Sky Star

Chapter Seventeen: The Crisis Escalates

Just as Xiao Chen was lost in a whirlwind of thoughts about Yun Yi’s origins and the mysterious prophecy—feeling as if an invisible force was pulling him deeper into an unfathomable mystery—an urgent, piercing alarm shattered the camp’s brief moment of peace. The sound, shrill like a night owl’s mournful cry, cut through the sky, sending a wave of fear rippling through every heart. It was as if their very souls had been gripped by terror, and their racing pulses pounded like war drums spiraling out of control.

Xiao Chen, like a startled leopard, snapped out of his reverie in an instant. Every muscle in his body tensed, his reflexes as sharp as a blade, and he bolted out of the tent at full speed. His gaze lifted to the horizon, where the sky seemed to have been drenched in thick, inky darkness—black as the abyss. A monstrous tide of shadowy figures loomed, an overwhelming wave of destruction rolling towards the camp. The sheer magnitude of the darkness devoured every sliver of light, leaving behind only a suffocating sense of dread and despair.

Ling Xue and Yun Yi arrived almost simultaneously, standing shoulder to shoulder with Xiao Chen as they faced what looked like the coming of an apocalypse. Their expressions were grave, like towering icebergs wrapped in a deathly frost, their chill penetrating to the bone. Ling Xue’s voice trembled with urgency, akin to silver bells swaying in a winter storm. “The dark forces must have discovered our defenses! This time, they have come in full force to wipe us out completely!”

Yun Yi’s gaze was cold as the stars, his nod firm. “A brutal battle is inevitable today. Everyone, prepare yourselves!” His tone, steady and commanding, resounded like the beat of a war drum, attempting to dispel the fear creeping into the warriors’ hearts.

Without hesitation, Xiao Chen took command like a seasoned general, his voice ringing through the camp like a tolling bell: “All units, assemble! Prepare for battle!”

The camp erupted into a flurry of activity, as if a hornet’s nest had been struck. Warriors scrambled to their posts, their movements urgent yet disciplined. Weapons gleamed in the dim light, gripped tightly in resolute hands. Their determined gazes burned with the fire of those ready to face death unflinchingly—like fearless warriors marching towards their fate, their blades shining like torches in the night.

In an instant, celestial energy, divine arts, and the unique spiritual techniques Yun Yi had taught them intertwined, illuminating the camp like a grand fireworks display—a final, defiant brilliance before the impending darkness. They forged an unbreakable line of defense, determined to hold against the relentless tide of shadowy enemies surging forth like an unstoppable flood.

The black tide drew closer, its overwhelming aura pressing upon them like the suffocating grip of death itself. The stench of malevolence filled the air, thick and nauseating, clawing at their throats. As soon as the dark figures breached the defensive perimeter, the battlefield ignited, unleashing a clash of unimaginable ferocity.

Xiao Chen became a comet of fury, plunging into the fray without hesitation. His fists, imbued with celestial radiance, swung with the force to shatter the heavens. Each strike landed like a hammer of judgment, crushing the shadowy fiends as if they were brittle glass. He fought like an ancient war god reborn, leaving a path of obliterated darkness in his wake.

Behind him, Ling Xue wielded her divine arts like a goddess of frost and storm. Her graceful hands danced through the air, conjuring ice shards and wind blades that rained down upon the enemy. Each strike was precise, piercing the heart of darkness with the accuracy of a master archer. Every hit elicited agonized howls from the enemy, their forms dissipating into nothingness.

Yun Yi moved like a phantom, weaving effortlessly through the battlefield. His unparalleled agility and mysterious spiritual energy rendered him an untouchable specter. Wherever he passed, the shadow fiends froze as if ensnared by an invisible force. Helplessly, they disintegrated under his onslaught, vanishing as though they had never existed.

But the dark forces had come prepared. They lurked like venomous serpents in the abyss, their ambush meticulously planned. As the battle raged on, the shadowy tide did not relent. Reinforcements poured in, endlessly surrounding the camp, sealing off every escape route. Though the warriors fought valiantly, exhaustion began to take its toll. Like a spent arrow, their strength waned, and the once-impenetrable defense line began to falter—like cracks forming in a dam battered by an unyielding flood.

A soldier, caught off guard, was struck by a shadow fiend. Blood spurted from his lips as he collapsed like a wilting flower, his body weightless as a severed kite. Seeing this, Xiao Chen’s eyes burned with fury. A beastly roar tore from his throat as he charged forward to save his comrade, but the shadow fiends swarmed him, ensnaring him like quicksand. His movements slowed, frustration mounting in his chest like a caged inferno.

Ling Xue, desperate to assist, attempted to unleash her divine arts. But she had overextended herself—her powers flickered like a dying candle, their radiance dimming, their strength diminished. Helpless, she could only watch as her comrades fell, her heart wracked with anguish and guilt.

Yun Yi’s gaze darkened with resolve. Like a commander willing to burn his last bridge, he swiftly formed hand seals, chanting an incantation under his breath. A blinding surge of light erupted from within him, like the sun piercing through eternal night. The moment the radiance touched the battlefield, the shadow fiends shrieked in agony, their twisted forms retreating from the overwhelming brilliance.

But Yun Yi staggered, his face pale as death. He swayed like a withering tree, drained of nearly all his life force. This single move had pushed him to his very limits, leaving him teetering on the brink of collapse.

Just as the warriors thought they had earned a fleeting reprieve, the battlefield grew eerily silent. From the depths of the darkness, a presence emerged—terrifying and absolute.

The leader of the dark forces stepped forward, exuding an aura so vile it felt tangible, suffocating the air itself. He stood like a sovereign of the night, his presence alone instilling bone-deep dread. His cold gaze swept over them, his expression akin to a predator surveying its prey. Then, he let out a chilling, manic laugh.

“Tonight marks your demise! The Celestial Divine Realm will fall and become my dominion of eternal darkness!”

His voice, like the roar of a demon from the depths of hell, echoed across the battlefield, seeking to crush the last sliver of hope in their hearts.