Leng Chen felt the overwhelming surge of energy emanating from the dragon, as though even the air had turned solid under its crushing weight. The oppressive force made his breathing heavy, and the sky above, tainted by this power, gradually darkened. Looking up at the ominous scene, Leng Chen muttered, "How is this possible? The bright sky... turning so cold, so evil... it's suffocating."
A chilling fear gripped his heart, causing his body to tremble uncontrollably. He whispered to himself, "No… I'll die… I can't…"
Just as he felt himself drowning in despair, a sudden burst of scorching yet comforting energy erupted in the distance. A brilliant glow pierced through the darkness—a blazing flame of orange and blue that lit up the shadowy skies like a beacon of hope.
Leng Chen's wide-eyed shock transformed into firm determination. "The phoenix! It's still fighting!" he exclaimed.
Clenching his fists, he steadied his breath and declared, "I have to go. No matter what lies ahead, even if it's something I cannot face, I must keep moving!"
As he stepped forward, his foot struck something solid. Looking down, he saw a strange crystal glimmering faintly on the ground. Picking it up, he examined it briefly and thought, "This must've fallen from that stone titan earlier… Maybe it's important. No, there's no time for that now! I need to get to the phoenix!"
Above, the battle between the phoenix and the dragon reached its peak.
The phoenix's magnificent form stretched over a hundred meters, its blazing flames of orange and blue burning fiercely, illuminating the surrounding darkness. Each powerful sweep of its wings scattered embers across the sky like falling stars, painting the battlefield in fiery hues.
In stark contrast, the dragon's colossal body loomed within a shroud of thick, swirling black smoke. Its sinister energy spread like a plague, devouring the light and exuding an aura of pure destruction.
"You dare to stand against me, a mere half-blood phoenix?" the dragon's voice thundered across the battlefield, dripping with scorn.
"Your ancestors couldn't defeat me at their peak. What makes you think a mongrel like you stands a chance?"
With that, the dragon unleashed its power—a devastating black energy beam shot from its gaping maw, cutting through the sky like an arrow of annihilation.
The phoenix retaliated without hesitation. It channeled every ounce of its fiery essence into its wings, flapping them with force that sent torrents of orange and blue flames roaring forward to meet the dragon's attack.
The two forces collided midair, erupting in a blinding explosion of light and darkness. Shockwaves rippled outward, shaking the earth and skies alike. For a moment, the phoenix's flames seemed to hold, but the oppressive black energy began to overpower them, slowly consuming the light.
"Boom!"
A deafening explosion rocked the battlefield as the phoenix was hurled backward, its blazing form plummeting toward the ground.
Hovering above, the dragon sneered as it watched its foe fall. "Pathetic. Even when you burn your life force, you're nothing more than a fleeting spark."
Deep within the massive crater created by its fall, the phoenix's body lay battered and weak, its flames flickering faintly. Slowly, it opened its fiery eyes, clenching its beak in defiance. "Damn it… It's not over. I can't give up!"
With an ear-splitting screech, the phoenix burst forth from the crater, its renewed flames blazing brighter than ever. It charged toward the dragon, its determination unwavering.
The dragon's smirk faded as it growled in irritation. "Still resisting? Insolent bird." It swung a massive claw downward with terrifying force.
The phoenix met the strike head-on, transforming its right wing into a blazing claw that clashed against the dragon's talons.
"Boom!"
The collision released a thunderous shockwave, scattering the surrounding darkness and shaking the very heavens.
Panting heavily, the phoenix's flames dimmed slightly as it thought, "This monster… it's not even taking me seriously yet!" Its anger surged, igniting a deeper fire within. "You think you can toy with me?!"
Suddenly, its flames erupted into a furious crimson blaze. The orange and blue were consumed by a raging red fire, the air around it growing unbearably hot. Even the ground below began to melt into molten rock.
"This is my true power—my flames of wrath!" the phoenix roared, its body transforming into a massive sphere of fire, radiating heat like a miniature sun.
The dragon's eyes gleamed with amusement as it chuckled. "Impressive. Perhaps you're worth my effort after all." Black lightning coiled around its massive claws, crackling with destructive energy. "Let's end this, little bird."
With a booming roar, the phoenix charged forward, its fiery form blazing brighter than ever, while the dragon flew to meet it head-on. The two forces collided in an apocalyptic clash.
"Crack—"
The sky shattered like fragile glass, and then—"Boom!"—a terrifying explosion engulfed the entire sky. The clash of darkness and flames tore through the fabric of space, sending shockwaves rippling across the land, plunging it once again into boundless tremors...
The blazing flames and the fractured darkness intertwined, as if the entire world were teetering on the brink of collapse...