A thunderous explosion rang out, and an energy-laden shock wave surged like a towering tsunami.
The shock wave snapped the trunks of towering trees, and many were uprooted and blown away.
Lin Chuan, who had been watching the battle from the sidelines, struggled to withstand the aftershocks. His eyes never left the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger in the air.
It was covered in wounds, its flesh torn open and its body a bloody mess. Blood streamed from between its hairs.
The fierce struggle had left it panting with exhaustion. Coupled with its ghastly appearance, it looked to be on its last legs.
But Chrysanthemum Pass, who had fought it head-on, knew that the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger was not in any serious trouble. Its injuries were mostly superficial.
Sure enough, before the two could press their advantage, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger turned and fled.
Sensing that it was heading toward Lin Chuan, Chrysanthemum Pass instantly settled on a plan and turned to Gui Mei.
The two were like a long-married couple, their understanding of each other already impeccable.
One glance was all it took for Gui Mei to understand what Chrysanthemum Pass meant.
They quickly drew close. An indescribable force filled the space between them, and their Martial Souls began to merge, drawn together like magnets.
Their Martial Soul Fusion Skill was so practiced, and their teamwork so seamless, that they only had to stand shoulder to shoulder. The next instant, the Spirit Rings beneath their feet began to shine in unison.
The fusion was complete, and a terrifying spatial fluctuation gathered.
Meanwhile, after the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger spotted him, Lin Chuan was fleeing toward Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo.
But by now, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger was furious and in desperate need of a blood sacrifice to recover.
Facing a human who was immeasurably weaker than itself, it activated its ability. With a casual wave of its right paw, dozens of enormous, five-meter-long energy claw marks tore through the air at breakneck speed, slashing toward the fleeing Lin Chuan.
They moved so fast that he had no chance to veer right.
The claw marks tore through the air, seeming poised to run Lin Chuan through as they appeared behind him.
"Polar Static Domain!" ×2
At the critical moment, two furious shouts rang out.
The domain, centered on the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, burst forth from the petal-like blades of the chrysanthemum beside Lin Chuan.
The world seemed to fall silent. Lin Chuan was frozen in place with his right palm still extended, and so was the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's attack.
The space here had been locked in place.
Likewise, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger was caught in the domain farther away, frozen in a pouncing stance, motionless as if someone had pressed pause.
Looking at the leaf floating in midair before him, frozen as if someone had pressed pause, Lin Chuan understood what was happening.
This was Chrysanthemum Pass and Gui Mei's Martial Soul Fusion Skill, the Polar Static Domain.
It was the first time he had witnessed it with his own eyes, and the first time he had experienced it firsthand.
The helpless feeling of being immobilized, unable to move no matter how hard he struggled, was terrifying. It was as if he had lost all connection with his body.
Farther away, while using their Martial Soul Fusion Skill to suppress the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, Chrysanthemum Pass had to divide his attention and forcibly deflect the attacks aimed at Lin Chuan.
"Quick, attack it! I can't hold on much longer!"
Chrysanthemum Pass gritted his teeth. As he spoke, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
If the two had not been so in sync, and Gui Mei had not taken over control of the domain, it would have collapsed the instant Chrysanthemum Pass divided his attention.
Chrysanthemum Pass could not hold out much longer after suffering the backlash. Once his Martial Soul came apart, the domain would dissipate on its own.
Lin Chuan quickly adjusted his body, narrowly dodged the wind blades behind him, and landed lightly on the ground.
Ten purple-black energy attacks, imbued with wind and corrosive poison, tore through the air and struck the surroundings, shredding countless trees.
Once he had steadied himself, Lin Chuan thrust out his right hand and summoned his Martial Soul. Giratina's form appeared in the air, growing larger by the moment.
Five Spirit Rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black—shimmered and floated beneath it.
"Fifth Soul Skill, Hyper Beam!"
[(Self-Created Soul Skill) means a move that Giratina already knows naturally.
Soul Skills, on the other hand, are abilities added to Giratina's repertoire when it gains something it didn't have before. Using a Soul Skill is also like getting a buff from storing up energy.]
[An explanation of the earlier Soul Skills: obtaining an Electric-type Spirit Ring is like Giratina learning a TM and mastering Thunder.
When it obtains a Dark-type Spirit Ring, the ring's attribute is altered by Giratina's influence.
"Altered" isn't quite accurate. It should be called a transformation.]
[It's like the Dark attribute of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger transforming into the Dark type.]
Giratina darted into the air and looked toward the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, gathering energy in its mouth.
With the Spirit Ring's enhancement, the move barely needed any Stockpile.
In an instant, a blazing white beam as thick as a barrel shot out, turning the treetops beneath it a brilliant white.
Lin Chuan had poured nearly all his strength into this attack.
Not only had he used a Soul Skill, he had also channeled Soul Power into it.
Sensing the attack's ferocious power, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger struggled frantically to escape, but could only watch helplessly as the beam struck it.
Against two Titled Douluo and a spatial domain capable of restraining a Super Douluo, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger had no time to use most of its skills—or even carry out its plans.
The Hyper Beam kept blasting for a full half-minute.
On the brink of death, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger erupted with power, its strength surging once more.
Like adrenaline flooding its system, its attribute energy grew even stronger, and the muscles throughout its body bulged.
As the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger struggled like a mad beast, the domain shattered like a mirror, countless cracks spreading across its surface.
"Crack...!"
The instant the domain collapsed, Chrysanthemum Pass and Gui Mei also exited their Martial Soul Fusion state.
They were in poor shape. Their faces were pale, and it felt as if an invisible hand were squeezing their hearts. They could only cough up a mouthful of blood.
Freed from danger, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger was wreathed in surging black miasma. Hatred, fury, bloodlust... Several emotions twisted together.
"Roar...!"
A low growl, thick with hatred and fury, rose from its panting maw.
The moment its soul-piercing tiger eyes met Lin Chuan's, they blazed with intensity.
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger kicked up a gust of wind. Purple lightning flickered across its body as it turned into a bolt of lightning and shot toward Lin Chuan.
It moved even faster than before. Badly wounded, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger had unlocked its potential, and its strength had soared.
Its initial fury had given way to a desire to devour all three of them and turn them into energy to recover from its injuries.
Lin Chuan's expression turned grim. Almost by instinct, he activated his third Spirit Ring, and a green Barrier instantly enveloped him.
"Bang...!"
The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger reached him and slammed a vicious paw into the Barrier. Lin Chuan and the cracked Barrier were sent flying together.
With a savage expression, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger bent all four legs and sprang forward, purple arcs of electricity flashing around it as it gave chase.
In the blink of an eye, it appeared behind Lin Chuan again and struck with the same paw.
The next blow landed with the force of a thousand jun. It smashed straight through the Barrier. Gritting his teeth, Lin Chuan was slammed into the forest, his body crashing hard into the ground and carving a deep furrow as he slid.