The air was thick with ash and the burning scent of destruction. Shenlog, in his full dragon-cloak form, hovered in the sky, his wings outstretched and glowing faintly with embers. Below him, the battlefield was a smoldering wasteland, the ground marred with craters from Greyjoy's relentless black flames.
Greyjoy stood on a massive chunk of molten rock, his body wreathed in black fire that danced ominously around him. His grin was twisted with amusement as he stared up at Shenlog, a predator toying with its prey. "Is this the best you can do, Dragon God? Your flames are impressive, but they lack… permanence," he mocked, extending his hand as another vortex of black fire spiraled into the sky.
CRACK.
The sky groaned as Greyjoy's BLACK FLAMES TRAILBLAZER TECHNIQUE rained down again, consuming the already charred battlefield in a storm of inextinguishable fire. The inferno moved like liquid death, eating away at what little remained of the Free World's defenses.
Shenlog spiraled through the storm, dodging most of the fire with blinding speed. But even he couldn't evade it all. A tendril of black flame grazed his left wing, burning through the membrane. He winced, his dragon-like growl reverberating through the battlefield.
From below, Cade and Jingwei watched helplessly. Cade's blood manipulation flickered weakly as exhaustion overtook him. "Shenlog can't hold out much longer," Cade said, his voice strained. "We need to back him up—"
"No," Shenlog's voice boomed, cutting through the chaos. He hovered above them, his glowing dragon eyes locking onto his comrades. "Fall back and protect the city. This fight… is mine alone."
Jingwei opened his mouth to protest but stopped when he saw Shenlog's face. It wasn't just determination—it was finality.
Greyjoy's flames receded slightly as the God of Fire looked up at his opponent with mild curiosity. "Retreating your allies? Noble, but futile. You're out of time, Dragon God."
Shenlog smirked, despite the burns on his skin. "Time isn't what I need. I've already figured you out."
Greyjoy raised an eyebrow, his flames swirling tighter around him. "Oh? Do tell."
Instead of replying, Shenlog flew higher, his aura igniting into a brilliant inferno that dwarfed even Greyjoy's black flames. The sky turned a blinding gold as Shenlog's dragon roared, the sound echoing for miles.
"Greyjoy," Shenlog said, his voice calm but resolute, "you've underestimated the power of a protector." He raised both hands above his head, flames coiling into a dense orb that grew larger and larger, pulsating with raw energy.
Greyjoy's smirk faltered for the first time. "What are you—?"
Shenlog's wings expanded, their tips glowing like molten steel. His voice boomed, louder than ever.
"DRAGON ASCENSION: ETERNAL INFERNO SACRIFICE!"
BOOM.
The orb detonated into a massive column of golden fire, piercing the heavens. The shockwave shattered the air, flattening the landscape as the flames expanded outward, swallowing Greyjoy and the remaining giants in a tidal wave of destruction.
Cade and Jingwei watched in stunned silence as the explosion lit up the horizon. The heat was unbearable even from miles away, forcing them to shield their faces. "He… he's really going to—" Cade began, but his voice broke.
From the heart of the inferno, Shenlog's voice roared one final time. "Protect the Free World… for the next generation."
Greyjoy's figure could be seen for a split second, trying to resist the flames, but the intensity was too much even for him. His black fire dissipated, his form crumbling as the flames consumed him entirely.
As the firestorm began to subside, Shenlog's dragon form unraveled, his body falling from the sky like a meteor. Cade sprinted toward the impact site, screaming, "Shenlog!"
When the smoke cleared, they found Shenlog lying amidst the wreckage, his dragon wings burnt away. He was human once more, his body charred and broken. His breathing was shallow, but a faint smile lingered on his face.
Jingwei knelt beside him, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Father…"
Shenlog coughed, blood trickling from his lips. "You're… strong enough… to protect them," he whispered. "Both of you are. Don't let this sacrifice… be in vain."
And with that, the Dragon God, Shenlog, closed his eyes for the last time. Yea
Cade and Jingwei stood in silence as the remaining sentinels gathered around. The battlefield was eerily quiet, the once-mighty giants reduced to ash.
Jingwei clenched his fists, his tears evaporating in the lingering heat. "Greyjoy may be gone… but this isn't over. Jiangshi will pay for this."
The chapter ends with a haunting image of Shenlog's dragon emblem burning faintly in the scorched earth, a symbol of hope and sacrifice.