Floating mid air in the sky, Syne had long since adjusted himself from his casual laid back position and was fully upright, paying close attention to the fight between Mael and Lilith. “Didn’t you say we could take her down?” his hand slowly stroking his chin. “I mean, sure, we probably could… but how difficult would such a feat actually be?”

Khalifa, who had regained her balance and her seductive composure after being thrown off Mael’s shoulder frowned slightly. “You always underestimate yourself, Syne,” her voice soft and soothing. “I’m sure you’d do just as well as the Young Master, if you truly focused.”

“I’d rather be overprepared than under,” Syne replied, his eyes never leaving the battle. “That said, something feels off. I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to this. We encountered her not too long ago at the heart of the ancient battlefield. She vanished mid-fight against Mael, just disappeared, and now she shows up here? So far from where we first found her?” his hand never leaving his chin, deep in thought. “If it weren’t for my mastery of Void Law, we’d never have reached her in time. And what’s weirder still is that she’s completely alone. No guards, no hidden backup. A cultivator as talented as her you'd think that she'd have people guarding her or at minimum watching her from the shadows, right? Even if she’s the reckless type, how could no one be around?”

Ivy, who had been quietly listening, suddenly pouted, her tiny fists pounding her head like a frustrated child. “Syne! Enough of the riddles! My head hurts from all this thinking.”

Syne sighed, his calm demeanor softening slightly at Ivy’s antics. “I’m just saying... I think we should intervene,” he said, his voice suddenly more serious.

But Khalifa shook her head, cutting him off. “Look at him,” she said slowly, nodding toward Mael, "He’s enjoying himself. Are you seriously suggesting we step in? The second someone interferes in Mael’s fun is the second they become his enemy.” Her lips curled into a faint smile, her beauty undeniable. “And besides, Syne… you should know better than anyone.” Her gaze softened as she looked at the ongoing battle. “if you thought of it, He's definitely thought of it to"

Syne rolled his eyes, a smirk playing on his lips. “You’re probably right,” he admitted, turning his gaze to the side. His sharp eyes narrowed as he looked into the distance. “In that case, why don’t we check out what’s going on with that lake over there? This purple mutt wouldn’t mind going for a little swim,” he chuckled to himself, his slick purple hair catching the breeze as it flowed effortlessly behind him.

“Sounds fun!” Ivy chirped, her excitement palpable as she bounced with anticipation. Her small figure practically glowing with eagerness.

Khalifa however, remained where she was, her arms folded across her chest, her expression calm. “You two go ahead,” she said in a steady tone. “I’ll stay here and keep an eye on the Young Master.”

Syne smiled lightly as if expecting this. “How about this—why don’t you leave a corpse puppet with us? That way, you can easily find and get to us when you’re ready.”

A playful smile curled at the edges of Khalifa's lips as she turned to face him, pointing directly at him with a graceful finger. “You see that?” she teased. “When you actually put your mind to something, you're not half bad.”

Syne’s face flushed crimson. “Get on with it, will you? Stop wasting my time,” he grumbled, though the flush on his cheeks betrayed his flustered state.

Khalifa couldn’t help but giggle at his reaction, the sound light and melodic. “Alright, alright,” she said, flicking her wrist. A small realistic doll appeared in her hand—a female kunoichi with long black hair, clad in a sleek dark red outfit, her face hidden behind a plain white mask.

Without another word, the doll floated from Khalifa's palm, its petite form bathed in a swirling red aura. In an instant, it began to grow, expanding until it stood at a towering two meters, its presence now dark and foreboding. Dense, red energy dripped from its form, almost like liquid shadows.

“Here you go,” Khalifa said casually, her tone playful yet oddly sinister.

Syne let out a low whistle, clearly impressed. “Fascinating,” he muttered. “Alright, we’ll be off then. Stay safe.”

With that, Syne, Ivy and the corpse puppet took off, leaving Khalifa behind.

Below, the battle between Lilith and Mael raged on, their clash sending shockwaves through the air. Lilith's silver hair billowed wildly in the wind as she shot forward, her body twisting in midair, creating a whirlwind of silver qi that expanded outwards in a spiraling torrent. The force of her movement carved through the atmosphere, forming a violent tornado that ripped apart the ground and sent debris flying in every direction.

Mael, having just landed on the earth, watched with a calm intensity as Lilith closed the gap between them. His eyes remained fixed on her, the winds howling around him but failing to shake the oppressive smile on his dark face.

“Judgement,” Lilith whispered, her voice carrying a deadly calm as she twisted her wrist, her body now within striking distance. Instantly, the whirlwind around her expanded into a colossal vortex, trapping Mael in the eye of the storm. The tornado, infused with her silver qi, roared to life, attacking Mael from all directions at once.

Silver energy and wind lashed out, each gust as sharp as a blade, tearing at everything in its path including space itself. The force was overwhelming, seemingly impossible to escape as the massive cyclone pressed inward, threatening to crush Mael under its sheer power.

Male roared with wild laughter as Lilith's silver qi tore through his clothes, shredding the fabric and actually cutting into his flesh. Glowing red liquid seeped from his wounds, yet his amusement only grew. The silver energy that would have obliterated most things seemed nothing more than a passing discomfort to him.

Stolen novel; please report.

"This dog," Lilith muttered under her breath, watching with narrowed eyes as Mael weathered her judgment attack with terrifying ease. Despite her irritation, she refused to lose focus. In one swift motion, she stabbed her scarlet blade into the crumbling earth beneath her and clasped her hands together as if in prayer. Her eyes flashed with intent.

But before she could complete her move, Mael's hulking form appeared before her in an instant, faster than she could react. His glowing red eyes burned with unbridled battle lust, and with a guttural growl, he gripped her small face in his massive hand. With ruthless force, he slammed her downward, smashing her into the ground with such violence that the earth exploded in all directions. Rubble flew through the air, dust filling the sky as Lilith's body was crushed into the dirt, Mael's iron grip still pressing her face into the shattered terrain.

"What's the matter, Princess, Is that all you've got? "Mael's voice rumbled low. His tone sinister. He tightened grip, his eyes narrowing as he leaned in closer "nothing?"

Suddenly, Mael's gloating was cut short as his brow furrowed. Beneath him, Lilith's hands emerged from the rubble, rising upward and locking together in a clasped position once again.

Shaking her head slightly, moving some of the dirt and stone from her face, her expression twisted into one of disgust. "HACKTOO!" she spat on Mael's large hand, still gripping her face. "Get off of me, you stupid mutt!"

Without warning, silver flames ignited around her body, bursting forth with such a violent intensity that Mael was forced back, his skin singed by the searing heat. Silver flames danced wildly, flickering and twisting as they wrapped around Lilith's figure, burning hotter with every second.

Mael glanced at his scorched hand, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "It's been a while since I've seen my own blood. How exciting!" His voice dripped with excitement, as if the pain only fueled his bloodlust.

But Lilith wasn't finished. The flames surged again, spiraling around her like a vortex of light, enveloping her entire form until she looked less like a warrior and more like a radiant silver star. The ground beneath her quaked as she spoke, her voice ringing out with undeniable authority.

"Purify!"

A massive eruption of Silver Light Qi exploded from her. A dazzling inferno of energy that blasted miles backward, even further. The sheer force causing cracks to spread through the air itself. Male groaned slightly, feeling the burns sting his skin. 'These flames', he thought, narrowing his eyes as he spread his massive wings, using them to steady himself in the air.

But Lilith wasn't about to give him a moment to breathe. In a flash, she appeared above him, her katana gleaming in her hand, the blade pulsing with raw power. "Eclipse Strike", she whispered, her voice carrying a deadly calm.

Suddenly, a translucent crescent moon appeared behind her, radiating an otherworldly glow as a torrent of silver Qi poured from her blade. The slash cut through the air like a comet, its arc fracturing the very fabric of space. Mael's eyes widened, the attack too swift to dodge. The blade struck him across the chest, carving deep into his flesh, blood erupting from the wound as the force sent him hurling towards the ground like a meteor, the impact shattering the earth below. Mael's chest was torn open, glowing blood pouring from the massive gash, staining the air with a metallic scent.

Off to the side, hovering gracefully in the air, Khalifa raised her delicate hands to her mouth in shock. "Young Master…" she whispered, her eyes wide with disbelief. It had been centuries —a millennia, perhaps—since she’d seen Mael in a state like this. Her heart raced as a wave of surprise and concern washed over her. Could Syne have been right? Should we have intervened?

Her mind raced, but she quickly shook off the doubt. No, Mael is far too powerful. He hasn't even unleashed the true power of his Eye yet. He always knows what he's doing.

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted, the very air around them trembling as if the world itself was on the verge of collapse. The sky warped and twisted, and the earth beneath them groaned, as if plagued by a deep, unnatural disturbance. Khalifa felt her heart pound in her chest, beads of sweat forming on her brow as the pressure intensified, pushing against her body.

"What… what is this power?" she gasped, barely able to speak as the overwhelming force weighed down on her. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before—an ancient, primal energy that seemed to crush her very existence. The sky darkened, swirling violently above, and Khalifa's gaze shot upward, watching in horror as reality seemed to ripple like a wave.

And then—

ZYUUUUU... BOOOOOM!

A deafening explosion ripped through the atmosphere, the sound so massive it reverberated in her bones. Khalifa jolted to her left, her eyes locking onto the source of the blast. In the distance, a colossal pillar of energy erupted, piercing the heavens. It was an incomprehensible display of power, radiating an aura that shook the very fabric of reality.

The strangest part? This explosion was occurring millions of kilometers away—deep within the heart of the ancient battlefield—yet it seemed as though it was right before her eyes. The pillar flickered in and out of view, visible and yet invisible at the same time, an enigma that defied all logic.

'Chaos Lords?' she thought, her pulse quickening 'Only they would be able to release such power'

Lilith, floating in the air as she looked down towards Mael's sorry figure felt her attention drawn to the distant phenomenon. Her blood-red eyes narrowed, her body tense as she processed what was happening.

"The signal," she muttered, her voice cold and resolute.