Shaurya stood tall, unmoving, before the towering Demonic Qilin. The beast, a monstrous creature pulsing with infernal energy, roared fiercely, its shriek shaking the very mountains. Dust and dark clouds swirled around its massive form. The battlefield trembled beneath its presence.
Beside him stood Lin Shu, her face pale with fear. She stared at the beast in horror, gripping her robe tightly. "Shaurya..." she whispered, worry etched into her voice.
Yet Shaurya didn't flinch. He stood calmly with a smile stretching across his face, hands still tucked into his robe pockets, his hair flowing in the fierce winds stirred by the creature's power.
From atop the Demonic Qilin, General Chu Kang gazed down at Shaurya, clearly puzzled. "What's this?" he sneered. "Looks like you're so frightened by my beast that you've begun to smile like a lunatic. Accepting your fate already? That's good. Accept death."
The General's expression turned wicked, his voice dripping with malice. "But now you've ruined my mood. I was hoping for a fight... but I suppose I'll settle for entertainment."
An evil smile spread across his face as he continued, "I'll kill all your disciples and sect members—one by one—in front of your helpless eyes. Then I'll slowly torture you, break your will, and toss your broken body before my Queen so she can torment and toy with you herself."
The Sanatan Flame Sect disciples tensed. Fear gripped the battlefield. Lin Shu's breath caught in her throat. The mood had turned grim, hopeless.
But...
Shaurya's smile only grew brighter. He threw his head back—and laughed.
The sound echoed across the battlefield, loud and carefree. Disciples and city soldiers froze. Even General Chu Kang's face twisted in confusion.
"Are you mad?" Chu Kang barked, raising an eyebrow. "Lost your mind already? I haven't even begun to destroy everything you care about. Has your fear driven you insane?"
But Shaurya, utterly unfazed, replied calmly, "General."
The entire battlefield fell into silence.
Chu Kang tilted his head, listening.
Shaurya's voice was calm, almost playful. "At first, I thought you were a fool. But now... I know I was right."
He slowly clapped his hands, the sound deliberate and mocking. "You really are a big fool."
Gasps echoed across the battlefield. Even General Chu Kang was momentarily speechless.
The Demonic Qilin roared in fury, its bellow shaking the heavens. Winds lashed across the battlefield like invisible blades. Yet amid the storm, Shaurya stood still—his posture casual, his expression cocky. Not a muscle moved. He didn't blink. Didn't even raise his arms.
Elder Wu's eyes narrowed. "What is the Sect Leader doing?"
Elder Liya, ever calm, replied, "He must have a plan. He always does."
Elder Wan, frowning with worry, added, "I hope so. Otherwise, we all die here today."
Wang Tian smirked. "Don't underestimate our Master. He always surprises us."
Luo Chen chuckled. "You're right. Whenever it looks like we'll be crushed, he always turns the tables."
Chen Fang—who had been absent for too long—finally chimed in with a grin. "By the look in Master's eyes, the one who should be afraid is that General and his pet beast."
Lu Fang and Sheng Lu nodded in agreement. Lu Fang said, "If Master has faith in himself, that's all we need."
Sheng Lu added with quiet reverence, "My lord believes in him. That alone means victory is near."
Lin Shu stepped forward, hope flickering in her eyes. "I really hope you have a plan..."
Shaurya, overhearing their words, lowered his head with a quiet smile and whispered to himself, "Plan?"
Then louder, "Did you all really think I wasn't prepared?"
He turned to Lin Shu, gave her a side-eye glance, and winked.
She blushed.
Then, stretching his neck and cracking his shoulders, Shaurya raised his head to the sky.
"Enough," he declared. "It's time to end this."
General Chu Kang growled in rage. "As you wish!" he bellowed. "Now watch your sect burn!"
He raised his massive war axe. The Demonic Qilin reared its head, opening its colossal maw, purple light gathering at its throat. Energy pulsed violently as it fired a devastating cannon-like beam of destruction toward the Sanatan Flame Sect.
The disciples screamed in fear. Lin Shu gasped.
Yet Shaurya remained completely still, hands still in his pockets, his face unreadable.
Then—
BOOM!
The blast halted mid-air, stopped by a radiant golden dome.
The protection array of the Sanatan Flame Sect shimmered to life.
The massive energy blast collided with the barrier, exploding in a deafening shockwave. Dust and debris flew in all directions.
When it cleared, the sect remained untouched.
Gasps rang out.
General Chu Kang's mouth dropped open.
The disciples stared at Shaurya in shock and disbelief.
Shaurya winked again.
Then, slowly, laughter began to spread among the disciples—hesitant at first, then erupting into full-blown mirth.
"He really did it..." one said.
General Chu Kang gritted his teeth. "RAAAARGH!" he roared. The Demonic Qilin echoed his fury with another earth-shaking cry.
Shaurya turned to Lin Shu. "Take everyone inside the sect," he said firmly.
Lin Shu looked at him, eyes full of concern. "What about you?"
Shaurya flashed her a confident smile. "The protective barrier won't hold forever. And besides... how can I miss the chance to fight that?"
He pointed over his shoulder at the Demonic Qilin and General Chu Kang.
Lin Shu hesitated. "But... how can you...?"
He interrupted with a grin. "Don't worry. Nothing will happen to me. After all... did you forget who I am?"
He raised his hand to the sky, index finger pointing upward, head bowed, eyes closed.
"Shaurya... the Great."
Lin Shu chuckled, shaking her head. "I knew you'd say something like that."
She stepped back. "Alright. I won't stop you. But... take care of yourself."
Shaurya gave her a thumbs up. She nodded and quickly moved to gather the disciples, ushering them into the protection array.
With the battlefield clear, General Chu Kang leapt into action. From above, he swung his massive axe and strike with a spritual Slash down at Shaurya.
But Shaurya, without looking, caught the Spritual Slash of Purple Energy mid-air—with his bare hand.
He slowly turned to face Chu Kang, his gaze deathly calm.
Then he crushed the energy Slash in his grip.
General Chu Kang's eyes went wide.
"You really thought that you and your little pet can scare me?" Shaurya said.
He slowly began to rise into the sky. "Let me show you something truly terrifying. My power."
All his disciples looked skyward in awe.
Xiao Rui whispered to the newcomers, "Watch carefully... here comes the iconic line."
With a smirk and a voice deeper, calmer than before, Shaurya spread his arms wide in a T-pose.
Then he roared:
"MY FURY!"
A blinding pillar of energy exploded from behind him, shooting into the sky like a divine lance. Clouds twisted and thundered. The earth shook. Mountains groaned.
The Demonic Qilin took a step back.
General Chu Kang's face twisted in alarm.
From the center of the energy beam, a roar unlike any other shattered the heavens.
Then—emerging from the light—Dragzard, the ancient Primordial Dragon and the Sect Guardian, revealed itself.
Colossal. Majestic. Terrifying.
Shaurya descended with grace and landed on Dragzard's massive head.
"The real fun begins now," he declared.
The Sanatan Flame Sect erupted in cheers.
Lin Shu clutched her chest, smiling with relief. "So you really had a plan..."
General Chu Kang, frozen in terror, stared at the beast before him.
Compared to Dragzard, the Demonic Qilin looked like Eiffel tower Infront of Burj Khalifa.
Dragzard roared. The Demonic Qilin took a step back.
General Chu Kang, panicked but defiant, shouted, "So what? It's just a dragon! I don't care! ATTACK HIM!"
The Demonic Qilin lunged.
But Shaurya leapt into the air. "SHOW HIM TRUE POWER!" he cried.
Dragzard whipped its tail with titanic force.
The Demonic Qilin was launched from the mountaintop like a broken arrow, crashing into the valley below. General Chu Kang barely escaped by leaping aside.
Shaurya with smile points towards the Demonic Qilin and said. "Go Dragzard It's your lunch. So enjoy it.
Dragzard roared and rushed towards that Demonic Qilin.
After that, Shaurya descended gracefully.
"So," he said, eyes locked onto the shaken General, "your big weapon, your mighty beast... is now going to be my Dragzard's lunch. It's over, Queen's dog."
General Chu Kang, face twisted in rage, unleashed a wave of demonic energy.
His form didn't change, but his aura blackened, corrupted.
Shaurya raised an eyebrow, whistling. "Oh-ho. So you can use demonic energy without transforming? Impressive."
Chu Kang's eyes burned red. "Smile all you want now. Soon, you'll cry so hard you'll forget what smiling means."
Shaurya laughed again. Chu Kang roared and lunged.
But Shaurya danced around his blows, mocking him. "What's wrong? Didn't you tell me to smile? Let me enjoy myself!"
"You're mocking me!" Chu Kang howled.
He threw a punch. Shaurya caught his wrist and twisted it, smirking. "Mock you? No need. You're already a joke. Queen's dog."
Then Shaurya hit a punch on his ribcage. Blood comes from Chu Kang's mouth. Then Shaurya hit a tornado kick on his face.
General Chu Kang strikes with several trees. His jaw broken. Cough blood. But Becomes more aggressive. Attack at Shaurya.
Shaurya also attacks meet him head on. Both of thier Fists strikes with eachother. Shaurya smiling because when there fist collide, Shaurya remains ineffected but Chu Kang's fist broken.
Shaurya with a mocking grin." Oh general, what happend your fist broken. My bad I don't know that your body is to weak.
General Chu Kang didn't answer but.... With a snarl, Chu Kang activated his demonic aura. It surged from his body and wrapped around Shaurya's arm like chains.
"I don't care what I lose!" Chu Kang screamed. "Even if I destroy my cultivation—I will kill you!"
Shaurya's expression turned serious. He tried to pull away—but too late.
BOOM!
An earth-shattering explosion erupted. Shaurya vanished in the blast.
Smoke and dust filled the air. Lin Shu screamed his name.
Elder Liya held her back. "No!"
General Chu Kang, bloodied and barely standing, stumbled away from the crater. Laughing.
"I sacrificed my lifespan... damaged my own cultivation... for that blast. But I have no regrets!"
As the dust settled, a massive crater remained. There was no sign of Shaurya.
Chu Kang raised his fists in triumph. "I killed him! The Sect Leader of Sanatan flame sect is dead! I WON!"
The sect fell into stunned silence.
Lin Shu collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks. Every disciple stood frozen, eyes wide with horror. Even the ancient experts —Elder Wu. Liya. Wang Tian. Sheng Lu. All shattered.
Tears flowed freely.
Chu Kang lifted his arms to the sky, inhaling deeply.
"The smell of victory," he exhaled.
He opened his arms wide.
"My Queen! Your loyal servant did not fail you!"
And with that, General Chu Kang laughed like a madman.
To be continued...