In a ruined and forgotten place, the remnants of a devastating battle could still be felt in the air. The blood-soaked ground seemed to pulse with the echo of lost lives, while the stench of destruction suffocated the lungs. Scars of the fight were everywhere, each stone and shadow marked by the horror of the confrontation. In the center of that field of death, five imposing figures formed a circle around a kneeling man, swords embedded in his body. That was Connan Itharis, the Demon Emperor, the most feared figure in the world of Xuanjie. The man who, for years, spread terror, wiping out sects and noble families, was now in his final moments.
His body trembled slightly, the pain of the blades piercing his flesh a cruel testament to what he had been. Still, he struggled to keep his eyes open, glaring with disdain at those surrounding him. The cold wind cut through the field, carrying with it the lament of the souls who perished there.
One of the figures stepped forward. His face was tense, worn by years of battles and losses. His eyes, full of rancor, locked onto Connan.
“You will finally pay for the lives you’ve taken, Demon Emperor,” growled the Sword Emperor. He was an old man, with long, graying hair and a beard that fell to his chest. His white robes, adorned with dark blue details, fluttered slightly, as if even the wind shared in his rage. But behind his fury was a shadow of emptiness. Would vengeance really bring him the peace he sought?
Connan, on the verge of death, let out a weak laugh, filled with contempt. Blood trickled from his lips, staining the ground before him, but he didn’t care.
“You united... just to defeat me?” he said, his voice barely a whisper, yet still laced with sarcasm. “What a disappointment... The five strongest cultivators... together against one man.” His gaze mocked those around him. He wanted to plant doubt, wanted them to question what they had truly achieved.
Stolen story; please report.
The Saintess of the Mountain of Flowers stepped forward, her long black hair like the night contrasting with her white robes adorned with golden details. Her green eyes shone with a nearly palpable hatred, but her serene presence seemed out of place on the battlefield.
“Silence, vile demon!” Her voice was cold, sharp as ice, but behind the contempt was an urgent need to end it. She wanted to silence Connan, not just his voice, but the memory of his deeds.
Still, Connan didn’t relent. He coughed more blood, his faltering body beginning to buckle under the weight of the swords. His mind, however, remained sharp, taunting them to the end.
“Just die... in silence, repulsive creature,” said the Lord of Scarlet Flames. His expression was one of pure seriousness, his face rigid as stone. The man, with fiery red hair and a robust build, remained impassive, but his clenched fists betrayed how much he had longed for this moment.
Beside him, the last two figures stood in silence, their expressions filled with contemplation. The Lord of Spears, an athletic warrior, his blue eyes fixed on Connan’s agonizing body, did not look away. He knew the end was near. The Ice Empress, however, remained still, her long white hair softly falling over her shoulders, while her deep blue eyes observed the Demon Emperor with a sadness the others did not share.
She didn’t want to be there. Her fingers trembled slightly as she held her sword, a gesture that did not go unnoticed by the Lord of Spears at her side. To her, Connan wasn’t just the monster the others saw. She saw the man he could have been, a shadow of what destiny had destroyed. Bitterness gnawed at her heart, an anguish reflected on her face as she struggled to contain the pain she felt inside.
Connan coughed once more, his body shaking in spasms. The world around him seemed to dissolve, the voices of his enemies becoming distant echoes. But he smiled. A dark smile, filled with irony.
*"Five of the most powerful beings in the world... gathered just to defeat me. What a joke."*
He chuckled softly, even as life slowly drained from his body. The pain of the swords embedded in his flesh was almost a relief compared to the burden he had carried for years. In his final moments, his mind wandered, reflecting on power, loneliness, and the cruel irony of his downfall. For someone like Connan Itharis, being brought down by such a powerful alliance wasn’t a defeat... it was proof of his greatness.
And with that final thought, the Demon Emperor succumbed, falling into a deep silence. Life finally left him, and with him, a dark chapter of Xuanjie came to an end.