The clash between Azazel and the dark guardian echoed throughout the Forbidden Vault, the air thick with the crackling of raw energy. The True Blade in Azazel's hand shimmered as it met the ethereal form of the guardian, whose dark robes swirled like a tempest. With every strike, the air seemed to compress, the pressure of their battle distorting the very fabric of the vault.
Azazel's Iron Soul Armor glowed with an eerie light, the energy flowing through him, amplifying every movement. The guardian's form was like smoke, ever-shifting, but Azazel could feel the malicious intent radiating from it. Each time their blades met, it felt like a violent collision of two opposing worlds—one full of life and power, the other drowned in an ancient darkness.
Ding!
The voice of the Iron Soul System rang out, cutting through the tension.
"Energy signature of guardian detected. Entity is a manifestation of forbidden energy. Analysis complete: Suggestion—neutralize entity using Soul Severing Strike."
Azazel gritted his teeth, narrowing his eyes as he felt the Iron Soul System's words penetrate his mind. The Soul Severing Strike—he had read about it briefly in the system's prompts, but it had never been necessary to use until now. This strike was a powerful technique, capable of cutting through spiritual energy and severing the connection between a being's soul and its vessel.
"Alright," Azazel muttered under his breath. "Let's end this."
His fingers tightened around the hilt of the True Blade, and he felt a pulse of energy surging through him. The system had guided him to this moment, giving him the power to overcome the guardian's dark power. With a deep breath, Azazel focused his mind, channeling the full might of the Iron Soul System into his strike.
The world around him seemed to slow as the energy inside him coiled like a spring. In that single, silent moment, Azazel understood the true weight of his power. The connection between his soul and the blade felt solid, a unified force that could tear through anything standing in his way.
Then, with a single motion, Azazel unleashed the Soul Severing Strike.
A shockwave of force exploded outward from the True Blade, its energy streaking through the vault like a comet of pure will. The dark guardian's form faltered, its ethereal body writhing as if in pain. The very essence of its being seemed to shudder as the strike cleaved through the energy binding it to the vault.
The guardian let out a terrible scream, its voice a cacophony of anguish. "No! You cannot—"
But it was too late. The Soul Severing Strike had done its work, severing the guardian's connection to the vault and its spiritual source. In an instant, the guardian's form unraveled like smoke in the wind, disintegrating into nothingness.
Azazel stood panting, his breath coming in shallow gasps. The Iron Soul Armor around him flickered, its glow dimming as the system recalibrated his energy. Despite the victory, the vault seemed to tremble around him, as if the very walls themselves mourned the guardian's fall.
Ding!
"Entity neutralized. Energy signature now stable. Warning: Vault is in a state of flux. Host should proceed with caution."
Azazel barely had time to process the system's warning before the ground beneath him shuddered violently. The walls groaned as cracks spiderwebbed across them, dark tendrils of energy seeping from the fissures.
"It's collapsing," Xian Lin shouted, his voice filled with urgency. "We need to leave, now!"
Azazel's mind raced. The vault had been a prison, a place meant to hold the darkest secrets of the Phoenix Sect. But now that the guardian was gone, the forces holding the structure together were unraveling. If they didn't leave soon, they would be trapped beneath the weight of this ancient power.
With a grim nod, Azazel turned toward the pedestal. The book—the one that contained the truth about the Phoenix Sect—still lay there, undisturbed. It pulsed with an ominous energy, as if beckoning him to take it.
But Azazel hesitated.
"Host, the energy from the book is unstable. Extraction will trigger a catastrophic event. Immediate retreat recommended."
The Iron Soul System's voice was calm, but it was clear that this was a matter of life and death. Azazel's gaze flickered from the book to Xian Lin and Wei Xianer, both of whom were already preparing to leave. The vault was coming apart, and there was no time to waste.
But the weight of the decision lingered in his chest. The book contained knowledge—knowledge that could help them defeat the Zhen Xian, the dark force that had plagued the Phoenix Sect for centuries. It was the key to understanding everything, the truth that could turn the tide in their battle.
Yet, Azazel understood. The truth could wait. If he didn't get out of the vault alive, there would be no one left to use it.
"Let's go," Azazel said through clenched teeth, his voice resolute. He turned toward the exit, the True Blade still in his hand, the Iron Soul Armor flickering as he moved.
Xian Lin and Wei Xianer didn't hesitate. They followed closely behind, their steps quick as the vault around them began to collapse. The air grew thick with the pressure of the crumbling structure, the very ground beneath their feet shaking with each passing second.
As they reached the entrance, Azazel felt a sharp pang of regret. The vault had been a treasure trove of untold knowledge, but now it was slipping away, buried beneath the ruins.
But there was no time for regret.
With a final glance at the fading darkness of the vault, Azazel leaped forward, his heart pounding with the urgency of their escape. The entrance was just ahead, the light from the outside growing brighter as they neared the threshold.
And then—
A deafening roar split the air.
The vault's collapse accelerated, and the final wall of stone shattered as a massive wave of energy surged outward. Azazel was thrown forward, the pressure of the blast pushing him to the ground.
"Host!"
The voice of the Iron Soul System was drowned out by the roar of destruction, but Azazel could feel the system's energy surging through him, reinforcing his body against the blast. The protective armor around him flared to life, its dark surface absorbing the shockwave.
With one last burst of energy, Azazel rolled forward, his body scraping against the ground as he reached the threshold of the vault. The light outside blinded him for a moment, but he didn't stop.
He surged forward, his muscles burning with exertion, and finally—he was free.
The vault collapsed behind him in a thunderous crash, its destruction echoing through the mountainside. The ground trembled beneath their feet, but Azazel didn't look back.
They had escaped.
For now.