After the explosion, thick smoke engulfed the sky, and the air shimmered with the lingering heat of flames. Emerging from the haze, the phoenix's wings burned with searing orange-yellow flames. His piercing gaze locked onto the lizardman who had just unleashed an ice spike spell. With a powerful flap of his wings, the phoenix streaked forward like a comet, his form radiating fiery light. Around him, dozens of blazing spears materialized, raining down upon his target with deadly precision.
The lizardman holding the staff acted quickly, summoning a magical barrier adorned with intricate, glowing runes. The flaming spears struck the shield one after another, producing bursts of fiery sparks. Although the barrier withstood the onslaught, its light dimmed, and fine cracks spread across its surface like a spider's web.
Seizing the moment, the phoenix flared his wings and propelled himself forward, encased entirely in roaring flames. Like a falling star, he smashed into the barrier with unrelenting force. A shrill, shattering sound filled the air as the shield broke apart into shards of light that scattered into the void. The lizardman was flung backward by the impact, his body crashing into the ground with a dull thud.
Before the phoenix could pursue, another lizardman wielding twin daggers appeared from his flank. The assassin closed the distance in an instant, his blades gleaming with a cold light as they struck toward the phoenix's eyes. The phoenix's instincts kicked in, and with a slight tilt of his head, he narrowly evaded the attack. Without hesitation, he swung his right wing in a wide arc, releasing a wave of intense flames that struck the lizardman squarely, sending him hurtling through the air. The lizardman crashed to the ground and rolled several times before coming to a halt.
But the respite was short-lived. More lizardmen closed in, their weapons drawn and their formation tightening. A towering figure raised a massive war axe, another aimed a bow with an arrow already nocked, while others brandished swords and shields. Their movements were precise and coordinated, forming an impenetrable net that encircled the phoenix.
Hovering in the air, the phoenix surveyed the battlefield with sharp, calculating eyes. His mind raced.
"Their teamwork is flawless, and their scales are too resilient for ordinary attacks to work. Even my strongest strikes are deflected by their shields. If this drags on, I'll lose my advantage. I need a way to overwhelm them in one decisive move."
The phoenix soared upward briefly, then abruptly dove back to the ground, slamming his flaming wings into the earth. A surge of heat radiated outward, causing the ground to crack and splinter under its intensity. Sensing the impending threat, the lizardmen immediately regrouped, raising their shields to form a tight defensive line.
But the phoenix had no intention of using a frontal attack.
From the cracks in the ground, fiery chains erupted, glowing with molten intensity. The chains writhed and snapped like living creatures, coiling toward the lizardmen at alarming speed. Before they could react, the chains wrapped around them, binding their limbs and weapons with unrelenting force.
"Damn it! What is this?" one of the lizardmen roared, struggling against his restraints.
Another cursed under his breath, "Phoenix, you—" His words were cut short as more chains surged from below, encasing him completely. The lizardmen's desperate struggles were futile; the more they fought, the tighter the chains burned.
Hovering above them, the phoenix smirked coldly. "How does it feel to be the hunted now?"
He cast one last glance at the trapped enemies, ensuring they were fully subdued. Then his gaze turned to the distant barricade, his expression growing serious. "I've wasted enough time here. I need to move fast."
Meanwhile, Leng Chen found himself surrounded by an endless horde of stone creatures. Each punch shattered one to rubble, their rocky forms crumbling under his blows. Though his movements were efficient, the repetitive nature of the fight was starting to wear on him. The ground around him was littered with broken fragments, a testament to his seemingly endless battle.
As he dispatched yet another stone monster with a frustrated grunt, he muttered, "Seriously? How many of these things are there? I'm so done with this…"