Solar Blood Masters (134)

Chapter 134 - Liu Fuuyi Wild Hunt

Lu Ruby held the 'LFL Catcher' tightly in her tail, its edges brushed against her scales. Hellphet had strapped his to his back, nestled securely between his leathery wings, while Splinter Roc had attached his with a silk cord at his rear.

They dashed off the platform.

"Good luck!" Lingshi called out.

"We'll be back soon with a full set of Liu Fuuyi!" Lu Ruby assured him with a grin.

And then, they were gone.

Lu Ruby was leading the charge. She soared through the chaotic sky. Her movements were a blur of crimson and gold as she adroitly dodged and weaved around the endless barrage of lightning. Her scales were reflecting the electric blue light with a horrifying brilliance that had those weaker participants scrambling for cover.

Flapping his massive wings with awkward urgency, Hellphet trailed behind her. He was less elegant, twisting and turning clumsily as bolts zipped past, some coming dangerously close. The air around him crackled with residual energy, and those leathery wings, tough as they were, bore a few singed patches as evidence of his less-than-graceful evasion skills.

Splinter Roc, however, flew with an unmatched efficiency. He was at ease amidst the storm. His white katana flashed occasionally to deflect those bolts that came too close. His crimson tail feathers flared as he soared, creating a spectacle of deadly beauty.

“Let’s separate and hunt the Liu Fuuyi.” Splinter Roc suggested. It would be more efficient, he thought.

“No.” Lu Ruby countered. She glanced back at her companions, “Remember what Lingshi said. We should hunt those Liu Fuuyis TOGETHER. We’re stronger in numbers. Besides, the stage has just begun. And if these 'LFL Catchers’ work… well, we’ll be back at the platform in no time.”

“I really hope it’s THAT easy.” Hellphet’s mumbled words were swallowed by a deafening roar.

BOOM!

A monstrous bolt of lightning, thicker and more potent than any they’d seen so far, descended from the heavens. It was a blinding flash, and before Hellphet could react…

It struck!

“ARGH!”

The impact sent him hurtling downwards. He crashed into the ground below where he fell into a small lava pool.

"Hellphet!”

Lu Ruby and Splinter Roc watched in horror as he disappeared below its surface.

"That clumsy brute… He fell into a lava pool!” Lu Ruby hissed in disbelief. “Is he… dead?”

They wanted to descend. To assist their companion. But the sheer number of lightning strikes surrounding the crater made it impossible.

“We’ll have to wait.” Said Splinter Roc.

…

Below…

Hellphet groaned. “My backside!” He struggled to his feet. The impact had knocked the wind out of him. His leathery hide throbbed. But as he shook off those aches and pain, he noticed something strange.

He was partially submerged in lava?

“Hmmm… It tickles?”

The heat was intense. But it didn't burn. His draconic lineage had gifted him an immunity to fire, a trait he was truly grateful for in that moment.

He looked around, searching for a way out.

And then he saw it.

The 'LFL Catcher' had been dislodged from his back. It lay open upon the molten rock.

He quickly snatched it.

“Damn! It’s ruined! That ink…” He groaned and was about to toss the script aside when a flicker of movement caught his eye.

On the canvas, an image danced.

"What the…?!"

“Hellphet! Is that…?”

Above, Splinter Roc’s sharp gaze had spotted the movement.

“What?” He looked down and saw it.

A Liu Fuuyi was trapped within the painted tube!

“That powerful bolt that struck you… It had a Liu Fuuyi inside! You accidentally captured it!”

Hellphet stared at the canvas in disbelief. “It… It worked?! I actually CAUGHT one?!” He quickly folded the script and tucked it under his arm before taking to the skies.

“See you guys later!”

He shot upwards, dodging the lightning strikes with renewed vigor. He had to get back to the platform before the painted lightning faded.

Lu Ruby watched Hellphet disappear. A smug grin spread across her snout.

“That’s ONE down.”

She glanced at the 'LFL Catcher' in her tail.

"With these, catching Liu Fuuyi is a SIMPLE TASK."

"I agree." Splinter Roc nodded. "All we have to do is wait for more to show up."

"Speak of the DEVIL…”

Lu Ruby pointed.

In the distance, a Liu Fuuyi dashed from lightning strike to lightning strike. It was heading towards an area where a lone figure was levitating.

It was a fish-like creature with blue scales. She smiled with unrestrained glee. She held a swirling sphere of water before her, and within the sphere, a miniature bolt of lightning danced.

“Come to mama, little Liu Fuuyi!”

The Liu Fuuyi, hearing her call or rather, sensing the energy within the water bubble, darted towards her.

Her smile broadened. She was about to capture it…

…when a red tail lashed out!

WHAM!

It struck her from behind, sending her hurtling towards a barrage of lightning bolts.

"ARGH!"

The fish creature's form exploded into a thousand pieces! It was utterly obliterated!

“???” The Liu Fuuyi was startled, but before it could flee,

WHOOSH!

It was caught!

Trapped within a painted tube on Lu Ruby’s ‘LFL Catcher’.

"YES! Another one!”

She folded the script.

“I’ll be BACK soon.”

She glanced at Splinter Roc and then vanished with a burst of speed, heading towards their platform.

…

Splinter Roc soared through the tumultuous sky. Lightning flashed around him. But he was a white blur, as swift and as deadly as those very bolts. He effortlessly evaded the strikes, his movements were a blend of grace and untamed power.

“That only leaves me to capture one." He glanced at the ‘LFL Catcher’ strapped to his back. He’d seen how effective it was, those whispers of Lingshi's praise still resonated.

“With this, it’s child’s play."

He continued his search, weaving through the lightning storm, his sharp eyes scanning for any sign of those elusive creatures. Then, he saw it.

A Liu Fuuyi was being chased by a team of four, a mix of bird-like creatures. It was a chaotic. They unleashed blasts of wind and fire, trying to trap the elusive spirit.

Splinter Roc paused and contemplated whether to intervene and steal the creature from them. He scanned them.

“Three are Calamities, but… their leader… He’s a Nightmare Calamity, 4th Layer. Perhaps…”

He decided against it. It was too risky. He'd have to find his own Liu Fuuyi.

And just as he turned to leave…

BOOM!

A lightning bolt, thick and potent, struck nearby.

And within that flash, a Liu Fuuyi materialized! It zipped around with a mischievous grin from one bolt to the next.

“This is my chance!” He swooped down with a blinding speed.

He unfurled his ‘LFL Catcher’.

"Capture!" He whispered.

The Liu Fuuyi was drawn to the painted lightning. It darted into the tube! It coiled and danced like a captive audience.

Splinter Roc quickly folded the script. A smile stretched across his beak.

“Yes! Finally got one!"

He turned and flew towards his platform. Victory was within reach.

But then…

WHOOSH!

A shadow loomed above him.

"What the…?!"

Before he could react…

BAM!

Something slammed into his back! He was thrown off course and sent hurtling toward the treacherous ground below.

"ARGH!"

He tried to regain his balance. He desperately reached for the falling ‘LFL Catcher’ but a barrage of lightning strikes forced him to shield himself, “Damn!”

He watched as the ‘LFL Catcher’ fell into the hands of…

“That… RHINO!”

"Oh, this THING is quite USEFUL."

Pam Long, the Devil Horn Rhino, hovered above him. He was clutching the 'LFL Catcher' in his massive hand, its edges barely covered his palm. He observed it with curiosity.

"To think… all you have to DO is UNFURL it… and those Liu Fuuyi INSECTS come RUSHING in! Hahaha!”

"Hey! Give that BACK! It's MINE!”

“Yours, peacock? What a joke!” Pam Long scoffed, “Finders keepers, losers weepers! That’s how we do it in Undying Valley!”

“We can share, I’ll ask Lingshi  for a few extra. What do you say?”

“Share? With YOU?!” Pam Long laughed. “That bull’s already pissed me off, and now… you want to team up? Such a pathetic offer.”

Splinter Roc's feathers bristled. “Give it back… Or you’ll REGRET it!” He drew his katana. The blade flashed with a blinding white light.

“Regret? You think you can scare ME, bird?!”

Without hesitation, Splinter Roc lunged!

He thrust his katana straight towards Pam Long’s stomach!

He felt the blade pierce flesh!

“Finally!” A triumphant smile spread across his beak. Victory was his!

But then…

"WHAT?!”

His smile vanished.

Pam Long simply… grinned.

He grasped Splinter Roc’s neck with one hand and then, with a terrifying display of brute strength…

He slammed him onto the ground!

BOOM!

“ARGH!”

Splinter Roc coughed blood.

"How… How did you SURVIVE my sword strike?!” He was stunned. His katana was still lodged deep within the rhino's flesh, but it seemed like a toothpick now.

Pam Long casually pulled the sword free.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk… You're WEAK, peacock, WEAK!”

He tossed the katana into a nearby lava pit. It sank with a sizzling sound.

Then…

He leaned closer to Splinter Roc.

"I'll pluck your feathers another time, bird. But for now… I have a score to settle.”

He vanished in a burst of speed.

"Damn… that bastard!"

Splinter Roc struggled to his feet while clutching at his neck. He felt a burning sensation.

“He… he just WALKED through my attack?!” Slinter Roc was puzzled. He quickly retrieved his katana and flew above.

Just then…

“Splinter Roc! What happened?!" Lu Ruby and Hellphet arrived. They saw the state of their companion and gasped.

"Why are you bleeding?!”

"It… It was that rhino! He STOLE my LFL Catcher along with the captured Liu Fuuyi! And he is IMMORTAL!” Splinter Roc hissed angrily.

“Immortal?” They both stared at him in disbelief.

“What do you MEAN?”

“It’s true! I stabbed him with my katana, but it didn’t even faze him!”

"Damn! He was just a corpse a few hours ago!  I saw it with my eyes back in Desolate Sands. How…?” Splinter Roc became livid.

“I’m going to HUNT him DOWN! I’ll get that Catcher BACK! And I’ll teach him a lesson he won’t SOON forget!” Splinter Roc spread his wings, but before he could take flight…

BOOM!

“NO!”

A bolt of lightning struck him! It slammed into his back with a deafening crackle that had his feathers singeing as more came raining down.

He was thrown off course. He stumbled and was desperately raising his sword to deflect the other bolts. But the electricity… It was coursing through him and burning his flesh!

“ARGHHH!”

Lu Ruby and Hellphet watched as his form convulsed! His feathers smoked, and a faint aroma of burnt peacock permeated.

“He… He’s going to explode…” Hellphet whimpered. Those possibilities were truly terrifying to witness, and he could already picture himself being drenched in feathers.

But…

“What’s… happening?”

Splinter Roc wasn't exploding.

Instead…

His feathers…

…they began to glow!

They radiated a potent energy. A brilliant white light, tinged with blue, engulfed him.

He released a laugh that mirrored those very bolts that bombarded him!

“I… I understand now…”

His words were barely audible above the thunderous storm, yet his companions could feel it, the shift in his essence. He was realizing the truth that had eluded him all these years!

“This… lightning! It’s not simply about destruction. These bolts… They carry a knowledge! A path to power! This… This is… The Lightning Dao!”

Splinter Roc received a shocking enlightenment. At that moment, he didn’t care about catching Liu Fuuyi, only about getting stronger.

He raised his white katana towards the stormy sky above to attract more lightning.

As this was happening, his mind flashed and Qi Fenwei and her potent lightning attacks.

“If… If I can MASTER this Lightning Dao… then perhaps… I can cut that princess DOWN… once and for all!”

He stood tall and allowed the lightning strikes to bombard him!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

His feathers, now a brilliant white with crackling blue veins was absorbing the lightning bolts!

In his pain, he hollered,

“Go! Hunt without me! I’ll catch up!”

Hellphet stared in awe. “He… He’s really absorbing ALL that POTENT lightning?!

Is he… insane?!” He couldn’t fathom the audacity, and his own instincts screamed ‘FLEE!’

“Hellphet, snap out of it!” Lu Ruby flicked his snout with her tail, “We have to catch those Liu Fuuyi, now! Let that idiot fry himself to a crisp if he wants to!

We’ve already captured TWO. We just need THREE more. Let’s go!”

“Oh, right.”

And with that, they rushed off into the chaotic storm, leaving their foolish, enlightenment-seeking companion behind.