Wu-Ji stood in the Hall of Zodiacs, the fragmented Infinite Blade glowing faintly in his grasp. Surrounding him were the other Zodiacs, their fury palpable. Only Monkey sat on his throne, watching the scene with an amused smirk, his Wildblade resting across his back.
"You dare betray us, Ophiuchus?" Rat growled, his golden eyes filled with malice.
"It's not betrayal if the cause was flawed from the start," Wu-Ji replied, his voice steady despite the overwhelming odds. "I will rescue Gok and uncover the truth about this war, even if it costs me everything."
The Zodiacs launched their attack in unison. Flames, lightning, earth, and raw power converged on Wu-Ji, their combined might enough to obliterate anything in their path.
The Transformation
Wu-Ji knew he was outmatched. His stats, strength, and even his Zodiac powers were no match for the collective assault. But in that moment of desperation, something within him awakened—a surge of divine energy that seemed to resonate with the fragment of the Infinite Blade.
His body began to glow with a radiant white light as his Zodiac powers transformed. His serpent-like agility morphed into something entirely new—a calm yet overwhelming presence that felt like the touch of divinity.
"Is this... Gok's power?" Wu-Ji whispered to himself.
The Infinite Blade fragment merged into his form, creating a reflection of the full blade. Wu-Ji's stance shifted into that of a monk—calm, centered, and ready.
The Zodiacs' attacks closed in.
Wu-Ji raised the blade high, his voice echoing across the hall.
"ANGEL'S SWING!"
Destruction and Revelation
The reflection of the Infinite Blade descended in a blinding arc, splitting the air like a divine decree. The swing seemed to ripple across reality, its energy reflecting and magnifying endlessly like a mirror.
The Hall of Zodiacs shattered in an instant, the sacred space cut cleanly in half. The energy continued outward, carving through Ranker's world with terrifying precision. Half the world disappeared in an instant, replaced by a void of nothingness.
System notifications began flooding every player's interface.
[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT]
ALERT: Major anomaly detected.
WARNING: The world's structural integrity is compromised.
ACTION: Emergency stabilization protocol activated.
The announcement sent shockwaves across the player base. Billions of players stared at their screens, watching in horror as parts of the world map simply vanished.
The Cost
Wu-Ji staggered, his vision blurring. Despite his victory, the cost was immense. Four Zodiacs lay defeated, their bodies destroyed by the devastating swing. But the others, though injured, were still standing.
Rat sat on his throne, his arms severed, blood pooling around him. His golden eyes were wide with disbelief. "You… you really did it," he muttered, a mix of fear and admiration in his voice.
But before Wu-Ji could celebrate, Monkey finally moved.
"You've caused enough damage," Monkey said, rising from his throne. His Wildblade, a massive, jagged weapon that seemed alive with feral energy, gleamed ominously as he drew it from his back.
With a single leap, Monkey closed the distance.
Wu-Ji raised the Infinite Blade to block, but the Wildblade's strike was too powerful. The blade shattered once more, and Wu-Ji was sent flying, blood spraying from his wounds. He hit the ground hard, his consciousness slipping away.
The Aftermath
As Wu-Ji's vision darkened, a strange energy began to swirl around him—a mix of void energy and the remnants of the Infinite Blade. For a brief moment, he glimpsed something within the void:
A figure, standing tall and unyielding.
It was Gok Sun Ji.
The chapter ends with Rat staring at the broken hall, his severed arms hanging uselessly by his side. He whispered to himself:
"The void is stirring. This isn't over."