"SHUT UP!" Valerius roared, his voice shaking with furious, heartbreaking grief. Valerius gripped the handle of his giant, glowing battleaxe with both hands. His knuckles turned pure white. Valerius knew that he was losing. He knew that his normal, Earth-Shattering magic was not enough to touch the Graveyard King. Lucien was too fast. Lucien’s technique was too perfect. Lucien’s dark magic was too heavy. If Valerius kept fighting normally, he would die in five minutes. And when he died, Julian would be slaughtered, and the Saint-Aurelius Clan would fall. “I cannot fail,” Valerius thought, panic and desperation completely taking over his mind. “I am the shield of this family. I must protect my grandson. I must protect the throne.”Valerius realized that he only had one option left. It was an option that would cost him his soul. It was a forbidden, dark, terrifying choice. Valerius closed his eyes. He let out a long, shuddering breath. "I will not let you take my family," Valerius