Chapter 7: Fury of the Stars: Protector of the Tribe
The journey from the heart of the Forbidden Sands to the Cloud Serpent Tribe was a blur, a cosmic streak across the desolate landscape. Liam, imbued with the fleeting, immense power of the Star Empress's residual essence, moved faster than thought, faster than light itself. The 'Celestial Wind Arts', now amplified to an unimaginable degree, allowed him to become one with the air currents, his body a mere whisper across the dunes. The twin suns were just beginning to peek over the distant horizon, casting long, crimson shadows, as Liam tore through the remaining distance. Every pulse of the star-mark on his palm sent a jolt of raw cosmic energy through him, sustaining this temporary surge of power.
His enhanced senses, honed to an impossible degree, could already perceive the devastation from miles away. The stench of scorched earth mingled with the metallic tang of blood, carried on the morning breeze. The faint spiritual signatures of his tribe members, once a comforting hum, were now erratic, flickering like dying embers. And overshadowing it all, a colossal, malevolent aura, immense and chilling, emanated from the very center of the Cloud Serpent Tribe's encampment. The Heavenly Tribulation Realm beast was already there.
A guttural roar, filled with contemptuous power, ripped through the air, shaking the very ground beneath him. Liam's heart clenched. He poured even more energy into his steps, pushing his temporary might to its absolute limit. 'Hold on,' he urged silently. 'I'm coming.'
He arrived at the outskirts of the tribe, and the sight that greeted him sent a wave of icy fury through his veins. Huts were flattened, their wooden frames splintered and burned. The protective spiritual array, normally shimmering with defensive energy, was shattered, its remnants glowing feebly. Bodies, small and broken, lay scattered across the dust, some barely recognizable. The scent of blood was overpowering.
In the center of the devastation, towering over the ruins, was the Celestial Beast. It was a grotesque creature, unlike any beast Liam had ever seen. Its body was a hideous amalgamation of rock and twisted flesh, standing easily twenty meters tall, its massive limbs ending in claws that could rip through hardened steel. Its head, a misshapen mass of jagged horns and glowing crimson eyes, surveyed the destruction with an air of brutal satisfaction. From its back sprouted two leathery wings, scarred and torn, but capable of generating powerful gales. This was a Crimson Earthwing Behemoth, a legendary creature of immense destructive power, driven by ancient, malevolent instincts.
A few surviving tribe members, their faces pale with terror, huddled behind a partially intact wall, their cultivation a mere flicker against the behemoth's aura. Elder Kai, the tribe's strongest cultivator, a Qi Condensation Realm peak stage practitioner, lay groaning nearby, his body broken, his spiritual energy almost extinguished. The behemoth was simply toying with the few remaining, its low growls echoing like thunder.
"NO!" Liam's roar, amplified by the Star Empress's essence, ripped through the air, startling the beast. His voice, once that of a boy, now resonated with an unearthly power, shaking the very foundations of the devastated encampment.
The Crimson Earthwing Behemoth turned its massive head, its glowing crimson eyes fixing on the lone figure that stood amidst the ruins. A cultivator so insignificant, yet daring to challenge it. It let out a contemptuous snort, a plume of smoke billowing from its nostrils. It lifted a colossal claw, ready to swat Liam away like an annoying fly.
Liam didn't flinch. His entire being pulsed with the borrowed cosmic power. The star-shaped mark on his palm blazed with a silver light, illuminating his determined face. His eyes, usually discerning, now saw the behemoth not just as a beast, but as a vast, churning mass of spiritual energy, its meridians, its weak points, even the subtle flaws in its Heavenly Tribulation Realm cultivation, all laid bare before his cosmic perception.
"You will pay for this," Liam growled, his voice low and dangerous, imbued with an ancient fury. He was no longer just Liam; he was a conduit for the Star Empress's wrath.
He initiated his attack. With a single, explosive burst of the Celestial Wind Arts, Liam vanished, reappearing directly above the behemoth's head, moving with a speed that defied the laws of physics. The behemoth, despite its power, was slow to react. Liam channeled the Star Empress's essence into his right fist, pouring the raw, overwhelming power into his 'Ocean Blast' technique. The air around his fist compressed into a glowing, invisible sphere, resonating with cosmic might.
"Cosmic Blast!" Liam roared, unleashing the full force of his strike directly onto the behemoth's thick, rocky skull.
'BOOOOM!'
A thunderous explosion ripped through the air, sending shockwaves across the entire encampment. The behemoth bellowed in pain, a sound of genuine agony. Its massive head recoiled, and several of its rock-hard scales shattered, raining down like shrapnel. A dark, viscous fluid, the behemoth's blood, erupted from the wound, sizzling as it hit the scorched earth.
The Crimson Earthwing Behemoth staggered, its massive body trembling. Its crimson eyes, now filled with genuine rage and a hint of disbelief, focused on Liam. No creature of this realm, let alone a mere human, should have been capable of inflicting such damage. This was no ordinary cultivator.
The few surviving tribe members, watching from their hiding spots, gasped in disbelief. Their eyes widened, witnessing a spectacle they would never forget. The 'orphan' Liam, whom they had always dismissed, was actually harming the terrifying Heavenly Tribulation Realm beast! Elder Kai, barely conscious, felt a surge of hope, his eyes fixed on Liam's glowing figure.
The behemoth roared, its anger turning into a desperate fury. It flapped its leathery wings, generating a powerful gust of wind filled with razor-sharp rock shards, sending them hurtling towards Liam.
Liam remained calm. He activated the Celestial Wind Arts. The air around him shimmered, bending to his will. He didn't just dodge; he absorbed the wind, subtly distorting the incoming shards' trajectories, making them veer harmlessly away. With another burst of speed, he appeared directly in front of the behemoth's chest, where its rocky scales seemed slightly less dense.
He channeled the 'Fire Beast Clone' technique, but this time, it was imbued with the Star Empress's essence. A massive, roaring figure of pure cosmic flame, easily the size of a grown bear, erupted from his palm. Its eyes burned with an unholy light, and its claws were made of solidified fire. The Fire Beast Clone, roaring like a miniature inferno, lunged at the behemoth's chest, tearing into its flesh.
The behemoth shrieked again, its rocky hide searing from the intense heat. It swiped wildly at the fire-clone, trying to crush it, but the fiery apparition, though smaller, darted in and out, inflicting continuous damage.
Liam pressed his advantage. He moved with blinding speed, a phantom of wind and fury, circling the behemoth. He unleashed a barrage of 'Cosmic Blasts' from different angles, targeting the beast's joints, its eyes, and the growing cracks in its scales. Each punch landed with a deafening 'BOOM!', tearing through the behemoth's defenses, sending chunks of rock and flesh flying.
The Crimson Earthwing Behemoth, once arrogant, was now desperate. Its roars turned into pained whimpers. Its colossal body was covered in wounds, dark blood seeping from countless ruptures. Its spiritual aura, once immense, was now fluctuating wildly, a clear sign of severe damage. It tried to retreat, its instinct overriding its arrogance. It turned to flee, attempting to lumber away.
"You won't escape!" Liam's voice resonated with cosmic authority. The power of the Star Empress's essence was beginning to wane, he could feel it, a subtle drain on his consciousness, but he had to end this now. He channeled all his remaining borrowed power into one final, overwhelming strike. The star-mark on his palm pulsed violently, threatening to tear his skin.
He lunged, appearing directly in front of the fleeing behemoth. He raised both fists, channeling every last drop of cosmic energy into a double 'Cosmic Blast'. The air around him twisted into a vortex of pure destructive force.
"STAR EMPRESS'S WRATH!" Liam roared, unleashing the most powerful attack he had ever conceived.
'BOOOOOOOM!'
A blinding explosion of silver and azure light erupted, engulfing the behemoth completely. The ground trembled violently, and a massive crater formed where the beast once stood. A wave of pure, devastating energy ripped through the air, scattering dust and debris for hundreds of meters. The roar of the explosion echoed across the Forbidden Sands, a sound that would be remembered for millennia.
When the light subsided, the Crimson Earthwing Behemoth was gone. Annihilated. Nothing remained but a massive, smoking crater and scattered fragments of rock and dark, solidified blood. Liam stood at the edge of the crater, his body trembling uncontrollably, utterly drained. The star-shaped mark on his palm dimmed, its silver light fading back to a faint shimmer. The immense, borrowed power receded completely, leaving him feeling profoundly weak, his dantian almost empty. He swayed on his feet, barely able to stand.
The few surviving tribe members cautiously emerged from their hiding spots, their faces a mixture of terror and awe. They stared at the massive crater, then at Liam, the small, exhausted figure who had just vanquished a Heavenly Tribulation Realm beast. Elder Kai, who had managed to crawl closer, his eyes wide with disbelief, looked at Liam as if he were a living god.
"Liam...?" Elder Kai whispered, his voice trembling. "Is that truly you?"
Liam turned, a faint, tired smile gracing his lips. His body ached, his head throbbed, but his heart soared. He had done it. He had protected his tribe. He looked at the faces, some covered in dust and tears, but all now looking at him with a profound reverence he had never experienced. He was no longer the orphan. He was their protector.
Miles away, within the silent, ethereal chamber of the Sanctum of Aethel, Lyra suddenly opened her eyes. A subtle tremor ran through the Stellar Core. She had felt it—the raw, devastating power of Liam's final strike. A faint, almost tender smile touched her lips, her obsidian eyes shimmering with relief and pride. 'He truly is worthy,' she thought. 'The Star Emperor has returned.' Her gaze drifted to the distant horizon, where a faint, lingering light still pulsed. The path ahead was long, but the first great battle had been won.