Thump, thump-thump!
The moment his fingertips touched the [Shattered Mirror of Io], Qin Ran's heart began pounding violently.
It wasn't the brutal Demon Power.
It wasn't the uncanny Sin Force.
Nor was it the harmonious yet resilient power of Dawn or Plague Force.
It was...
Holy Thorn Force!
Of Qin Ran's five great Source Forces, this was the least conspicuous, overshadowed by Demon Flame and the Original Sins, yet impossible to overlook.
Every time he used this power, it meant he had been driven into a desperate situation and had to rely on passive counterattacks to earn himself a breathing space.
Thus, most of the time, Qin Ran treated Holy Thorn Force as a partially revealed trump card.
And a trump card was naturally of paramount importance.
Everyone knew how to treat one.
Qin Ran sensed the excitement of Holy Thorn Force.
He watched the pearl-like [Shattered Mirror of Io] turn into a streak of light, vanish, and merge into his body.
Almost simultaneously, Holy Thorn Force began surging.
Qin Ran immediately took out the [Dark Gold Stone] and chose to have Gluttony consume it.
Balance!
That was the foundation upon which Qin Ran's five great Source Forces existed.
Otherwise, even with his unusual heart-or even two hearts-he would be unable to withstand those powers running rampant.
To deal with any potential developments, Qin Ran had simulated various situations in his mind more than once, working out how to respond.
A sudden surge in a single Source Force like this had been a particular focus of his simulations.
After all, both Demon Power and Sin Force were always full of surprises.
Especially the former.
Its brutal, unruly, chaotic nature was more than enough to put the habitually vigilant Qin Ran on his guard.
Yet Qin Ran had never expected that