In an instant, a violent gale warped the very space around them, and Xiao vanished from where he stood.
A cold glint appeared directly in front of Amy.
But Amy was ready. The chains in his hands shimmered with pale purple light as he lashed them forward.
BOOM!!!!!!
A deafening roar instantly shook the sky. The ground beneath them burst apart into a massive crater, lightning-like cracks spreading outward.
The impact of the two forces was brutally powerful, blowing away every monster nearby.
At that moment, a spear flew in from the distance, thrusting toward Amy's back.
"Flame Flash Body Flicker!"
Xiu Yuan flashed into view, seized the spear, and drove it forward.
Just as his strike was about to land, a purple shield covered in ancient script and eerie symbols appeared behind Amy, blocking his attack outright.
Xiu Yuan's pupils contracted sharply. Before he could react, the chain lashed straight at him!
SMACK!
Crack...
A dull thud rang out as the blow struck Xiu Yuan's waist. He flew sideways, coughing blood, several ribs shattered.
Xiao's brows knitted tightly as he pinned Amy down with lightning-fast spear strikes.
"Oh? Angry already?" Amy taunted without restraint.
With that purple shield protecting him, Xiao could not break through his defenses, no matter how he attacked.
But Xiao's attacks were so fast that even Amy could find no opening to strike.
"Tch, what incredible strength..."
Xiu Yuan coughed up a mouthful of blood and wiped his lips, his expression grim as he spoke.
If he had not been wearing the Demon Qilin Garment, that blow would probably have shattered his entire spine.
"I can't go back in... In my current condition, I'd only be a burden..."
By all rights, that last blow should never have hit him.
But his mental energy was so severely depleted that his reactions had grown sluggish, leaving him in this sorry state.
If he recklessly charged in again, he would not only accomplish nothing but might drag Xiao down with him.
Xiu Yuan stood a short distance away with his spear, constantly searching for an opening.
His eyes stayed fixed on the battle. Their clashes blasted one deep crater after another into the ground, sometimes filling the sky with yellow sand, sometimes sending sparks flying.
Having been imprisoned for so long, the demon god Amy had yet to recover his full strength. As a result, he struggled to gain the upper hand against the strongest Adeptus, the Conqueror of Demons.
The two were evenly matched, neither gaining an advantage.
Despite the ferocity of their battle, Xiu Yuan deliberately moved somewhere Xiao could notice him. Then he dropped his spear on the ground, buried it beneath dirt and stones, and ran away again.
Their fierce battle lasted through the night until sunrise the next day.
At the moment the sun rose, Xiao suddenly swept his spear sideways, forcing the demon god slightly to one side.
In that instant, Xiu Yuan knew.
The moment had come!
Blackflame instantly appeared in his hand, and he used Flame Flash Body Flicker to appear behind Amy.
There was almost no distance between them.
At that moment, Amy's pupils shrank sharply.
"Goodbye."
As he spoke, Xiu Yuan pressed the Blackflame against Ami's back.
WHOOSH!!!
In an instant, pitch-black flames engulfed Amy completely.
"Aaargh!!!"
He howled in agony, staggering from side to side.
From the moment Xiu Yuan had put down his weapon, Xiao had understood his intention. He had kept that spot firmly in mind.
He had fought the demon god all night solely to make him lower his guard. He knew they would only get one chance at this. If they failed, the demon god would become wary, and creating another opening would be nearly impossible.
That was why both Xiao and Xiu Yuan had remained patient.
Xiao had dragged the battle out for an entire night, while Xiu Yuan had watched them fight with unwavering concentration the whole time.
The moment Xiao brought the demon god to that spot, he had to act!
And they had succeeded!
But neither let his guard down. Even with the demon god engulfed in flames, Xiu Yuan and Xiao did not stand idle and watch. Instead, they seized their spears and unleashed a frenzied barrage against him.
The attacks of their two spears came one after another, raining down on the demon god like a torrential storm.
They alternated their strikes at incredible speed.
In the next instant, a stream of black mist burst from the mass of dark flames and shot toward Xiao at a terrifying speed.
Xiu Yuan's pupils contracted sharply. He immediately used Flame Flash Body Flicker to reposition himself.
One moment he was standing on the ground; the next, Xiu Yuan's body was stretched horizontally in midair.
The black mist slammed straight into Xiu Yuan.
Xiu Yuan fell to the ground.
[Mortal! You again, you damned mortal! You ruined everything!!!]
The voice of the demon god Ami rang out inside Xiu Yuan's mind.
Xiu Yuan's mind shuddered. Then he broke into a grin and said, "What? Is living in my body beneath you?"
"What... are you saying?"
Seeing Xiu Yuan talking to himself, even wearing such an eerie smile, Xiao immediately furrowed his brows and asked in concern.
[A mere mortal!! I'll use your body as a sacrifice!!]
"Ugh..."
The next instant.
Xiu Yuan clutched his head and curled up on the ground in agony.
That creature was trying to seize control of his body.
[Stop struggling. With what little mental energy you have left, you think you can force me out?]
"What's wrong!?" Xiu Yuan's sudden agony left Xiao at a loss.
His eyes widened, his expression full of panic.
Suddenly, Xiao noticed the purple curtain of light.
That's right!
If I destroy the demon god's barrier!
Lord Zhongli will be able to sense this!
With that thought, he moved to pick Xiu Yuan up and run outside.
But Xiu Yuan grabbed his clothes, his face contorted in pain, and shook his head with great difficulty. Then he kept rolling across the ground, wailing and smashing his head against it until blood poured from his wounds.
"L-listen to me..."
Xiu Yuan clenched his teeth, his face twisted like a beast driven mad by starvation, his eyes stretched wide.
"It's all right, it's all right! We just have to get out! Once we're outside, everything will be fine! Lord Zhongli will know what to do!!"
Xiao could no longer spare a thought for anything else. He hauled Xiu Yuan up and broke into a desperate sprint.
"No!!!!!"
Xiu Yuan struggled wildly, falling from Xiao's grasp. Forcing his body to hold itself up, he knelt on one knee.
The moment Xiao saw Xiu Yuan's face, he froze.
One half of his face wore a sinister grin, while the other was wracked with pain.
"There... there's no time..."
"Listen to me..."
"I'm only asking you... for one thing..."
Xiu Yuan clutched Xiao's collar as he spoke, his face horribly contorted.
"What... is it...?"
Xiao stared blankly at him, his voice helpless as he asked.
Looking into Xiao's panic-stricken eyes, a gentle smile appeared on the other half of Xiu Yuan's face as well.
"Kill me."
Before you continue