Chapter 1612: Strange Power Fluctuations

The fire spirit hesitated, unable to decide whether to feel relieved or worried. The fire spirit was thankful that Zhao Li Xin had reached such a profound stage where his mind was completely focused and undisturbed.

In a situation like this, any interruption could shatter the delicate balance he had achieved. Yet that same gratitude was shadowed by unease. For if anything were to happen to the young mistress...The fire spirit trembled at the thought.

The backlash from a disrupted cultivation would be severe enough, but that was not what frightened it most. No, what truly terrified the spirit was the man himself. Should harm befall Lory while Zhao Li Xin remained unaware, there was little doubt of what would follow once he learned the truth.

His crazy master would lose control. This man had inherited more than just the overwhelming power of his ancestors; he had also inherited their violence, their madness, and the darkness that flowed through their bloodline.

Violence was etched into his very being. It could not be erased, nor purified, nor wished away. At best, it could only be restrained, and the only chain capable of restraining him was his love for the young mistress.

Without her, the savage nature buried beneath his calm exterior would no longer have reason to remain dormant. So if anyone foolishly believed they could simply remove that darkness from him... well, such thoughts were better left unspoken.

The fire spirit understood this truth better than most. That was why, despite its anxiety, it forced itself to remain still. The young mistress was no fragile flower in need of shelter. She possessed strength of her own, strength the fire spirit had long acknowledged.

Surely... she would be able to protect herself.

Clinging to that fragile reassurance, the fire spirit quietly offered another silent prayer to the heavens. Having such an extreme master was exhausting beyond words.

Still, the fire spirit didn’t dare to disturb Zhao Li Xin’s meditation. The spirit knew Zhao Li Xin too well. The moment he sensed danger to Lory, he would abandon cultivation without hesitation, regardless of the consequences to himself.

The young mistress must have understood this as well.

That was why she had deliberately lured the monster away, drawing the battle far from Zhao Li Xin’s secluded domain so his cultivation would remain undisturbed.

The fire spirit drifted restlessly in the air, flames flickering with anxious uncertainty. At last, it released a long, weary sigh. All it could do now was pray. Pray that the young mistress would remain safe. Pray that disaster would not descend upon them all.

High above the sky, Lory battled the giant Balrog as chaos engulfed the sky.

The colossal beast hovered amidst a violent storm, its massive body wrapped in violent currents. Its mastery of wind and sound was terrifying; every roar unleashed destructive sound waves, every flap of its wings stirred up a hurricane.

A shrill scream erupted, followed by an invisible shockwave that crashed toward her, distorting the air. Lory vanished like a streak of white light. The soundwave shattered the clouds behind her, but even after she dodged it, its residual force sent his blood and spiritual energy into a roiling rage. ℓ.

The Balrog didn’t stop. With a ferocious roar, it attacked. Despite its immense size, the beast moved with terrifying speed. Its gigantic forepaws swept across the sky like collapsing mountains, its claws gleaming as they slashed toward her.

Lory spun to the side, and the claws missed her by inches, but the powerful winds from the attack still threw her backward.

The beast continued to advance. Its colossal wings spread wide, shading the battlefield. Then, suddenly, the wings slammed down. A violent storm exploded outward, tearing through the clouds and swallowing Lory alive. Her bluish hair fluttered wildly as the crushing pressure slammed into her body like an invisible mountain.

It seems fighting at close distance wasn’t too effective. Later on, she flicks her hand and transforms the sword into a bow. Lory took a deep breath, then she slowly drew the string. Cold energy gathered around her fingers. A second later, dozens of ice arrows shot through the storm like frozen stars. The arrows struck the Balrog, frost spreading rapidly across its dark body. ℯℓ.

The monster roared as its movements slowed, but only momentarily, before a powerful force erupted from its body, shattering the ice that clung to its body

Lory’s expression grew darkened. She knew this wasn’t enough; she lowered her bow and began chanting.A moment later, the clouds gathered violently overhead as thunder rumbled in the sky.

Darkness spread across the battlefield, and the howling wind grew stronger by the moment. The storm should have answered only her call.

Dark clouds gathered overhead as thunder rolled across the heavens, spiritual energy weaving through the sky under Lory’s command. Yet just as the spell neared completion, something shifted.

Lory felt the sea below begin to churn as the waters grew violent, crashing and twisting beneath her. The wind intensified sharply, no longer guided solely by her will but raging wild and heavy with overwhelming pressure, and soon after, rain began to fall.

Cold droplets struck her skin as the heavens darkened further.

A storm was brewing. Not an ordinary storm, but a monstrous tempest vast enough to swallow the sky itself.

Lory froze. Something was wrong. How could this have happened? She had never intended to release such power. A flicker of unease crossed her face as she felt the power inside her spiraling beyond expectation. The storm continued to grow, feeding upon itself with frightening momentum.

Why...?

Her heart tightened. She had not used this much power; then why did it feel as though her spell had slipped beyond her control?

Before she could understand, the Balrog make another agresive roared. The deafening cry shook the heavens. Its colossal body lunged toward her, tearing through the rain-filled sky like a blazing meteor.

Lory barely dodged. The beast swept past with terrifying speed, violent pressure throwing her backward through the air. Her wings spread instinctively, fighting against the storm as she struggled to regain balance.

The Balrog twisted sharply.

Its massive body curved through the gale before charging once more. Still, Lory reacted immediately; she raised her hand, prepared to summon an ice barrier. But what answered her was not ice; instead, the sea erupted.

Far below, the ocean surged upward as though awakened from slumber. Endless water rose toward the sky and twisted violently into a colossal pillar, spinning with terrifying force between her and the charging Balrog.

The roar of rushing water drowned even the storm. The Balrog staggered, and Lory stared in stunned silence. The towering vortex churned before her like a living dragon forged from the sea itself.

Rain lashed against her pale face.

"What the..." Her voice barely escaped her lips. "What happened to my power?" Lory whispered, bewilderment and disbelief mingling within her voice.

But Lory had no time to remain stunned, because the Balrog was already moving again. A thunderous roar burst from the beast as violent killing intent surged from its colossal body. Its molten eyes burned with fury, far more savage than before.

Perhaps the sudden rise of the sea had triggered its instincts, for the creature now attacked with desperate ferocity, as though sensing its own safety had been threatened.

The wind blows violently around them. Lory’s expression hardened.

With a flick of her wrist, the bow dissolved into strands of light and reformed into a sword once more. Frost crawled along the blade as she steadied herself in the raging winds, ready to meet the monster head-on. Wrapped in wind and rain, Lory and the balrog hurtled toward one another, ready to clash once more.

But before they could move, a large shadow enveloped them. Their movements stopped, and subconsciously, they raised their heads simultaneously, and for an instant, both man and beast seemed to hold their breath.

High overhead, a colossal mass of ice descended from the heavens. It blotted out the dim light like a falling mountain, its vast frozen surface crackling as it plummeted toward them with terrifying speed.

’Where did that come from?’ Lory screamed in her head.

Lory’s eyes widened, and the Balrog roared in panic as the gigantic ice boulder came crashing down from the sky. It happened so fast that Lory would only stare wide-eyed as the ice rock fell on her. At that moment, a shadow came, then two strong arms wrapped her by the waist and pushed her from the falling rock in lightning speed.

When Lory came to, the first thing she felt was warmth.

Strong arms held her securely, shielding her from the biting cold that still lingered in the air. Her vision remained blurred for a moment as distant echoes of destruction rang faintly in her ears.

When Lory realized what had happened, she was already in Zhao Li Xin’s arms. Lory blinked and lifted her head slightly. For a brief second, she simply stared at him, as though making certain he was truly there.

"Li Xin..." she muttered softly.

No answer came, only the faint tremble running through the arms that held her. Lory’s heart tightened. She immediately wrapped her arms around Zhao Li Xin’s neck, drawing herself closer. The realization unsettled her more than the battle itself.

Zhao Li Xin rarely lost his composure; no matter how difficult the situation, he never lost control of himself; however, now his body was trembling against her body.

"Li Xin..." Her voice softened with concern. "Are you okay?"

"I thought...I thought I’d lose you again," Zhao Li Xin’s voice trembles.

Lory’s eyes brimmed with tears. She had never meant to reopen those old wounds, to remind Zhao Li Xin of that dreadful day when she had nearly died by his hands while he was under Lazarus’s influence.

Though time had passed, Lory knew the memory still haunted him like a lingering nightmare he could never fully escape.

Her heart ached as she felt the tremor coming from his body. "Li Xin... don’t be afraid. I’m fine," she whispered gently.

Lory lifted her hand and softly stroked the back of his head, her fingers moving with quiet tenderness, hoping to soothe the fear and turmoil still lingering within him.