Returning to the Celestial Flame Sect after the battle in the Ruined Forest, the group was greeted with a mixture of relief and reverence. Word of their victory had spread quickly, and the disciples who remained behind cheered their arrival.
Yuto, however, felt no satisfaction. He stood in the main hall of the partially rebuilt pavilion, staring at a map of the region. The Shadow Monarch's influence had extended far beyond what he had anticipated. The Ruined Forest was only a fraction of the territories under threat.
"We can't rest," he said, his voice cutting through the room's low murmurs. "That was just the beginning. If the Shadow Monarch's forces are as vast as they seem, we're in for a long fight."
Elder Tian, standing beside him, nodded solemnly. "You're right. But even the strongest warriors need rest, Yuto. If you push everyone too hard, they'll break before the real battles begin."
Yuto sighed, his Saiyan instincts pushing him to keep moving forward. Yet he understood the elder's wisdom. His own body ached from the battle, and the Flameheart Core's intense awakening had left him drained.
Lin Yue approached, holding a steaming cup of tea. "You're not invincible, you know," she said, offering him the cup. "Even Saiyans need to recharge."
Yuto took the tea with a small smile. "Thanks. But I don't know how to rest when I know the enemy is out there."
Lin Yue shrugged, leaning against the table. "Then think of it as preparation. You'll fight better when you're not half-dead."
---
Rebuilding the Sect
The next few days were spent reinforcing the sect's defenses and tending to the wounded. Yuto joined the effort, helping to clear debris and rebuild damaged structures. His incredible strength made short work of tasks that would have taken weeks for ordinary disciples.
As he worked, he couldn't help but notice the growing admiration in the eyes of those around him. The disciples looked to him not just as a leader, but as a symbol of hope.
"Yuto," Lin Yue called, walking toward him with a scroll in hand. "We've received reports from our scouts. There's been unusual activity near the Abyssal Peaks."
Yuto wiped the sweat from his brow and took the scroll, unrolling it to reveal a detailed report. The Abyssal Peaks were a treacherous mountain range known for its unpredictable weather and dangerous beasts.
"What kind of activity?" he asked.
"Strange energy fluctuations," Lin Yue explained. "Similar to what we felt in the Ruined Forest. If the Shadow Monarch's forces are there, we need to act fast."
Yuto nodded. "Then we'll go. Assemble the same team as before. We'll leave at first light."
---
Journey to the Abyssal Peaks
The journey to the Abyssal Peaks was arduous. The rocky terrain and sudden storms tested the group's endurance, but Yuto's leadership kept them moving. Along the way, they encountered wild beasts, their aggression heightened by the strange energy permeating the area.
"These creatures…" Lin Yue muttered after dispatching a particularly ferocious tiger. "It's like they're being influenced by something."
Yuto crouched beside the beast's corpse, his sharp eyes scanning its features. Its once-white fur was streaked with black veins, and its eyes glowed faintly green.
"This is the Shadow Monarch's doing," he said grimly. "He's corrupting the natural order."
The group pressed on, their resolve strengthened by the sight of the corruption spreading through the land.
---
The Abyssal Ruins
As they reached the heart of the Abyssal Peaks, the group discovered a massive chasm splitting the mountain range in two. At its center stood an ancient ruin, its structure weathered by time but still exuding a dark, ominous energy.
"This must be it," Elder Tian said, his voice low.
Yuto stepped forward, his fiery aura flaring to life. "Stay alert. We don't know what we're walking into."
The group descended into the chasm, their steps echoing through the ruins. The air grew colder with each step, and the darkness seemed to press in around them.
As they entered the main chamber, they were greeted by a chilling sight. Dozens of shadowy figures knelt in a circle, chanting in an ancient, guttural language. At the center of the circle stood a massive obelisk, its surface covered in glowing runes.
"That's what's causing the corruption," Yuto said, his voice barely above a whisper.
The shadowy figures turned as one, their glowing eyes locking onto the intruders.
"Destroy them!" a deep voice boomed, reverberating through the chamber.
---
The Battle in the Ruins
The shadowy figures surged forward, their forms shifting and twisting as they attacked. Yuto met them head-on, his fiery energy blazing brightly in the darkness.
Lin Yue and Elder Tian fought alongside him, their techniques perfectly complementing his raw power. The other disciples held their ground, using their training to fend off the relentless assault.
Despite their strength, the shadowy figures seemed endless. For every one they destroyed, two more took its place.
"We can't keep this up forever!" Lin Yue shouted, her breath ragged.
Yuto gritted his teeth, his Saiyan instincts urging him to fight harder. "We don't have to. We just need to destroy that obelisk."
Charging toward the obelisk, Yuto unleashed a devastating energy blast. The chamber shook as the attack struck its target, but the obelisk remained intact, its runes glowing brighter.
"Foolish mortal!" the deep voice boomed again. A figure emerged from the shadows, its form towering and menacing. It was a creature of pure darkness, its eyes burning with malevolence.
"You cannot destroy the Shadow Monarch's creation," it growled, stepping forward.
Yuto clenched his fists, his fiery aura intensifying. "We'll see about that."
---
Awakening the Saiyan Spirit
The battle against the shadowy creature was unlike anything Yuto had faced before. Its attacks were brutal and unrelenting, forcing him to tap into the full extent of his Saiyan power.
As the fight raged on, the Flameheart Core within him began to resonate, its fiery energy merging with his own. Yuto felt a surge of power unlike anything he had experienced before.
With a roar, he unleashed a devastating attack, his fiery energy taking the form of a massive dragon. The dragon struck the creature, engulfing it in flames and reducing it to ash.
The obelisk cracked under the force of the attack, its runes flickering and fading.
As the chamber fell silent, Yuto turned to his companions, his chest heaving. "It's over," he said, though he knew the fight against the Shadow Monarch was far from finished.