As the fight went on, they all realized that the turning point of this battle would be whether they escaped or not. They were unable to go through the clouds due to Shen impeding their advances but there were ways to escape elsewhere.

After they noticed how the rock walls were being erroded by the lava and ripples, they knew. Their way to breakthrough was to burst a hole through the volcan. And who was better for the task than Rat? As such, the Taoist hurried to create a sealed barrier around them while the Glowrider channeled his Magic to send out powerful light rays from behind cover.

Meanwhile, Rat went straight for the rocks and began to dig with all he had. While he had to dodge the light rays, while he had to destroy the shield, Shen remained calm. He was not even bursting his Magic to reach them. He let things happen. And the trio never realized it.

As Rat was getting halfway through the walls, Shen snapped his fingers. Then, the entire structure of the volcano exploded in a gigantic mass of thunder. The volcano itself was a trap. It was obvious to him that they would have Rat try to dig through the rocks to escape and as such, he trapped the rocky walls. The first part of the walls was comprised of enhanced rocks while beyond that was condensed pure Magic energy.

They had stored Shen's thunder Magic inside two side of rocks like a sandwich so that when one side was no more, the entire thing would blow up. And blowing up it did. Rat died in such a way, not even aware of it. Disintegrated by the sheer power of the explosion he took face first. Like a rat, he died while trying to escape a trap only to fall into another one.

Two left to go.

However, they were now out of the volcano. But Shen remained collected. Just because they were outside didn't mean they would defeat him. It meant nothing. As he walked towards the two that were more desperate than agrieved, the clouds moved.

Shen: Domain, second form, Orb.

The clouds that had been amassed parallel to the ground and sky began to move quickyl to form a ball. A ball in which the three were now trapped once again. The thunder began to rage from all directions and not just upwards any longer. While it wasn't inflicting direct damages due to the duo's protection, they still had to maintain the protection. That did take a toll on their Magic reserves.

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???: How could you still be so calm?! You just killed Rat!

The Glowrider was not answered but by the sound of thunder. That's when he lost it. Both him and the Taoist knew by now. They were going to die here. And so, the Glowrider went for a final attack. He rushed straight to Shen who happily met him head on.

They clashed and Shen was now grasping the metallic being's throat in his right hand. In that single full-power clash, Shen lost a leg while the Glowrider had no longer any. Yet, he was grinning as he gripped Shen's arm with his own. Then, a brilliant light began to pierce through from inside his chest. He had activated his auto-destruction racial ability. He was detonating his core.

???: I will take you out with me at least!

That's what he thought. The Taoist believed it too as he began to create the biggest seal he could to protect himself from the resulting blast. However, as he was going to explode, Shen cut his own arm with the other and used his remaining leg to send both his arm and the remaining body of the Glowrider far away. He used that kick to send himself backward while sending the Glowrider forward straight to collied into the defensive sealed area.

The explosion was savage.

The sealed barrier wasn't enough to protect the Taoist and Shen who didn't even have that was worst for the wear. He only had one half of his body left and not even the good half. He was missing a leg on that side. And so, there was now a Taoist with his entire outfit in rags and many burns facing Shen who had nothing left but his head, torso and left arm.

Just as the Taoist was thinking this was his chance, his opportunity to end this, Shen moved. Or rather, his body changed. Electric currents began to extand from the remaining flesh to create elemental limbs. From the use of Magic, he made himself a new body.

Then, he began to walk once more towards his ennemy, the one who had so long ago sealed him away and betrayed him. This Taoist was the instigator. He was the one Shen hated the most. And yet, he was also the one he was most proud of. Since he was the one who understood what it meant to fight solely for yourself...But he would still kill him.

???: You monster. I really can't defeat you. Even after all those years training while you were sealed... You truly are a monster, Leader.

Before Shen could approach him, he took out a wood colored talisman. Then tore it. From it, a portal opened, just like the one from a door. It was the very first time Shen lost his contenance.

Shen: Did you succeed in refining one?!

???: I did, Leader. ... I will be back.

Leavign these words behind, the Taoist jumped into the portal and was sucked into the myriads of changing colors.

Shen couldn't let him leave like this. But he had no ways to stop him. As such, he picked the only path he could take. He followed with full speed. Before he entered the portal, he sent a wave of current in the air. It would remain there thanks to a stability spell of the freezing attribute.

The lightning inside the sky read one sentence:

"I followed him through a portal, wait for me here"