The temple walls shook violently as the battle raged on. The ground beneath Lan Yue's feet felt unstable, the stone floor cracking under the force of the dark qi that surged through the air. She could barely catch her breath as she fought, her sword glowing faintly with the power of the Lotus Flame, though it seemed dimmer now, weakened by the relentless onslaught of the Shadowborn.
Beside her, Li Feng was a blur of movement, his spear spinning through the air with deadly precision. The crackling energy of his dark qi pulsed through the temple, clashing violently with the dark energy of their opponent. Every strike was met with resistance, the air thickening with the suffocating weight of the battle.
But even with their combined strength, they were struggling. The figure before them—a man cloaked in darkness, his eyes glowing with the sickly green light of dark qi—was unlike any enemy they had faced before. His power was overwhelming, his attacks relentless, and every time they thought they had the upper hand, he seemed to grow stronger.
Lan Yue's muscles burned with exertion, her chest heaving as she fought to keep her footing. Her sword moved in a blur of silver light, cutting through the dark energy that surrounded her, but each strike took more effort than the last. She could feel the strain of the battle wearing on her, the weight of the dark qi pressing down on her like a suffocating blanket.
"We can't keep this up," she gasped, her voice barely audible over the roar of the battle.
Li Feng's jaw clenched as he deflected another attack, his dark eyes flickering with frustration. "We don't have a choice!"
Lan Yue knew he was right. They couldn't retreat, not now. Not when the Shadowborn threatened everything they had fought for. But the realization did little to ease the fear that gnawed at her insides. She had faced powerful enemies before, but this—this was different.
The figure before them let out a low, mocking laugh, his voice echoing unnaturally through the temple. "Is this the best the White Lotus and Shadow Wolf clans have to offer? Pathetic."
Lan Yue's grip tightened on the hilt of her sword, her teeth grinding together as a surge of anger coursed through her veins. She wouldn't let him win. She couldn't.
"We're not done yet!" she shouted, her voice filled with determination.
Without waiting for a response, Lan Yue charged forward, her sword glowing brightly with the power of the Lotus Flame. She poured every ounce of strength she had left into her attack, the blade cutting through the air with deadly precision as she aimed for the figure's chest.
But before her sword could make contact, the figure raised his hand, and a wave of dark energy exploded outward, sending Lan Yue flying backward. She hit the ground hard, pain shooting through her body as the impact knocked the wind from her lungs.
For a moment, everything went dark.
When Lan Yue opened her eyes, she found herself lying on the cold stone floor of the temple, her sword lying a few feet away. Her body ached with exhaustion, her muscles trembling from the effort of the battle. She could hear the sounds of the fight still raging around her—the clash of weapons, the crackle of energy, the distant roars of the Shadowborn—but her vision was blurred, her mind foggy.
And then, through the haze, she saw him.
Li Feng.
He was still fighting, his spear moving in a blur of dark energy as he battled the cloaked figure. His movements were precise, controlled, but even from where she lay, Lan Yue could see the strain in his posture, the exhaustion etched into his features. He was struggling, just like she was.
Lan Yue forced herself to move, her fingers curling around the hilt of her sword as she pushed herself to her feet. Every muscle in her body screamed in protest, but she couldn't stop. She wouldn't stop.
"Li Feng!" she called out, her voice hoarse.
Li Feng's eyes flickered toward her for a brief moment, but he didn't break his focus. His spear clashed with the figure's weapon—a twisted blade made of dark energy—and the force of the impact sent shockwaves through the air.
"We need a plan," Lan Yue said, her voice strained as she approached him, her sword glowing faintly in her hand.
Li Feng nodded, his expression grim. "He's too strong. We can't just overpower him."
Lan Yue's mind raced as she dodged another attack from a nearby Shadowborn, her thoughts swirling like the storm that raged around them. The figure they were fighting—he wasn't just using dark qi. He was channeling it in ways she had never seen before, drawing power from the very air around him, from the shadows themselves.
"He's feeding off the dark qi," Lan Yue realized, her eyes narrowing as the pieces began to fall into place. "That's why he's so strong."
Li Feng's gaze sharpened, his jaw tightening as he deflected another blow. "Then we need to cut him off from it."
Lan Yue nodded, her grip tightening on her sword. "But how?"
The answer came to her almost immediately, as if the Lotus Flame itself had whispered the solution into her mind.
"The flame," she said, her voice filled with sudden clarity. "We need to use the power of the Lotus Flame. It's the only thing that can counter his dark qi."
Li Feng glanced at her, his dark eyes filled with understanding. "But the flame is too far—"
"I'll bring it here," Lan Yue interrupted, her heart pounding in her chest. "I can draw the flame's energy into my sword. It's risky, but it's the only way."
Li Feng hesitated for only a moment before nodding, his expression resolute. "Do it. I'll hold him off."
Without wasting another second, Lan Yue turned and sprinted toward the inner sanctum of the temple, where the Lotus Flame still burned brightly. Her heart raced as she moved, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps as she dodged the attacks of the remaining Shadowborn that blocked her path.
The inner sanctum was quiet, the soft glow of the Lotus Flame casting long shadows across the stone walls. Lan Yue stood before the sacred fire, her sword raised, the power of the flame already thrumming through her veins.
She closed her eyes, focusing her energy on the flame, feeling its warmth fill her body. The connection between her and the flame had always been strong, but now, in the heat of battle, it felt more powerful than ever.
"I need your strength," Lan Yue whispered, her voice soft but filled with resolve. "Help me end this."
The flame flickered, as if in response, and Lan Yue felt its energy surge into her sword, the blade glowing brighter than it ever had before. The power of the Lotus Flame coursed through her, filling her with a renewed sense of purpose.
With her sword now infused with the flame's power, Lan Yue turned and ran back to the main hall, her heart pounding in her chest. The battle was still raging, but now, armed with the flame's energy, she felt ready to face whatever darkness awaited her.
When she reentered the hall, she found Li Feng still locked in battle with the cloaked figure, his spear moving in a blur as he blocked each attack. But he was tiring, his movements slower, more labored.
"Li Feng!" Lan Yue shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.
Li Feng's gaze snapped to hers, and his eyes widened as he saw the glow of the Lotus Flame in her sword.
Without wasting a moment, Lan Yue charged forward, her sword blazing with the power of the flame. The cloaked figure's eyes widened in surprise, and for the first time, Lan Yue saw a flicker of fear cross his face.
She struck with all her might, her blade cutting through the air in a blur of silver light. The figure raised his weapon to block, but it was too late. The power of the Lotus Flame surged through her sword, and when it made contact with the figure's blade, the dark energy exploded outward, sending shockwaves through the air.
The figure let out a scream of agony as the flame's light engulfed him, his body convulsing as the dark qi that had sustained him was burned away. His form began to disintegrate, the shadows that had clung to him unraveling like smoke.
For a brief moment, the entire temple was bathed in the blinding light of the Lotus Flame.
And then, just as quickly as it had begun, it was over.
The figure was gone, his body reduced to nothing more than ash. The Shadowborn had vanished, their forms dissolving into the air like mist.
Lan Yue stood in the center of the hall, her sword still glowing faintly with the remnants of the flame's power. Her chest heaved with exhaustion, her body trembling from the strain of the battle. But they had won.
They had finally won.
Li Feng appeared beside her, his spear lowered, his breath coming in ragged gasps. For a moment, neither of them spoke. They simply stood there, side by side, taking in the aftermath of the battle.
But even in the quiet, the air between them was charged with something more—something that had nothing to do with the fight they had just survived.
"Lan Yue," Li Feng said, his voice low and rough with exhaustion. "You did it."
Lan Yue looked up at him, her heart still racing from the intensity of the battle—and from something else entirely.
"We did it," she corrected softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Their eyes met, and in that moment, the tension that had been building between them for so long finally broke.