"Stop!" she commanded, but Jang, consumed by fury, ignored her. The air crackled with raw power as Jang Gang, his eyes burning a feverish purple, unleashed a devastating "Absolute Demonic Star Burst." The energy wave, far more potent than his previous attacks, surged towards the beautiful woman in white.
"You leave me no choice," she declared, her voice a calm counterpoint to the chaos. With a single, graceful wave of her hand, she uttered a single word: "Seal."
The world seemed to hold its breath as Jang Gang's power, the very essence of his being, was abruptly extinguished. His body crumpled to the ground, a broken shell of its former self, bones dislocated, blood pooling around him.
"Impossible!" he gasped, pain wracking his shattered form. "Who… who are you?"
Luo Yutain, his eyes wide with disbelief, could only stare. The woman's power was beyond anything he had ever witnessed.
"What… what have we done to offend such a being?" Luo Yutain muttered, fear creeping into his voice.
The woman ignored Jang Gang's pleas, her gaze fixed on the unconscious figure lying nearby. Both men, their eyes following hers, realized the truth – this woman's wrath was directed towards them because of the seemingly insignificant youth.
Han Jingzhi, despite his weakness, had been a silent observer of the fight. His presence, though disregarded, had not gone unnoticed.
The woman, her beauty now tinged with an icy fury, knelt beside Han Jingzhi, gently wiping the blood from his lips. Her hand trembled slightly, a flicker of vulnerability amidst the storm of power.
"I would have spared your lives," she said, her voice a low growl, "Had you only harmed my trees. But you dared to hurt him, and for that… you will pay the ultimate price."
She rose, her once playful smile replaced by a chilling, crimson-eyed glare that sent shivers down their spines.
"Wild Judgement!" she declared, her voice echoing with ancient power.
The world shuddered. The sky darkened, a celestial curtain descending upon the scene. A golden scepter, radiating with divine energy, materialized in her hand, a symbol of her absolute authority.
"Wild Judgement? Impossible!" Luo Yutain cried out, recognizing the legendary technique. His heart pounded in his chest, a drumbeat of terror.
"Forgive us! We will never return to your forest, we will never harm your… your man!" Jang Gang begged, tears streaming down his face.
But the woman remained unmoved. She raised the scepter, its golden light a beacon of impending doom.
"Boom!"
A shockwave, a torrent of unimaginable power, erupted from the scepter, obliterating Jang Gang and Luo Yutain in a blinding flash. The two powerful evolvers, mere moments ago a threat to the forest, were reduced to dust, their existence erased.
Han Jingzhi's eyelids fluttered open. His body ached, a dull throb echoing the battle that had just unfolded. He felt weak, as if waking from a deep sleep.
He looked around, noticing the trees, once ravaged by the battle, now standing tall and proud, as if nothing had happened.
"Those trees were destroyed… how?" he murmured, confusion clouding his thoughts.
He tried to sit up, but a gentle hand pressed him back down.
"You shouldn't move," a soft voice whispered.
His heart leaped. He turned his head, meeting the familiar gaze of a young woman. He was lying on her lap, her presence a soothing balm to his aching body.
"Lilith!" he exclaimed, a wave of relief washing over him. "Are you hurt?"
"No," she replied, her voice a comforting melody. "I wasn't caught in the crossfire."
Reassured, Han Jingzhi let out a sigh. The battle was over, and he was safe. He was safe, thanks to her.
...
Meanwhile, in a lavishly decorated room, a young lady sat on her bed, her gaze fixed on a television screen displaying a news report on the Demonic Troll player while she patted a fur ball beside her. A tall, burly man soon entered and bowed.
"How is the search going?" she asked, her voice laced with impatience. "Have you found anything on this Demonic Troll?"
The middle-aged, burly man standing before her, his face etched with frustration, shook his head. "Sorry, young lady, but this player seems determined to stay hidden. Even our offer hasn't been enough to lure him out."
The young lady's lips curled into a smirk. "Not taking the bait, eh? Then we simply need to raise the stakes. Increase the reward to thirty million. Unless this player is already swimming in wealth, he'll surely be tempted."
"Understood, young lady," the middle-aged man said, bowing slightly before exiting the room.
"I will have my hands on this player," the young lady declared, her eyes burning with ambition. "This player Demonic Troll is either incredibly lucky or has connections to the game creators. He has access to things most players can only dream of. If I can bring him into my fold, my family's position will rise to unimaginable heights!"
...
"Brother Jingzhi," Lilith said, her voice soft and hesitant. "I've been thinking about what you said yesterday..."
"What is it?" Han Jingzhi asked, his heart sinking. "Are you leaving already?"
Lilith nodded, her eyes downcast. "But… what if your family tries to find me? How will they know where to look?"
"Don't worry about them," she said, her voice regaining its usual confidence. "They'll find me no matter what."
"Where are you going?" Han Jingzhi asked, a sense of unease settling over him.
"Wherever you're going," Lilith replied, her eyes fixed on him.
"What do you mean?" Han Jingzhi asked, confused.
"I want to follow you, Brother Jingzhi," she said, her voice unwavering. "For the rest of my life. Will you accept my offer?"
[Lilith has requested to become your bond partner. Will you accept?]
Han Jingzhi's mind raced, trying to process the unexpected request. This was beyond anything he had ever imagined.
"You… you want to be my bond partner?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"Yes," Lilith said, her eyes shining with sincerity. "This Lilith is willing to, for the rest of her life."
Han Jingzhi drew in a sharp breath, his heart pounding in his chest. This was simply too much, too unbelievable.
"But Lilith, is this really necessary?" he asked, his voice filled with uncertainty.
"Yes," Lilith replied, her voice firm. "Unless you want Lilith to be lonely for the rest of her life?"
Han Jingzhi hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded. "Ok… then I accept."
[World Announcement: Demonic Troll has become the first player to obtain a Transcendent ranked bond partner.]
Han Jingzhi's world had just taken a new turn. He had just accepted a bond with a Transcendent ranked partner, a feat unprecedented in Revolution Online. The weight of this decision, the implications of this bond, were still sinking in. But one thing was clear: his life, his journey, had just taken a dramatic, unexpected turn.
Han Jingzhi, overwhelmed by the sudden announcement, instinctively opened Lilith's status screen.
[Lilith (NPC)
Level: Transcendent
Class: Guardian of the Forest
Skills:
Wild Judgement: Summons a divine scepter, capable of unleashing devastating power, obliterating enemies.
Forest's Embrace: Heals injured allies and restores the health of the forest.
Nature's Fury: Unleashes a torrent of elemental attacks, devastating enemies.
Ancient Wisdom: Grants allies increased resistance to magic and physical attacks.
Bond Status: Bound to Demonic Troll
Special Abilities:
Transcendent Aura: Enhances the abilities of all allies within a certain radius.
Unbreakable Will: Immune to fear, mind control, and other negative mental effects.
Divine Protection: Grants allies a shield that absorbs a certain amount of damage.
Other skills could not be displayed... due to system policies.]
Han Jingzhi stared at the screen, his mind reeling. He had just become bound to a being of unimaginable power, a being who could potentially reshape the world of Revolution Online. The future was uncertain, but one thing was clear: his journey had just become infinitely more easy or complex and dangerous.
...
End of Chapter 9