Dr. Lin washed his hands over and over again. His skin was turning red and raw. He looked up into the glass mirror. His dark eyes were filled with heavy, crushing guilt. Yesterday, Doctor Lin had treated an old man from the lower factories. The old man had terrible acid burns on his legs. Doctor Lin wanted to use natural herbs to soothe the burns. He wanted to take the time to clean the wounds properly. But his boss, the cruel Doctor Thorne, had stopped him. "We do not waste time on factory rats, Lin," Doctor Thorne had sneered. "Give him the blue pill. Numb the pain and send him back to work."Doctor Lin was a coward. He was terrified of Doctor Thorne. He was terrified of the Pharmaceutical Guild. So, he obeyed. He forced the old man to swallow the glowing blue pill. Doctor Lin watched the old man’s face turn into a perfect, empty, mindless smile. He watched the old man's soul fade away. "I am a monster," Doctor Lin whispered to his reflection in the mirror. "I am just a butche

Doctor Lin’s legs began to shake. He was a coward. He hated conflict. If he was caught stealing the Black Ledger, Doctor Thorne would torture him to death. He looked at the dark, rusted floor. He wanted to say no. He wanted to run back to his safe, clean bathroom. But then, he looked at Rick. Rick’s brown eyes were so warm. They were full of absolute trust. Rick had bled for this city. Rick had fought monsters. “To heal is to suffer together,” Lin remembered the new oath spreading through the city. Doctor Lin took a deep breath. He stopped shaking. "I will do it," Doctor Lin said firmly. "I will open the door.""Good," Rick smiled. "Let's go to surgery."The 80th floor of the Grand Hospital was incredibly quiet. The walls were painted a deep, soothing blue. Thick, soft carpets covered the floor so footsteps could not be heard. This was the VIP wing. This was where the richest merchants came for their treatments. Doctor Lin walked down the hallway. His heart was beating so fast h

The heavy steel doors of the Sapphire Vault were completely blown open. Inside the giant room, a fierce, terrifying battle exploded. Fifty corrupt doctors charged forward. They wore spotless green coats, but their hearts were completely black. They held dangerous weapons. Some carried glass guns filled with boiling green acid. Others held sharp, buzzing surgical saws that sparked with dark purple magic. "Kill the intruders!" Doctor Thorne shrieked. The Head of Surgery pointed his long, bony finger at Rick. "Burn the book! Do not let them leave with the ledger!"Rick did not take a single step back. He spun his smooth wooden staff in his hands. The brilliant, emerald green light blazed at the tip. "Stay behind me!" Rick roared to Doctor Lin, Luna, and Ash. A corrupt doctor raised his glass gun. He pulled the trigger. A thick stream of boiling, toxic green acid shot through the air, aiming directly for Rick’s face. Rick stepped forward. He did not dodge. He slammed the bottom of

Rick walked slowly toward the center of the massive room. He looked at the floor. The floor was covered in intricate, detailed carvings. They were pictures of human bodies. The carvings showed the magical pathways, the blood veins, and the beating hearts. They were perfect medical diagrams. "Rick," Luna said, her voice shaking with emotion. She pointed to the far wall. "Look."Rick lifted his eyes. At the very back of the room, there was a massive, raised platform made of pure white stone. Sitting on top of the platform were twelve large stone chairs. They were arranged in a half-circle. Carved into the stone wall directly above the chairs was a giant symbol. It was a perfect circle. A jagged heartbeat line running through the middle. And a beautiful lotus flower blooming in the center. It was the Pulse Seal. "My god," Rick whispered. Tears instantly filled his eyes. He dropped his staff. He walked slowly toward the giant carved symbol. He reached out his trembling, bare hand

The impact shook the cavern, but Rick did not move a single inch. His feet were rooted to the sacred ground. "You cannot beat me," the monster hissed, struggling to push its spike forward. "I have the power of the Void Sap! I am a god!""You are just a sick man," Rick corrected him softly. "And your surgery is overdue."Rick squeezed his hand. The giant bone spike shattered into a million pieces of white dust. The monster screamed in shock and stumbled backward. Rick did not stop. He walked forward slowly, steadily, powerfully. He raised his right hand. He pointed his finger directly at the swirling black hole in the monster’s open chest. "Earth Pulse," Rick commanded. "Purifying Dawn."A massive, concentrated, blinding beam of pure green and gold light shot from Rick's finger. It was the combined magic of the ancient temple and Rick's own compassionate soul. The beam hit the black hole in the monster's chest. The reaction was beautiful and violent. The black hole tried to eat t