Inside the swirling chaos of The Domain, a single Great Supermassive Black Hole dominated the void, its gravitational pull mercilessly dragging everything toward its insatiable maw. The once stable and formidable realm now teetered on the brink of collapse, with the environment warping and contorting under the immense pressure.
Lei Tei, in his Thunder Lord form, struggled against the overwhelming force. His lightning-clad armour crackled with energy, but even it showed signs of strain, with arcs of electricity flickering erratically. Despite the damage, Lei Tei's resolve remained unbroken as he fought to maintain his form against the relentless pull of the black hole.
Opposite him stood Linhua, her expression one of calm amusement as she observed Lei Tei's struggle. Her katana, The Void Bringer, gleamed ominously in her hand, the two remaining strings attached to its hilt swaying in the distorted air. She brushed her fingers along the blade, her eyes narrowing with cold calculation.
"You've lost, Lei Tei," Linhua said softly, her voice cutting through the deafening roar of the collapsing domain. Her smile was faint but confident as she watched him grapple with the black hole's pull.
Lei Tei grinned, defiance lighting up his eyes. "Yeah, no." Without hesitation, he launched himself toward the Supermassive Black Hole, his body a blur of lightning.
Linhua's smirk deepened as she saw his desperate move. "Hmph! You think you can escape the Void? What a foolish thought you have!" Her voice dripped with disdain, her confidence unwavering.
BOOM!
As she spoke, Lei Tei's was thrown back as his scales began to get ripped out from him body.
"Aghhhh!" Lei Tei gritted in pain.
"Hahahahah! Don't kid yourself you fool! You think that just because you are a Dragon General, it'll protect you from me! Oh what lies! You will die here Lei Tei just like that useless Sect of yours!" Linhua laughed.
Yet Linhua's words seemed to have an effect on Lei Teri as he remembered his sect.
"My Brother,my Sect." Lei Tei mumbled as slowly rage began to erupt.
"Oi don't you dare talk shit about Sect!" Lei Tei roared as suddenly The SuperMassive Black Hole trembled.
"And what do you think you'll be able to do?! You think just because I pissed you off, you'll grow stronger!? Idiot, what do you think this is a novel?" Linhua snorted.
"You know what? You're right! I may not be able to grow stronger the angrier I get but I can do this!" Lei Tei stated as he raised his hand above his head.
"Hear Thy Call O Lords of The Primordial Era who have long passed!" Lei Tei chanted as everything in The Domain seemed to slowly pause.
"I Burn My Name and Offer it to ye!" As he spoke, fire erupted on his body yet Lei Tei didn't flinch.
Slowly a grey mist rose up from him as his entire being slowly lost colour.
"No!" Linhua spoke horrified, she knew well what the ritual meant.
As Lei Tei's entire body completely lost colour, he gripped his chest.
"I Engrave The Name of Lightning into my Flesh and Soul!"
From the grey mist, a spear struck The Dragon General.
BOOM!
The Dragon General whose colour was that of ash then stared towards Linhua.
"Die!" Linhua sent a Black Hole towards The Dragon General who faced it head on.
GRUHAK!
The Dragon General stood there unfazed.
"I am above Flesh." It spoke.
"I am above Mortality." It caught hold of The Black Hole and gripped it.
BOOM!
The Black Hole burst apart.
The Dragon General walked forward to the Supermassive Black Hole.
"I am Lightning." The Dragon General threw a punch.
CRACK!
The Black Hole stopped as cracks began to appear on it.
"I am Lei Tianzi!" At that moment, The Supermassive Black Hole crumbled into shards.
Linhua with widened eyes stared at Lei Tianzi, dumbfounded at the scene.
"Let's get this over with." Lei Tianzi claimed as he shot forward towards Linhua.
True Grand Master - Lei Tianzi - Lightning Incarnate!
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Meanwhile, Ling Xuan observed in shock as the very fabric of the Domain began to crack and shatter. "Huh! What's happening now!?" he exclaimed, eyes wide as the crumbling Domain revealed an individual plummeting toward the ground.
BOOM!
The impact shook the earth as the figure collided with the ground, followed closely by what appeared to be a bolt of lightning chasing the falling victim. Ling Xuan squinted, trying to make sense of the chaotic scene. "Is that Lei Tei?" he muttered, his voice filled with uncertainty.
Before he could process further, a calm voice spoke from behind him. "That name isn't applicable anymore."
Startled, Ling Xuan whirled around to see none other than Ling Feng standing behind him, his demeanor composed despite the chaotic events unfolding around them. "What do you mean?" Ling Xuan asked, his curiosity piqued.
Ling Feng glanced at the fallen figure in the distance, his expression thoughtful. "Lei Tei—or whatever his name is now—was being overwhelmed by Linhua, which forced him to use a technique taught to him by the Dragon Emperor. The technique is called Ignition. It's a desperate move, one that requires the practitioner to sacrifice a core component of their being to the Mythical Beings of the past. In return, they are granted 'something'—a boon of sorts. The nature of this 'something' varies, depending on the sacrifier's wishes and the worth of their sacrifice. It could be power, authority, or something else entirely."
Ling Xuan listened intently as Ling Feng continued, his gaze never leaving the figure in the distance. "In this case, judging by the current situation, our friend over there sacrificed his name and engraved upon his existence the Name of Lightning. It complements his Dragon of Innumerable Lightning perfectly, resulting in the form you see now."
"I didn't know names were this powerful," Ling Xuan remarked, still processing the magnitude of what he had witnessed.
Ling Feng nodded, his gaze remaining fixed on the battlefield. "Names themselves aren't usually this powerful. What Lei Tei sacrificed in the form of his name was more than just a title—it was his very existence as Lei Tei, in exchange for becoming the embodiment of the Name of Lightning."
Ling Xuan's eyes narrowed in realization. "So, this transformation has pushed him to his peak?"
"Exactly. He has reached his pinnacle, becoming a True Grand Master," Ling Feng confirmed as they both watched the brutal scene unfold before them.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Each blow echoed with devastating force as Linhua, once proud and powerful, lay broken on the ground. Her right arm was torn off, followed by her leg, blood pooling around her as her life slowly ebbed away. Her breathing was ragged, and her vision blurred, but even in her final moments, she clung to a desperate hope.
"No… not here…," Linhua thought, her fading consciousness drawn to her katana. Only one string remained attached to the blade.
"Tear the string, my child," a voice whispered in her mind, soft yet insistent.
"No… get lost!" Linhua mentally retorted, trying to resist the temptation. Yet, the voice was relentless, weaving its way into her thoughts.
"Tear it, and you will live to see another day. Remember your mother who sacrificed herself for you… Rebuild the Sect… Live…" The voice's whispers grew stronger, luring her with promises of survival and revenge.
As Lei Tianzi loomed closer, his form radiating unstoppable power, Linhua's resolve began to waver. Desperation clouded her judgement as the voice repeated its command, louder and louder.
"Tear it… Tear it… Tear it… Tear it… Tear it… TEAR IT!" The voice roared in her head, its urgency overpowering her will.
With trembling fingers, Linhua reached for her katana.
At that critical moment, just as Lei Tianzi was about to strike, he found himself immobilized. An unfathomable pressure bore down on him, pinning him in place. The weight of it was overwhelming, as if the very air had turned to stone. Ling Xuan and Ling Feng felt it too, the oppressive force making it difficult to even breathe.
"Who!?" Ling Xuan demanded, his voice strained under the weight of the pressure.
"It's him. It's Xia Longwei," Ling Feng responded, his eyes narrowing in recognition. There was no mistaking this presence, the overwhelming force of a legend in their world.
Yet just as suddenly as it had arrived, another pressure surged forth, clashing with the first. It was an opposing force, one equally powerful, and for a few brief moments, the two powers battled for dominance. The air crackled with energy, and the ground trembled beneath them. Then, just as quickly, both pressures vanished, leaving the battlefield eerily quiet.
But those few moments had been enough.
Linhua, now free from the oppressive forces, held her katana tightly. There were no strings left—nothing to hold her back. Her eyes, once filled with fear and pain, now held a resigned determination. She positioned the blade to her chest, the sharp edge pressing against her skin.
"Forgive me, mother," she whispered, her voice barely audible as she plunged the katana into her chest.
SHUNK!