Legend of the Divine Archer

His every move was driven by the need to protect the civilians, but the situation was growing increasingly dire.

As he fought, Wei Xi felt a dark presence approaching—Sacha, the corrupted Garuda, was heading straight for the group of civilians he was escorting. The air around them grew thick with malevolent energy as the massive shadow of the Garuda loomed ever closer.

"Run, everybody, run faster!" Wei Xi urged, his voice tinged with desperation. His eyes darted to the sky, where the exhausted Patriarch Yan was descending rapidly, the box still clutched in his hands. In a last-ditch effort to save his life, the patriarch hurled the box at Wei Xi, who caught it with a surge of adrenaline.

Without missing a beat, Wei Xi turned and sprinted at full speed, leading the Garuda away from the helpless citizens.

The City Lord, seeing the precarious situation, felt a cold fury rise within him. He couldn't afford to lose his grandson or the people of Pine City. With a sudden burst of speed, he launched himself at Patriarch Yan, delivering a brutal kick that sent the patriarch sprawling through the air.

"If anything happens to my grandson, I swear I'll erase your Yan Clan from existence!" the City Lord bellowed, his voice laced with venomous intent. He didn't wait for a response, instead taking off after the Garuda, determined to protect his family and his city, no matter the cost.

Wei Xi's heart pounded as he sprinted through the shattered streets of Pine City, the box clutched tightly in his hand. The once-vibrant town was now a desolate wasteland, with debris scattered everywhere, the air thick with smoke and the stench of burning wood. Behind him, the corrupted Garuda loomed, its monstrous form blotting out the sky.

Each beat of its massive wings sent shockwaves through the air, toppling buildings and leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.

Wei Xi could feel the creature's malevolent presence bearing down on him, its screeches echoing through the ruined city. The sound was deafening, like the roar of a tempest, and it sent shivers down his spine. He darted through the narrow alleyways, his mind racing as he tried to find a way to lead the Garuda away from the civilians still fleeing for their lives.

Every turn he took, every leap over crumbling walls, was a calculated risk, his body moving on pure instinct as he pushed himself to the limit.

The Garuda was relentless, its blood-red eyes locked onto Wei Xi with a single-minded fury. It tore through the city with terrifying speed, its talons digging into the earth and ripping through stone as if it were paper. Wei Xi could feel the heat of its breath on the back of his neck, the air crackling with the corrupted energy that radiated from its body.

The gap between them was closing fast, and Wei Xi knew that if he slowed down for even a moment, it would be over.

Desperation clawed at him as he glanced over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of the Garuda's gaping maw inches away from him. The creature's corrupted energy pulsed like a heartbeat, distorting the very air around it. Wei Xi's muscles screamed in protest, but he pushed harder, zigzagging through the wreckage in a desperate attempt to shake the creature off.

The city around him was a blur, the chaos and destruction blending into a nightmarish landscape that only fueled his determination to survive.

But as he ran, he knew that time was running out. The Garuda was too fast, too powerful, and Wei Xi could feel his strength waning. The weight of the box seemed to grow heavier with each passing second, and his breaths came in ragged gasps as he struggled to keep ahead of the beast.

The city had become a maze of death, with no clear path to safety, and the Garuda was the predator that would stop at nothing to claim its prize.

Just as the Garuda lunged at him with its talons extended, Wei Xi saw an opening—a narrow passageway between two crumbling buildings. He dived into the gap, the Garuda's claws missing him by mere inches. The creature let out a frustrated roar, its wings smashing against the walls as it tried to follow.

--

Farther away, in the heart of the city, Patriarch Yan struggled to regain his footing. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth where the City Lord's kick had landed, but the fear of the Garuda and the chaos around him drove him to his feet. Before he could take another step, Nie Li and Yan Bai caught up with him, their expressions grim.

Nie Li and Yan Bai arrived amidst the chaos, the air thick with smoke and the acrid stench of burning debris. The scene before them was one of utter devastation—buildings reduced to rubble, streets littered with the remains of those who couldn't escape in time, and the once vibrant city now a shadow of its former self.

The Garuda's monstrous roars reverberated in the distance, a constant reminder of the looming threat.

Nie Li's sharp eyes scanned the area, taking in the carnage and assessing the situation with the cold efficiency of a seasoned warrior. His golden armor gleamed even in the dim light, a stark contrast to the darkness that had descended upon Pine City.

Beside him, Yan Bai's pale features were drawn tight with worry, his Imperial Ice dragon aura flickering like a dying flame as he struggled to process the destruction around them.

Patriarch Yan staggered towards them, his face twisted with pain and fear. Blood stained his robes, a tribute to the brutality of the City Lord's kick, but his eyes held a fierce determination. He had barely managed to escape the chaos, but the weight of his clan's future still hung heavily on his shoulders.

Nie Li stepped forward, his expression unreadable as he addressed the patriarch. "What happened here?" His voice was low, controlled, but there was an undercurrent of urgency that demanded answers.

Patriarch Yan took a moment to catch his breath, his chest heaving as he tried to steady himself. "The Garuda… it's unstoppable," he began, his voice hoarse. "It's tearing through the city, and the box… is with Wei Xi."

Nie Li's eyes narrowed, his mind racing as he processed the information. He had anticipated a fierce battle, but this level of devastation was beyond even his expectations. The vein's corruption was a dire turn of events, one that spelled doom for anyone left behind. He glanced at Yan Bai, who looked as though he was struggling to comprehend the enormity of the situation.

"We need to set off the transfer array," Nie Li said decisively, his tone brooking no argument. "Pine City is done for—the vein is corrupted. We have to evacuate now."

Yan Bai, still reeling from the sight of the burning city, turned to his grandfather, seeking some form of reassurance. "Why would you do that?" he asked, his voice shaking with the weight of the decision before them. He couldn't fathom abandoning the city, even in its current state. The thought of leaving so many behind to die filled him with dread.

Patriarch Yan's eyes hardened as he met Yan Bai's gaze. "They're insignificant," he said, his tone cold and unyielding. "We cannot stake the lives of the Yan Clan against theirs.

Our family must come first." The patriarch's words were delivered with a finality that left no room for doubt, dismissing the lives of the city's inhabitants as though they were mere casualties in the greater scheme of survival.

Yan Bai hesitated, his heart torn between loyalty to his family and the overwhelming guilt of abandoning the city and its people. He knew his grandfather's resolve was unbreakable, and the responsibility to his clan was something he had been raised to uphold. Yet, the sight of the destruction, the cries of the dying, and the thought of those they were leaving behind gnawed at his conscience.

In the end, Yan Bai's loyalty to his family won out, and he turned to follow his grandfather. Together, they raced toward the transfer array, leaving behind the burning city, the chaos, and the people they had sworn to protect. The sounds of battle, the cries of the wounded, and the distant roars of the corrupted Garuda faded into the background as they focused solely on their own survival.

--

Back on the streets of Pine City, the situation had grown even more dire. The corrupted Garuda, drawn by the box now in Wei Xi's possession, was tearing through the city with terrifying speed. Each beat of its wings sent shockwaves through the air, toppling buildings and sending civilians scrambling for cover.

The Garuda's focus was unwavering, its eyes locked onto Wei Xi as it pursued him through the streets. Wei Xi's heart pounded in his chest as he dodged and weaved, using every ounce of his speed and agility to stay ahead of the creature. The box in his hands felt like a curse, drawing the Garuda closer with every passing second.

"Come on, you monster!" Wei Xi shouted, his voice a mix of fear and determination. He knew he was running out of time—Just as the Garuda was about to strike, the City Lord appeared out of nowhere, slamming into the creature's side with a powerful burst of energy. The impact sent the Garuda reeling, its attention momentarily diverted from Wei Xi.

"Get out of here!" the City Lord yelled at Wei Xi, his voice strained with the effort of holding off the corrupted beast. "I'll handle this!"

Wei Xi didn't need to be told twice. He turned and sprinted toward the edge of the city, the box clutched tightly in his hands as he sought to draw the Garuda away from the people he had sworn to protect.

But even as he ran, Wei Xi knew that this was a battle they might not win. The city was in ruins, the core corrupted beyond repair, and the Garuda was a force of nature that seemed unstoppable. The only hope they had left was to survive long enough to evacuate the remaining citizens and escape before the entire city was consumed by the darkness spreading from the corrupt core.

Purple Spear Meng appear right next to the old man. "I guess its going to be me and you against this beast, I will attack you support me" he said as he charged toward the Corrupted Garuda.