Serana gripped her sword tightly as she stared at Skyler who had just passed away, seeing her die without being able to do anything to help her survive made Serana's heart bleed. she knew she couldn't stay here forever. Skyler had given her a mission, and she intended to fulfill it. Wiping her tears, she stood up, her resolve hardening. She would save Jessica, no matter the cost.
Rumbles
The demon within the area finally breached once again into the sect flooding the area, sensing the demons. Serana tightly gripped her sword, her cold face, which is devoid of warmth glanced at the fast approaching wave of demons.
"You'll all die today…" Unknowingly, the black phoenix symbol on her forehead glowed dimly.
…
Meanwhile, in the Frostfall Forest, Gabrielle and Zariel continued their fierce battle. Gabrielle's strikes were relentless, each one pushing Zariel further back. Despite Zariel's attempts to defend herself, Gabrielle's Black Ice qi proved to be something she can't handle with her strength.
With a powerful swing of her sword, Gabrielle sent Zariel crashing through the trees, the force of the blow creating a path of destruction with a loud bang, Zariel snarled in frustration, her demonic aura flaring as she struggled to her feet.
Gabrielle's eyes narrowed, her breath visible in the freezing air. "…"
Zariel's eyes flickered with a mixture of rage and desperation. "Fuck! Fuck! Fuuuck!!!"
Gabrielle shook her head at the sudden outburst of her vulgar mouth. She lifted her sword once more. The pykrete sword on her hand shined under the crimson sky, with a leapt, she swings her sword at Zariel's neck.
Cold sweat quickly appeared on her exhausted face as she quickly sensed the upcoming strike, she quickly lifted her sword to defend against her attack!
Bang!
The two clashed again, their swords meeting in a flurry of sparks and ice. Gabrielle's precision and control were matched by Zariel's raw power and speed. The battle was very chaotic, each combatant pushing the other to their limits.
Gabrielle gritted her teeth, blocking Zariel's strikes with her sword. "Take this!"
With a powerful strike, Gabrielle unleashed the full force of her Black Ice qi, creating a massive wave of frost that surged towards Zariel. The impact sent Zariel flying back, crashing into the demon gate at the heart of the Frostfall Forest.
The gate structure trembled under the immense shock of Zariel crashing into it. The portal distorted for a bit but still left undamaged, as the portal isn't a physical thing, a thing that can't be touched.
Before Zariel was able to get up, Gabrielle crashed onto ground quickly and stepped on her chest pinning the demon princess down into the ground, Gabrielle quickly flicked her sword and when she was about to slice her throat open.
A demonic hand appeared from the portal!
"!!!"
Gabrielle quickly dodged the hand by leaning her shoulders backward and with a leap, she distanced herself away from the portal where the demon hand appeared.
"Human actually dared to hurt my princess!" A roar came from the portal, soon the demon stepped out of the portal. His figure is massive, covered by thick plates of armor, his aura radiated with power that resembles the princess, albeit more ferocious and wild. His steps were heavy as the great sword on his shoulder gave an intimidating pressure to anyone who witnessed him.
Zariel sat, very exhausted, she looked to her side and then she saw the demon who appeared from the portal. Her expression lightened as smile appeared, "Grand uncle!" seeing this familiar demon her heart relaxed as she knew, with her uncle by her side, nothing could beat her!
Gabrielle felt a bad premonition coming from this demon, she felt that this demon is more experienced in battle than that demon princess.
"Zari! Here." The demon turned to Zariel and threw a black orb. She caught it and her face showed a surprise look, "Earth tier, demon core?" Recognizing the orb, her face showed a wicked smile as she evilly looked at Gabrielle, her hand crushed the orb and soon the aura it released was absorbed by her!
The damage and wound she got from Gabrielle quickly healed in a very fast manner that it shook Gabrielle. The demon princess is back on her peak form!
This is bad… Gabrielle took a step back, but when she did, a terrifying pressure tried to crush her down! Completely pinning her, making her unable to move a single step back!
"Hmph, just you wait human I'll execute you later. Zari, where are the elders that supposed to protect you!?" The demon coldly harrumphed then shouted at her niece.
Zariel smiled bitterly and scratched her head looking at her uncle, "Grand uncle… I sent them to expand our territory, it's just I didn't expect that someone in the human side can actually make me retreat this far." She said with an embarrassment, her smile then beamed as she approached her uncle and cling onto his arms, "But with uncle here, nothing can hurt little Zari anymore!"
The demon stood like a stick as he let her niece cling, the fiery eyes within him seemed to dim a little, seemingly enjoying his niece's affection.
"Hmph, is that so." While enjoying the affection, he took a token from his spatial ring and crushed it.
Instantly, nine shadows appeared in the surrounding area, and soon nine demons appeared.
Gabrielle seeing this, her body felt her soul leaving. These nine demons were the elders! Whose supposed to be scattered around the region. And the strength of these demons is all rank 7!
As the nine demon elders appeared when they saw Zariel's uncle all of them quickly knelt on to the ground, "Greetings, Prince Lucifer!"
The demon whose uncle of the demon princess is Lucifer, the only brother of the demon emperor!
Lucifer looked at the elders, he noticed that one elder is missing, "Why there are only nine of you? Where's the other one?" He asked. Hearing this, the elders sweated bullets as their eyes looked at Zariel, Tell him you did it princess! We didn't do anything wrong!
Seeing them look at her and soon Lucifer after noticing their unified gaze against her niece, Zariel stuck her tongue out and knock her head, "Hehe, that prick annoyed me so, I accidentally killed him."
"…" The elders don't know what to say from that.
Lucifer was silent for a moment, he had expected this from his niece. He laughed out loud, "HAHAHA! As expected!" his laugh made the ground shake, he then lightly knocks his niece's head, "You naughty girl! This is why your father is always mad at you!"
"I've sent my clone to see what's your progress in this world, but to think my niece has been pushed into such state, hmph! This human deserves a fate worse than death!" His anger directed at Gabrielle as pressure completely tried to press her down, but she was able to stand still, albeit sweat kept dripping from her exquisite face.
The elders looked at Gabrielle with a surprise, they didn't expect such human can actually corner their princess back to the stronghold! But what's more shocking to them is how shockingly beautiful Gabrielle is, they could only shake in pity as fate worse than death awaits her.
Meanwhile, Gabrielle had her thoughts running full steam. Thinking about what to do in such situation!
Right! I have a tribulation lightning pill! It's time to use it! Her eyes flashed as the idea came up from her mind, the energy the demon greatly feared is from the heavens, divine energy can harm them as any poison to a human.
With that plan in mind, she instantly transformed back to Gabriel and took out his tribulation lightning pill, it's time to get his lightning affinity!
The demons along with Zariel were shocked to see the sudden transformation, and when they sensed a terrifying energy coming from the pill he ate, a bad omen quickly spread throughout all of their minds!
"It's game over for you guys," Gabriel laughed.
BANG!
Suddenly, a thick column of lightning struck, obliterating the area within a few meters of him.
"AAAH!!!" The demons nearby instantly turned to dust, and two elders perished alongside them without struggle.
The remaining elders quickly reacted, flying away. Meanwhile, Lucifer and Zariel swiftly moved, narrowly escaping the deadly strike. They've sensed death which terrified both of them, staring at the crashing pillars of lighting in the area!
The tribulation lightnings wreaked havoc in the demon stronghold, it hits multiple structures and demons within, killing them instantly!
As the storm clouds rumbled above, another powerful bolt of lightning gathered, crackling with intense energy. Lucifer's eyes widened in fear as he saw what was coming. "Oh no!" he cried out, filled with desperation.
Without hesitation, the lightning bolt shot down from the sky and struck the demon gate directly. The air seemed to shudder as the bright energy hit with tremendous force, carrying the pure essence of heavenly power that nurtures mortal cultivators towards immortality. This divine energy was deadly to demons, and when it collided with the gate, a catastrophic reaction followed.
The once-menacing portal, through which demons had freely traveled between realms, now shook and twisted under the assault of celestial rage. Cracks appeared all over its surface, spreading out like lines on shattered glass. The gate itself strained and buckled, unable to endure the overwhelming purity of the heavenly lightning energy.
"NOOO-" Lucifer's cry of despair echoed through the forest as he watched the inevitable happen. The demon gate shattered into countless pieces, dispersing like mist blown away by a strong wind. With its destruction, the link between the mortal realm and the demon world abruptly snapped, leaving Lucifer and Zariel stunned.
Zariel, standing nearby, felt a chill run down her spine as she watched the gate that had been her path to conquest vanish before her eyes. She was momentarily speechless, stunned by the sight. Beside her, Lucifer's puppet clone crumbled into dust, his soul suddenly cut off.
In the aftermath, the forest fell silent, only the fading echoes of thunder mixing with the crackling remnants of dissipating demonic energy. Gabriel stood amidst the aftermath, his body infused with the lingering lightning tribulation qi. The lightning seed, now a part of his dantian, pulsed with potential.
Gabriel's POV
The moment the heavenly tribulation hit me, it felt like a burst of energy instantly filling my dantian, which literally scared me to death. I felt my dantian and meridians expanding to their limit, stretching to the point that I can feel the pain. If it bursts open, I'll be crippled for life, both cultivation and physically!
To prevent my dantian for over pressurizing, I quickly smacked my hands together, where the sun and moon on my palms met. "HAAAH!" with a shout, I released all the heavenly energy within my body to prevent myself from self-destruction. The point of absorbing the heavenly tribulation lightning is to get a sample of it, to cultivate it and make it my own elemental affinity. I don't need this much energy because my body can't refine it!
Only those who reach the peak of the mortal realm need to undergo lightning tribulations. Once that happens, if a cultivator successfully lives through it, they will become immortal in that moment.
I'm still at rank 6, at samsara revelation. If I hadn't cultivated my body using my refinement method, I would not be able to withstand such power of the heavenly lightning.
As the thunderstorm wreaked havoc in the area, after releasing much of the heavenly lightning qi out of my body, leaving only a small portion. I quickly glanced in my surroundings to see what were the effects of the heavenly lightning strike.
To my surprise, the portal where demons came from has been completely destroyed. Its destruction caused panic among demons in the surrounding while trying to avoid the lightning's wrath.
I looked at the demon princess, who's appearance who I can still remember vividly. The disciple of Elder Skyler whom tried to stop me from reaching the sword pavilion for sword techniques. I didn't expect the fate of her to entangle my disciple to her. For her to become her friend, and to die sacrificing herself to save my disciple. I respect you, Jessica Lee.
Now's the time to escape this ordeal, the lightning tribulation qi within my body is still wreaking havoc within me, causing internal damage. I have to get out of this quickly and find a place to refine it.
With a simple will, I turned into a woman. My chest felt heavier but at the same time, I felt light and agile. Circulating my ice qi quickly, I flew up and escaped myself from the mess while the demons were distracted to the damage the heavenly tribulation had caused in the demon stronghold.
As I flew southward, back to grey mountain sect. I quickly guided my male form to cultivate the heavenly tribulation lightning and try to assimilate it as my own, using my yin and yang energy I was able to contain it from further damaging my body, after spending a couple of minutes stabilizing the seal. I've began absorbing the lightning stand by strand, bit by bit. Assimilating the properties of the lightning energy to my own with the help of my yin and yang energy.
Outside, as I continued to flew through the skies. A heavy smoke can be seen within the distance, seeing the black smoke within the mountain ranges, I've arrived in the vicinity of the grey mountain sect.
End of POV
Within the Grey Mountain Sect, Serana held her heaven deceiver tightly as she faced a formidable opponent so far. Her surroundings were full of demon bodies, dead, severed, and frozen solid with black ice still attached to its bodies. Serana have been fighting alone, killing any demons she encountered her path.
She had consumed multiple pills already to sustain her strength, but as she had continued to pile up dead demons below her feet, it formed a hill of demons beneath her.
BANG!
A clash of weapons between a simple-looking sword and a hideous, menacing mace created sparks and qi blasts, negating each other. Serana faced Thorn, a massive demon whose hulking form towered over her. His grotesque appearance and the overwhelming demonic aura radiating from him made him a fearsome opponent.
"Die human!"
Thorn roared, swinging his mace with tremendous force. Each swing sent shockwaves through the air, causing the ground to tremble. Serana, agile and swift, danced around his attacks, her sword a blur of steel. She moved with the grace of a fairy yet a strength of a monster. Their clashes were loud and the shockwave it produced kept disturbing the dust and rubble from the ground.
Thorn's mace smashed into the ground where Serana had been standing moments before, leaving a crater in its wake. Seeing this she seized the opportunity, dashing forward and slashing at his exposed side. Her blade bit into his flesh, but his thick hide prevented any serious injury. Dark blood oozed from the wound, and Thorn's eyes glowed with rage.
"Ngk, you think that will kill me?" Thorn taunted, his voice a deep, guttural growl.
Serana didn't respond with words. Instead, she tightened her grip on her sword, her eyes narrowing. She knew she had to stay focused and exploit every opening Thorn presented, his skin was very thick that her sword needs to stay to the body for cold energy to reach his internal organs, but this monster is a berserker it didn't let Serana stay close as it kept wrecking everything on its path.
Thorn lunged at her again, his mace swinging in a wide arc. Serana ducked under the swing, her movements fluid and effortless. She countered with a series of quick strikes aimed at Thorn's legs, hoping to slow him down. Each strike was precise, her sword slicing through his flesh, but Thorn's resilience was formidable.
He bellowed in pain, swinging his mace in a furious frenzy. Serana leaped backward, narrowly avoiding the deadly blows. She could feel the air pressure from his attacks, the sheer force behind them making her heart race. She knew she couldn't afford to get hit, otherwise she'll be a human pancake.
Using her speed to her advantage, Serana circled Thorn, looking for an opening. Thorn, realizing her strategy, tried to keep up with her movements, his eyes filled with fury. He swung his mace in a downward strike, aiming to crush her. Serana sidestepped at the last moment, her sword flashing upward in a powerful counterattack.
The blade struck Thorn's arm, cutting deep into his flesh, frost forming within. Thorn roared, swinging his free hand at her, but she was already moving, darting to the side and delivering another quick slash to his ribs. Thorn's blood sprayed into the air, his wounds multiplying, but his resolve remained unbroken.
"Annoying fly!" Thorn roared, his voice laced with grudge. "Speed alone won't save you."
Serana knew he was right. She needed more than just speed to defeat him. She had to outsmart him, to find a way to turn his strength against him.
Thorn's next attack was a feint, his mace swinging low before reversing direction and coming at her from the side. Serana anticipated the move, her instincts honed from countless battles. She deflected the blow with her sword, the impact sending vibrations up her arm. Gritting her teeth, she pushed back, using Thorn's momentum against him.
With a quick twist of her wrist, Serana redirected Thorn's mace, causing it to crash into the ground beside them. She used the opening to strike at his knee, her sword cutting deep. Thorn howled in pain, stumbling but not falling. His rage only grew, his attacks becoming more savage.
Thorn's demonic energy surged, dark flames licking at his wounds and sealing them. Serana's eyes widened in realization. He could regenerate, making her task even more difficult. She had to find a way to overwhelm his healing abilities.
Thorn's next swing was wild and uncontrolled, his fury blinding him to strategy. Serana ducked under the swing, her body low to the ground. She sprang up behind him, her sword aimed at his back. The blade struck true, piercing through his thick hide and into his spine. Thorn roared, his body convulsing from the pain.
But even as he struggled, Thorn's mace swung backward, aiming for her head. Serana reacted instinctively, pulling her sword free and rolling to the side. The mace missed her by inches, the force of the swing creating a gust of wind that whipped through her hair.
Serana regained her footing, her eyes locked on Thorn. His movements were slower now, his regeneration taxed by the continuous wounds she inflicted. She knew she had to keep up the pressure, to push him to his limits.
With a burst of speed, Serana charged at Thorn her steps formed ice crystals on the ground, her sword a blur of motion. She aimed for his joints, his weak points, trying to disable him. Thorn fought back with everything he had, his mace swinging in wide arcs, but Serana was relentless.
Their weapons clashed again and again, each strike sending sparks flying. Thorn's rage was palpable, his roars echoing through the courtyard. But Serana's determination was just as strong. She moved with a deadly grace, her every action a testament to her skill and training.
As Thorn swung his mace in a powerful overhead strike, Serana sidestepped and thrust her sword into his side. The blade sank deep, her strength driving it through muscle and bone. Thorn's roar of pain was deafening, his body shaking from the impact.
But Thorn wasn't done yet. With a desperate burst of strength, he backhanded Serana, his massive fist connecting with her chest and sending her flying.
"Ah!" She hit the ground hard, the air knocked from her lungs. Pain radiated through her body, but she forced herself to stand, her vision swimming, at that moment Serana felt her own taste of blood for the first time in a fight.
The bitter and iron flavor of her blood awakened Serana, like a caffeine to her body.
Thorn's breathing was loud, his body covered in wounds. But his eyes burned with an unyielding fire. He raised his mace, ready to finish her off.
Serana took a deep breath, steadying herself. She couldn't afford to falter now. She raised her sword, her grip firm despite the pain. As Thorn charged at her, she focused all her energy into one final, decisive move.
Thorn's mace came down with a thunderous crash, but Serana was ready. She rolled to the side and sidestepped at the last moment, her sword flashing upward in a blinding arc. The blade sliced through Thorn's wrist, severing his hand and sending the mace flying.
"GAAAH"
Thorn howled in agony, clutching his bleeding stump. But Serana didn't stop there. She spun around, her sword slashing through the air with deadly precision. Thorn's eyes widened in shock and fear as she closed the distance between them. With a powerful thrust, she drove her blade into his chest, piercing his heart, a burst of black ice qi instantly turned his heart into a block of ice as it spread throughout his body.
Soon, Thorn solidified.
Serana, exhausted still clutched her sword that was still stabbed into Thorn. The glowing black light from her forehead kept relieving her stress, this is the reason she's been able to fight continuously as her stamina is kept being replenished by it. The abilities of a divine holder finally activated her stamina and qi regeneration is so quick that it cannot be compared to a talented cultivator, such a feat can be only attained by a divine body holder.
"Damn human, she killed Thorn!"
Demons seeing her kill their comrade, instead of getting afraid, the demons were much more agitated and mad seeing her kill their senior.
Serana, glanced at them. Her icy blue eyes were cold. With a tug, she pulled out her sword from Thorn, the body of demon crumbled apart into an ice crystals. With a wave of her sword, she pointed her sword at the approaching demons as it glowed with black light.
"Come on, you disgusting freaks." A rare sentence came out from her mouth as frustration filled her, the horde of demons kept flooding her despite her overwhelming strength against them.
Just as the demons were provoked and were about to attack. A shower of huge black ice boulders fell from the skies, as it showered into the sect!
Boom!
An icy explosion covered the first peak as demons perished within it. The explosion created a massive black icefield on the first peak, transforming it from fiery ruins into icy ruins.
Seeing this attack, Serana knew that it's a master class skill of her Frozen Star Sword Art! And who uses that is her master, Gabrielle! She quickly looked up at the sky and saw a beautiful figure quickly descending to her side.
"Are you okay?" Gabrielle asked as she checked Serana, seeing the glowing but dim phoenix symbol on her forehead, she was shocked. Serana was able to activate her innate skills, but that shock turned into relief as she no longer has to worry about Serana in the future. Killing a divine body holder is as hard as killing an immortal.
Serana nodded, "Yes master." Then her vision turned gloomy, "Sect master and Elder Skyler have passed away…"
After Skyler passed on, Victor was next, in his hand, he held a rose petal that fell from the battle, as his body lay in the sect open park, where once vibrant flowers filled the area.
Hearing this, Gabrielle fell silent for a second, then looked at the grey mountain peaks ahead of them, whispering, "The Grey Mountain Sect, is done for." Memories flashed over as he had spent almost 8 years within this sect already, he had zero emotional attachment to this place but still, he had spent his sweat and blood trying to survive in this place.
The destruction of the sect felt empty.
But for Serana, it was different. This is the place that changed her fate, where's she able to take a caring master, a shelter to stay, and a friend to make. Without the Grey Mountain Sect, she wouldn't be here, she would still be a slave and tormented by her adopted family. Seeing the full ruins of the place, a sharp pang of sadness filled her over, that pain was visible on her cold face.
The atmosphere grew dull; Gabrielle's attack altered the temperature of the area, causing snow to fall and a cold wind to blow, fluttering their robes as they each retreated into their own thoughts.
…
Demon Territory, Strong hold (Frostfall Forest)
The heavenly tribulation lightning inflicted significant damage and casualties among the demons and their structures. The destruction of the demon gate sparked panic among the demons. Even the demon princess felt a profound sense of loss as she gazed upon the ruins of the gate. She knew that she would be stranded in the mortal realm indefinitely, unable to return to the demon realm unless she attained immortality and found a way to break through the barriers of the world to create another portal back to her homeland.
Those elders who survived the strike were utterly terrified and nearly driven mad upon realizing that their path back to their homeland was forever closed. The demon realm could not reconnect to this mortal realm easily, as there are countless mortal realms scattered throughout the universe, numbering in trillions of realms. Creating a portal back would require thousands, if not hundreds of years, to pinpoint the exact location of this realm.
The demon princess, Zariel looked over to her side and stared at the pile of dust on the ground. This is where once the clone of Lucifer, her uncle stood. She kneeled down and picked an item to what it seemed to be a ring, she quickly opened the spatial ring and was surprised to see the content of treasures within the ring!
A smile crept up on her attractive face, as her mind recollected and the fierceness within her eyes went ablaze once more.
With a step, she moved forward.
"Order all demons who still remained in this world to retreat and consolidate our forces to protect ourselves!" she quickly ordered. With the demon gate forever closed, they wouldn't be able to replenish the population lost in battle if they continued expanding and fighting humans.
They needed to stay together in one place to repopulate and bide their time while Zariel cultivated her way to immortality.
Zariel looked around her and looked south, "This place is no longer safe without the numbers of demons pouring from the gate, now that our gate has been destroyed. Humans will fight us in every direction, I've found a perfect place to relocate our base, it's a mountain range where the terrain favored those defending from outside forces!"
Right, the place she was talking about was the Grey Mountain Sect, soon to be called, the Demon Sect, a place for demon to stay, cultivate and repopulate and expand their territory within the vicinity of the sect to act as a series of barriers against human onslaught.
The downfall of the Grey Mountain Sect marked the beginning of the Demon Sect's ascendancy, spreading fear, darkness and corruption throughout the mortal realm of Celestia, The realm shall never be the same again.