The Bat Wing King's claws swiped at me again, and I raised my sword to defend myself. But I was too slow, too weak. The creature's claws raked across my chest, tearing through my robes and into my flesh.
I screamed, my vision blurring. I felt myself falling, but somehow I managed to stay upright. My sword slipped from my grasp, and I stumbled back, desperate to escape the creature's deadly claws.
But there was nowhere to go. The Bat Wing King loomed over me, its eyes blazing with fury. I raised my hands, trying to defend myself, but I knew it was futile.
Just as all hope seemed lost, I saw a flash of movement out of the corner of my eye. Ling Xiao, despite his heavy injuries, had crawled forward and was now attacking the Bat Wing King with his Ice Sword.
The creature roared in pain as Ling Xiao's sword sliced into its wing, giving me just enough time to scramble to safety. I collapsed to the ground, my chest burning with agony...
The Bat Wing King's claws swiped at me again, and I raised my hands, but I knew I couldn't defend myself. I was too weak, too slow. The creature's claws were about to tear me apart, and I closed my eyes, waiting for the end.
But just as the Bat Wing King was about to deliver the final blow, Zhao Min shouted, "Cherry Blossom, First Form: Petal Storm!"
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, and delicate pink petals began to swirl around her, like a soft, ethereal mist. The petals danced in a mesmerizing pattern, each one shimmering with a subtle, luminescent glow.
But the Bat Wing King was too powerful, and it swatted the petals aside, its claws still closing in on me.
Zhao Min's eyes flashed with determination. "Second Form: Blossoming Fury!"
The petals suddenly coalesced into a dense, blazing sphere of light, its surface etched with intricate, swirling patterns. The sphere erupted into a maelstrom of razor-sharp petals, each one glowing with a fierce, intense light.
The Blossoming Fury struck the Bat Wing King with incredible force, its petals slicing through the creature's wings, shredding its dark, leathery skin. The creature let out a deafening screech as it stumbled back, its claws retracting mere inches from my face.
As the Bat Wing King dissipated into nothingness, Zhao Min rushed to my side, concern etched on her face. "Tu Wei, are you...?"
I nodded, still trying to catch my breath. And then, I looked up at her, my face burning with a sudden, intense blush. "Senior Sister Qing Yu..." I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.
Zhao Min smiled softly, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "
Tu Wei, you're safe now..."