Zhou Linglong and Xu Chu locked eyes, their auras clashing in the air like titans about to collide. The tension between them was so palpable that the air seemed to crackle with electric sparks. It wasn't magic—it was sheer power. The friction of their energies caused the atmosphere to ripple under immense pressure.
Both warriors had reached the peak of their strength. They stood on equal footing, each having ascended to the level of a Great Emperor.
"This Zhou Linglong is stronger than I anticipated..." Orion muttered as he observed her from afar. Despite his confidence in Xu Chu's abilities, a flicker of doubt crept into his mind. His calculating nature wouldn't allow for complacency. Victory had to be assured.
"Qingyun," Orion whispered, summoning another of his trusted warriors. "Assist Xu Chu. Finish this quickly and avoid unnecessary complications."
"Yes, Lord," Emperor Qingyun replied with unwavering loyalty. Though sending a second fighter seemed dishonorable, Qingyun obeyed without question. After all, the command had come from his master.
On the battlefield, Zhou Linglong was prepared to face Xu Chu one-on-one, but when she saw Qingyun join him, her expression darkened. She glared at Orion, fury burning in her eyes.
"Orion! What is the meaning of this? We agreed on a duel, one against one!" she demanded, her voice cold and biting.
Orion shrugged nonchalantly. "My dear empress, you were the one who spoke of a one-on-one fight. I never agreed to that. Besides, who said it had to be one-on-one against just one person?"
Zhou Linglong was momentarily stunned by his brazen response. "You... You're shameless!"
Orion grinned, his teeth gleaming. "Thank you for the compliment."
Zhou Linglong seethed in silence. She had never encountered anyone so audacious, so shamelessly proud of their trickery. But there was no time to argue. The battle was about to begin.
"Fine," she growled. "Then let's fight!"
Just as Zhou Linglong braced herself for the two-on-one assault, a figure in a black robe emerged from the shadows. His body was battered and scarred, but his determination was unshaken. He knew the odds of Zhou Linglong winning were slim, especially against two Emperor-level opponents.
"I'll handle one of them. Focus on killing the other!" the man in the black robe shouted as he unsheathed his weapon. Though weakened, he was ready to hold off one of the foes.
Zhou Linglong nodded, her relief evident. With someone taking on part of the burden, her chances improved.
Meanwhile, in the city below, the protective shield around Chang'an flickered weakly. Zhou Linglong knew it wouldn't last much longer. With a sharp breath, she dispelled it entirely.
"Attack!" she cried, and the battle exploded into chaos.
Four Great Emperors clashed, their power shaking the very fabric of reality. The shockwaves of their strikes made it impossible for anyone nearby to stand. The entire battlefield seemed to teeter on the brink of destruction.
Amid the carnage, another figure stood by, watching intently. Luo Yi, wielding the Emperor-killing Spear, approached Orion with a question. "Lord, do you need my assistance?"
Orion hesitated for a moment. Luo Yi, though only a Half-Emperor, was no ordinary warrior. His weapon alone could rival the strength of a Great Emperor.
"Not yet," Orion decided. "They're evenly matched for now. But go support Cao Chun—he's facing two opponents at once, and I'm more concerned about his safety."
Luo Yi bowed and vanished into the void, searching for his comrade.
Meanwhile, another battle raged nearby. Orion's gaze shifted as he noticed Li Sandao locked in combat with a massive, grotesque creature. Their fight shook the ground, but it was clear Li Sandao was gaining the upper hand. His blade carved deep into the creature's flesh, sending it staggering backward, wounded but not defeated.
Orion was impressed. "This beast can withstand two of Li Sandao's strikes? Interesting."
The creature, now severely injured, began to retreat. Fear flickered in its eyes—an instinctive reaction even a mindless beast couldn't suppress. But just as it stepped back, it stumbled over the corpse of a fallen warrior. The scent of blood filled its nostrils, and a ravenous gleam ignited in its gaze.
"Eat... devour..." the creature snarled, its hunger overtaking its fear. It began to gorge on the corpse, and as it fed, its wounds healed and its strength surged.
Li Sandao watched in shock as the beast's aura grew stronger with each bite. Realization dawned on him—if he didn't act quickly, the creature would become unstoppable.
With a deep breath, he gripped his sword tightly, the weight of the moment settling over him. He had never needed to use his third sword before, but now he had no choice.
"This sword is called—Destruction of the World," Li Sandao whispered, preparing for the final strike.
The battlefield trembled as he raised his blade, ready to unleash a power that could change the tide of the war.