Boom-!
Another deafening crash rang out, but this time, Long Haochen was not sent flying. He merely staggered back a few dozen steps, coming to rest against his mount companion, Haoyue.
As though sensing Haoyue's arrival, an orange-gold vortex silently opened beside Yue Chen. Sol emerged in his Ashen Lord form, his body, over five meters long, curling around Yue Chen as the imposing aura of a top-tier Dragon Race creature instantly spread across the arena.
"Haoyue, you shouldn't have come." Long Haochen stroked Haoyue's thick scales with a bitter smile. The arrival of Yue Chen's mount companion, Sol, undoubtedly piled even more pressure onto him when he could barely defend himself as it was.
Yet if Haoyue had not sensed his danger, prepared his spells, and instantly teleported over through their Blood Pact to rescue him, he would probably have suffered serious injuries already.
Yue Chen really was too strong...
At that thought, an overwhelming sense of helplessness surged through Long Haochen's heart. He could not see even the slightest chance of victory.
"Woo, woo-"
Suddenly, Haoyue lowered his heads and rubbed against Long Haochen's shoulder armor, as though encouraging him.
Why does this make me feel like I've become the villain...? Yue Chen grumbled inwardly. Then Sol's orange-gold flames began pouring over the blades in his hands, instantly turning them into two flaming swords.
Meanwhile, encouraged by Haoyue, Long Haochen tightened his grip on his swords again and stood up.
"That's right. I can't waste this chance Cai'er gave me. I can't betray your trust in me, Haoyue, or let down Blue Rain, Hibiscus of Light, which acknowledged me..." As he spoke, a flash of red flickered through Long Haochen's eyes. "I can't disappoint any of you!"
Sacrifice was a secret technique shared by Guardian Knights and Retribution