Chapter 7 – Blood and Golden Light
The floorboards rattled as armored boots thundered up the stairs. Outside, torchlight flickered against the darkness, and the cold wind carried the metallic stench of drawn steel.
Chen Yue stood calm in the center of the room, golden Qi swirling around him like an astral halo. Velira clutched her staff, frost-blue mana crackling at her fingertips, while Ayara nocked an arrow, her sharp eyes scanning the door.
"Chen Yue…" Velira whispered, her voice taut with tension. "The Royal Guard isn't like the bandits we fought. They're elite—battle mages, sword saints—"
"Good," Chen Yue cut in, his tone ice-edged. "Then they'll make excellent practice."
The System's cold chime echoed in his mind:
Emergency Quest: Survive the Royal Raid.
Primary Objective: Escape or eliminate all enemies (Reward: 1x Authority Fragment Upgrade).
Optional: Kill Commander Ardan for extra loot.
A slow grin crept across Chen Yue's face. An optional boss, huh? Perfect.
The Raid Begins
The door exploded inward with a deafening BANG, splinters flying as three armored knights stormed inside, swords gleaming under the moonlight. Behind them, two mages in crimson cloaks raised staves, mana surging.
"There!" one knight barked, pointing at Chen Yue. "By order of His Majesty, surrender immediately—"
SWOOSH!
Before he could finish, Chen Yue blurred forward, his Qi-enhanced body moving faster than their eyes could track. His fist slammed into the knight's chestplate, and the steel caved inward like tin foil. The man flew backward, smashing into the corridor wall with a sickening crunch.
The others froze for half a heartbeat.
"Velira!" Chen Yue barked.
"Ice Wall!" she snapped, slamming her staff down. A wall of jagged frost erupted, blocking the door just as fireballs exploded against it, spraying steam and sparks.
Ayara let her first arrow fly. It whistled through the gap in the ice wall, striking a mage square in the throat. The man gurgled and collapsed.
The second mage snarled, chanting a spell—but Chen Yue was already there. His hand glowed with golden Qi as he snapped the man's staff in two and slammed a palm into his chest.
BOOM!
The mage's ribcage shattered, sending him flying down the stairs like a ragdoll.
Velira stared, wide-eyed. That speed… that power… he's not human anymore.
Commander Ardan Arrives
"Pathetic," a cold voice drawled from the stairwell. The temperature seemed to drop as a tall man stepped into view, his black-and-gold armor gleaming ominously. A crimson cape billowed behind him, and at his hip hung a longsword etched with glowing runes.
The soldiers parted as he strode forward.
"Commander Ardan," Velira hissed, her knuckles whitening around her staff. "The Royal Sword Saint…"
Ayara cursed softly under her breath. "Of all nights for him to show up…"
Chen Yue tilted his head, sizing the man up. His instincts screamed danger—but also opportunity.
"Ardan," Chen Yue said casually, his tone laced with mockery. "Do you always travel with this many dogs, or did the leash snap?"
A flicker of irritation crossed Ardan's chiseled features. "You should have stayed in the shadows, boy," he said coldly. "The King does not take kindly to… anomalies."
His hand gripped the sword hilt.
SHING!
The blade sang as it left its sheath, glowing with dense mana. The air rippled with raw power, like a storm compressed into steel.
"Mana Sword Technique: Heavenly Severance," Ardan intoned, his voice calm—too calm.
Chen Yue's grin widened. "Finally… someone worth killing."
The Clash
Ardan moved first.
One moment he was standing; the next, he vanished in a blur of speed, his sword cleaving downward in a blinding arc. The strike split the ice wall and the floorboards in half, sending shards flying like shrapnel.
But Chen Yue was already gone.
He reappeared behind Ardan, golden Qi flaring around his fists. "Astral Fang—"
CLANG!
Steel met Qi in a shockwave that blew out the windows. Sparks and golden light exploded as Chen Yue's strike collided with the commander's sword. The impact sent both men skidding backward, gouging trenches into the wooden floor.
Velira staggered, shielding her face from the force. "Their power… it's insane…"
Ayara loosed two arrows, each glowing with wind mana, aiming for Ardan's blind spot. The commander tilted his head, slicing them mid-air without even looking.
"You're strong," Ardan admitted, his voice low, his eyes narrowing at Chen Yue. "But you're reckless."
Chen Yue chuckled, golden Qi coiling around him like a living dragon. "No. I'm hungry."
System Assist
Combat Analysis Complete.
Recommendation: Activate Authority Burst?
Yes / No
Chen Yue's lips curled. Do it.
Authority Burst Activated.
Qi Output +200% for 30 seconds.
Golden flames erupted from his body, flooding the room with blinding light. The floorboards cracked, and even the soldiers outside stumbled back in terror.
Velira gasped. "What… what is this power?!"
Ardan's eyes widened slightly, his calm composure cracking. "Impossible…"
Chen Yue vanished.
BOOM!
His fist slammed into Ardan's chestplate, sending the commander crashing through the wall and out into the street. Dust and debris exploded outward.
The Street Battle
The town square became a battlefield. Soldiers swarmed like ants, their armor glinting under torchlight. Ardan rose slowly from the rubble, spitting blood, his once-pristine armor dented.
Chen Yue dropped down after him, landing like a thunderbolt, the cobblestones shattering under his feet. Golden Qi burned around him like a miniature sun.
"You're still standing?" Chen Yue smirked. "Good. I was worried you'd die too fast."
Ardan's face twisted in fury. Mana surged violently around him, condensing into a colossal blade of light.
"Mana Sword Domain—Crimson Judgement!"
A blazing sword aura erupted, splitting the night sky, its heat melting the frost from Velira's magic. The sheer pressure forced Ayara to her knees.
"Stay back!" Chen Yue roared, and then he moved.
The Final Strike
Golden Qi and crimson mana collided in an earth-shaking explosion. The ground cracked, buildings crumbled, and shockwaves rippled for miles. Soldiers screamed, shields snapping like twigs as the force tore through their ranks.
Chen Yue drove his fist forward, Qi spiraling into a single point.
"Astral Fang – Heaven Breaker!"
The impact shattered Ardan's mana blade, obliterated his armor, and sent him flying across the plaza. He slammed into the fountain at the center, the stone exploding on impact.
Silence followed.
Then, the System chimed:
Optional Boss Eliminated.
Reward: Authority Fragment x1. New Skill Unlocked: Celestial Vein Burst.
Chen Yue stood amidst the carnage, his chest rising and falling slowly. Golden Qi dimmed, fading into soft embers.
Behind him, Velira and Ayara approached, their faces pale, eyes wide with shock and something else—awe.
"You…" Velira whispered, voice trembling. "You're… a monster."
Chen Yue turned, his smile dark and dazzling. "No. I'm just getting started."
To Be Continued…