Near the demon named Anri, there was no massive demonic army, only 10 Dark Elves stood silently. The aura emanating from these beings was as tense and sinister as that of their leader. As Lian observed the group, he noticed something disturbing.
The black Qi of the black lotus had exerted an overwhelming influence over them, completely distorting their minds. Although they appeared to be conscious, it was evident that the density of the black Qi had corrupted their souls. Only a primitive instinct of obedience to the strongest kept the Dark Elves submissive.
Anri, in his complete demonic form, was the most affected by the evil power of the black lotus, his eyes overflowing with violence, hatred, and an insatiable frenzy of destruction and devouring. The demon seemed to have no control over his insatiable hunger and attacked in a frenzied manner. Everyone present felt the terrible demonic power pressing against their souls, while the Qi in their bodies seemed to refuse to respond. They were completely defenseless against this terrifying creature.
"Calm your hunger!" A chilling roar echoed as an immense saber cut through the air with relentless determination. The terrifying Qi Saber filled the space, creating a gigantic image of a saber tens of meters long, filling the sky. That saber image seemed to be the blade of a deity, capable of shattering the world with a single strike.
Anri raised a single palm to face that imposing saber image.
*BOOM!*
The earth trembled, and both Lian and Anri were thrown to the ground. The impact site was covered with cracks that stretched for hundreds of meters. All the griffins and humans felt their bodies return to normal, now filled with respect for the almost divine figure wielding that ethereal saber made of runes.
"Human... how dare you challenge me... die!" The demon bellowed with a guttural and sinister voice, the disturbing tone echoing and filling the surroundings. Following his roar, the black mist around the demon's body dissipated, revealing sinister lines that emerged on his skin. A diabolical aura burst from him and rose to the heavens as he advanced to attack Lian head-on.
Endless terror engulfed everyone as if countless evil souls were trying to drag them into darkness. This profound fear penetrated their hearts, shaking them intensely. The 10 Dark Elves, driven by frenzy, ruthlessly charged against the terrified group. However, Artemis, with her sorrowful red eyes, stood beside Saya. They radiated an imperial aura that immediately snapped everyone out of their stupor.
Quickly, the fighters reorganized into groups. The griffins, though reluctant to accept humans who controlled and used demonic beasts in battle, yielded to the authority of a Royal Griffin and their loyalty to Lian. Together, they joined forces to fight. Throughout their history, the cultivators of the Enchant Clan had developed many techniques for connecting and strengthening bonds with demonic beasts. Griffins were divine beasts of immense power, and in order to survive, they would have to form an alliance at this crucial moment.
Each Dark Elf engaged in a fierce battle against groups of dozens of humans and griffins. In just a few exchanges, blood began to flow from the opponents' wounds. With their innate agility and dexterity inherited from their elven lineage, the Dark Elves were true masters of combat. Moving with astonishing swiftness and striking with deadly precision, they demonstrated their refined and lethal skills. In a frenzy of dense and malevolent energy, the Dark Elves manipulated the energies of death present in their bodies, casting curses and illusions to confuse and weaken their adversaries.
Within a short time, dozens were dead, but everyone fought with determination. However, something dark began to unfold before them. A sinister energy began to manifest around the fallen griffins, enveloping them in a pale and threatening glow. Their wounds closed, and their eyes, now empty and lifeless, opened.
Reborn as corrupted creatures, the resurrected griffins rose up, but they were no longer the majestic and noble beings they had once been. They now radiated an aura of pure darkness, flying with supernatural agility and attacking with uncontrolled fury. Their sharp claws and beaks tore through everything in their path, leaving no room for defense or mercy.
*BOOM, BOOM, BOOM...*
Ahead, on the battlefield, Lian and the demon engaged in an unforgiving exchange of devastating blows. The saber's power danced, and waves of Qi surged around them. Dust rose, immediately covering the entire scene. The only sound echoing was that of deafening collisions, shaking the ground.
Lian's body was enveloped in a yellowish aura, with thousands of earth runes swirling around him. He understood how terrifying that demon was, and he spared no effort. All the gnome energy within his body emerged, filling every meridian. Waves of Qi continuously rose toward the sky. His robes billowed, his hair danced, and he appeared as a god in action.
Despite both of them giving their all, neither suffered serious injuries. In both defense and offense, they were evenly matched. The difference between them lay only in the amount of Qi available. Lian, being two realms below the demon, would deplete his energy much more rapidly if the battle dragged on.
The environment continued to tremble, with space and earth incessantly quaking. The diabolical air surrounding them continuously exploded, causing the entire battlefield to shake. In a swift motion, Lian delivered a horizontal strike toward Anri's head. The demon rose with a bloodthirsty look, using its wings to completely block Lian's attack. At that moment, a gap appeared in Lian's defense, and instinctively, he launched a counterattack with all his strength.
However, as the demon's claws were mere inches away from reaching Lian, he realized it was a distraction maneuver, but it was too late to retreat. Suddenly, a violet spear emerged, piercing the demon's blind spot. An explosion of black power pushed back the sneaky attacker, revealing a young human with violet power, who was thrown back by the impact of the collision.
Taking advantage of the opening created by the young woman, Anri attempted to shred her with its claws, but before it could channel its Qi for the attack, a scarlet saber ruthlessly cut through. Defenseless and without exit, the demon was hit, causing black blood to splatter in all directions. Then, a frosty aura emanated from a dagger that appeared toward its throat, provoking a mix of fury and instinctive fear, causing it to quickly move its other wing to block the strike.
A thunderous sound of metal colliding reverberated throughout the battlefield, and then a celestial wind blade sliced through the demon from behind, generating another deafening explosion. Without giving the demon time to recover, an imposing image of a saber appeared in the sky as Lian attacked relentlessly.
*CRASH!*
The dust began to slowly dissipate, revealing the imposing presence of the demon in the gigantic crater. Its bloody wounds evidenced the brutality of the battle, while its now inflamed eyes radiated a malevolent and bloodthirsty intensity. Every mark on its body bore witness to the fury burning within it, driving it to seek unbridled revenge.
The wings, once a symbol of its invincibility and main form of defense, had now been torn off, leaving it more vulnerable. Meanwhile, the group surrounding it, whose cultivation level was infinitely inferior to that of the demon, displayed impressive combat skills, fighting on equal footing and cornering the fearsome adversary. The perfect synchrony among them was evident, with coordinated actions and well-executed strategies defying all expectations. Even the Dark Elves, who were previously engaged in the battle, paused for a brief moment, their gazes filled with astonishment directed at Anri.