The moment Vorathrael revealed its true form, the battlefield changed.
The forest that had once been filled with towering trees and whispering winds now resembled a shattered wasteland. Cracked earth stretched in every direction, smoke rising from broken trunks and scorched soil.
And at the center of it all—
Vorathrael stood like a nightmare given flesh.
Its body had grown monstrous, dark wings spreading across the sky like a shadow swallowing the moon. Jagged claws gleamed like curved blades forged in the abyss. Every breath it exhaled carried a pressure so heavy that even the air trembled.
Before it stood two figures.
The young lady in the crimson ruqun.
And the old master beside her.
The young lady's name was Yun Lianhua.
Her sword trembled slightly in her grip—not from fear, but from the exhaustion of fighting such a monster head-on.
Beside her stood the old master Zhen Guanyu.
His body bore the scars of countless battles, yet the aura around him still carried the dignity of a warrior who had survived entire lifetimes of war.
But even they could feel it now.
The difference in power.
Vorathrael laughed.
A deep, distorted sound that shook the battlefield.
"So this is the limit of humans?"
It stepped forward.
The ground cracked beneath its weight.
Then it moved.
Faster than before.
Its claw slashed through the air like a falling execution blade.
BOOM!
Zhen Guanyu barely managed to block the attack, but the force blasted him backward. His feet tore through the ground as he slid nearly ten meters before regaining balance.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Vorathrael didn't give him time to breathe.
Its wings snapped open.
With a single beat—
It vanished.
Yun Lianhua's eyes widened.
"Master—!"
Too late.
The monster appeared above them.
Its massive claw descended like a collapsing mountain.
Yun Lianhua raised her sword with every ounce of strength she had.
CLANG!!!
The impact shook the forest.
Her knees bent instantly as the weight crushed downward.
The ground beneath her feet shattered.
Zhen Guanyu rushed forward and struck from the side.
His sword pierced toward Vorathrael's rib.
But the monster twisted its body mid-air and caught the blade between two claws.
CRACK.
The sound of metal breaking echoed through the battlefield.
Zhen Guanyu's sword snapped in half.
The old master's eyes widened.
Vorathrael smirked.
"Pathetic."
It kicked him.
BOOM!
Zhen Guanyu's body was thrown across the battlefield like a broken arrow.
He crashed through three trees before finally collapsing against a boulder.
Kaelren shouted.
"MASTER!"
But the battle didn't stop.
Vorathrael turned toward Yun Lianhua again.
She attacked immediately, refusing to retreat.
Her sword danced through the air with incredible precision.
Slash.
Slash.
Slash.
Her movements were elegant.
Beautiful.
Yet filled with lethal intent.
But Vorathrael no longer treated her attacks seriously.
The monster blocked with brute strength.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Each collision pushed her further backward.
Her breathing became heavier.
Her arms trembled.
Vorathrael suddenly grabbed her blade with its claw.
The metal screeched.
Then it threw her across the battlefield.
Yun Lianhua crashed to the ground.
Dust rose into the air.
Kaelren clenched his fists.
"This… this is impossible…"
He looked toward Lin.
The scholar who had barely survived moments ago.
Lin lay against a broken tree, blood staining his clothes.
Yet slowly…
He began to move.
His fingers tightened around the sword lying beside him.
Lucifer's sword.
The blade that had once carried dark flames.
But now—
It was silent.
No flames.
No aura.
Only steel.
Kaelren noticed him moving.
His eyes widened.
"What are you doing?!"
"You'll only be a burden in this fight!"
Lin didn't answer.
Instead—
His eyes slowly closed.
And then—
His voice echoed directly inside the minds of two warriors.
Yun Lianhua.
Zhen Guanyu.
A calm voice.
"…Dodge high."
Both warriors froze for a moment.
Their eyes widened.
Mind transmission.
But they trusted the voice instinctively.
The moment Vorathrael attacked again—
They both jumped upward.
At the same moment—
Lin stood.
His body trembled from exhaustion.
But his grip on the sword was steady.
He whispered softly.
"Since the flame is gone…"
"…I'll borrow the wind."
He lowered his stance.
Both hands gripping the sword tightly.
The air around him began to shift.
Leaves lifted from the ground.
Dust spiraled upward.
A silent current began gathering around the blade.
Lin spoke again.
His voice calm.
But powerful.
"Heavenly Gale Severance Art."
"…First Form."
The wind roared.
"Skyfall Cleave."
Lin stepped forward.
Then—
He swung the sword downward.
The moment the blade moved—
The air itself split.
A massive arc of compressed wind erupted from the sword.
It screamed through the battlefield like a raging storm.
Vorathrael turned toward the attack—
Too late.
SHRRRRRRRRK!
The wind blade cut through its chest.
Clean.
Precise.
Terrifying.
For a moment—
Everything became silent.
Then—
Vorathrael's body split.
From shoulder to waist.
Dark blood exploded into the air.
The monster collapsed to one knee.
Half of its body barely attached.
Kaelren stared in disbelief.
"…What… was that…"
Lin's body swayed.
The strength left his arms.
The sword slipped slightly from his grip.
He began to fall.
But before he collapsed—
Vorathrael laughed.
A broken.
Monstrous laugh.
"You foolish human…"
Its body began regenerating.
Dark energy poured from the wound.
"You cannot kill me… with that alone."
Lin smiled faintly.
Because that had never been his plan.
Yun Lianhua understood instantly.
Her eyes widened.
"Master!"
Zhen Guanyu rose slowly.
Blood covered his body.
But his aura flared again.
The old warrior raised his broken sword.
"Understood."
Both warriors moved.
At the same moment.
Yun Lianhua dashed forward, her ruqun flowing behind her like a burning banner.
Her sword ignited with blazing crimson energy.
"Scarlet Phoenix Descent!"
At the same time—
Zhen Guanyu gathered the last of his strength.
Golden light surged through his body.
He raised his broken blade.
"Heaven Piercing Dawn Strike!"
Both attacks collided with Vorathrael simultaneously.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!
The explosion shook the entire forest.
Flames erupted.
Golden light burst outward.
Vorathrael roared in agony.
Its regeneration stopped.
The wind slash had already cut its life in half.
Now—
The combined power of the two warriors finished the work.
The monster's body began burning.
Black flames consumed it from the inside.
Vorathrael's final scream echoed across the forest.
Then—
Its body turned to ash.
The wind carried the ashes away.
Silence fell across the battlefield.
Lin collapsed.
His body finally giving in to exhaustion.
The sword slipped from his hand as he fell toward the ground.
Yun Lianhua rushed forward.
She caught him before he hit the earth.
Her arms wrapped around him instinctively.
Her eyes trembled.
"Why…"
"…would you push yourself this far?"
Lin didn't answer.
He was already unconscious.
But a faint smile remained on his face.
The battle was over.
And the storm had finally been split.