The Breaking of the Seal
The old sage was deep within Xiang's mind, attempting to break the ancient seal that confined her true powers. His focus was unwavering, the energy around him swirling with arcane forces. But just as he was about to succeed, the sound of approaching footsteps broke his concentration. Doming's forces had arrived.
Wen Shia rushed to the sage's side, determined to protect him at all costs. His sword sliced through the air with deadly precision, felling demon soldiers one by one. Each swing brought a thud as their bodies hit the ground, but the sheer number of attackers was overwhelming. It was as if the enemy was endless.
Wen Shia fought with all his might, his breath quickening, his body aching. He could feel himself weakening with every passing moment. Surrounded on all sides, he was unable to defend himself properly. With no room to move, his knees buckled, and he collapsed onto all fours, blood staining his clothes. His once-proud stance was now broken. Despite his valiant efforts, he was alone in this battle, fighting for a cause that seemed increasingly futile.
Meanwhile, high above in Heaven, the Heavenly God observed the battle unfolding below. "We shouldn't have sent Wen Shia alone. This situation is becoming too dangerous," he muttered, his tone filled with regret.
Goddess Heaven, standing beside him, nodded gravely. "You're right. We must send reinforcements. Prepare the celestial army," she said firmly, already moving to rally the soldiers.
But just as they were about to take action, a massive shockwave rocked Heaven. The demons, led by Zhu Huan, launched an all-out assault. Their dark army swept across the heavens like a tidal wave, coming from every corner, attacking with savage force. Heaven was unprepared for such an assault. The surprise attack was too much to handle. The demons stormed in with their powerful weapons, smashing through the celestial gates. With a mighty roar, they shattered the seal of Heaven, and the floodgates opened wide.
The first line of Heaven's soldiers fell in an instant. No one could stop the demons' advance. They surged forward with unstoppable force, each wave more brutal than the last. But despite this, those stationed further back were ready to fight. They weren't caught off guard.
Wen Shia had secretly set up numerous magical barriers across Heaven. As soon as the demon soldiers stepped onto the barriers, they triggered a wave of energy that blasted them back. Some were even injured severely by the powerful enchantments, their bodies burned by the mystical forces.
Then, from the rows of statues that lined the halls of Heaven, figures began to move. Ancient celestial warriors, their stone bodies now animated, rose to life. They carried bows and arrows, raining down destruction upon the invading demon forces. The sight of statues coming to life stunned the demons, and even the Heavenly God was taken aback. "When did Wen Shia prepare all this?" he asked, his voice filled with awe. It was clear that Wen Shia had anticipated the attack, preparing for the day the demons would come to claim Heaven.
The battle raged on as the demon forces pushed deeper into Heaven, but the gods fought back with equal ferocity. Blood flowed through the streets of Heaven, and the air was thick with the clash of steel. Celestial soldiers fought bravely, sacrificing themselves to protect their home, but the demons were relentless. Their numbers were vast, and their attacks were devastating.
Amid the chaos, Wen Shia was captured. The demon forces had overwhelmed him, and they dragged him to the front of the battlefield. Xiang, unconscious from the sage's failed attempt to break her seal, was now their next target. Doming approached her, picking her up with ease, ready to take her away.
Wen Shia, battered and bound, saw Xiang being carried off. Desperation filled his chest. "Xiang!" he shouted, his voice hoarse. "You can't go with them! You are not like these demons! Fight back!" His words pierced through the chaos, and Xiang stirred.
For a brief moment, her eyes flickered, the light in them dim but still present. Her memories began to return, fragments of her past, memories of who she was. Slowly, she began to regain control, her strength returning. "I won't go with you," she whispered, her voice soft at first but growing louder with conviction.
In a sudden burst of power, Xiang pushed Doming away. Her hands glowed with a fierce energy as she unleashed a devastating attack, sending Doming flying backward, crashing into the ground. The demon lord was thrown off balance, but his rage was far from quelled. He rose to his feet quickly, eyes blazing with fury, and launched a powerful spell toward her. The spell hit Xiang square in the chest, destabilizing her powers.
As her energy spiraled out of control, Xiang's body convulsed. Her power surged wildly, threatening to tear her apart. Just as she began to lose herself, the King of the demon clan stepped forward, his eyes filled with cold determination. He seized Xiang by the throat, lifting her into the air as his grip tightened. Xiang gasped for breath, her vision darkening, her strength fading.
Doming tried to stop the King, rushing toward them with a spell at the ready, but he was held back by the King's soldiers, who kept him restrained. The King's grip on Xiang's neck grew tighter and tighter, and just when it seemed like her life would be extinguished, an explosive force erupted from within her.
The explosion was unlike anything anyone had ever witnessed. A burst of energy shot through the battlefield, obliterating everything in its path. The earth trembled, and the sky itself seemed to crack as the shockwave spread outward. The demons and gods alike were thrown backward by the sheer force of the blast.
When the dust finally cleared, the battlefield was eerily silent. There was no sign of Xiang, no trace of Wen Shia or his forces. The ground was scorched, the air thick with smoke and ash. The soldiers who had survived stood in stunned silence, staring at the empty space where Xiang had once been. Her body had vanished, leaving nothing behind but the destruction she had wrought.
For a moment, no one spoke. The gods and demons alike looked at one another in disbelief. Had Xiang died? Or had her power ascended beyond their understanding?