Lizarius's wings spread wide as he beat them furiously, launching himself backward. He narrowly dodged the sword swing, slipping just out of reach—but his golden eyes widened in surprise as a massive flaming slash tore through the air behind the blade, roaring toward him like a wave of wrath.
He reacted instantly, crossing his delicate wings in front of him. The flames struck with tremendous force, slamming into his tiny frame and hurling him through the air. He crashed into a nearby building, the impact sending rubble flying. The sheer force of Li Feng Wei's technique obliterated several structures, reducing them to burning wreckage.
The elders stood amid the chaos, flames rising around them.
"Damn it, old man! Restrain your attack!" Li Zhao Ling shouted, her voice sharp with frustration.
"Yes, we may seek its death, but at this rate, you won't just bring down the estate—you'll reduce the entire city to ashes!"
Suddenly, from the burning rubble, lightning-charged golden scales shot out, zipping toward them at blinding speed. Lizarius, even wounded, had retaliated.
Li Zhao Ling raised her sword, deflecting several scales with precise, fluid movements. Beside her, Li Feng Wei swung his flaming blade, blocking the rest. The other elders joined in—one summoned an earth wall, while another activated a glowing talisman, casting a barrier that absorbed the incoming attack.
Inside the smoke and flame, Lizarius flapped his wings again, unleashing a sudden burst of wind—sharp as blades. The gusts cut through the fire, scattering it and clearing the battlefield, but they didn't stop there.
The wind struck with slicing precision.
The elders instinctively raised their arms to shield themselves, but the wind was merciless. It shattered the earth wall one elder had erected, and thin, shallow cuts appeared across their skin.
It can use the wind element as well?! Li Zhao Ling thought, narrowing her eyes. How can such a small beast possess this much power?
Steam rose from Lizarius's body, yet not a single scratch marked his shimmering scales. His glowing eyes locked on the group, calculating and intense.
Without warning, he raised one tiny claw and slammed it to the ground.
Cracks immediately spread across the ground as massive spikes of earth—despite his size—erupted all around them, each one as tall as a building. They shot upward with unnatural speed, aiming to impale and isolate the elders.
Earth too?! Li Zhao Ling's heart skipped a beat.
What kind of creature is this?!
Li Feng Wei clenched his flaming blade and slashed outward, cutting through the towering spikes before they could reach the group. Li Zhao Ling extended her hand, and her sword floated into the air. With a thought, she summoned multiple swords made of spiritual energy, each one humming with power. They darted forward, weaving between falling debris and heading straight for Lizarius.
Lightning crackled along his small body. He darted to the side, wings propelling him in a blur—faster than a flash of light. The spiritual swords missed, slicing through empty air.
Suddenly, the earth split beneath him.
Another spike burst upward, but Lizarius reacted instantly. He folded his wings tightly, spun in midair, and slipped through a narrow gap between the rising stone and a collapsing beam. Still, the ground quaked violently around him as more spikes erupted, forcing him to twist and weave through the chaos like a thread through a needle.
Then, without warning, one of the elders appeared beside him, faster than most could follow. A spear was gripped tightly in his hand, the tip swirling with a miniature tornado. The wind around it danced wildly, shrieking like a living storm.