The giant figure with dark flame wings loomed over the shattered Starfall Altar, its glowing eyes blazing like twin suns, shaking the hill with a roar that rattled the air. The Lotus Soul Amulet lay near the chasm's jagged edge, its golden lines flickering weakly like a dying fire, waiting for Lin Hao to snatch it back. His body ached from the hard fall, blood dripping from his cuts, but his heart burned with a fierce urge to keep fighting no matter what.
The Verdant Lotus Sect battled with all their heart under the Starfall Festival's wild, golden dawn, the air thick with swirling magic and choking dust. Disciples stood their ground, their green staffs glowing faint like tired stars, their chants growing soft as the chasm stretched wider. Elder Qian Yu stood shaky but tough, her robe in tatters and covered in dirt, her face glowing with stubborn hope that never quit.
"This is the Ethereal Gate's last big push," she shouted, her voice cracking but loud enough to be heard. She raised her broken staff with a shaky hand, a weak green shield flickering to life, struggling to hold back the giant's dark power. "Lin Hao, grab the amulet—we need you to save us!"
Lin Hao crawled through the rubble, his hands scraping against sharp rocks. "I won't give up," he gasped, stretching his trembling fingers toward the amulet with all his might. Lian Wei rushed to his side, their silver robe torn and dusty, their staff glowing a dim blue like a fading moon. "The Gate's trying to break the sky's barrier," they said, voice quick and urgent. "The festival's power is at its strongest, like it was in the 8th Cycle—give it your all to stop them!"
The giant swung its flaming wings, a dark blast roaring down like a raging storm. The hill shook hard, the chasm widening with a loud groan that split the ground even more. Rong Shen laughed wild and loud, his red cloak flapping like a flag, purple fire blazing in his hands like a furious dragon ready to strike.
Jiao Mei leaped forward with a fierce yell, her sword flashing with glowing magic lines. The gaunt guy summoned a black-flamed serpent, its hiss filling the air with a scary sound that made the ground tremble. Lin Hao's fingers closed around the amulet, its warmth sparking back to life, filling him with bold energy that lifted his spirits.
Qian Yu's green shield cracked under the giant's blast, but she held it up with a grunt. Wei Tao rallied the disciples, their chants weak but steady like a heartbeat, their green light mixing with the dawn's golden rays to push back the dark. Lian Wei's blue magic clashed with the serpent, ice shards flying like a sharp, icy storm across the battlefield.
Lin Hao struggled to his feet, clutching the amulet, and chanted the Starfall Codex with every bit of strength he had left. A golden flower shield bloomed big and bright in front of him, its petals shimmering like stars in the night sky. The giant's dark blast hit it with a loud bang, shaking him hard, but the shield stood tall like a brave soldier ready to fight.
Rong Shen's purple fire joined the attack, the hill trembling with every fiery burst that lit the air. Jiao Mei's sword sparked against the shield, her moves fast and fierce like a hungry tiger on the hunt. The serpent's flames roared loud, the chasm growing deeper and wider, threatening to swallow the hill and everyone on it.
The altar's broken pieces glowed faintly, its magic lingering like a soft whisper in the chaos. Lin Hao pushed harder, the golden flower holding strong, its light cutting through the darkness like a shining sword. Qian Yu's green magic boosted him, the colors blending into a dazzling wave that lit up the hill like a festival fire, giving hope to the weary.
Lian Wei's staff smashed the serpent with a loud crack, turning it to fading smoke that drifted away like a ghost. The gaunt guy fell back, his face pale and scared, his hands shaking like leaves in the wind. The giant roared again, its dark energy swelling into a massive storm that darkened the sky like a sudden night, blocking out the dawn.
"You can't stop the Gate's rise to power," it boomed, the storm swirling wild and loud like a angry beast let loose. The hill split more, rocks crashing into the chasm with a thunderous boom that echoed across the valley. Lin Hao's shield wobbled, his energy slipping fast like water through a cracked bowl, his legs buckling under the heavy strain.
A blue wall shot up from Lian Wei, joining Qian Yu's magic in a bright, dazzling flash that lit the hill. The storm slowed, its edges tearing apart like old cloth under their combined power, giving the sect a chance to breathe. Jiao Mei stabbed again with a fierce cry, her sword nicking the shield's edge, cutting Lin Hao's shoulder with a sharp, burning sting that made him wince.
Blood flowed down his arm, pain shooting through him like a hot spear, but he held on with every last drop of strength. He poured the amulet's power into the codex, a golden wave blasting out with a loud whoosh, pushing Jiao Mei and the gaunt guy back with a heavy thud that shook the ground. The storm weakened, the giant staggering with a deep growl that rumbled like distant thunder, its power fading for a moment.
"Stand tall and fight," Qian Yu shouted, her voice ringing out like a leader's horn cutting through the chaos. The disciples' shields flickered like tired candles, their chants rising with hope and determination despite the danger. The altar's glow faded almost completely, its magic nearly gone, the festival's power wild and unpredictable, tossing energy everywhere.
Lian Wei's blue light hit the giant, ice cracking its dark wings with a loud snap that echoed off the hills. The black-cloaked figure chanted faster in a creepy voice, a new dark wave rolling toward the hill like a shadowy river ready to drown them. Lin Hao's energy drained away, the amulet cooling fast like a stone, his vision blurring with heavy exhaustion that weighed him down.
He gripped the amulet tight, its warmth flickering like a tiny candle struggling in a storm. The golden flower dimmed in his mind, the festival's power slipping away like sand through his fingers, leaving him weak. Qian Yu's green array faltered, the disciples struggling hard, their magic fading under the dark wave's crushing push that threatened to break their spirits.
"Find your inner strength," Lian Wei urged, their staff glowing bright like a guiding star in the dark. Qian Yu rallied the team with a loud cheer, their green light flaring up again like a sudden fire, lifting their tired hearts. Lin Hao sang the codex with all his heart and soul, a final golden burst lighting the hill like a blazing sunrise, pushing back the darkness with a mighty roar that shook the air.
The dark wave paused, the black figure stumbling back with a hiss of rage that curled the air. Rong Shen roared like a wild beast let loose, the violet tear widening with a hungry tug, pulling at the hill's magic like a greedy thief. The giant raised its arms high, dark energy swirling into a huge blast that lit the sky with a fiery glow, promising destruction.
Lin Hao's shield shattered with a loud bang that rang in his ears, his energy nearly gone, his body collapsing to the dusty ground in exhaustion. The blast hit with a deafening boom, the hill exploding with light and sound, rocks flying like angry birds in every direction, pelting the fighters. He rolled sideways, the amulet slipping from his sweaty hand again, teetering dangerously on the chasm's jagged edge, just out of reach.
Qian Yu and Lian Wei pushed back with all their might, their magic clashing with the blast in a wild burst of color and power. The disciples' chants grew weak and shaky, their shields breaking apart like fragile glass under the giant's might. The altar's last pieces crumbled, its starry stones tumbling into the dark chasm with a roaring crash that swallowed the light, leaving a gaping wound in the hill.
The violet tear pulsed with a deep, steady beat, the giant figure growing even larger and more terrifying. Rong Shen laughed with a wild cackle, his fire flaring bright and hot, Jiao Mei and the gaunt guy rushing forward with renewed fury in their eyes. Lin Hao crawled through the debris, his hands bleeding, reaching for the amulet with a desperate stretch, its glow faint but alive like a stubborn heartbeat.
His fingertips brushed it, the warmth rushing back with a bright spark that lit his hand like a torch. The hill shook harder, the chasm widening with a groan that sounded like the earth crying, the festival's energy wild and chaotic, tossing magic everywhere. A new violet shape emerged from the tear, its eyes glowing brighter than the sun, a deep voice booming, "The Gate rises to rule all realms!"
The shape grew into a massive giant with wings of dark flame that danced like living shadows. Lin Hao clutched the amulet, his energy sparking back to life with a jolt, the Starfall Festival's fate hanging by a thin, fragile thread that could snap any moment. The giant roared, its power shaking the dawn sky with a force that made the ground split, its wings spreading wide to crush the hill and everyone on it, leaving no escape.