Jay and Ares exchanged a glance, a shared determination flashing in their eyes. They knew that relying on their individual strength alone could never defeat Mara.
But as comrades who had fought side by side, they understood that the bond between them might just create a miracle.
"Ares!" Jay called out, the Flame Heaven Halberd crackling with lightning once again, its glow growing stronger.
Ares gripped his spear tightly, his battle spirit soaring.
"I understand, Jay! Let's show him our true power!"
Jay closed his eyes, feeling the fluctuations of spiritual energy between him and Ares. His heartbeat began to sync with Ares's warlike rhythm, as if an invisible force was linking their souls. In that instant, their energies surged together, forming a wave of resonance.
A brilliant light erupted from them both, their weapons enveloped in powerful spiritual energy, their glow intertwining like two blazing suns rising together.
Mara slightly narrowed his eyes, a flicker of interest appearing for the first time.
"Oh? Spiritual resonance? This could be interesting."
Jay opened his eyes, a newfound brilliance shining within them. The Flame Heaven Halberd hummed deeply in his hands, as though responding to his will.
"Ares, are you ready?"
"Always! Let's tear apart this fallen god!" Ares roared, his figure like a comet of flame as he charged first toward Mara.
Jay followed closely, their energies intertwined, forming a torrential surge of light heading straight for Mara.
Ares thrust his spear forward, shouting, "Spear of Destruction!"
The spear burned with golden-red flames, like a roaring dragon tearing through the air, aimed directly at Mara's face. Meanwhile, Jay attacked from the side, his halberd wrapped in lightning, moving so fast it resembled a flash of lightning, targeting Mara's vital spots. "Thunder Flash Curse!"
Despite their combined assault, Mara's expression remained indifferent. He lightly raised the Blade of Desecration in his hand, the runes along the blade flashing wildly as the surrounding demonic energy quickly gathered, forming a dense black barrier.
"Demonic Barrier."
Boom!
The flames and lightning collided violently with the black barrier, erupting in a deafening roar, the immense power warping the air around them. However, when the light faded, Mara still stood in place, not having moved an inch. The black barrier had shattered, but Mara himself was unscathed.
"Not bad," Mara sneered. His demonic energy surged violently, resembling a purple-black sea being whipped up by a storm. His figure vanished in an instant, and when he reappeared, he was already standing before Ares.
"However, your power still falls far short."
With a swift motion, Mara struck Ares in the chest, sending him flying backward like a cannonball.
"Ares!" Jay shouted, his halberd slicing through the air in a horizontal arc aimed at Mara's back. However, Mara simply sidestepped the attack with ease. He swung the Blade of Desecration back in retaliation, and the purple-black flames swirling around the blade formed a massive arc of energy, forcing Jay back several steps.
"Infernal Slash: Rending Sky."
Jay barely managed to stabilize himself, his chest heaving as he struggled to regain control. Despite the resonance amplifying their power, Mara's unfathomable demonic energy and flawless combat techniques made it impossible for them to gain the upper hand.
Mara slowly turned, looking down on them with a cold, condescending gaze. "So, this is the full extent of your spiritual resonance? It's a pity—it's still weak enough to be laughable."
Aries' gaze instantly sharpened, and the flames on his spear surged wildly, forming a scorching fire dragon. He let out a low growl, then angrily shouted:
"[Warstorm: Divine Punishment]!"
In an instant, the temperature of the battlefield skyrocketed. Flames and lightning intertwined, and the storm-like force surged, as if the God of War had descended. Aries' figure grew taller amidst the dual onslaught of fire and lightning, his spear thrusting violently toward Bo Xun.
Bo Xun slightly furrowed his brows, sensing the immense threat. His eyes flashed with a purple-black light, and the surrounding demonic energy fluctuated intensely, but he remained calm and said lightly, "Hmph, indeed, a worthy technique to test."
At the same time, Jay quickly synchronized his spiritual energy with Aries. The Heavenly Flame Spear was wrapped in lightning and fire, almost tearing the air apart. He shouted, "Together!"
The two powerful forces intertwined, creating an even more intense surge of energy, charging toward Bo Xun like a world-shattering impact. Jay pushed the resonance of their spiritual energy to its limit, unleashing a powerful wave of spiritual force that seemed ready to tear apart Bo Xun's defenses. However, Bo Xun merely coldly watched the attack, slowly raising his Buddha-slaying sword.
"You think this little bit of power can shake me?"
Bo Xun's voice was low and indifferent. He swung his Buddha-slaying sword fiercely, and demonic energy erupted, forming a jet-black sword light that collided with their combined attack. In an instant, a violent explosion reverberated across the battlefield. The air twisted, and even the earth trembled.
The combined attack of the two was finally stopped by Bo Xun's sword light, but the overwhelming force still caused them to shake, their feet trembling as they struggled to steady themselves. Bo Xun sneered and took slow, deliberate steps forward, as if the entire world was under his control.
"Let's see how long you can hold on," Bo Xun's lips curled into a mocking smile, preparing to counterattack.
Meanwhile, the battle between Velk and Hayes raged on.
"My guardian spirit was once my closest companion, and at the end of its life, it became my contracted spirit," Hayes said, looking at Velk, his eyes filled with a complex emotion, but then he sneered, "But whether it was my partner or my soul, now it is just a source of my power."
Velk raised an eyebrow and coldly replied, "Stop talking! Take this!"
Adam's figure suddenly leaped into the air, his hands forming fist seals as an immense power erupted from his body. He shouted, "[Blade of Life]!"
Adam's fists glowed with a green light. As his power surged, his fists cut through the air like blades, striking at the Hellfire Bear. Meanwhile, Velk stood by, quickly chanting a spiritual incantation, and his spear gleamed with cold light, swiftly stabbing toward the Hellfire Bear: "[Spirit Spear Stab]!"
The massive form of the Hellfire Bear suddenly spun, and in an instant, it swung its sharp claws with a furious roar. Its claws burned like flames, bringing overwhelming force as they charged toward Velk and Adam.
"[Hellfire Claw]!"
The two powerful forces collided in mid-air, and flames and light intertwined, creating a massive sea of fire. Adam and Velk barely managed to dodge, but the Hellfire Bear's attack was incredibly fast, forcing them to unleash their strongest counterattacks just to stay alive.
"[Flame Breath]!"
The Hellfire Bear let out a furious roar and opened its massive mouth, shooting a stream of fire that nearly engulfed the entire battlefield. Adam quickly leaped, narrowly dodging the flame attack, but Velk was struck by the residual flames, and his body immediately erupted into scorching sparks.
"Velk!" Adam shouted, worry flashing in his eyes. However, he quickly regained his fighting stance, ready to launch a new attack.
Velk gritted his teeth through the pain, his eyes flashing with cold killing intent. "Stop wasting time! Let's end this fight quickly. We need to help Jay!"
Adam nodded, and the two once again coordinated their attacks, launching a swift assault on the Hellfire Bear. They knew that although the opponent's guardian spirit wasn't very strong, any further delay would waste precious time, and Jay's situation might be even more critical.