The temporary setback had only honed Yajij's rage to a razor's edge. With a guttural roar that promised annihilation, he launched himself at the Old Man. This was no longer a battle of strategy or even a clash of titans; it was a savage, bloody brawl for survival.The Old Man met the charge, his hybrid form a blur of bestial fury and human cunning. Claws of dark energy met Yajij's own stone-like fists in a series of impacts that sent shockwaves rippling outwards, cracking the very ground beneath their feet. But the momentum had shifted. The healing ritual, as grotesque as it was, had restored Yajij to his peak, and his attacks now carried a renewed, desperate ferocity.The Old Man began to give ground. A massive swing from Yajij shattered his guard, sending him stumbling back. Another blow, aimed at his head, was only partially deflected, the force of it tearing a gash across his shoulder that leaked not blood, but a shimmering, dark energy. He was failing, his strength waning against