The colossal giant with dark flame wings dominated the sky above the crumbling hill, its glowing eyes burning like twin suns, shaking the ground with a roar that echoed like a storm. The Lotus Soul Amulet teetered on the chasm's jagged edge, its golden lines flickering weakly like a fading star, slipping further with every tremor as Lin Hao lunged for it. His body throbbed with pain from deep cuts and exhaustion, blood staining his hands, but his heart blazed with a fierce determination to save his sect no matter the odds.
The Verdant Lotus Sect was a shadow of itself under the chaotic aftermath of the Starfall Festival, the air thick with dust and the sour smell of burned magic that hung heavy. Disciples slumped among the ruins, their green staffs shattered like broken twigs, their chants reduced to faint murmurs as the chasm widened with a hungry growl. Elder Qian Yu stood wobbly but unbowed, her torn robe flapping in the wind, her face etched with grim hope that refused to fade even as danger loomed.
"This is the Gate's moment to crush us," she rasped, her voice hoarse but steady like a rock. She raised her cracked staff, a frail green shield sputtering to life, barely holding back the giant's dark power that pressed down like a mountain. "Lin Hao, that amulet is our last hope—get it now!"
Lin Hao scrambled forward, his knees scraping against jagged rocks. "I'll get it back," he panted, stretching his bloody fingers toward the amulet with a desperate hope that fueled his every move. Lian Wei staggered to his side, their silver robe in rags, their staff glowing a faint blue like a struggling candle. "The Celestial Gate's tearing the sky apart," they whispered, voice trembling but urgent. "The festival's power is still wild, like in the 8th Cycle—grab it and fight with all you have left!"
The giant swung its flaming wings with a mighty whoosh, a dark blast roaring down like a tidal wave of shadows. The hill shook violently, the chasm splitting wider with a loud crack that sent more rocks tumbling into the dark pit. Rong Shen cackled with a wild, wicked laugh, his red cloak whipping in the wind, purple fire blazing like a raging inferno that lit the ruined battlefield.
Jiao Mei darted forward with a fierce shout, her sword glowing with magic lines that danced like fiery whips. The gaunt guy summoned a black-flamed wolf, its howl cutting through the air with a chilling sound that made the ground quiver. Lin Hao's fingers grazed the amulet, its warmth sparking back like a sudden flame, filling him with bold energy that pushed away his tiredness.
Qian Yu's green shield crumbled with a sharp pop, but she stood tall with a determined grunt, refusing to fall. Wei Tao rallied the scattered disciples, their chants weak but steady like a fading drumbeat, their green light mixing with the dawn's dim glow to fight the dark. Lian Wei's blue magic clashed with the wolf, ice shards flying like a sharp hailstorm across the hill, striking the enemy with cold fury.
Lin Hao snatched the amulet with a tight grip, clutching it close, and chanted the Starfall Codex with every ounce of strength in his weary body. A golden flower shield bloomed big and bright before him, its petals shimmering like stars piercing the smoky sky. The giant's dark blast slammed into it with a thunderous bang that jolted him to his core, but the shield held firm like a brave guardian standing against the storm.
Rong Shen's purple fire joined the assault with a roaring blast, the hill trembling with every fiery surge that scorched the earth and sent embers flying. Jiao Mei's sword sparked against the shield, her moves fast and fierce like a striking cobra, her eyes gleaming with rage. The wolf's flames howled loud and hot, the chasm widening further, its dark jaws ready to swallow the hill and all who stood on it.
The altar's scattered remnants glowed faintly like dying coals, its magic clinging to the air like a soft whisper of lost power. Lin Hao pushed harder with a determined growl, the golden flower standing strong, its light slicing through the darkness like a shining sword that rallied the fallen. Qian Yu's green magic boosted him with a warm rush, the colors blending into a dazzling wave that lit the hill like a festival torch, sparking courage in the hearts of the battered sect.
Lian Wei's staff smashed the wolf with a loud crack that rang like a bell, turning it to fading smoke that drifted away like a ghost in the wind. The gaunt guy stumbled back, his face pale and terrified, his hands shaking like a leaf caught in a gale. The giant roared with a deafening bellow, its dark energy swelling into a massive storm that blackened the sky, casting a shadow that swallowed the dawn's last light.
"You can't stop the Gate's dominion," it boomed, the storm swirling wild and loud like an angry dragon unleashed. The hill split more with a deep groan, rocks crashing into the chasm with a thunderous boom that echoed across the valley, shaking the very foundation of the earth. Lin Hao's shield wobbled like a sapling in a storm, his energy slipping fast, his legs trembling under the crushing weight of the giant's power bearing down on him.
A blue wall shot up from Lian Wei with a brilliant flash, joining Qian Yu's magic in a dazzling burst that lit the ruins like a beacon of hope. The storm slowed, its edges tearing apart like worn cloth under their combined power, giving the sect a fleeting moment to regroup amidst the chaos. Jiao Mei stabbed again with a fierce cry that cut through the noise, her sword nicking the shield's edge, cutting Lin Hao's back with a sharp, burning sting that made him clench his jaw against the pain.
Blood trickled down his back, pain shooting through him like a hot lash across his skin, but he held on with every last shred of will he could find. He poured the amulet's power into the codex with a loud shout, a golden wave blasting out with a whoosh that shook the ground, pushing Jiao Mei and the gaunt guy back with a heavy thud that rocked the hill. The storm weakened for a breath, the giant staggering with a deep growl that rumbled like far-off thunder, its strength fading just enough to give them a slim chance.
"Stand tall and fight with everything," Qian Yu shouted, her voice ringing out like a leader's horn piercing the swirling dust and smoke. The disciples' shields flickered like tired embers struggling to stay alive, their chants rising with hope and grit despite the danger closing in like a dark tide. The chasm's edge crumbled more with a groan, its dark depth pulling at the hill's remains, the festival's power wild and chaotic, tossing magic like a stormy sea that battered the fighters relentlessly.
Lian Wei's blue light struck the giant with a bright flash, ice cracking its dark wings with a loud snap that echoed off the shattered hills like a war drum. The black-cloaked figure chanted in a creepy, low tone that sent chills down their spines, a new dark wave rolling toward the hill like a shadowy flood ready to drown them in despair. Lin Hao's energy drained away fast, the amulet cooling like a lifeless stone, his vision blurring with heavy exhaustion that dragged him down into a foggy haze of fatigue.
He gripped the amulet tight with both hands, its warmth flickering like a tiny candle battling a howling gale. The golden flower dimmed in his mind, the festival's power slipping away like sand through his fingers, leaving him weak and dizzy with every ragged breath. Qian Yu's green array faltered with a soft whimper, the disciples struggling hard, their magic fading under the dark wave's crushing push that threatened to shatter their spirits and end their fight for good.
"Find your deep strength within," Lian Wei urged, their staff glowing bright like a guiding star cutting through the gloom with a ray of hope. Qian Yu rallied the team with a loud, heartfelt cheer, their green light flaring up again like a sudden campfire bursting to life, lifting their tired hearts with a surge of new fire that burned bright. 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 and rallied the fallen warriors.
The dark wave paused with a shudder, the black figure stumbling back with a hiss of fury that curled the dust into angry swirls. Rong Shen roared like a wild beast set free from its cage, the violet tear widening with a greedy, hungry pull, sucking at the hill's magic like a thirsty beast. The giant raised its arms high with a menacing growl, dark energy swirling into a huge blast that lit the sky with a fiery glow, promising to wipe out the sect in one final, devastating strike.
Lin Hao's shield broke apart with a loud bang that rang in his ears like a tolling bell, his energy nearly gone, his body collapsing to the dusty ground in total exhaustion that left him gasping for air. The blast hit with a deafening boom that shook the world, the hill exploding with light and sound, rocks flying like angry birds in every direction, pelting the fighters with sharp edges that cut through the smoky air. He rolled to the side with a groan, the amulet slipping from his sweaty hand once more, teetering dangerously on the chasm's edge, its glow fading like a dying hope that hung by a thread thinner than silk.
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 that lit the ruins like a desperate flare against the dark. The disciples' chants grew faint and shaky, their shields shattering like fragile glass under the giant's overwhelming might, leaving them exposed to the crushing energy. The hill's edge crumbled more with a deep, mournful groan, the chasm's dark depth pulling at the ground with a hungry roar, swallowing debris and magic alike into its endless void.
The violet tear pulsed with a deep, steady beat that vibrated through the earth like a heartbeat, the giant figure growing even larger and more terrifying, its wings spreading wide like a shadow of doom that covered the sky. Rong Shen cackled with a wild, triumphant laugh, his fire flaring bright and hot like a furnace stoked to full blaze, Jiao Mei and the gaunt guy rushing forward with fierce determination burning in their eyes. Lin Hao crawled through the wreckage, his hands bleeding and raw from the rough stones, reaching for the amulet with a desperate lunge, its faint glow calling to him like a lifeline in the suffocating dark.
His fingertips grazed it with a shaky touch, the warmth rushing back with a bright spark that lit his hand like a torch cutting through the gloom. The hill shook harder with a violent shudder, the chasm widening with a groan that sounded like the earth crying out in agony, the festival's energy wild and chaotic, tossing magic like a stormy whirlwind that battered the fighters with relentless force. A new violet shape burst from the tear with a blinding flash that stung their eyes, its eyes glowing brighter than the sun, a deep voice booming, "The Celestial Gate rises to claim all realms and beyond, sealing your fate!"
The shape grew into a colossal giant with wings of dark flame that danced like living shadows, its presence filling the sky with a suffocating weight that pressed down on their chests. Lin Hao clutched the amulet with a tight grip, his energy sparking back to life with a jolt that made his heart race like a wild drum, the Starfall Festival's fate hanging by a thin, fragile thread that could snap with the next heartbeat. The colossal giant roared with a power that shook the dawn sky, splitting the ground with jagged cracks that raced toward them, its wings spreading wide to crush the hill and everyone on it, leaving no hope of escape as the tear pulsed with an endless, ravenous hunger that promised more terror to come.