Eddie, standing amidst the chaos, was bathed in sweat. His intense gaze fixed on the demonic hand protruding from the portal, clutching a menacing dark green orb. Its energy dwarfed the hellfire previously summoned by Evil Fire, foreboding a disaster of unthinkable proportions.
Confronted with the dire choice of fleeing or fighting to the bitter end, Eddie's mind raced. His eyes darted back and forth between the pulsating orb and the portal, devising a desperate plan to destroy it and prevent the demon's full emergence. How could he possibly evade the imminent onslaught of the dark green orb's attack?
Amidst his dilemma, a realization struck him like lightning. The only way to save White Stone City and all he held dear was to face this nightmarish enemy head-on.
Taking a deep, steadying breath, Eddie mustered all his resolve and energy. In one swift, determined motion, he launched a full-scale attack towards the portal. His objective was unequivocal – to sever the link between this world and the demon, regardless of the personal cost.
As the dark green orb surged with a terrifying power, poised to unleash its catastrophic fury, Eddie, driven by a potent mix of fear and resolve, acted with unprecedented speed. Harnessing his enhanced abilities and newfound strength, he struck with deadly precision and force.
The orb detonated in a blinding flash of green light, momentarily engulfing the surroundings in its radiant glow. Eddie braced for the impact, but to his astonishment, the explosion remained confined within the portal.
The shockwaves rippled through the demonic realm, causing chaos and destruction on the other side.
With a resounding roar, the portal began to disintegrate, its edges fraying as if reality itself was unraveling. The demonic hand, once a harbinger of destruction, was now being dragged back into the turmoil of its own world.
As the portal imploded, Eddie felt an overwhelming surge of energy, a testament to his triumph against insurmountable odds. He had not only saved White Stone City but also unlocked a new level of his own potential.
The battlefield fell into eerie silence, punctuated only by the distant crackles of fading hellfire and the heavy breaths of a warrior who had stared into the face of death and emerged victorious.
As the malevolent hand of the demon pierced through the protective aura surrounding Eddie, he instinctively shielded Little Wenli in his arms, his resolve unwavering. The young girl, with her frosty twin blades, trembled with fear yet clung to Eddie, her eyes reflecting a mix of terror and trust.
"Stupid humans, you cannot defy the might of a demon!" The chilling voice echoed from the portal, filled with scorn and malevolence.
Eddie, with Little Wenli safely in his embrace, glared defiantly at the demonic hand. "I may be human," he retorted, "but I will not cower before the likes of you. I protect those dear to me at all costs!"
The demon's hand, its intentions clear, lunged forward in an attempt to strike a fatal blow. However, Eddie, fueled by a surge of adrenaline and determination, reacted with incredible speed.
He unleashed a powerful counterstrike, aiming directly at the demon's protruding finger with a precise and deadly force.
"Your arrogance will be your downfall!" Eddie exclaimed, his voice ringing with a mix of anger and courage. The clash of their forces resonated through the air, creating a cacophony of sound that reverberated through the ruins of the battlefield.
Mother Grace and the little girl, unaware of the peril unfolding outside, slept peacefully, oblivious to the heroic stand Eddie was taking to safeguard their lives.
In his heart, Eddie knew that no matter the outcome, his actions were driven by a deep, unwavering love and a fierce determination to protect his family from harm.
As the standoff intensified, Eddie realized the gravity of the situation.
He was not just fighting for survival; he was battling for the very soul of White Stone City and the safety of all he held dear.
With every ounce of his strength, he prepared for the decisive moment that would determine the fate of all.
Little Wenli swiftly escaped Eddie's protective embrace, her tiny hands wielding her frosty dual blades with ferocity.
She struck at the demon's finger, causing the entire demonic hand to instantly freeze into a hand of ice. Even the hellfire blazing on it was extinguished under the frost's chilling effect.
"There's still hope!" Eddie, pushing himself beyond his previous limits, drew upon his last reserves of Qi.
He gathered his strength and executed the mightiest attack from his 'Mystical Trio' techniques - the 'Supreme Sword Finger'.
This strike, even more powerful than his previous effort, targeted the gradually thawing demonic hand.
The piercing sword Qi did not disappoint Eddie.
Despite the demon hand's attempt to withdraw, its movements were slowed by the frost, making it an easy target. The sword Qi swiftly followed, penetrating the palm and bursting out from the scaly back of the hand.
As the portal rapidly shrank and disappeared, the demonic hand, unable to attack Eddie any further, quickly retracted back through the portal. Little Wenli, with a flick of her serpentine tail, elegantly pursued the hand.
Her eyes blazed with fury, and she let out a piercing, high-pitched cry. Eddie sensed her exerting her full strength to use her Binding Talent.
Under normal circumstances, the binding effect, which lasted only a second, might not have been significant. But at that moment, it was miraculously effective.
The demonic hand was frozen in place by Little Wenli's binding force. As the portal vanished, the hand, caught halfway through, was severed as if sliced by a blade.
Eddie was astonished at Little Wenli's combat intuition.
She had held back her binding talent until the last moment before the portal's closure, significantly wounding the formidable demon.
This tactic was something Eddie, still a novice in combat, had not anticipated.
"You despicable human, I will remember you! We shall meet again. Just you wait!" The demon's resentful roar echoed even as the portal closed.
Eddie knew that in a direct confrontation, he stood no chance against the demon with his current strength.
However, separated by the spatial divide of two worlds, the demon couldn't fully emerge and was limited to attacking from a distance.
Overconfident and underestimating Eddie, the demon suffered a significant loss at the hands of Eddie's abnormal innate sword Qi and Little Wenli's special binding talent and combat intuition, losing an arm in the process.
It's no wonder the demon was infuriated.
Completely drained, Eddie collapsed to the ground, his body feeling as though every ounce of energy had been siphoned from him.
This battle was a narrow but definitive victory.
In the distance, Eddie's Bronze Grimoire hovered silently, emitting a golden light that shimmered in the night sky. A white beam of light shot up from the Grimoire, reaching dozens of meters into the air. This signified its upgrade, a direct result of Eddie's victorious battle.
A flood of information cascaded into Eddie's mind, filling him with astonishment and joy:
"You have defeated an adversary deemed unbeatable, achieving a miraculous victory. Your battle score has reached the threshold for advancement, and your Bronze Grimoire has been automatically upgraded to an Intermediate level. An additional blank page has been added to it. "
"Moreover, by the decree of ancient laws, you have been granted a divine favor. Your Life Guardian Beast 'Phantom' has acquired new abilities."
Eddie felt a rush of excitement as he processed this incredible development. His once humble Bronze Grimoire had evolved, and with it, his potential for greater power and new adventures had expanded exponentially.
The addition of a new ability to his trusted Life Guardian Beast 'Phantom' promised new strategies and strengths in his future battles.
This upgrade was not just a step up in his journey as a warrior but a testament to his resilience and determination.