Solar Blood Masters (150)

Chapter 150 - Truly Breath Takers

“Primal White Blade!”

Splinter Roc’s katana sliced downwards towards Qi Fenwei with a speed that blurred his form. She reacted instantly by lifting Lullaby to block the attack.

CLANG!

Sparks flew as their blades met. Then she swiftly unsheathed Archon and smashed Splinter Roc away.

He stumbled back with his feathers ruffled, but he was already preparing for another attack when…

BOOM!

A wave of oppressive heat slammed into him! He was thrown to the ground. His white feathers began to smolder, and a faint aroma of burnt peacock permeated the Grand Mound.

“This oppressive heat… What the hell is that bastard Hellphet doing?! Is he trying to incinerate ME as well?!”

Splinter Roc glared up at the ‘Hells Glory’, that massive ball of fire that hovered menacingly above the stage, growing larger with every passing moment.

He quickly slashed at the platform with his katana, sending slabs of rock and earth flying. Then, with a flick of his fingers, beams of light shot forth, stitching the rocks together, forming a makeshift shelter above him.

But even this barrier was no match for the infernal heat. The rocks began to melt, dripping like wax. His feathers continued to burn.

Qi Fenwei also felt the heat’s intensity. She hissed, “Damn! That’s HOT!”

Her amethyst armor glowed, desperately trying to absorb the heat, but it was too much. She was being roasted alive.

“Absorb Me!”

With a flash of black lightning, she vanished into Archon’s eye. The sword, crafted from divine materials, could withstand the heat better than her own delicate form.

Lu Ruby was shielded within her ‘Red Chariot’ that now resembled a giant crimson egg. She also felt the oppressive heat. Her scales shivered, and a few began to melt.

“Damn that Hellphet! How can he utilize Father’s Sun Cycle better than I can?! This is outrageous! I have to protect myself!”

Unbeknownst to her, Lu Jade was also safe within the chariot’s protective sphere, clinging tightly to its underside.

Thienika had summoned her roots, they swirled around her, forming a protective barrier as she channeled her energy.

“Regal Counter!”

She pushed back against the heat, but her staff trembled, and purple blood trickled from her lips. This infernal heat was taxing her ancient core.

…

Bound by the Hell Chains, Raphael struggled. He tried to summon his Abyss Nylon, to pull at the fiery restraints, but the threads were incinerated the moment they materialized. Burns, deep and searing, marked his golden hide.

He looked up at the ‘Hells Glory’. It was descending, growing larger, hotter, a miniature sun that threatened to obliterate him.

Hellphet’s body was now a raging inferno, and yet, even he was sweating profusely. The sweat evaporated instantly, turning into plumes of steam, as his skin sizzled and his elephant trunk glowed red.

“The Ignitor Sun Cycle… It’s too much! If I don’t release this attack now… I’LL be incinerated as well!”

He slammed his trunk downwards.

“Go! KILL that bull!”

WHOOSH!

The ‘Hells Glory’, a ball of pure, concentrated fire, hurtled towards Raphael.

The crowd gasped.

“That bull… He’s done for!”

“No one can survive that!”

“What a way to go…”

The arena fell silent, as if holding its breath.

Raphael’s eyes widened. He stared at the approaching inferno. His heart pounded in his chest. This was it. His end.

“I can’t… escape…”

In his desperation, he summoned his two shadow generals.

WHOOSH! CRACKLE!

Bat General Kong and Bat General Melissa materialized beside him. They knew what needed to be done. Without a word, they looked at each other with a mix of desperation and respect for their master, before holding hands. Their Solar Essences merged as they soared upwards.

“BLACK POOL!”

They exploded outwards!

A vortex of pure darkness expanded, and it began consuming Hells Glory, desperately trying to contain the inferno.

Hellphet laughed. “Kuhahaha! Foolish bull! Your darkness is NOTHING compared to my ‘Hells Glory’! Witness your pathetic demise!”

He squeezed more power from the Ignitor Sun Cycle. He ignored the searing pain that shot through his very being and the blood that trickled from his trunk.

The ‘Hells Glory’ intensified!

And with a final, earth-shattering BOOM, the Black Pool was obliterated.

The inferno continued its descent.

Raphael braced himself.

Lu Jade and Thienika shielded their eyes.

Qi Fenwei and Splinter Roc, clinging to the edge of the stage, looked away.

Even Lala Zhen, high above, reinforced the barrier protecting the audience.

Lu Ignis laughter… the entire Grand Mound could hear it.

“That bull… he’s FINALLY going to PAY! Hahaha!”

Even the other Emperors exchanged uneasy glances. Lu Ignis's unrestrained glee at the prospect of Raphael's demise was unsettling, even for them. His laughter felt a bit… excessive, even for a Bronze Serpent Emperor.

Silk Yune, ever stoic, merely narrowed her icy gaze, while Mermaid Merlando subtly shifted his weight. Anakin Vader, ever enigmatic, simply emitted a low hum. Only Julian Ringtail seemed unfazed. He continued to sip his wine with a detached amusement.

Qi Hawk, however, remained impassive. His single, milky-white eye was fixated on Qi Fenwei, or rather her swords that were clinging precariously to the edge of the platform. Should anything happen to his daughter, he would intervene instantly.

His Void Eye was already sparking with barely controlled power. He didn't care about Raphael's fate; Qi Fenwei's safety was his sole concern. He was ready to unleash his "Reality Thwart," to manipulate the very fabric of reality itself if necessary to ensure her survival. His daughter's well-being outweighed any other consideration in that terrifying moment.

…

The ‘Hells Glory’ descended. This miniature sun threatened to incinerate Raphael. His hair was already burning, his Abyss Nylon sizzling, blood evaporating from his wounds, his very flesh steaming. The Hell Chains binding him to the ground were melting, but before that inferno could claim him…

Thienika materialized before him. She stood upon his chest with her staff raised. Dancing within her eyes was an ancient light that defied the very laws of reality and heat. Raphael became fearful for her.

“Grandma, don’t! It’s too powerful! It might further damage your health! Save your strength!”

She smiled. “I am your protective Grandma, Raphael. And I won’t let you get incinerated today.”

She turned her gaze upwards. “Regal Counter!”

Her shield expanded, pushing back against the descending inferno with an unimaginable force.

The crowd gasped.

"That tree woman is CRAZY!"

"She's going to DIE!"

"Hells Glory will obliterate her and that bull!"

Hellphet who was positioned above the ‘Hells Glory’, grinned.

“Trying to counter my ‘Hells Glory’? In your dreams, old woman!”

He focused his Solar Essence into the Ignitor Sun Cycle, enhancing the inferno with a powerful Solar Beam.

BOOM!

Thienika’s shield shattered. She collapsed onto Raphael’s chest, coughing blood.

“Grandma, NO!” Raphael screamed.

Lu Ruby, overhearing his cry, erupted in laughter. “Fuhuhuhahaha! Die, you stinking bull! Today… you shall be NO MORE!”

Raphael gritted his teeth as the ‘Hells Glory’ bore down. His hair was consumed by flames. His Abyss Nylon disintegrated. His blood evaporated. His body steamed. The Hell Chains melted away into nothing.

He was free, yet trapped by the oppressive Solar Pressure that was pushing him into a crater in the ground. His very being was resisting his will! He could barely even twitch, what was he going to do?

“The hell! I won’t be done in like this! Kong! Melissa! Do it NOW!”

Two miniature versions of his shadow generals materialized above Hellphet. They opened up a swirling vortex of darkness right above Hellphet who looked on with confusion.

“BLACK POOL!”

Raphael burst forth from the vortex. Thienika was cradled protectively in one of his hands.

He grabbed the stunned Hellphet and tossed him upwards into the Black Pool.

Hellphet tumbled through the darkness, disoriented and confused. And then…

WHOOSH!

He emerged from another Black Pool, but this one was… below.

He landed with a thud in the crater where Raphael had been moments before.

He looked up.

And his eyes widened in horror.

The ‘Hells Glory’, his own creation, was descending towards him!

The oppressive Solar Pressure pinned him to the ground.

He screamed and cursed Raphael’s name.

“Damn you, BULL! You… CHEATING BASTARD! This is a dirty TRICK!”

But his words were lost in the inferno's searing heat. He struggled, but it was futile. The ‘Hells Glory’ was too powerful, amplified by his own Solar Essence, now turned against him!

BOOM!

The inferno struck.

A monstrous explosion rocked the entire arena, as if a miniature sun had detonated and was erasing everything it touched.

Splinter Roc dug his katana into the earth, bracing himself against the shockwave that threatened to send him flying out of bounds.

Qi Fenwei’s twin swords were also deeply embedded in the stage, and their hilts were shaking violently.

Lu Ruby’s Red Chariot clung precariously near the edge of the stage. Lu Jade who was still hidden beneath her chariot used his grass powers to hold on for dear life.

Raphael was shielding Thienika and himself with his Electric Scale Prison.

The aftershock lasted for five agonizing minutes.

When the smoke and debris finally cleared…

Hellphet’s body was still there. It lay in the crater, charred and blackened, but… intact.

The audience stared in disbelief.

“How…?”

“That heat could vaporize even Gastaroid! How is he still there?!”

Then they noticed the Ignitor Sun Cycle. It was positioned atop Hellphet. It had a few cracks, yet it still radiated faint heat.

"At the last moment, he must have used the Sun Cycle to absorb some of the heat…”

Raphael materialized in the crater. He observed Hellphet, still clinging to life, but unconscious. Then he glanced at Thienika, coughing blood in his arms. His eyes narrowed.

“This will not stand. For hurting Grandma, you will compensate… with your LIFE!”

"Helios Stream!"

A golden beam of pure fire shot forth from Raphael’s horns. It pierced a hole through Hellphet’s chest and his charred form twitched for a moment.

Raphael snatched the Ignitor Sun Cycle. He stowed it within his Abyss Nylon.

Hellphet’s Solar Consciousness, a blazing orange orb, emerged from his corpse.

“Grandma can absorb this later.” Raphael thought as he gently absorbed the soul in his Abyss Nylon and he also stored away Hellphet’s corpse.

…

Recovering from the shockwave, Muburt leaped into the air and spoke,

"What a TWIST! A battle of epic proportions!

Hellphet unleashes his devastating 'Hells Glory'! And just when we thought Raphael was about to be incinerated… he pulls off an incredible maneuver!

Using his shadow generals and their 'Black Pool' technique, he turns the tables! He sends Hellphet’s own attack back at him! A magnificent display of cunning and strategy!

And even in defeat, Hellphet’s draconic heritage shines through! He uses the Ignitor Sun Cycle to shield himself from total annihilation! What a warrior!

But… alas! His valiant effort wasn't enough! Raphael finishes him off with a 'Helios Stream'! The Breath Takers have eliminated their first opponent! What a team! They are truly… Breath Takers!”