Legend of the Divine Archer

Wei Xi's spear had tasted blood, but the battle was far from over. As he lunged for another strike, Yan Li twisted violently, evading the spear by a hair's breadth. With a swift pivot, Yan Li slashed out at Wei Xi, his nails cutting through the air. Wei Xi barely managed to block the attack, the force of the blow reverberating through his spear.

His youthful determination wavered for a split second as he felt the true weight of Yan Li's corrupted power.

Yan Li seized the moment and lunged forward, grabbing Wei Xi by the wrist. He twisted it savagely, forcing the spear from the young warrior's grasp. Wei Xi gritted his teeth, trying to wrench his arm free, but Yan Li's grip was like iron, his bloodlust making him nearly unstoppable. With a grunt of effort, Yan Li tossed Wei Xi aside, sending him tumbling across the ground.

Wei Xi hit the earth hard, his body skidding to a stop as dust clouded the air. Groaning, he pushed himself up on one elbow, his vision swimming from the impact. The pain radiating from his wrist told him it was likely fractured, but there was no time to think about that. Yan Li's corrupted aura was still thick in the air, and the fight was far from over.

Meng Xiao saw Wei Xi fall and quickly dashed forward, her claws poised to strike. She aimed for Yan Li's side, hoping to catch him off guard while his attention was on Wei Xi. Her movements were swift and calculated, the sharp tips of her claws glinting under the moonlight.

But Yan Li was quicker than she had anticipated. He spun to face her, his eyes blazing with fury, and met her attack head-on. His claws intercepted hers with a resounding clash, the force of their collision sending sparks flying. Meng Xiao gritted her teeth, straining against Yan Li's strength as they remained locked in place.

Her muscles burned with the effort, and she could feel his overpowering aura pressing down on her, suffocating and dark.

"You'll have to do better than that!" Yan Li snarled, his voice dripping with venom.

With a sudden burst of strength, Yan Li broke their deadlock, slashing his claws across Meng Xiao's chest. She gasped in pain, staggering backward as blood seeped from the fresh wound. Her hand instinctively went to her chest, pressing against the gash, but she refused to back down. Eyes narrowed, she glared at Yan Li, her resolve burning brighter despite the pain.

Yan Bai, seeing both Wei Xi and Meng Xiao struggle, gripped his spear tightly, his knuckles turning white with the force of his hold. His mind raced as he watched Yan Li move, calculating the best approach to take down the blood-corrupted villain. Yan Bai had always been the calm one, the strategist, but now, faced with the man who had torn his family apart, anger surged within him.

With a battle cry, Yan Bai surged forward, his spear slicing through the air with deadly precision. Yan Li barely had time to react before Yan Bai's spear nicked his side, drawing blood. Yan Li hissed in pain, his twisted face contorting with rage. He swung his claws at Yan Bai in retaliation, but Yan Bai was quicker, dodging the attack and countering with a swift jab of his spear.

The two clashed with brutal intensity, neither willing to give an inch. Yan Bai's spear was a blur of silver, each thrust aimed at a vital point, while Yan Li's claws moved with lightning speed, deflecting and countering every blow. The ground beneath them became stained with blood, both their own and that of their comrades.

Yan Li's breath came in ragged gasps, but his eyes gleamed with a sinister light. The blood magic that had twisted him still coursed through his veins, keeping him alive and feeding his insatiable hunger for violence. Yan Bai could feel the weight of Yan Li's corrupted power pressing down on him, but he refused to back down.

The fight was grueling, each strike met with a counter, each movement calculated to bring about the other's demise. Yan Bai could feel his muscles burning, his body screaming for respite, but he pushed forward, determined to see this through to the bitter end.

His spear danced through the air, a lethal extension of his will, but Yan Li's movements were wild and unpredictable, fueled by the dark magic that kept him standing.

Meanwhile, Yan Jin stood off to the side, listening intently to the sounds of the battle. Though blind, he could sense the ebb and flow of the fight with remarkable clarity. His heightened senses picked up on every movement, every grunt of pain, every shift in the air. He nocked another arrow to his bow, his calm demeanor never wavering.

He could feel the desperation in Yan Li's movements, the dark aura that surrounded him like a thick fog.

Yan Jin focused, his mind clearing as he tracked the chaotic rhythm of the battle. He could hear Yan Li's labored breathing, the soft shuffle of his feet as he fought off Yan Bai's relentless assault. Waiting for the right moment, Yan Jin released his arrow.

It flew through the air, silent and deadly, aimed with perfect precision. Yan Li barely had time to register its approach before it struck him in the shoulder, the force of the impact sending him stumbling backward. Blood splattered the ground as Yan Li let out a guttural cry of pain.

But even that was not enough to stop him. With a snarl, Yan Li yanked the arrow from his flesh, tossing it aside with a growl of defiance. His eyes, now burning with bloodlust, locked onto Yan Jin.

"You think you can take me down with your tricks, boy?!" Yan Li roared, his voice thick with fury.

Yan Jin remained silent, his face expressionless as he nocked another arrow. He could sense the desperation in Yan Li's voice, the thin veneer of confidence cracking beneath the weight of the battle. He knew that Yan Li's power, though formidable, was not infinite. He was bleeding, his movements growing sluggish, his energy fading. But he was still dangerous—perhaps more so now that he was cornered.

Yan Li charged at Yan Jin, his claws raised, ready to tear him apart. But before he could close the distance, Meng Xiao intercepted him, her claws slashing across his chest with a burst of speed. Yan Li howled in pain, staggering back as blood poured from the wound. Meng Xiao did not let up, pressing the attack with renewed vigor, her movements a blur of claws and strikes.

Wei Xi, his wrist still aching from earlier, picked up his spear and joined the fray. He fought through the pain, driving his spear toward Yan Li's back with all the strength he could muster. The tip of the spear grazed Yan Li's skin, but before Wei Xi could land a decisive blow, Yan Li spun around with terrifying speed, swiping at him with his claws.

Wei Xi barely managed to dodge the attack, but the force of Yan Li's swing sent him tumbling to the ground once more. He gritted his teeth and pushed himself back up, his grip tightening on his spear as he prepared to charge again.

The battle continued, fierce and unrelenting. Every strike was met with a counter, every movement calculated to bring about the other's end. Yan Li fought like a cornered beast, his bloodlust driving him forward despite the mounting injuries that covered his body.

The battlefield had fallen into a tense silence after Yan Li's corrupted dragon released a deafening roar, sending Yan Bai, Meng Xiao, and Wei Xi skidding backward. The force of the roar had been immense, shaking the very ground beneath their feet, as though the earth itself trembled under the weight of the dark energy. Dust hung in the air, and for a moment, everything was still.

All four combatants stood breathing heavily, their chests rising and falling with labored gasps. The taste of iron filled their mouths, their limbs heavy with exhaustion, every muscle in their bodies burning from the relentless assault. Sweat mixed with blood on their skin, stinging their wounds and soaking into their clothes. Each breath was a battle in itself—strained, sharp, and desperate.

Yan Bai wiped the blood from his brow with the back of his hand, his fingers trembling slightly as he readjusted his grip on his spear. His heart pounded in his chest, each beat reverberating in his ears as he glared at Yan Li across the way. His uncle was panting too, the aura around him flickering like an unstable flame.

But despite his ragged breaths, Yan Li's eyes still gleamed with dangerous resolve, the bloodlust never quite leaving them.

Meng Xiao crouched low, her eagle claws gleaming in the pale moonlight, her breathing steadying but shallow. She felt the sting of the wound on her chest, the blood slowly seeping through her purple attire. She focused on Yan Li's form, trying to ignore the pain and the ache of exhaustion settling deep into her bones. Her eyes flickered to Wei Xi for a moment, catching his determined gaze.

Despite the tremble in his arm, the young warrior was still standing, his spear held firm in his grip.

Wei Xi's breaths came out in harsh pants, the bruising on his wrist screaming in agony with every movement, yet he refused to let it slow him down. His resolve was unwavering, though his youth and inexperience showed in the shaking of his legs. He pushed the pain to the back of his mind, forcing himself to focus on the corrupted figure of Yan Li in front of him.

His spear was ready, despite the fatigue tugging at his muscles.

Yan Li's chest rose and fell heavily, his face contorted with a mixture of rage and madness. Blood dripped from his wounds, his once regal robes tattered and stained with grime and gore. His corrupted dragon aura flickered and writhed above him like a living shadow, its presence both powerful and grotesque.

Even in his weakened state, Yan Li seemed fueled by something far darker than rage—an unquenchable thirst for blood and domination. His hands twitched, the claws glistening with the blood of his enemies, his lips curling into a sinister sneer.

A stand-off had settled over the battlefield, an eerie quiet in the aftermath of the roar. Each fighter could feel the tension in the air, the battle not yet decided but far from over. The taste of victory was not yet within anyone's grasp, and yet defeat lingered on the edge of every breath.

Several kilometers away, high above the trees on a rocky outcrop, two figures observed the battle unfolding beneath them. Purple Spear Meng stood with his arms crossed, his keen eyes following the movements of the combatants below. His face was stern, his posture tense with the urge to act.

His spear, long and gleaming in the moonlight, hung loosely at his side, though his grip tightened in readiness.

The City Lord stood beside him, his gaze calm but watchful. His hands were clasped behind his back, his regal attire fluttering lightly in the night breeze. His expression was one of careful consideration, his sharp eyes taking in every detail of the battle.

"They're struggling," Purple Spear Meng said, his voice low and filled with concern. He shifted his weight forward, preparing to intervene. "I'm going down there. They can't handle him alone—he's too far gone."

But before he could take a step, the City Lord placed a hand on his shoulder, halting him. "Wait," he said firmly. His voice was calm, but there was an edge of authority that made Meng pause. "This is their fight."

Meng turned to him, his brow furrowed with frustration. "Their fight?" he repeated. "Yan Li is a blood-corrupted monster. He's—"

"I know what he is," the City Lord interrupted, his tone never wavering. "But they must face him. If they cannot overcome this hurdle, then they will never accomplish anything more. This is a test not just of their strength, but of their resolve. Yan Jin has not shown everything yet."

Purple Spear Meng's eyes narrowed as he looked back at the battlefield. He could see the exhaustion in Yan Jin's form, the strain on the faces of Meng Xiao, Wei Xi, and Yan Bai. He understood the City Lord's words, but the sight of his young niece in the thick of that battle made his blood burn with the desire to protect her. Still, the City Lord's words held weight.

Yan Jin was a fighter, a strategist, and if the City Lord believed in him, Meng would have to trust in that judgment.

"They're putting their lives on the line," Meng said, his voice quieter now, but no less filled with worry.

The City Lord nodded slowly. "They are. And that is exactly why this battle must be fought by them. Yan Li must be defeated by their hands, for the sake of Pine City's future—and their own."

Meng exhaled deeply, his fingers flexing around the shaft of his spear as he forced himself to remain still. He could only hope that the City Lord was right.