Solar Blood Masters (185)

Chapter 185 - Emperor Calamities’ Fury

A lone Sun Imperial Guard who was whistling casually, emerged from behind an ice formation. He’d just finished relieving himself and was now returning to his unit.

He looked around with his brow furrowing.

“Where’d they go? Did they leave without me? Damn! Lu Terror will have my scales if I don’t catch up!”

He slithered across the snow-covered ground when a flicker of movement above caught his attention.

A small distortion appeared in the air, and from within a swirling, dark mass, Raphael emerged.

“Huh? A human? What’s a human doing here in Grenadale Basin?” The guard instinctively hid behind the ice formation and observed Raphael closely. He noticed the Dog Blood Rosary around Raphael’s neck and his eyes narrowed suspiciously.

‘That scent… It’s the Dog Blood herb! And… Lu Terror’s scent… it’s coming from that human! Did he kill them all? And steal the Dog Blood? This is… I have to inform the Emperor at once!’

He quickly wrapped his tail around a ring-like device attached to one of his neck scales. He shook his tail, and a holographic image of another Sun Imperial Guard stationed in Hebikuni materialized.

“Patch me through to the Emperor. Immediately. This is urgent.”

…

Within a lavish medical palace in Hebikuni, Lu Ignis coiled impatiently.

“This neutral ground nonsense… Grenadale Basin is rightfully Ho Eastern territory. Its resources belong to me. Those icy plains… they’re useless to you, Silk Yune. Why not just hand them over? It’ll save us both a lot of trouble.”

Silk Yune, sitting opposite him on a throne of ice, scoffed. “You have the gall to discuss territory rights, Lu Ignis, while your daughter cries in pain? Your priorities are… misplaced.”

“My daughter’s condition is temporary. But land ownership… it’s a matter of principle! Of legacy! Of…!”

Suddenly, a Sun Imperial Guard burst into the room.

“Emperor! Urgent news from Grenadale Basin!”

Lu Ignis glared at the guard, annoyed by the interruption. “What is so important that it couldn’t wait?!”

“The Dog Blood… It’s been stolen! And… the entire unit… wiped out!”

Lu Ignis and Silk Yune stared at the holographic projection the guard activated. It showed a live feed from Grenadale Basin, of a small human figure with long bull horns, hovering in the air atop a violet clam.

The image zoomed in.

“That’s… a human?” Silk Yune whispered in surprise.

Lu Ignis leaned closer. He sniffed the hologram and his senses reached across the vast distance.

“That scent… There’s no mistaking it… It’s HIM!”

“Him? Do you know this human, Lu Ignis?”

“That… is the stinking Golden Bull Thork! The one who reduced my daughter to a vegetable! I don’t know why he has that human appearance. But it IS him! That damned bastard! I’m going to crush him and rip that Dog Blood from his soul!”

Lu Ignis’s Solar Essence flared and he vanished into a swirling portal of fire.

“I’m coming too. That bull… he’s on my K-list.” Silk Yune vanished in a blink of icy light.

The Sun Imperial Guards in the waiting area breathed a collective sigh of relief as the oppressive Solar Pressure vanished. Then, a wave of dread washed over them.

‘Lu Ruby’s medicine… stolen… by that… human bull…’

‘If the princess’s condition worsens… Lu Ignis will have OUR heads!’

They trembled.

…

Raphael hovered in the air above Grenadale Basin and rejoiced.

“Yes! My Blood Pool capacity has doubled! Thank you, Gastaroid, for that Dog Blood tip. Now… I can unlock the other modes of the Elixen Belkelium!”

He was about to leave when a faint mumbling caught his attention.

“Hmm?”

He activated his Lingshi Eye, zooming in on a nearby ice formation.

A heat signature. A snake. Hiding.

‘A spy?’

The snake was speaking frantically into its tail communicator.

“Patch me through to the Emperor! It’s urgent!”

BOOM!

Suddenly, the ice formation exploded and the snake screamed and tried slithering away.

“Gold Press!” Raphael shouted and a spectral golden hoof materialized above the snake, slamming down with terrifying force.

CRUNCH!

Raphael landed beside the snake’s now blood covered form, which was buried beneath the snow.

“Spying on me, bastard? I won’t let you report back to Lu Ignis.” He raised the Elixen Belkelium, ready to deliver the final blow, but the snake coughed blood.

“It’s… too late… You’re… going to… die…”

“What?!” Raphael was shocked. ‘He already sent the message?’

BOOM!

Suddenly, an oppressive Solar Pressure slammed into him and pinned him to a jagged rock that poked out from the snow.

His vision blurred, his small human frame trembled, and blood trickled from his nostrils and the corners of his mouth. He struggled to turn his head.

In the distance, Lu Ignis, coiled around his golden trident, glared down at him. Molten lava dripped from his scales, melting the snow and incinerating nearby plants.

‘Lu Ignis! He’s here! DAMMIT!’

BOOM!

Another explosion of frost and snow shook the ground.

Silk Yune materialized beside Lu Ignis. Her icy gaze settled upon Raphael, amplifying the oppressive pressure twofold.

“GUAAH!”

Raphael screamed in agony. The rock beneath him cracked. And so close to him, the snake spy exploded and its corpse splattered as if a blood bomb had gone off.

‘Damn! If it weren’t for this Super Human Constitution… I would have ended up like him…’

“You… stinking bull human. You dare steal from me? In MY territory?! You humiliated my daughter! You stole her medicine! And you even dare show your face before me?! Today… your life… ENDS!”

Lu Ignis intensified the Solar Pressure.

“And where is that bastard son of mine? I don’t sense him around. Is he still cozying up in Qi Hawk’s feathers? After I kill you. He’ll be next.”

“Wait Lu Ignis. Let me show him the terror of the cold then you can incinerate him.” Silk Yune proposed.

“A double team, eh? I’m pleased. Freeze his ass, Silk Yune. Then I’ll incinerate what remains.” Lu Ignis’s scales lifted, revealing the fiery abyss beneath. He unleashed ‘Hell Among the Heavens’. The sky above turned crimson; flames licked at the edges of reality.

Silk Yune began compressing a ball of ice between her palms. It glowed with a chilling pink light, growing denser and colder.

Raphael was trapped, pinned to the rock, unable to move, unable to breathe. ‘This is it… I’m going to die…’

Silk Yune flung the ice ball towards him.

Just before impact, Kudumei appeared, shielding Raphael with her shell. She swallowed the ice ball and froze instantly, then tumbled and fell on top of Raphael. The weight had him wheezing, but surprisingly…

He could move again. He wasted no time.

“Black Pool!”

He created a vortex of darkness beneath him and with his hands pressing on Kudumei, slipped inside, vanishing just as Lu Ignis descended.

“That bastard! He escaped!” Lu Ignis glared at Silk Yune. “You let him get away!”

“He won’t escape, Lu Ignis. I can still smell him.” Silk Yune’s nostrils flared. Her divine nose was capable of tracking a scent across entire territories.

“Good! Then we shall hunt him down! That Dog Blood and the Ignitor Sun Cycle… they will be returned! Now let’s hunt!”

And with that, they vanished after their quarry.

…

SWISH! SWISH!

Bat Major Buzzer zipped through a forest near Black Wind Ridge. Then, with a burst of shadowy energy, she exploded into a Black Pool.

Raphael tumbled out, crashing through several trees before landing face-first in the dirt.

“Oof! That was… rough.”

He quickly stood, brushed himself off, then spread his black wings and soared into the sky.

‘It’s a good thing I sent Buzzer ahead. I never expected Lu Ignis and Silk Yune to show up at Grenadale Basin. But now, I’m in Black Wind. I’m safe.’

BOOM! BOOM!

Two explosions of fire and ice rocked the forest, sending a chilling dread through Raphael’s very core. He looked back.

Lu Ignis and Silk Yune materialized behind him.

Their combined Solar Pressure slammed into him with a force that had him gasping for air and spitting blood as his tiny human frame trembled, threatening to shatter like glass. He clutched at his chest, his vision blurred, his ears rang.

KA-BOOM!

The forest around him was obliterated. Trees turned to ash and ice sculptures. Hundreds of creatures, caught in the crossfire, screamed, then vanished. Their Solar Consciousnesses, like fireflies extinguished by a cruel wind, flickered, then died.

‘They’re attacking me… even in Black Wind?! Aren’t they afraid of Sindoll’s wrath?’

“Don’t be so hasty, Lu Ignis. Let me handle this.” Silk Yune’s icy gaze settled upon Raphael.

“PISS OFF damn fox! You let him escape back there! This time… I’LL finish him!” Lu Ignis scales were dripping lava that incinerated the surrounding trees.

Lu Ignis slithered ahead of Silk Yune and unleashed his attack.

“Hell Wink!”

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Hundreds of eyes, radiating a malevolent red light, blinked into existence above Raphael. They focused their gaze upon him, and from each eye, a concentrated beam of pure Solar Essence hurtled downwards!

‘I’m dead if those hit me! Gas Pillar!’

Raphael’s right arm merged with the Elixen Belkelium.

“Regal Counter!”

He thrust the pillar upwards.

BOOM!

An invisible barrier materialized, deflecting the beams back towards their source.

The eyes exploded in a shower of sparks.

Lu Ignis roared in frustration. “That technique…! It belongs to… the old tree! Could he have assimilated her soul?!”

“Stop talking rubbish, Lu Ignis. That tree… she was stronger than Sindoll. If that bull had absorbed her… his strength would surpass ours.”

“I’m telling you! That technique…”

“Silence! You failed. Now it’s MY turn.” Silk Yune pushed past Lu Ignis, who grumbled indignantly.

Raphael didn’t hesitate. He poured 50,000 gallons of blood into the Gas Pillar.

“Bull Demon God Transformation!”

BOOM!

His body combusted and black smoke billowed upwards. A hulking Bull Demon, with lava horns and vast, fiery wings, materialized. He plucked the nose ring, then merged the three Bull Demon Pillars into a single, colossal pillar.

He gripped it with both hands and charged Silk Yune.

“HYUNDAAAAA SMAAAAASH!”

He slammed the pillar downwards.

“Futile.”

Silk Yune extended a single finger.

As it made contact with the pillar… the weapon froze. Ice spread rapidly across its surface, reaching Raphael’s Bull Demon form. He roared in protest as his movements slowed and solidified.

Then Lu Ignis swatted him with his tail.

CRAAACK!

Raphael’s frozen form shattered, and his human form burst forth, crashing through the forest below.

“You also failed to kill him. Now it’s MY turn.” Lu Ignis slithered ahead of Silk Yune once again. “I’ll obliterate him from existence.”

Lu Ignis began coiling around his trident like a spring. One he reached the tip, he launched it like a harpoon towards Raphael.

“TRIDENT OF ANNIHILATION – SCORCHING JUDGMENT!”

WHOOSH!

The earth split open as the trident shot towards its target, leaving a trail of fire and destruction.

Lu Ignis grinned, certain of his victory.

But just as he was about to rejoice…

A single, black and white feather materialized before Raphael.

The trident struck the feather.

And was deflected, flung miles away before embedding itself deep in the earth.

Lu Ignis and Silk Yune stared in shock.

Then they saw him.

Qi Hawk hovered in the air. Beside him, Raphael was encased in a protective bubble. He was unconscious.

“Qi Hawk!” Lu Ignis and Silk Yune hissed bitterly.

Qi Hawk glared at them with his single, milky-white eye.

“Lu Ignis… Silk Yune… I believe you’ve overstayed your welcome in my territory. Look at the death and destruction you’ve caused. Return now, and I might be inclined to overlook this transgression.”

“Qi Hawk! Stop acting as if you’re superior! You’re nothing but a damn bird! With a flashy eye! Hand over that human and we’ll spare YOUR life!” Lu Ignis hollered and spat lava that killed a bear Calamity below.

“Fuhuhu… Even if he hands over the bull, Lu Ignis, Qi Hawk’s life will not be spared. He’s on my K-list as well. Today… he dies. And you… you will assist me.” Silk Yune spoke with a confident smirk.

“What? You’re suggesting… we slaughter him… together?” Lu Ignis’s voice was laced with uncertainty.

“You sound shaky, Lu Ignis. Don’t tell me… you’re actually… scared of Qi Hawk?”

“Bullshit! I’m not frightened by any bird! It’s just… what if Sindoll intervenes? I don’t want to risk my life for nothing.”

“Fufufu. Worry not, Lu Ignis. You’ll be well rewarded. If you assist me in killing Qi Hawk, then consider your daughter’s health restored.”

“But the bull… he stole the Dog Blood…”

“Have you heard of Void Water, Lu Ignis? It just so happens I have some back at my mountain.”

“Void Water? The water that can heal any injury with a simple thought? You possess it?! Then why… why have you been putting on this sham all this time?! What are you scheming, fox?!”

“Settle down, Lu Ignis. I didn’t mention it before because it wasn’t necessary. But now the Dog Blood is gone. And Qi Hawk… he’s protecting the bull. Are you willing to help or not?”

“I am. But what about Sindoll?”

“Allow me to take care of that.”

Saying this, Silk Yune flicked her tails. Her nine Silver Ice Foxes detached and formed a circle around them. They howled and the world shifted.

Lu Ignis and Qi Hawk found themselves in a vast, icy expanse. Pink and white snowflakes of varying sizes fell gently from the sky. Nine colossal Silver Ice Foxes, radiating the potent aura of Emperor Calamities, were positioned at the edges of this frozen tundra.

Lu Ignis looked around. ‘This is Silk Yune’s Frozen Tundra Domain. Sindoll’s sight won’t penetrate this void. But this fox! She didn’t wait for my answer! I have no choice but to join tails with her.’

He glanced at Qi Hawk, who hovered calmly. Raphael’s unconscious form was still encased in the protective bubble.

‘That feathered bastard. He’s too confident. He wasn’t this cocky a hundred thousand years ago when I defeated him. No, something has changed. He’s still wearing that eyepatch… could it be…?’

Silk Yune interrupted him, “Focus, Lu Ignis. We’ll work together to kill that bird. Our combined strength surpasses the Emperor Calamity Stage! Qi Hawk won’t last ten moves.”

And so, they prepared for battle.