Legend of the Divine Archer

As Yan Jin's body continued to absorb the corrupted energy, he regained his footing amidst the dissipating mist, his presence now a focal point in the center of the maelstrom. The corrupted plasma that once choked the air was now retreating, pulled back by Yan Jin's overwhelming gravitational force.

His soul domain had expanded dramatically, now stretching three times its previous range, potent enough to encompass all of Pine City. The transformation had wrought significant changes in his physique—his tendons and muscles had become extraordinarily flexible, and his hands and feet exhibited a newfound dexterity.

With his enhanced abilities, Yan Jin was poised to counter-attack. He turned his attention to the tumultuous battle between Scar, the non-corrupted Garuda, and the Bloodwitch Fu. The conflict between them was intense

Scar, the majestic Garuda whose scales shimmered with a celestial aura, engaged in a fierce aerial battle with Bloodwitch Fu. The Garuda's immense wings beat with thunderous force, creating powerful gusts that whipped through the corrupted energy, momentarily clearing the skies.

His talons, sharp and fierce, slashed through the air as he dove toward the Bloodwitch, aiming to rend her with a powerful swipe.

Bloodwitch Fu, draped in her dark robes, countered with an air of unyielding authority. Her eyes glowed with malevolent energy, casting spells of corruption that twisted and warped the fabric of reality around her. She wielded her staff with practiced precision, summoning dark tendrils of energy that lashed out at Scar, trying to bind and restrain the celestial beast.

The Garuda's speed and agility were formidable, but the Bloodwitch's mastery over corrupted energy made her a challenging adversary. Scar would swoop in with a flurry of attacks, only to be met with a barrage of dark energy that he had to deftly maneuver around.

The Bloodwitch, in turn, used her staff to deflect and counter Scar's powerful strikes, creating a deadly dance of offensive and defensive maneuvers.

Scar's divine power allowed him to strike with devastating force, each talon and wing strike causing shockwaves that shook the battlefield. However, the Bloodwitch's control over corruption gave her the ability to counteract these attacks with dark energy barriers that absorbed or redirected the Garuda's strikes.

The battle between them was evenly matched, with neither side gaining a definitive upper hand. Both Scar and Bloodwitch Fu fought with relentless determination, each seeking to outmaneuver and overpower the other.

Yan Jin appeared out of nowhere, moving with such unexpected speed that the old matriarch, Bloodwitch Fu, had no time to react. His hand clamped around her neck like a vice, and with a powerful surge of energy, he hurled her like a ragdoll. Her body flew through the air, crashing out of the cave and into the surface of Pine City, demolishing buildings in her path.

The force of the throw left a trail of destruction in its wake, sending shockwaves through the city above.

Scar, still in his Garuda form, watched as the Bloodwitch's body became a distant speck on the horizon. "You succeeded?" he asked, his voice rumbling with both surprise and respect.

Yan Jin nodded, his expression resolute. "It's time to end this," he declared, his voice carrying the weight of his determination. Without hesitation, he leaped onto Scar's back. The Garuda's wings unfurled, and with a powerful beat, they ascended toward the surface of Pine City, ready to confront the chaos and bring the conflict to a close.

--

When Wei Xi regained consciousness, he found himself battered and bleeding from every orifice. His vision blurred, and his body ached with every movement. The first thing he did was call out for Meng Xiao, desperation lacing his voice. But as his eyes adjusted to the devastation around him, he saw her lifeless body lying next to her fallen mount among the debris.

His heart sank, a hollow emptiness settling in his chest. The sight of his old friend, now cold and motionless, shattered whatever hope he had left.

Wei Xi could hardly comprehend the situation. The Captain, who was supposed to protect the city, had betrayed them all. His young mind struggled to make sense of it—why would someone tasked with defending Pine City do this? He felt utterly tired, helpless, and alone in the face of such treachery.

Tears welled up in his eyes, and he could only muster the strength to drag Meng Xiao's body, his tears falling silently as he pulled her through the rubble.

The city around him was a nightmare. The disappearance of the box had unleashed the corrupted plasma, which ran amok everywhere, consuming everything in its path. Buildings were reduced to rubble, their once-strong walls now crumbling under the relentless assault of the corruption. Bodies lay strewn across the streets, twisted in grotesque positions, their faces frozen in terror.

The air was thick with the acrid stench of decay and the coppery tang of blood. Screams echoed through the city—shrieks of pain, cries for help, and the agonized wails of those who had lost everything. Pine City, once a place of life and vibrancy, had become a hellscape of death and destruction.

--

As Wei Xi dragged Meng Xiao's lifeless body through the shattered streets of Pine City, the chaos around him was deafening. The ground trembled beneath his feet as the distant sounds of battle reverberated through the air, drawing his attention to the brutal clash unfolding nearby. His breath hitched as he looked up, his eyes widening at the sight before him.

Purple Spear Meng and the City Lord stood against Sacha, the corrupted Garuda, their figures dwarfed by the monstrous creature. Sacha's once-majestic wings, now tattered and dripping with a viscous, black substance, stretched out menacingly, casting long shadows over the broken city.

His eyes, glowing with a sinister red light, locked onto his opponents with a feral intensity that sent chills down Wei Xi's spine.

Purple Spear Meng, his namesake weapon in hand, darted forward with remarkable speed, his spear thrusting toward Sacha's chest. The spear's tip shimmered with a faint, violet light, an indication of the immense power Meng was channeling into each strike. But Sacha was no ordinary opponent.

With a flap of his corrupted wings, he deflected the attack, causing a shockwave that rattled the air around them. Meng staggered back, his feet skidding across the cracked earth as he fought to regain his balance.

The City Lord, his armor battered and stained with blood, seized the moment to attack from the other side. Wielding a massive sword, he swung it with all his might at Sacha's exposed flank. The blade, glowing with a golden hue, aimed to sever one of the Garuda's wings. But Sacha was too quick. With a powerful twist of his body, he evaded the blow and retaliated with a swipe of his talons.

The City Lord barely managed to raise his sword in time to block, but the force of the impact sent him flying back, crashing into a crumbling wall with a sickening thud.

Sacha roared, the sound echoing through the city like a monstrous storm. His body pulsed with dark energy, and with every movement, more of the corrupted plasma oozed from his wounds, tainting the ground beneath him. He lunged forward, his massive claws aiming to crush Purple Spear Meng beneath their weight.

But Meng, with a burst of speed, rolled to the side, avoiding the deadly blow by a hair's breadth.

Blood dripped from Meng's mouth as he rose to his feet, his breathing labored. He was wounded, his body battered by the relentless onslaught. The City Lord, too, was struggling to stand, his strength waning. The two warriors exchanged a brief glance, a silent acknowledgment of the dire situation they found themselves in. They had fought many battles together, but this...this felt like the end.

But there was no time for despair. Sacha was upon them again, his corrupted form a blur of dark energy and raw power. He slammed his wings into the ground, creating a shockwave that rippled through the earth, sending debris flying in all directions. Meng and the City Lord barely had time to react, throwing themselves to the side to avoid being caught in the blast.

Yet, despite their efforts, the sheer force of the attack left them coughing up blood, their bodies teetering on the edge of collapse.

Sacha's eyes gleamed with a cruel satisfaction as he saw his enemies faltering. He circled them like a predator toying with its prey, savoring their fear and exhaustion. With a low, guttural growl, he prepared to deliver the final blow—a massive surge of corrupted energy that would obliterate them both.

In that moment, the skies above Pine City darkened further, as if the heavens themselves were mourning the fate of the city. The corrupted Garuda's form swelled with power, his wings expanding as the dark energy within him reached its peak. The ground beneath him cracked and split, unable to contain the sheer force radiating from his body.

Purple Spear Meng, despite his injuries, gritted his teeth and prepared for one last stand. He raised his spear, its violet light flickering like a dying flame, and charged forward, determined to pierce Sacha's heart even if it meant his own death. The City Lord, equally resolved, followed suit, his sword raised high.

But Sacha was faster, stronger. With a single, powerful beat of his wings, he unleashed a torrent of corrupted energy, a wave of darkness that consumed everything in its path. Meng and the City Lord were caught in the blast, their bodies slammed to the ground as they struggled to withstand the overwhelming force.

Blood sprayed from their mouths, their visions darkening as they felt their strength slipping away.

It was then that Wei Xi, watching from the sidelines, realized the gravity of the situation. His heart pounded in his chest as he saw the two heroes of Pine City brought to their knees, defeated by the monstrous Garuda. Fear and despair clawed at him, but so did a desperate hope. He screamed for help, his voice cracking with emotion. "Help! Somebody, please help us!"

But his cries were drowned out by the roar of the Garuda and the chaos of the city around him. The nightmare continued, the corrupted plasma surging ever closer, and Wei Xi could only watch in helpless terror as the last defenders of Pine City fought for their lives against an unstoppable foe.