Hēilóng Dì's presence seemed to suffocate the air in the chamber, the shadows around him twisting unnaturally. His cold eyes gleamed as he stepped forward, his form towering over the group.
Lin Xi gripped her sword tightly, feeling her heart race. This was the second time they had faced him, but this encounter felt more intense. The air crackled with tension as everyone prepared for the inevitable clash.
Su Qinghe clutched the ancient map, stepping back to shield it from Hēilóng Dì's sight. "You won't get the map, Hēilóng Dì. We'll find the Lost Valley and stop you before you can unleash your full power."
The Black Dragon Emperor's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Brave words for one so insignificant. You think you can stand against me? You are nothing compared to the power I possess."
Shēng Lóng and Liú Jùn flanked Lin Xi, their weapons at the ready. They were outnumbered, but each of them knew that there was no turning back. If Hēilóng Dì gained control of the Lost Valley, it would spell the end for all of them.
"Stay close to Su Qinghe," Lin Xi whispered to the others. "We can't let Hēilóng Dì get his hands on the map. If we can't win here, we retreat."
The Black Dragon Emperor's eyes narrowed as his dark energy flared, filling the chamber with a wave of oppressive force. "There will be no retreat."
In an instant, the battle began.
Hēilóng Dì moved with unnatural speed, his dark aura sweeping across the chamber like a tidal wave. Lin Xi barely managed to block his first strike, her sword vibrating from the sheer force of the impact. She gritted her teeth, refusing to back down.
Shēng Lóng charged forward, his spear glowing with a faint, golden light. He struck at Hēilóng Dì's side, but the emperor deflected the attack with a simple flick of his hand, sending Shēng Lóng sprawling backward.
"You are insects to me," Hēilóng Dì growled, his voice thick with contempt. "I could crush you all with a thought."
Liú Jùn darted in from the other side, his twin blades flashing as he aimed for Hēilóng Dì's throat. But before he could land a blow, the emperor's shadowy tendrils lashed out, wrapping around Liú Jùn and hurling him against the stone wall with a sickening thud.
Lin Xi's eyes widened in horror as her friends were thrown aside so easily. She tightened her grip on her sword, channeling her energy into the blade. "We're not giving up!" she shouted, charging toward Hēilóng Dì once more.
This time, her strike connected, the blade slicing through the shadows surrounding the emperor. But instead of recoiling in pain, Hēilóng Dì only laughed, his dark energy swarming to fill the gap as if the wound never existed.
"You're playing a fool's game, girl," he sneered, swatting her away like an insect. Lin Xi stumbled back, her body aching from the force of the blow, but she refused to let herself fall.
Suddenly, a sharp gust of wind filled the chamber, and a glowing barrier appeared between the group and Hēilóng Dì. Su Qinghe had stepped forward, his staff raised high as he cast a protective spell.
"Stay back, Lin Xi!" Su Qinghe shouted, his voice strained. "I'll hold him off as long as I can."
Hēilóng Dì's expression darkened as he eyed the barrier. "You think your pathetic magic will stop me? You underestimate my power."
Su Qinghe's brow furrowed in concentration, his hands trembling as he maintained the barrier. "It's not about stopping you," he said, his voice resolute. "It's about giving us enough time."
Lin Xi took a deep breath, her mind racing. They couldn't defeat Hēilóng Dì like this—not now, when they were unprepared and weakened. But Su Qinghe was buying them precious time, and she wasn't about to waste it.
"We need to get out of here," she hissed to Shēng Lóng and Liú Jùn, who were slowly regaining their footing. "Su Qinghe can't hold that barrier forever."
Shēng Lóng nodded, his face set with determination despite the pain in his limbs. "There's no choice. If we stay here, we'll be slaughtered."
Liú Jùn glanced at the exit behind them, his expression grim. "I'll cover our retreat. We can't let Hēilóng Dì follow us."
Lin Xi nodded, giving Su Qinghe one last look. "We'll get the map to safety. Just hold on a little longer."
Su Qinghe gave her a small, reassuring nod, though the strain in his eyes was clear. The barrier flickered slightly as Hēilóng Dì's dark energy pressed against it, but Su Qinghe stood firm.
With a final glance at the enemy, Lin Xi signaled to the others, and they made their move. Shēng Lóng and Liú Jùn bolted toward the exit, their steps quick and light despite their injuries. Lin Xi stayed close to Su Qinghe, ensuring that the map stayed with him.
Hēilóng Dì roared in frustration as he slammed his fists against the barrier, cracks beginning to spiderweb across its surface. "You cannot escape me!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the ruins.
Lin Xi gritted her teeth, knowing that their time was running out. "Go, Su Qinghe! Now!"
With a final surge of energy, Su Qinghe released the barrier and turned, running after the others. Lin Xi followed, her heart pounding as Hēilóng Dì's dark energy surged behind them. The ruins shook with the force of his power, stones crumbling and dust filling the air.
They barely made it out of the temple before the structure collapsed behind them, sealing the entrance in a cloud of debris.
For a moment, the group stood in the open air, panting and covered in dust, but alive. Lin Xi turned to Su Qinghe, who was leaning heavily on his staff, his face pale.
"You did it," she said, her voice filled with relief. "We got out."
Su Qinghe nodded weakly. "But Hēilóng Dì won't stop. We need to move quickly—he'll be after us the moment he frees himself from the ruins."
Shēng Lóng wiped the blood from a cut on his cheek, his expression grim. "We need to find the Lost Valley, and fast."
Lin Xi agreed. They had barely escaped with their lives this time, and the next encounter with Hēilóng Dì might not end so well. The map in Su Qinghe's hands was their only hope now.
As they set off into the wilderness once more, Lin Xi couldn't help but glance over her shoulder, the feeling of being hunted never far from her mind.