The air crackled with dark energy as Hēilóng Dì stepped forward, his presence alone warping the space around him. Lin Xi gripped her sword tightly, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on her. This was it—the confrontation they had long anticipated. The enemy they had heard only whispered rumors about was now standing before them, and his power was palpable.
Su Qinghe struggled to his feet, clutching the relic tightly. His face was pale, but his eyes burned with determination. "We can't let him take this," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Hēilóng Dì's cold gaze flicked toward Su Qinghe, noticing the relic in his hand. "So, you've found one of the relics," he said, his voice a low growl. "But it won't save you."
With a flick of his wrist, Hēilóng Dì sent a wave of dark energy barreling toward Su Qinghe. Lin Xi reacted instantly, darting in front of him and raising her sword to block the attack. The force of the impact sent a shockwave through her body, but she held her ground.
"You'll have to go through us first!" Lin Xi shouted, her voice defiant.
Shēng Lóng and Liú Jùn moved to flank Hēilóng Dì, their weapons drawn and ready. They had faced many enemies on this journey, but none like this. The Black Dragon Emperor's power was unlike anything they had encountered before.
Without warning, Hēilóng Dì lunged toward them, his movements unnaturally fast. Shadows coiled around him like living creatures, lashing out at Lin Xi and the others. Shēng Lóng thrust his spear forward, aiming for the Emperor's chest, but the shadows deflected the blow effortlessly.
Liú Jùn moved in next, his twin blades flashing through the air as he struck at Hēilóng Dì. But each strike was met with the same resistance—Hēilóng Dì's dark magic seemed to shield him from every attack.
"We can't keep fighting him like this!" Liú Jùn grunted, narrowly dodging a shadowy tendril that whipped past his face. "He's too strong!"
Su Qinghe, still clutching the relic, muttered a chant under his breath. The crystal in his hand began to glow brighter, filling the chamber with a soft, radiant light. "I'm going to weaken him," he said, his voice strained. "But it's going to take everything I have."
Lin Xi glanced at him, concern flashing across her face. "Su Qinghe, don't—"
"There's no other choice," he interrupted, his expression resolute. "I'll create an opening. You have to strike when you see it."
Without waiting for her response, Su Qinghe stepped forward, raising the relic high above his head. The light from the crystal intensified, casting long shadows across the walls of the chamber. Hēilóng Dì's eyes narrowed, and for the first time, a flicker of caution crossed his face.
"Fool," Hēilóng Dì spat, his voice dripping with malice. "You cannot stop what's coming."
But Su Qinghe was undeterred. The relic hummed with ancient power as he chanted the words of a Guardian spell, his voice rising with each syllable. The chamber trembled, and the shadows around Hēilóng Dì began to falter, shrinking back from the light.
"Now!" Su Qinghe shouted, his voice echoing through the chamber.
Lin Xi didn't hesitate. She rushed forward, her sword raised high, aiming for Hēilóng Dì's heart. The Black Dragon Emperor snarled, raising his hand to block her strike, but the light from the relic had weakened him. His movements were slower, less precise.
Lin Xi's blade found its mark, cutting through the shadows and striking Hēilóng Dì's chest. A roar of pain erupted from the Emperor as dark energy exploded from the wound, filling the air with a deafening sound.
But it wasn't over yet.
Hēilóng Dì staggered back, clutching his chest, his face twisted with rage. "You... will regret this," he hissed, his voice venomous. "I will return. And when I do, your world will burn."
With those words, the Black Dragon Emperor's form dissolved into a swirling mass of shadows, retreating into the darkness of the temple. The chamber fell silent, the oppressive weight of his presence lifting.
Lin Xi lowered her sword, breathing heavily. The battle was over, but the threat of Hēilóng Dì still loomed.
"We need to leave," Su Qinghe said, his voice weak. The relic's glow had dimmed, and he looked pale, exhausted from the spell he had cast. "This place won't hold for long."
Shēng Lóng and Liú Jùn nodded, moving quickly to support Su Qinghe as they made their way out of the temple. Lin Xi took one last glance at the altar where the relic had been, feeling a sense of unease settle in her chest. They had won this battle, but Hēilóng Dì's words echoed in her mind.
The war was far from over.