Amphoreus, the holy city of Okhema
iridescent light trails tore through the sky!
From the shattered cloud fortress to the majestic yet scarred outer walls of the "Holy City" of Okhema, the distance that would normally take a winged beast a long time to fly is merely a fleeting thought under the incredible speed of the " Eternity Wings of Preservation ".
Xing's figure seemed to emerge from the solidified rainbow light, her toes lightly touching the scorched, cracked stone slabs of a plaza outside the city of Okhema.
Rainbow wings slowly folded behind her, flowing feathers of light fell, and the core "∞" symbol spun, dispelling the surrounding smoke and dust and bringing a clear space.
The holy city was so close, and the pull that originated from the core of the wings and pointed deep into the city grew clearer and more urgent.
However, the instant she landed—
Buzz!
A cold, viscous killing intent, carrying an absolute will to Destruction, erupted without warning from behind her!
Fast! Faster than the limits of nerve reflexes! It was as if the killing intent had been lurking in the space itself, waiting only for the moment she stepped into this deadly trap!
Xing didn't even have time to turn around completely!
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a dark shadow, like a condensed version of eternal night, accompanied by a shrill whistle that seemed to tear through space. A jet-black sword beam, refined to its extreme and seemingly capable of severing time, had already ripped through the air and was aimed straight at her back.
Wherever the sword's light passed, even the light itself was distorted and swallowed up.
" Eternity Wings of Preservation " reacted even faster than the stars' thoughts!
Without her needing to consciously direct her thoughts, or even to sense the trajectory of the attack, the rotating amber "∞" symbol at the core of the wings suddenly lit up.
It's not for the sake of flight, but the instinct for " Preservation "!
Swish!
A massive feather of light, flowing with the luster of liquid amber and iridescent halo, extended instantly as if it possessed its own life, appearing with perfect precision in the path of the dark sword beam.
Above the feather of light, a huge "∞" symbol rotated clearly!
clang--!!!
A strange, deafening roar erupted, not from the clash of metal, but from the forceful tearing and instantaneous mending of space.
The jet-black sword light pierced fiercely into the rainbow-colored light shield!
The condensed, Destruction sword intent vanished the moment it touched the iridescent light and the rotating ∞ runes on the surface of the light shield, like a mud ox sinking into the sea.
The terrifying penetrating power was decomposed and absorbed by the layers of amber-colored light patterns, and its light-devouring properties were forcibly neutralized and annihilated by the " Preservation " and " Eternity " will contained within the rainbow.
In the end, only a rapidly spreading ripple remained on the surface of the light shield, which then quickly subsided.
Using the momentum, Xing spun around, and the Flame Spear instantly appeared in his hand, its tip pointing at the attacker, his eyes filled with astonishment and icy rage.
The attacker missed his target and, like a ghost, drifted backward several feet, landing silently on another broken stone tablet.
The wide black robe fluttered in the desolate wind of the holy city, and the shadow of the hood completely obscured his face.
The Flame Reaver!
Xing's pupils widened in shock. How could he be here?!
And they're lying in ambush here?!
In a flash, Xing's mind raced.
The battle at the Cloud Fortress had just ended; Aegle had fallen, and she had gained wings and descended upon the Holy City in the blink of an eye...
Unless, this dangerous fellow has been lurking outside the holy city all along, like the most patient viper, waiting for something...
Wait... the Core Flame!
Xing's gaze instantly sharpened like a knife. The core of the power surging within her was the essence of the "Sky" Core Flame.
Although the true source of the Core Flame is in Hyacine's hands, the iridescent aura emanating from these wings, originating from the very essence of the heavenly authority, is probably as dazzling as a lighthouse in the night for him, who is known as "the Fire Thief".
Xing understood; he wanted to seize half of the "Sky" Core Flame!
Thinking of this, Xing's tightly clenched lips unconsciously curled up slightly, forming a cold yet decisive arc.
So that's how it is... What a golden opportunity!
Inside the Dome Stronghold, his companions were still in danger.
But the dangerous Flame Reaver before him was completely captivated by the incredibly alluring aura of Core Flame emanating from her!
Isn't this the perfect... bait and barrier?
"It seems you're quite interested in the 'thing' on me?"
Xing's voice was cold and clear, while the amber light at the tip of the Flame Spear flickered uncertainly.
The iridescent wings behind her slowly unfurled, the core "∞" symbol shimmering with light, actively and more clearly radiating the grand and pure aura of the "sky," like a provocation, or even more like the sweetest bait.
The Flame Reaver remained silent, the shadow beneath his hood seemingly frozen in place.
But the jet-black straight sword slightly adjusted its angle, its tip still firmly locked onto Xing, or rather, onto the pair of wings behind her that flowed with divine iridescence.
The chilling killing intent emanating from him not only did not diminish, but instead, like a flame being fueled, became even more viscous and dangerous.
The air seemed to freeze because of his presence.
Xing understood immediately; her guess was entirely correct.
The Flame Reaver was completely captivated by the scent of the Core Flame, unaware that the real Core Flame was still with Hyacine; her only target was now her!
Very well... then let's nail it right here!
The star's thoughts quietly seeped into the wings.
We don't need to defeat him, we just need to hold him off, buying our companions enough time to safely evacuate the Dome Stronghold and eventually reach the Holy City!
She lowered her center of gravity slightly, her flaming spear held horizontally in front of her, and the iridescent wings on her back fully unfurled like the most loyal Bulwark.
Countless streaks of rainbow light flowed, and a giant amber "∞" symbol slowly rotated, radiating an unbreakable and absolute will to protect.
She transformed herself into a wall of sighs—a wall of sighs—blessed by " Eternity " and forged by the will of " Preservation "—standing between the Flame Reaver and the Holy City!
The figure beneath the black robe moved in the next instant, unleashing the purest killing intent!
The Flame Reaver's figure instantly transformed into a twisted black lightning bolt, the jet-black straight sword in his hand leaving dozens of indistinguishable afterimages at breakneck speed.
Each sword strike carried a piercing shriek that tore through space, like a torrent of black and gold swords capable of annihilating souls, descending from all directions upon Xing and the wings of light behind her!
This time, he didn't test the waters; he went all out!
Faced with this terrifying net of swords capable of annihilating an army in an instant, Xing's eyes remained unwavering, only coldly focused.
The iridescent wings silently responded to their master's will.
Buzz--!!!
The "∞" symbol at the core of the Lightwing suddenly burst forth with unprecedented light.
Countless rhomboid light shields of varying sizes, flowing with amber patterns and iridescent colors, instantly formed and combined layer upon layer around the star, as if they possessed a life of their own.
They are not static walls, but rather like the most sophisticated swarm defense array, moving, rotating, and overlapping at high speed, with each light shield precisely meeting an incoming black and gold sword shadow!
A dense, continuous series of crisp sounds, like a torrential downpour striking a crystal dome, exploded wildly above the ruins outside the holy city.
The black and gold sword pierced the rainbow light shield, unleashing dazzling sparks of energy.
The Destruction sword intent surged and eroded, attempting to penetrate this layer of defense.
However, the iridescent colors flowing across the surface of the light shield and the rotating ∞ runes are like the most perfect furnace!
The energy of the black and gold sword shadow was instantly decomposed, absorbed, and transformed.
Each impact only made the iridescence on the surface of the light shield shine a little brighter, and the rotating ∞ symbol a little more solid.
The Flame Reaver's terrifying slash, capable of tearing through space, shattered in vain before this absolute defense, like a wave crashing against a wall of sighs.
Xing stood steadily in the center of the absolute domain formed by the light shield, without even swinging the flame spear once.
She merely stared coldly at the ghostly, high-speed, frantically attacking black shadow outside the light shield, the icy curve of her lips becoming increasingly pronounced.
Hold him off... until your companions arrive safely!
The ancient walls of the holy city of Okhema silently witnessed this silent struggle.
On one side is the Shadow of Eternal Night, intent on tearing apart the defenses and seizing the Core Flame.
On the other side is a silent Bulwark, with " Eternity " and " Preservation " as its wings, providing a safe escape route for its companions.