Chapter 1609: Lord of Flame

The flock of Bael Wyverns descended like a living storm, their shrieks tearing through the sky as rivers of fire poured from their jaws. Flames crashed against the defensive barriers in relentless waves, each impact sending violent ripples across the glowing shields that protected the island.

The air itself trembled beneath the chaos, smoke, ash, and the thunder of beating wings, swallowing the battlefield whole.

Lory stood at the center of it all, forcing her strength into the weakening barrier, her silver aura blazing against the darkness.

All of a sudden—

A sharp pain twisted through her lower abdomen.

Lory’s breath caught violently in her throat. Her vision suddenly blurred, though just for a fleeting second, as an unbearable weakness spread through her limbs like poison.

The power she had been holding so firmly began slipping away beyond her control. She clenched her teeth hard enough to draw blood, refusing to let even a sound escape.

Why was this happening again?

Lory felt there was something wrong with her body. It wasn’t exhaustion alone, but something seemed to drain her from the inside. Could it be that there is something else hidden within this island that causes her strength to drain so suddenly?

Another explosion erupted as the Bael Wyverns continued their merciless assault, flames raining down relentlessly from the sky.

Not far away, Zhao Li Xin noticed a subtle change in her expression. Even in the middle of battle, his attention had never truly left her.

Seeing Lory wince in pain, panic gripped him. He abandoned the fight and rushed towards her. "Lory!" he shouted, slashing at an approaching Wyvern Bael before running even closer.

"What happened? Are you hurt?" Worry filled his voice, raw and undisguised. Yet he hesitated to touch her, seeing the violent energy still swirling around her body as she struggled to maintain control.

Lory’s breathing turned uneven as another wave of agony struck her body. Still, when she lifted her eyes and saw the soldiers standing frozen behind her, fear immediately replaced the pain in her heart.

"Get out of here quickly!" Lory shouted. Her voice echoed across the battlefield with desperate urgency.

"I...I can’t hold on any longer."

At that exact moment, the massive barrier surrounding the island flickered as if it lost it power; meanwhile, the wyvern didn’t stop attacking. not long after the cracks of light spread across the barrier surface like shattered glass, and a second later

’CRASH’

The barrier exploded into countless shards of radiant energy, scattering across the dark sky like dying stars. The soldiers stared in horror, their faces drained of color as the last line of defense vanished before their eyes. And in the silence that followed, Lory’s strength finally gave out.

Her knees almost hit the ground as exhaustion consumed her completely.

"Lory!" Zhao Li Xin rushed forward and caught her with one hand before she could collapse entirely. With the other, he grabbed the Trinity Staff that had fallen from her grasp, its faint glow flickering weakly in the chaos.

Seeing Lory’s condition, Zhao Li Xin became more anxious than ever. Her face had turned pale, and her breathing was unsteady, as though something inside her body was draining her strength little by little.

He quickly lifted her into his arms, but amidst the relentless attacks from the Baels and Simon, who had transformed into a monstrous Bael himself and continued summoning more creatures without end, it was nearly impossible for them to escape.

The sky burned with fire, and the deafening roars of the Baels echoed across the battlefield like a death sentence.

As a result, there was only one way.

Zhao Li Xin gently handed Lory over to one of the King’s Men. However, the moment the soldier saw her face clearly, his entire body stiffened in shock.

Perhaps because she overused her power, the shapeshifter in her wore off, and she returned to her original appearance. Naturally, people almost immediately recognize her.

"Take care of her," Zhao Li Xin said in a low voice as he carefully transferred the half-conscious Lory into the soldier’s arms.

"Prin... Princess Lorient?" the soldier gasped, his eyes widening in disbelief, "She...she’s alive." ℯℓ.

The news of Lory’s return had not yet spread among the lower ranks. To many of them, the lost princess was still nothing more than a distant memory buried by time and war. Seeing her here, alive and breathing before them, was enough to shake their minds completely.

Even Enzo stood frozen where he was. His lips parted slightly as his gaze darted between Lory and Zhao Li Xin, unable to process what he was seeing.

"She... she..." Enzo’s shock, all the words he wanted to say failing before his mouth.

"You all need to leave. I’ll handle them," Zhao Li Xin said calmly.

He flicked his sleeve lightly before turning toward the battlefield once more.

"Li Xin...don’t." Lory weakly reached out toward him, her trembling fingers stretching desperately through the air as if trying to stop him. But Zhao Li Xin has moved away, out of her reach.

The raging flames illuminated Zhao Li Xin’s tall figure as he stood alone against the endless swarm of Baels descending from the sky.

Then slowly, he pressed his palm against his chest. A crimson glow appeared beneath his hand. At first, it was faint, but within seconds the light intensified until it pulsed like a living heart.

The surrounding soldiers instinctively held their breath. From the center of Zhao Li Xin’s chest, the hilt of a sword slowly emerged. It was as though the weapon had always existed within him.

[Master, you finally call me] The fire spirit’s excited voice rang in Zhao Li Xin’s head.

Zhao Li Xin wrapped his hand around the hilt and pulled. The blade slid free from his chest, crimson light spilling across the battlefield like blood-red lightning. The moment the sword fully emerged, an overwhelming pressure exploded outward, crushing the air itself.

The earth trembled beneath his feet. Even the Baels shrieked uneasily, their monstrous instincts sensing the terrifying danger radiating from him. 𝐟𝑟ⅇ

Zhao Li Xin slowly lifted the glowing crimson sword and swung it once through the air. The moment the blade moved, the atmosphere around him seemed to distort, followed by suffocating pressure spread across the battlefield, so heavy it made make harder to breathe.

The wind fell stagnant as the flames wavered violently. At that moment, the air around them felt as though it was etched with danger, as though the world instinctively feared the power he held in his hands.

"Leave," he said.

Zhao Li Xin’s voice was neither loud nor furious, yet it carried the absolute weight of a king’s command. As if they were given a decree, the soldiers moved in haste; they forced their bodies forward as they retreated from the battlefield at speed.

Even Enzo, despite the countless questions burning inside his mind, finally tore his gaze away and followed the others.

Lory could only helplessly carry in the soldier’s arms, watching as Zhao Li Xin’s figure slowly grew more distant amidst the flames and smoke.

"Li...Xin" Her voice choked with despair.

The Wyverns let out thunderous roars that shook the heavens, their deafening shrieks echoing across the battlefield like the cries of ancient beasts awakened from slumber. Massive wings beat violently against the air, creating powerful gusts of wind that swept across the scorched land and sent smoke and ashes spiraling into the sky.

One after another, the Bael Wyverns descended. Their enormous bodies cut through the darkness like falling meteors, claws gleaming coldly beneath the crimson flames pouring from their jaws. The killing intent surrounding them was enough to make ordinary soldiers collapse in terror. Still, Zhao Li Xin remained unmoved.

Standing alone in the storm, his black robes flapped wildly in the strong winds, while the red sword in his hand radiated a sinister light. His expression remained calm, as if the countless monsters charging toward him were nothing but insignificant prey.

Slowly, he raised the sword into a striking stance. The crimson light reflected within his dark eyes, and for the first time, a dangerous excitement flickered across them.

"Come to me..."He smirk.

The first Wyvern came in high speed, its gigantic claws tore through the air with enough force to shatter mountains, but Zhao Li Xin moved faster.

As he released a strike, the ground exploded beneath his feet as Zhao Li Xin vanished from sight. A fiery crimson streak flashed across the battlefield, so fast that the naked eye could barely follow it. Before the Wyvern could even react, Zhao Li Xin appeared directly above its massive body and swung his sword down mercilessly.

Slash!

The glowing blade tore through the creature’s wing in a single devastating strike, slicing effortlessly through scales, flesh, and bone. Crimson blood sprayed across the sky like rain.

The Wyvern released a bloodcurdling scream that shook the battlefield before its enormous body spiraled downward uncontrollably.

Its body crashed violently into the ground, creating a massive crater upon impact. The Bael Wyvern trembled in agony, letting out weak, pained growls as blood continued pouring from the severed wing.

Zhao Li Xin descended slowly from the sky and walked toward the dying creature without the slightest hesitation. Ironically, the seed of life had strengthened the Wyvern’s innate abilities, pushing the beast’s fire attribute several levels beyond its natural limit. Even now, scorching flames continued flickering across its broken body, radiating astonishing power.

Zhao Li Xin stopped before the fallen Wyvern and slowly raised his hand. Immediately, the surrounding flames began to distort violently.

Streams of fiery essence emerged from the Wyvern’s body like flowing magma, gathering toward Zhao Li Xin’s palm as though drawn by an irresistible force.

The dying beast struggled desperately, its enormous body convulsing in fear and pain. But it was useless. The fire essence was forcibly ripped out from its body little by little, absorbed directly into Zhao Li Xin like nourishment feeding a starving monster. The crimson glow around him intensified instantly, becoming even more terrifying than before.

Zhao Li Xin turned his eyes to the remaining Wyvern. "Next?"

The remaining Wyverns roared furiously and attacked together from every direction. Flames erupted like tidal waves while razor-sharp claws descended toward Zhao Li Xin without mercy. At the center of the chaos, Zhao Li Xin smiled faintly.

The crimson Lightning sword in his hand hummed violently as killing intent exploded from his body like a calamity finally unleashed. The air around him warped beneath the overwhelming pressure, and even the raging flames seemed to recoil from his presence.

"Just when I needed to improve my power, all of you came to me," he said softly. A devilish smile slowly spread across his face, dark eyes gleaming with dangerous excitement. "God is truly kind to me."

The other Bael Wyverns roared furiously, as if enraged by his arrogance, and charged toward him once more. Their gigantic shadows swallowed the sky while torrents of fire descended like divine punishment.

But Zhao Li Xin merely tightened his grip on the crimson sword. Then he stepped forward and took a long leap into the sky. Soon, a deafening sound erupted as the ground shattered beneath his feet and his figure shot upward like a crimson comet.

In the next instant, the battlefield erupted into chaos once more.