bring her usual entourage of bodyguards or advisors; this meeting required absolute discretion. She drove through winding roads until the city lights faded behind her, and the landscape turned wild and unwelcoming. The air became colder the further she went, a bone-chilling frost settling in her veins as if the land itself was warning her to turn back.

By the time she reached the valley, twilight had settled in, casting long shadows across the desolate landscape. The fog was thick, swirling around her feet as she stepped out of her car. In the distance, she could see the faint outline of a decrepit house, barely visible through the mist. That was her destination.

Tang Mia squared her shoulders and made her way toward the house. With each step, the sense of unease grew, but she pushed it aside. She was no longer afraid—fear had no place here. She was about to confront the ultimate power, and she needed to be at her sharpest.

When she reached the door, it creaked open before she could knock, as if expecting her. The air inside was oppressive, thick with a malevolent energy that clung to her skin like oil. Tang Mia's heart raced, but she steadied herself. She wouldn't allow herself to appear weak.

In the middle of the room, the master sat in her high-backed chair, her burned face half-shadowed by the dim light of the fire. The air around her seemed to pulsate with dark energy. As Tang Mia entered, the old woman lifted her head, and those terrible, glowing eyes locked onto hers.

"So," the master rasped, her voice echoing unnaturally in the small space. "The little princess has finally arrived."

Tang Mia swallowed hard, refusing to let the fear show on her face. She met the old woman's gaze with a cold, defiant stare.

"You promised me power," Tang Mia said, her voice steady. "I have kept my end of the bargain, but Sofia still lives. I want more. I want to ensure her destruction."

The master let out a low, cruel chuckle. "Ah, Sofia. Yes, she is... resilient, isn't she? There's more to that girl than meets the eye. You were right to come to me, Tang Mia. But you must understand something. Power comes at a price."

"I've already paid plenty," Tang Mia said through gritted teeth. "I've given you everything you've asked for. I've followed your instructions to the letter."

The old woman smiled again, her dark aura thickening. "You've given me much, it's true. But what I am about to offer you now, Tang Mia, will require a far greater sacrifice."

Tang Mia's eyes narrowed. "What kind of sacrifice?"

The master slowly stood from her chair, her body creaking as if it were made of brittle bones barely holding together. She stepped closer to Tang Mia, her dark aura enveloping her like a cloak of shadow.

"To destroy someone like Sofia," the master whispered, her voice like the hiss of a serpent, "you must give up your very soul."

Tang Mia stiffened. "What do you mean?"

"Sofia is protected by forces you cannot even comprehend," the master continued, circling her like a predator. "Her strength doesn't come from mere physical power. There is something within her—something ancient, something that repels even the darkest magic. To destroy her, you must become darkness itself. You must surrender everything that makes you human. In exchange, I will give you the power to break her."

Tang Mia hesitated. She had always known that dealing with the master would require sacrifices, but she had never imagined it would come to this. Giving up her soul? Becoming pure darkness? The thought chilled her, but the image of Sofia's serene face flashed before her eyes, igniting the hatred within her once more. She clenched her fists. Sofia had to be destroyed—no matter the cost.

"I'll do it," Tang Mia said, her voice cold and resolute. "I'll do whatever it takes."

The master's smile widened, and the air around her seemed to hum with dark energy. "Very well. The pact is sealed."

She raised her hands, and the room grew darker still. Shadows swirled around them, twisting and writhing like living creatures. Tang Mia felt the darkness pressing in on her, suffocating her, pulling at her soul. It was as if her very essence was being drained, consumed by the shadows.

The master began to chant in an ancient, guttural language, and the room trembled with power. Tang Mia's vision blurred, and she could feel her body growing colder, as if the very warmth of life was being sucked from her.

Suddenly, there was a flash of blinding light, and the darkness exploded outward, filling the room with a deafening roar. Tang Mia gasped, collapsing to the ground. When she opened her eyes, she was no longer in the valley.

---

Meanwhile, miles away, Sofia stirred in her sleep. She sat up in bed, her heart pounding, her senses alert. She could feel it—the shift in the air, the darkness spreading like a stain. Something terrible had been unleashed.

Sofia closed her eyes and took a deep breath, centering herself. She had known this moment was coming, and she was ready. Whatever dark power Tang Mia had sought, whatever force she had awakened, Sofia would face it head-on. Her strength was not just physical—it came from something deeper, something unbreakable.

The storm was coming. But Sofia would not run.

She was ready to face it, no matter how dark it was.