Shingin's body had long exceeded its limits. Enemies closed in from every direction, a massive, overwhelming tide of black threatening to engulf him completely. Every exchange left him battered and weary, but the alien soul within him roared like an unyielding flame, its power surging relentlessly through his veins, compelling him forward.
"I can't stop... I can't fall...!" Shingin muttered under his breath, teeth clenched. His hands trembled uncontrollably, but the resolve in his eyes remained unshaken.
Watcher 20 and Watcher 21 now loomed before him, their eyes cold and calculating, exuding an oppressive aura as they advanced. From all sides, Watchers 25 and 26 tightened their encirclement, their predator-like gazes dripping with killing intent.
"Do you really think you can escape?" Watcher 20's voice rumbled with menace, his fist smashing downward with the force of a mountain, the shockwave tearing through the air with ferocious intensity.
Shingin swiftly retreated, the wind currents underfoot propelling him like a leaf caught in a gale. He leaned to the side, narrowly avoiding the crushing blow. Yet, in that fleeting instant, Watcher 25's venomous serpent lashed out, striking with lightning speed and aiming to ensnare him.
"Damn it!" Shingin growled, a spark of urgency igniting within him.
Just as the serpent's fangs closed in, the alien soul's power surged anew. The winds around him seemed to resonate with his heartbeat, swirling into a violent vortex. Shingin surged forward, wind propelling him skyward, narrowly evading the serpent's fatal strike and shifting the battle into the air.
"That boy... he can fight us in mid-air?" Watcher 21's surprise flashed momentarily before his rage took over. Without hesitation, he charged again, his fists swinging with the weight of mountains. Each strike distorted the air, creating devastating shockwaves that reverberated through the battlefield.
"Evade this one, and the next will still kill you," Watcher 25 sneered, his venomous serpent snapping its jaws in anticipation. Toxic droplets hissed as they hit the ground, releasing deadly fumes.
Shingin twisted mid-air, darting to the side with the wind's aid, evading Watcher 21's powerful assault. His blade gleamed as it sliced through the air like a shooting star, aiming directly for Watcher 21's chest.
Clang!
Sword met fist in a deafening clash, the impact unleashing a shockwave that sent dust and debris scattering. But Shingin knew that his strength alone wouldn't be enough to bring down these formidable opponents. His breathing quickened, and the wind coursing through him began to waver under the strain.
"If I die, my family is done for. My mother needs me," he reminded himself, the thought anchoring his resolve even as the enemies closed in tighter, their killing intent suffocating.
Watcher 26, seeing a moment of vulnerability, locked onto Shingin's weakened state and prepared for the killing blow. In an instant, he became a shadow, closing in from behind with a blade aimed directly at Shingin's neck.
"This is my last chance," Shingin thought, a spark of inspiration igniting in his mind. Without hesitation, he withdrew his attack on Watcher 21, spinning on his heel to meet the blade behind him.
Clang!
The blade collided with Shingin's water sword in a burst of energy. His body shuddered from the impact, but the blade did not reach its target. With a sudden pivot, Shingin shifted his weight, wind currents carrying him forward in a blur. His sword flashed, plunging into Watcher 26's chest.
Watcher 26 staggered backward, blood pouring from his wound as disbelief filled his eyes. "You... how did you...?"
"You want to keep chasing me?" Shingin's cold smile was unyielding, his determination as sharp as ever. Though his body screamed for rest, the victory gave him a fleeting moment to breathe.
The surrounding onslaught did not relent. Every step Shingin took felt like dragging himself through an abyss, but he knew that only by breaking through could he find a chance to fight back.
Looking up, he saw the fractured clouds above. The wind's power, bolstered by the alien soul's mutation, offered him a sliver of hope. Drawing in a deep breath, he felt the turbulent currents gather within him. Pain surged through his every muscle, yet he refused to yield.
"This is my final opportunity," Shingin thought, his eyes blazing with resolve. He knew he had to shatter the encirclement, or everything would end here.
And then it came—a raging tempest, a whirlwind of destruction unleashed from his very core.