"Master Chen, the last batch of Zouchin Village residents has boarded the hot-air balloons. Only we're left." Cen Stormstout relayed the news of the villagers' evacuation to Chen Stormstout, who was holding Frost King Malakk back. Now, only the Shado-Pan's elite monks remained in Zouchin Village.
Though he was fully focused on fighting Frost King Malakk, the news that Zouchin Village's residents had safely evacuated made Chen Stormstout breathe a sigh of relief. At least those innocent villagers had been brought to safety.
Frost King Malakk heard Cen Stormstout's words as well. Immersed in the exhilarating battle, he had forgotten that his opponents' goal was merely to stall for time. Once Soulbinder Goraia learned of this, she would surely reprimand him.
Thus, Frost King Malakk decided to leave Chen Stormstout behind to make up for his mistake. A wall of ice formed directly behind Chen Stormstout, blocking the other elite Shado-Pan monks from coming to his aid. On this side of the ice wall stood only Chen Stormstout and the nearby Cen Stormstout.
"Then you will remain here forever, Chen Stormstout." The battle intent in Frost King Malakk's eyes turned into killing intent.
He raised Zerat Malakk's Soulburning Greatsword high and brought it down with all his strength. There was no flourish to this strike, yet it contained the full force of Frost King Malakk at his peak.
Chen Stormstout knew Frost King Malakk would not let him off so easily, so he raised his bamboo staff to block the blow.
But this time, Frost King Malakk's Zerat Malakk's Soulburning Greatsword sliced Chen Stormstout's bamboo staff apart. As it shattered, Chen Stormstout realized that the staff had somehow already been completely corroded by frost power.
Protected by the power of the Azure Dragon, the bamboo staff had once been comparable