The leader of the Heavenly Beast Sect was engulfed in disbelief as he surveyed the chaos unfolding around him. His gaze darted across the battlefield, and what he saw struck him like a thunderbolt. Astonishingly, the male members of his own sect were now fighting side-by-side with the Crystal Fist Sect against their own kin.
But what truly sent a pang of shock through his heart was the sight of Elder Rosaline. She was not just injured; she bore the marks of betrayal. Elder Theron and Caius, alongside the elders of the Crystal Fist Sect, stood as her unlikely assailants.
The Crystal Fist Sect leader's voice thundered across the chaotic battlefield, his disbelief palpable in the air. "Elder Theron, Elder Caius!" he bellowed, his tone a mix of shock and indignation.
"How could this come to pass? How could you betray our trust, our brotherhood, in such a manner?" His words, laden with betrayal and confusion, sought answers amidst the turmoil, highlighting the depth of his shock at their unexpected alliance with the enemy.
Elder Theron, with a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes, clarified their stance without hesitation. "We haven't betrayed anyone," he declared firmly. "The truth is, we never belonged to the Heavenly Beast Sect to begin with."
Elder Caius, adopting a more serious tone, took a step forward to elaborate on their true allegiance. "Allow me to explain," he began, commanding the attention of all present. "We never held the title of elders within your sect. Our true allegiance has always been to the Roaring Tiger Sect."
He paused for a moment, allowing the weight of his words to sink in before continuing. "Our mission is clear. We are to monitor other sects, ensuring they do not grow too powerful. The emergence of a heavenly talent within your ranks posed a significant threat. Therefore, it became imperative to neutralize your sect before it could become a formidable adversary to ours."
The revelation from Elder Theron and Elder Caius ignited a fierce anger within the ranks of the Heavenly Beast Sect. "You've masqueraded as elders among us for two decades, and yet you claim those years meant nothing?" they retorted, their voices laced with disbelief and betrayal.
Elder Theron, unfazed by the rising tension, responded with a cold logic that cut through the heated atmosphere. "Did you truly believe that a mere twenty years would be enough to sway our loyalties? Despite our long tenure, your sect has remained passive, always skulking in the shadows like a frightened mouse. We've had no reason to align ourselves with such timidity."
His smile, sharp and devoid of warmth, carried a chilling satisfaction. "And let me tell you," he added, his gaze sweeping over the members of the Heavenly Beast Sect, "there's a certain pleasure in knowing that we're finally severing ties with you."
The revelation from Elder Theron and Elder Caius had barely settled when the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Beast Sect, overcome with a blistering rage, roared into the tumultuous air, "Damn you! I will never forgive this betrayal!" His voice, heavy with fury and betrayal, echoed across the battlefield, a testament to his profound anger.
Wasting no time, he turned his wrath into action, directing a command to his trusted Green Dragon with a vehement urgency. "Summon the Forest Guardian!" he bellowed, his demand cutting through the chaos of the battle.
Responding to its master's call, the Green Dragon gathered its mystical energies, its body glowing with an ethereal light. With a majestic and focused intensity, it tapped into the ancient powers of nature, and before the astounded eyes of all present, it began to conjure an imposing figure from the very essence of the forest.
From the ground erupted a colossal golem, crafted from intertwined woods and pulsating with the life force of the forest itself. The golem stood as a towering testament to the Green Dragon's power.
With a commanding presence that silenced the clamor of battle, the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Beast Sect issued his next order with a cold, unyielding determination. "Forest Guardian," he intoned, his voice resounding with the authority of his position and the gravity of the moment, "eliminate them all. Spare not those who have betrayed our sect, nor the members of the Crystal Fist Sect."
As his decree echoed through the battlefield, the air thickened with anticipation. The colossal Forest Guardian, animated by the Sect Leader's command, turned its formidable gaze upon its targets. Its massive form, a marvel of intertwining woods and pulsating natural energy, began to move with a purposeful grace that belied its size.
Elder Caius cast a strategic glance towards Elder Theron, his eyes conveying the gravity of their next move. "It's time," he began with a calculated calm, "to eliminate Vargus. He's awakening his heavenly talent as we speak. He's our primary objective."
Without missing a beat, he shifted his focus back to the broader battlefield. "Meanwhile, I'll take on the sect leader alongside the elders from the Crystal Fist Sect. It's time we ended this."
A sly smirk crept across Elder Theron's face, a mix of anticipation and personal vendetta lighting up his eyes. "Perfect," he replied, the smirk widening. "I've been looking forward to settling scores with Vargus, especially after last week's humiliation."
As Theron made his decisive move towards Vargus, the sect leader's voice boomed across the battlefield, thick with defiance. "I won't allow you to lay a hand on him!" he bellowed, his gaze locked on Theron's retreating figure.
The forest guardian, a towering construct of nature's wrath, turned to give chase, its every step causing the ground beneath to tremble. But before it could advance, a blur of motion intercepted its path. Caius, now transformed into a formidable tiger-man, launched himself at the guardian with ferocious speed. His fist, encased in the raw power of his tiger form, collided with the guardian with a thunderous impact, halting its advance.
"I won't let you interfere with our mission," Caius growled, his voice laced with a primal determination. The guardian reeled from the blow, momentarily stunned by the sheer force of the attack.
The sect leader's frustration boiled over into a roar of anger, echoing ominously through the battlefield. "Curse you!" he thundered. "I will make you all pay for this betrayal!" His vow of retribution hung heavily in the air.