Solar Blood Masters (138)

Chapter 138 - Primal White Blade

“Hmmm… Hmmm…”

Pam Long leaned over Lu Ruby’s mangled form with a delighted grin. Her chest was ripped open, those delicate ribs he’d so effortlessly cracked were jutting out at awkward angles, while her heart, still beating with a panicked rhythm, was exposed.

"Such a beautiful mess, princess.” He chuckled, enjoying her helplessness. "I told you I'd rip you open. And now… your insides are mine to savor! Hahaha!”

He then dipped a hand into her chest cavity. His claws were carefully navigating those glistening organs that pulsed with a strangely alluring energy.

“Hmmm… Which one should I pluck first? The heart? The liver? Or perhaps… those delicious lungs?” His tongue flicked across his snout, and drool dripped down, sizzling upon contact with her scales.

Lu Ruby stared in horror. She wanted to scream, to thrash, to escape, but she dared not move. Any sudden movement, any struggle… it could result in her organs being ruptured!

She gritted her teeth, enduring the pain.

“This… This is it… He’s going to kill me…”

And just as his claws grasped a succulent, throbbing organ, a voice, clear and sharp, rang through the air.

“Primal White Blade!”

“Huh?”

Pam Long paused. He glanced around; his horn twitched.

WHOOSH!

A series of blinding flashes of white had him shielding his eyes. They buzzed around him briefly. Then…

They were gone.

He looked down at Lu Ruby and scoffed. "What was that? A light show? How pathetic! Now then, where was I… Ah, yes, your heart."

But as he was about to rip it out…

His body exploded!

It was as if an invisible force had sliced him into a thousand pieces!

His massive form erupted in a gruesome shower of blood, bone, and entrails!

“WHAT?!”

He couldn't comprehend.

His invincible hide…

It was useless!

His regenerative powers…

…extinguished!

His body shattered into 5,125 pieces that splattered the ground.

And among those scattered remains, Splinter Roc landed gracefully.

He sheathed his katana. It hummed softly.

He turned to Lu Ruby. “Princess Ruby, are you OK?”

She glared at him, those eyes burned with a fury that could melt even the hardest stone.

"Do I LOOK okay?! There’s a HOLE in my stomach! Where the HELL have you BEEN, Splinter Roc?!”

"I’ve just finished mastering the ‘Lightning Dao’. I came as soon as I could. Let me help you.”

He aimed his five fingers at her stomach. Five strings of light shot forth. They were white, and as they pierced her flesh, they began stitching the gaping wound closed.

“ARGH! Be more GENTLE, peacock!”

“Princess!”

Hellphet arrived. He'd followed the trail of intense heat and was relieved to discover they were both alive.

“Splinter Roc, you’re here as well? What happened?!”

"It's a long story, Hellphet, but that rhino bastard… well, I took care of him."

“Oh?” By Splinter Roc’s gesture. Hellphet just now realized he was standing among that rhino’s corpse. “Princess, what about the crystal tubes? Did you retrieve them?”

Lu Ruby explained, “The crystal tubes… they were destroyed during my battle with those Undying Valley freaks.”

“Oh. Princess, we only have one Liu Fuuyi left, and one empty crystal tube. Remember those three tubes Carpus Maximos stole? Well, they got destroyed during your fight. That means we need THREE MORE crystal tubes to capture those Liu Fuuyi and make our central node light up so we can win this stage. It's a real mess!"

“Three tubes? Hmmm…” Splinter Roc’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

“I have a solution. We’ll simply ROB three crystal tubes… from another team’s platform. Consider it DONE!”

He didn’t wait for his team’s response.

And with a flash of white light…

He was gone.

"Tsk, that damn peacock. He always acts without thinking." Lu Ruby was irritated, but she was in no condition to chase after him. Her stomach throbbed.

"Princess! Your wounds…” Hellphet rushed to her side and helped her up. “Let’s return to the platform, Master Lingshi can fix you up with his ‘Nihilistic Strokes’. And as for those missing tubes and Liu Fuuyi… I’m certain Splinter Roc will… retrieve them, somehow."

She sighed, “Let’s hope so.”

…

WHOOSH!

Splinter Roc glided through the turbulent sky of ‘Lightning Veil’. His movements were so subtle and precise that he was able to evade every lightning strike with minimal effort. His mastery over the 'Lightning Dao' was evident. He was no longer simply dodging those bolts. He was dancing with them and predicting their trajectory with an uncanny accuracy.

He continued his search for a suitable platform to rob when a burst of golden lightning in the distance caught his eye.

“Huh, is that…?” He zoomed in with his enhanced vision and what he saw stunned him.

It was Raphael. He was standing atop a small, rocky crag, wielding the ‘Heavenly Sky Hammer’. He was swinging the hammer with a reckless abandon and drawing lightning strikes towards himself.

The air crackled with a blinding intensity as a small storm gathered around him.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Three bolts struck! And within their chaotic energy, three Liu Fuuyi materialized. They danced around him.

“He’s… He’s trying to attract Liu Fuuyi with that hammer? Such a crude method!” Splinter Roc scoffed.

But then…

He witnessed something that made his feathers ruffle with surprise.

“MIDAS VOLT RUSH!”

Raphael roared. He channeled golden lightning into his hammer and thrust it upwards.

CRACK!

Multiple blinding bolts shot forth. They struck two of the Liu Fuuyi, instantly turning them into golden statues!

“He petrified them with lightning? Hmmm, interesting. But there’s still one remaining.”

Splinter Roc watched as Qi Fenwei, who’d been lurking nearby, unleashed her own technique.

“Black Wind Lightning Gate – Open!”

The air around her distorted and a swirling vortex of black lightning materialized. It grew, and swallowed the fleeing Liu Fuuyi. Then… with a final flash, the gate vanished.

“She trapped it in her sword?” He then scoffed as he recalled Qi Hawk’s potent techniques, techniques that he was slowly beginning to grasp, to control…

“Soon… those bolts will be mine to command!”

…

Qi Fenwei flashed over to where Raphael was.

“Well done, princess. We’ve captured more than we NEED. Looks like those rumors about your Lightning Dao skills are TRUE, after all!”

“Hmph, flattery won’t get you anywhere, bull.”

“With these Liu Fuuyi, we’ll be advancing to the next stage. Honestly, this has been surprisingly easy. The other teams are incompetent.”

“It’s thanks to us getting access to this stage early, ahead of the OTHER teams. Don’t get too cocky, bull.”

“Cockiness is my middle name, princess. But you’re right, we were lucky.” He smiled and then with a mischievous glint in his bloodshot eyes, he asked, “What should I do with these extra Liu Fuuyi?” He held out his palms.

Two miniature, golden statues, each depicting a Liu Fuuyi in mid-dance.

“Hmmm…” Qi Fenwei considered his question as she glanced at those intricate golden lines. “Those souls are still alive, bull. You should absorb them, refine those energies. They can help you advance your ‘Lightning Dao’.”

Raphael’s eyes widened. “Really? So, if I master ‘Lightning Dao’, will I also be able to open a ‘Black Wind Lightning Gate’ like you?”

“Never! Those skills are tied to my lineage! Only Qi Hawk descendants can open a ‘Black Wind Lightning Gate’.”

“Never say never, princess. One day, I might surprise you.” He grinned and then absorbed the statues into his ‘Abyss Nylon’.

“Keep dreaming.” Qi Fenwei scoffed and then sheathed Archon. "Well, we’ve wasted enough time already. I’ll take this Liu Fuuyi back to our platform and activate the central node.”

“Yes, I’m right behind you.”

Just as they were about to leave…

A voice interrupted them.

“HOLD it RIGHT there!”

Splinter Roc materialized before them. His white katana was bared, its tip aimed at them, while those crimson feathers danced with anticipation.

“Hand over those Liu Fuuyi, and I’ll SPARE your lives!”

“Huh? It’s… that peacock. What was his name again? Sputter Blade?” Raphael scratched his head, trying to recall.

“It’s Splinter Roc!” He yelled.

QI Fenwei scoffed. “I beat your feathers silly the last time… and you’re back for MORE? Truly… you LIKE being my stepping stone, don’t you, little peacock?”

"Stop talking nonsense, bird! LAST time was DIFFERENT! Now that I’ve mastered the ‘Lightning Dao’, the RESULT will be in MY favor.”

“Is that so?” She yawned dramatically, then with a swift flick of her wrist, drew Lullaby.

Splinter Roc didn't hesitate.

“Have a TASTE! Primal White Blade!"

He unleashed his most potent attack!

WHOOSH! CRACK!

A white energy slash, so thin, so sharp, that it sliced through the lightning bolts in its path, tore towards Qi Fenwei.

But…

“HYUNDA SMASH!”

Raphael was faster!

He appeared before Qi Fenwei! His massive golden form radiated power. He grasped the ‘Heavenly Sky Hammer’ tightly with both hands.

And with a terrifying roar, slammed it against the air!

BOOM!

The impact was devastating. It was as if a thousand thunderclaps had erupted in unison!

The 'Primal White Blade' slash was blasted backwards, and with it, hundreds of lightning strikes were repelled. The very air itself quaked.

Splinter Roc was thrown back twenty miles! He tumbled through the sky while his feathers scattered like fallen snowflakes.

“Damn that bull…!”

“You alright, princess?” Raphael glanced at Qi Fenwei, who simply brushed off a few stray feathers from her armor.

“Hmph. I’m fine. Go handle that cocky peacock. I’ll take care of this Liu Fuuyi.”

“OK. I’ll Give him HELL!”

She grinned, then vanished with a flash of lightning. It was faster than those Liu Fuuyi they'd been chasing.

Raphael watched her go, and a mischievous grin spread across his muzzle. “This is going to be FUN!”

“Hmmm?” He sensed something approaching. It was fast!

A blinding white light.

Then…

WHOOSH!

Splinter Roc materialized before him!

“Lightning Origami!”

BOOM!

The space around Raphael distorted and dozens of glowing, white origami figures materialized. They were birds, cranes, and even a few resembled majestic dragons. They were crafted from pure lightning. It was a magnificent display of the ‘Lightning Dao’ that had even Raphael impressed.

“Attack!”

The origamis swooped down from several directions!

“Hmph!” Raphael snorted and materialized his ‘Sapphire Blood Sword’ in a flash of blue.

“Gold Radius!”

WHOOSH! BOOM! CRACK!

A sapphire-gold radial wave of countless sword slashes exploded outward! It was a breathtaking display of power that had the surrounding clouds scattering.

And those 'Lightning Origamis’…

They were obliterated!

Splinter Roc stared in disbelief.

“He… surmounted my attack… so easily? Tsk, he’s only a 2nd Layer Nightmare Calamity. His ‘Lightning Dao’ can’t surpass MINE!”

He gripped his katana tighter, those feathers on his head were shaking now. “I'll show him TRUE power!”

He raised his katana towards the heavens.

And then…

…something incredible happened.

The lightning bolts in the sky, as if drawn by an unseen force, converged upon his blade.

They crackled, they danced, they intertwined, forming a massive sword of pure, white lightning! And within the heart of that sword, dozens of Liu Fuuyi swirled that were attracted to that potent source of energy.

“Huh, that looks… dangerous.” Raphael observed the spectacle with a tinge of unease.

Splinter Roc, his eyes now blazing with an electric blue fire, lowered the blade. He aimed it straight at Raphael.

“Liu Fuuyi Sword Rapture!”

WHOOSH!

He slashed downwards.

“This is your END, bull!”

“Not a CHANCE!”

Raphael yelled back.. It was a primal bellow, echoing the very essence of his bull lineage as he grasped the ‘Heavenly Sky Hammer’ with both his hands,

And then…

Rai Shen Long, the golden lightning dragon, materialized around the hammer’s shaft and slithered up to its head with a speed that blurred its form.

Raphael began to spin.

Faster and faster!

He was a golden whirlwind, drawing the lightning from the surrounding storm into himself, into the hammer.

And around him…

…a massive spiral of blue and yellow electricity formed, growing larger, more potent, more terrifying with every rotation.

“HYUNDA BLIZZARD!”

BOOM!

His roar shattered the very heavens as he unleashed the technique!

The two forces clashed!

Splinter Roc’s 'Liu Fuuyi Sword Rapture’ slammed into Raphael’s 'Hyunda Blizzard’!

But…

…the blizzard was stronger. It was fueled not only by Raphael’s Solar Essence, but also by the chaotic energy of ‘Lightning Veil’ itself.

CRACK!

The sword shattered!

Splinter Roc screamed as he was caught in the whirlwind.

His feathers were ripped from his body.

His form was tossed and turned, buffeted by unimaginable force.

And then…

He was gone.

Flung into oblivion.

…

The dust settled, and those who'd witnessed the battle from afar, they were stunned.

Raphael’s victory, despite his lower cultivation level, was due to one simple fact:

He had embraced the 'Lightning Dao’, not as a weapon, but as a force of nature. He had become one with the howling storm.