Five days passed, and the Hellstorm Legion arrived at the Great Lands of Waterfalls. Their presence was menacing as they descended underground, the air thick with tension. Citizens instinctively moved aside, sensing the danger. At the head of the Legion stood Huo Xie, the Inferno Vanguard and leader of the Hellstorm Legion—a figure of immense power and intimidation.

Huo Xie approached a guardian soldier, his eyes full of malice. "Where is your leader?" he demanded.

"He... he's in the Hall of Trees," the guardian stammered.

"Take me to him," Huo Xie ordered.

The guardian led Huo Xie to the Halls of Trees. As they entered, they found a wooden table at the center of the room, surrounded by tall trees. Sylvian sat at the table with the peace treaty spread before him. Huo Xie walked toward him and took a seat.

"So, we meet again, Sylvian."

"Yes, indeed," Sylvian replied. They exchanged icy glares, the animosity between them palpable.

"Nevertheless, let's proceed with this," Huo Xie said.

"Here is the treaty."

"A peace treaty?"

"Yes, I desire peace, Huo Xie."

"Why should I make peace with you, filth?"

"Listen, I understand your needs, but we have ours too. You can't just take our resources and our land."

"Yes, I can. Besides, we have needs of our own. My men have nowhere to stay; we're constantly moving. They have families who need somewhere safe," Huo Xie said.

"And you think this place is suitable for you?"

"Of course. It's underground, spacious enough for my people to settle in. As for the resources, we don't have enough to spare."

"You speak of your needs as if they outweigh ours. But tell me, Huo Xie, how many of your people would truly suffer if we claimed this land?" Sylvian countered. "We Lignumkin have been here since our ancestors were intertwined with this soil. You may see it as just another piece of land or a mere resource, but this land holds deep significance for us. I will not hand it over, but I still desire peace for both our peoples. We can coexist—the Lignumkin and your kind. So, do you agree to the peace treaty?"

Huo Xie responded, "You think you can sway me with flowery words about coexistence? We will not live in the shadows of your trees while you hoard the very resources that should be shared among all. After everything your kind has done to us!"

Huo Xie stood up, his hands ignited with flames.

"We will take all your land and resources—by force."

He lunged at Sylvian with a punch, but Sylvian vanished before the blow could land. Huo Xie was left grasping at the air in confusion. He scanned the room for any sign of him, but Sylvian was gone. Suddenly, a cacophony of noise erupted outside. Huo Xie dashed out, only to witness a massive battle before him.

The Guardians of the Great Lands of Waterfalls faced off against the Hellstorm Legion, the clash of warriors ringing out like thunder. Fighters from both sides battled fiercely, their weapons gleaming in the chaos. Blood splattered the ground, and guttural cries of pain filled the air as they fought to the death.

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But amidst the carnage, the true horror lay not just in the fallen warriors but in the innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire.

Huo Xie unleashed his flames, driving back the Guardians with relentless force. As they retreated toward the leader's temple, the Lignumkin people followed closely behind.

"Chase them!" Huo Xie commanded, and the Hellstorm Legion surged forward in pursuit.

However, they needed to prepare for what awaited them. Suddenly, a massive white tiger leaped into their path, its roar echoing through the air and sending tremors of fear through the ranks of the Hellstorm Legion.

With a colossal sword gripped in its powerful jaws, the tiger engaged the attackers, swinging the blade with fierce precision.

From atop the magnificent creature, Zander shouted with enthusiasm, "Oh hell yeah, get them, Leo!"

Zander leaped down from Leo's back, feeling the rivers of strength coursing through his body, amplifying his powers even further. The surge of energy radiated outward, boosting Leo's strength fivefold and enhancing Zander's abilities to match.

With a determined focus, Zander summoned an army of fifty thousand clones, each a perfect replica of himself. The battlefield buzzed with their combined energy, ready to face the Hellstorm Legion.

"Kill them both!" Huo Xie shouted, his voice slicing through the chaos. The Hellstorm Legion surged forward, igniting their unique flames as they charged into battle.

The clash was nothing short of spectacular. Zander, alongside his clones, moved like a whirlwind, each replica deftly slaying the soldiers of the Hellstorm Legion. Their synchronized attacks struck with precision, cutting through the enemy's ranks.

Meanwhile, Leo provided crucial support, his massive sword cleaving through foes and creating openings for Zander and his clones. Together, Zander and Leo were an unstoppable force—until Huo Xie leaped into the fray. He ignited his fists with scorching flames, the fire swirling around him with such intensity that it threatened to consume his hands if not wielded carefully.

Huo Xie was the strongest of the Hellstorm Legion. He single-handedly defeated thousands of Guardians. Huo Xie launched himself at Zander's clones with incredible speed, his fists creating a storm of fire. One by one, the clones disappeared as he attacked.

But Zander was ready. With a determined look, he created even more clones, each holding shiny swords that sparkled in the heat of battle. They charged at Huo Xie, their blades cutting through the air.

However, Huo Xie faced the charging clones head-on, his fists blazing with fire. With each strong punch, he melted their swords like wax, leaving only puddles of metal on the ground. The clones couldn't handle his flames and quickly vanished in clouds of smoke and ash.

Zander darted around Huo Xie. The two engaged in a fierce duel that echoed through the chaos of the battlefield. Each strike was met with a powerful counter, and their movements were fluid and precise.

"Those flame fists are cool! Where did you learn them?" Zander exclaimed, parrying a fiery blow with swift agility.

"From my father!" Huo Xie snapped, his eyes blazing with determination. "Now stop talking and fight, foul creature!"

With a fierce growl, Huo Xie unleashed a barrage of flame-infused punches, each aimed to overwhelm Zander. The air sizzled with heat, and Zander could feel the intensity radiating from each attack. He dodged and weaved, his strikes aimed at finding an opening in Huo Xie's relentless defense.

Zander enlarged his sword and brought it down with tremendous force against the ground. The impact sent shockwaves through the air, creating a violent distortion and sending debris flying in all directions.

Amid the chaos, he summoned a multitude of clones to confuse Huo Xie, each moving unpredictably and creating a haze of uncertainty around him.

Huo Xie intensified his flames, shooting fireballs at each of the clones. The heat was so intense it felt like he was holding two suns. Huo Xie melted the clones with precise accuracy, but then he paused, believing he had found the real Zander. He charged forward at fantastic speed and thrust his arm into Zander.

"Heh, this was a great fight. But this is the end for you," said Zander with a slight chuckle.

“Oh… man… you are… Powerful," Zander replied.

"Huh?" Huo Xie responded, only to realize it was a clone. He turned to see Zander behind him. "Expand," Zander muttered, and the sword grew longer, stabbing Huo Xie's shoulder. The force sent him crashing into the leader's temple, slamming him against it with Zander's sword still in his shoulder.