World Dry Up, Peak Strike, Deciding the Victor (Part One)

The world was dead, stripped of all energy. The magma at its core no longer surged; it had stopped, dried up, and grown cold and lifeless. The environment was too harsh for life to exist, even for the hardiest microorganisms.

Crack!

Ryan took a step forward. The ground crumbled like gravel, breaking apart to reveal a horrifying expanse of ash-gray earth that filled all life with instinctive dread.

Behind him, the Trinity Wizard True Body stood towering over the sky, the earth, and half the world itself.

Likewise, his opponent's Crimson Wizard True Body occupied the other half of the world.

Whoosh!

Under the two of them draining and extracting it, the world's remaining Earth Vein Energy was utterly depleted.

Black eyes met eyes that glimmered with crimson light.

"The battle has gone on long enough. It's time to end this. The world has dried up; there's not enough material energy left to fuel our expenditure or recovery."

Some of the sharpness had faded from Xi Ya's face, replaced by the gentle beauty unique to women. She laughed aloud. "I have to say, you live up to little Ryan's praise. You're stronger than he is, and stronger than every other Wizard Seed in this main Star Battlefield."

"Few people could fight me to this extent. You may well be the only one in this Lesser Myriad Worlds."

Ryan replied calmly, "I appreciate the praise. You're exceptionally strong too."

"I didn't use my full strength. Do you believe me?" Xi Ya suddenly asked.

Ryan furrowed his brow slightly. "Are you about to say that the world has dried up, and there's not enough material energy left for you to use your other methods?"

"After fighting this long, I have no patience for that kind of claim."

Xi Ya's eyes narrowed, her