Solar Blood Masters (141)

Chapter 141 - Victory

Gastaroid stretched his massive arms, the molten rock that comprised his form creaked and popped like an old, rusty hinge. He yawned and a wave of heat ruffled Theinika’s leaves and Lu Jade’s scales.

“This waiting… It’s BORING! I haven’t had a good fight in hours. My muscles are getting stiff!”

Lu Jade, who was coiled comfortably near Thienika, flicked his tongue, “If your muscles are ssso tight, why didn’t you release some tension on that lemur’s team a while ago? Why did you let them escape?”

Gastaroid yawned again, sending another wave of heat that had Lu Jade hissing in protest.

“That lemur was SLY! He is one of Julian Ringtail’s sons. If I had killed that brat, I wouldn’t be able to return to Kongming Mountain! Maybe Julian would even seek vengeance against me! And you know what THAT means, right? More TROUBLE!”

“Wait, so that lemur was Emperor Julian’s son?” Lu Jade expressed shock. “NO wonder he was so arrogant! It’s a good thing that we didn’t kill him, right Grandma?”

Thienika, who had been resting her ancient eyes, nodded. "Indeed, Little Lu. It’s best to avoid unnecessary conflict with those who possess potent lineages.”

“And besides…” Lu Jade was now swaying excitedly. “Your skill, Grandma! It truly fooled that lemur’s team. That illusion was magnificent!”

"My technique doesn't create illusions, Little Lu.” Thienika corrected gently, for she was a being of truth and honor, a trait that had served her well for millions of years.

“Primal Hellain creates perfect replicas of those crystal tubes within the confines of my Draconic Star Pillars, as long as the item within remain inside those pillars, they will be just as real as the original. However, because that lemur’s team took the crystal tubes outside the barrier, Primal Hellain was broken. It is a flaw within that technique.”

Lu Jade retorted, "Still, Grandma, you fooled them! You fooled them ALL! They thought that FAKE platform was our ACTUAL one. But it was Gastaroid’s creation, right?”

Thienika smiled softly. “Hohoho. That was Raphael’s idea, Little Lu. It was my grandson who suggested I use Primal Hellain to create a perfect replica of our original platform, to fool any participant who got greedy. All the while, our TRUE platform was concealed within a rock shrine, created and guarded by Gastaroid.”

“And thanks to Raphael securing that head start for us, during the ‘Might Sky’ stage, we were able to set up this trick without anyone noticing,” she added.

Gastaroid snorted steam and he narrowed his eyes in annoyance. "This… This bull’s intricate schemes! They are truly dreadful! All this planning, and deception! I would much rather face my enemies HEAD-ON! Crush them with my bare hands! But no, we have to hide and trick… Where is the GLORY in that?!"

Lu Jade waved his tail dismissively, "There will be PLENTY of opportunities for you to showcase your strength in the next stages, Gastaroid. The Great Divine Tribulation… it’s STILL ongoing. Patience. Let Big Brother’s tactics bring us victory. Then, when the TIME is right, you can unleash those glorious flames of yours!”

Gastaroid grumbled, but he couldn’t deny the logic in Lu Jade’s words. He was about to retort, when…

A violet blur flashed across the sky!

“Hmm?” They turned towards the sound and watched as Qi Fenwei landed gracefully.

She strode toward them with ‘Archon’ unsheathed. Within the blade’s orange eye, a tiny, blue creature crackled.

“I’ve captured the Liu Fuuyi.”

She stopped beside the final, empty crystal tube and carefully deposited the creature within its confines. It glowed with a brilliant, sapphire light.

“What happened to Raphael? Is he…?” Lu Jade’s question had a dreadful premonition he couldn’t articulate. He'd witnessed the aftermath of those lightning strikes firsthand, and those possibilities, they weren’t pleasant.

“He’s fine. I left him to battle… Splinter Roc.”

“Splinter Roc? That… sword freak?” Lu Jade was stunned. “But his cultivation is higher than Big Brother’s! Will Big Brother be… okay?"

Qi Fenwei scoffed. “I can swat that peacock away like a fly. Raphael can handle him. And those Lightning Dao skills that fool is obsessed with? They are nothing compared to my Father’s. One day, I’ll show him the TRUE power of Black Wind Lightning. He’ll be begging for mercy.”

“But…”

Their conversation was interrupted by a heavy thud.

THUD!

They turned.

“Did somebody call my name?”

Raphael strolled towards them. His ‘Heavenly Sky Hammer’ was slung casually over his shoulder as he gave them a smug grin that had Lu Jade coiling around his legs and Thienika’s staff thrumming softly.

“Big Brother! You’re ALIVE!” He slithered up Raphael’s leg and perched happily upon one of those magnificent golden horns.

“Little Lu, and Grandma?” Raphael smiled. He then glanced towards the dome above. “Since you’re both here, I assume our trick was found out?”

“Yes, Big Brother, but it doesn’t matter now.” Lu Jade pointed with his tail. “We have the final Liu Fuuyi!”

QI Fenwei was securing the Liu Fuuyi within the last crystal tube.

The moment it was secured…

All FIVE tubes erupted in a magnificent glow! The light intensified as the tubes began channeling energy into the central node. And from that node…

…a blinding, vertical beam of white light shot skyward! It pierced through the very heavens above, creating a large clearing amidst the dark storm clouds!

It was a spectacular display of power, and across ‘Lightning Veil’, every contender, every beast who witnessed that beam, understood what it meant.

A team had passed the third stage!

“That light… It’s coming from the south-western sector.” A massive spider-like creature with eight glowing eyes watched the beam with envy.

“Who could have activated their central node already? Surely it’s not that Bull Mountain Demon, or is it?”

…

On another platform, Lord Lingshi gazed upwards.

"Hmm…” His ancient eyes narrowed as his companions huddled around him while shielding themselves from the incessant lightning bolts. “That radiant light… The Breath Takers have triumphed. It would appear as if their teamwork surpassed those who’ve relied solely on power.”

Hellphet and Lu Ruby watched the spectacle unfold with mixed emotions.

Splinter Roc, who'd managed to survive Raphael’s ‘Hyunda Blizzard’ after crashing into a mountainside and was now hiding amongst a rock shrine nearby, stared at the beam. His feathers ruffled in agitation.

"That bull… He defeated me… and now THIS?!”

A bitterness gripped him.

He’d spent millennia honing his swordsmanship skills, training tirelessly to master the blade. He’d sought enlightenment in ‘Lightning Dao’. And finally, after enduring countless hardships, he'd achieved it.

His mastery of lightning had gifted him unimaginable power!

And yet…

He was still defeated.

Humiliated.

"I won't forget this. I, Splinter Roc, WILL have my revenge. That BULL, and QI Fenwei, they will PAY for this disgrace!"

He clenched his fists. His determination was starting to burn brighter than those very bolts above.

One day, he would show them the true power of the ‘Lightning Dao’.