The valley echoed with the clash of power, the Wrathbringer’s crimson blade colliding with Xu Tian’s writhing shadows in a storm of light and darkness. Each strike sent tremors through the ground, the force of their battle carving deep gouges into the earth and scattering loose stones like leaves in the wind.
Xu Tian’s breath came in ragged gasps as he met the Wrathbringer’s relentless assault. His body screamed in protest, the strain of channeling the star’s power taking its toll. Yet, the whispers of the star grew louder, drowning out his exhaustion with their insistent demands.
“You are not enough,” the star hissed. “You hold back, clinging to weakness. Unleash me, and I will show you victory.”
“No,” Xu Tian growled, his voice low but resolute. “This fight is mine.”
The Wrathbringer’s blade descended in a wide arc, its crimson light splitting the air with a deafening roar. Xu Tian countered with a jagged wall of shadows, the impact sending shockwaves rippling through the valley. The barrier held, but barely—cracks splintered through the darkness as the Wrathbringer pressed forward, their aura blazing with raw, destructive energy.
“You’re wasting your potential,” the Wrathbringer said, their voice cold and unyielding. “Your power is extraordinary, but your fear makes you weak. Embrace it, or fall beneath it.”
From the edge of the battlefield, Yan Mei threw another talisman into the fray, its golden light erupting into a blinding flash that momentarily halted the Wrathbringer’s advance.
“Now!” she shouted.
Qiao Rui loosed an arrow, its tip crackling with spiritual energy as it streaked toward the Wrathbringer. The arrow struck true, slamming into their chest with enough force to stagger them.
The Wrathbringer turned toward them, their crimson aura flaring with renewed intensity. “You dare interfere?” they growled, their voice reverberating like a thunderclap.
They raised a gauntleted hand, conjuring a searing wave of crimson energy that surged toward Yan Mei and Qiao Rui.
Yan Mei reacted instantly, summoning a golden barrier that absorbed the brunt of the attack. The force of the blast sent her skidding backward, her heels digging into the ground as she fought to hold her position.
“Li Wei, get to cover!” she shouted, her voice strained.
Li Wei, who had been watching the battle from the safety of a nearby rock, nodded and scrambled for better shelter.
Xu Tian used the distraction to strike. His shadows surged forward, forming a massive, clawed tendril that lashed out at the Wrathbringer. The attack connected, slamming into their side and forcing them to their knees.
For a moment, Xu Tian thought he had gained the upper hand. But then the Wrathbringer rose, their armor glowing faintly as crimson sigils flared to life across its surface.
“You cannot win,” they said, their voice echoing with a chilling finality. “This power you cling to—it is but a fragment of the heavens’ true strength.”
Xu Tian’s shadows recoiled slightly, as if sensing the shift in the Wrathbringer’s energy. The star’s voice surged in his mind, urgent and insistent.
“You cannot defeat them like this,” it said. “Let me take control. Let me show you the depths of what we can become.”
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Xu Tian hesitated, his breath catching in his throat. He could feel the star’s power coiling within him, an immense, untapped reservoir of strength that pulsed with an almost predatory hunger.
But there was a price. There was always a price.
The Wrathbringer raised their blade, its crimson aura intensifying until the air around it seemed to ripple with heat. “This is your last chance, Xu Tian,” they said. “Submit, or be destroyed.”
Xu Tian’s shadows flickered uncertainly, their movements growing erratic as his resolve wavered. He could feel the star pressing against the edges of his control, a storm waiting to be unleashed.
“Xu Tian!” Yan Mei’s voice cut through the chaos, sharp and desperate. “Don’t let it consume you!”
Her words grounded him, if only for a moment.
Xu Tian took a deep breath, his gaze locking onto the Wrathbringer. “I’m not afraid of you,” he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil within him. “And I don’t need the star to prove it.”
The shadows around him steadied, their movements sharp and precise as he focused his will. He raised his hand, and the darkness surged forward, forming a massive spear that crackled with raw energy.
With a shout, he hurled the spear toward the Wrathbringer, the weapon tearing through the air like a bolt of black lightning.
The Wrathbringer moved to block, their blade meeting the spear in a blinding clash of light and shadow. The impact shook the valley, sending shockwaves rippling outward as the two forces vied for dominance.
For a moment, it seemed as though Xu Tian’s attack would break through. The spear pushed against the Wrathbringer’s defenses, its dark energy pulsing with relentless force.
But then the crimson sigils on the Wrathbringer’s armor flared brighter, and with a roar, they shattered the spear, the fragments dissipating into the air.
Xu Tian staggered, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps. He had poured everything into that strike, and still it hadn’t been enough.
The Wrathbringer advanced, their blade gleaming with crimson light as they raised it for the final blow. “You fought well,” they said. “But this is the end.”
Before the Wrathbringer could strike, a sudden wave of energy erupted from Xu Tian, sending the massive figure stumbling back. The shadows around Xu Tian surged wildly, their movements erratic as the star’s power surged within him.
“You are weak,” the star hissed, its voice resonating in his mind. “But I am not. Let me take over, and I will end this.”
“No!” Xu Tian shouted, his voice raw with defiance. “I won’t let you control me!”
The star’s laughter echoed in his mind, cold and mocking. “Then you will die.”
Xu Tian fell to one knee, his body trembling as he fought to suppress the star’s influence. The shadows lashed out unpredictably, striking at both the Wrathbringer and the surrounding terrain as Xu Tian struggled to regain control.
Yan Mei rushed to his side, her hands glowing with golden light as she placed them on his shoulders. “Stay with me, Xu Tian,” she said, her voice steady despite the chaos around them. “You’re stronger than this. Don’t let it win.”
Her words cut through the star’s whispers, anchoring Xu Tian. He gritted his teeth, forcing the shadows to retreat as he slowly rose to his feet.
The Wrathbringer watched the scene unfold, their expression unreadable beneath their helm. After a moment, they lowered their blade, the crimson aura around them dimming.
“This isn’t over,” they said, their voice calm but cold. “The next time we meet, you will not have the luxury of hesitation.”
Without another word, they turned and walked away, their heavy footsteps fading into the distance.
As the dust settled, Xu Tian collapsed to the ground, his body trembling from exhaustion. Yan Mei knelt beside him, her expression filled with worry.
“You’re pushing yourself too far,” she said softly. “If you keep fighting like this, you’ll—”
“I know,” Xu Tian interrupted, his voice barely above a whisper. “But I don’t have a choice.”
Qiao Rui approached, his bow slung over his shoulder. “Well,” he said, his tone light but edged with tension. “That was fun. What’s the plan for when they come back with reinforcements?”
Xu Tian didn’t answer. He stared up at the darkening sky, his mind a whirlwind of doubt and frustration.
Far above, the stars glimmered faintly, their light cold and distant.
In the depths of Scarlet Peak, the sect master stood before a glowing orb of crimson light, his expression one of quiet satisfaction.
“The Wrathbringer failed,” an elder said, their tone uneasy.
The sect master’s lips curved into a faint smile. “It doesn’t matter,” he said. “Every battle brings him closer to the edge. Soon, the star will consume him.”
He turned, his gaze fixed on the heavens above.
“And when it does, he will belong to us.”
