Magma Sovereign Molten.

"You are a fascinating human," the dust cleared as sillhuete emerged from it. His eyes were red, and his dark red hair resembled a lion's fur. He wore a king's cloak adorned with yellow lines and intricately designed fur-like cloth.

"And you are?" Alex regarded the creature coldly, though he couldn't help but feel an intense urge to kill Sillhuete—an emotion he struggled to control. against this thing, he didn't know what was happening, he wanted kill sillhuete now but he didn't know why.

"Oh, where are my manners? My name is—or you can call me—Fyrnok, Molten Sovereign," Fyrnok introduced himself.

"Zhi Li. Lava Killer Sovereign," Alex countered, maintaining his cold demeanor. he didn't know this monster from anywhere. but feeling he had was real.

Fyrnok seemed taken aback for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Hah... Hah... Hah... Hah... Hah... Hahahahaha!!! You think you're so funny, kid?"

"Thank you. I knew my humor was quite good," Alex retorted with a smile, further provoking Fyrnok's reaction.

"I see... then... I might have to show you it isn't!!!" Fyrnok's face turned icy, and he unleashed his aura.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

"Lost your composure there? What a joke of a sovereign you are," Alex taunted Chang Li quietly without taking his eyes off Fyrnok.

"Run away, Junior Brother Li," he whispered urgently, bracing himself for the upcoming battle.

"N—no," Chang Li's weak voice came from behind Alex.

Confused, Alex assumed Chang Li was trying to play the hero. "Don't be foolish, Chang Li. You need to escape."

"I will not leave you here," Chang Li's resolve was unwavering.

Taking a deep breath, Alex attempted to reassure Chang Li. "I am much stronger than you think. You don't need to worry—"

But he was interrupted by a powerful voice.

"I know you're strong, Big Brother Li. I know you're strong, and that's why I've trained so much. Please, now—" Chang Li's plea was interrupted too.

"YOU PLANNING TO JUST CHAT??? [MOLTEN APOCALYPSE ASCENSION]" Fyrnok's voice resounded, and he began a chant.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

A tsunami of lava surged forward, forming a wall of molten danger that raced toward Alex and Chang Li.

"Shit!!!" Alex reacted instantly, grabbing Chang Li and attempting to evade the deadly onslaught. But Chang Li's response surprised him.

"Let me protect you, please." Chang Li's voice trembled as he unsheathed his sword. "[Absolute Slash]"

BZZZZSSSSTTTT!!!

A line from Chang Li's sword extended forward and...

SLASH!!!

It cleaved through the lava wall with no visible movement—a formless attack that effortlessly separated the deadly tide.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

The wall of lava lost its power and splashed harmlessly downward. A shocked silence lingered as Chang Li stood before the incredible scene, his sword held out victoriously.

Alex and Fyrnok were both left agape, struggling to comprehend the spectacle. "(What the fuck! Is that the same bizarre swordsmanship technique? How is he doing this?)" Alex recognized the technique but was astonished by Chang Li's ability to execute it so flawlessly. The slashes seemed formless and ghostly, striking without any observable movement.

"(This is... inconceivable.)" Alex struggled to reconcile what he was witnessing with reality.

"You... Who are you people..." Fyrnok's seriousness was evident; he wasn't going to take these formidable adversaries lightly. His stance was one of readiness to unleash his full power.

"None of your business. [Mountain Shatter Fist (10 Mountains) Max]," Alex declared, his tone sharp.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

A massive surge of energy surged toward Fyrnok, who scoffed, believing it to be weak.

"Weak," he mocked as he extended his hand, conjuring a shield of lava. "[Lava Shield]"

BANG!!!

Alex's fist collided with the Lava Shield, halted by its molten defense.

"My Lava Shield is unbreakable—" Fyrnok began to boast before being cut off.

Crack!!!

"IMPOSSIBLE!!!" Fyrnok was stunned as cracks appeared on his Lava Shield.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

A crater was created and when it cleared out you could see a scene, Fyrnok was holding Alex'es hand stopping it from advancing. he smiled and said once again. "Very facinating human..." He smiled coldly "Looks like you are a Genius that humans called talanted members right? looks like you are a type of genius that can skip levels and fight people above them..."

He looked at the hand and said "But you are still wea---" Suddenly he felt something and looked around and when he didn't see anything he looked down... on his body... there was a horizontal slash that appeared on him instantly.

"BUT---" AGHGHGHH!!!" Alex took advantage of his confusion and activated his attack again, this time it connected and punched Fyrnok's hand.

Sending Fyrnok staggering backward.

Alex immediately seized the opportunity and moved toward Chang Li, concern etched on his face. "How are you doing that, Junior Brother Chang? I couldn't even feel any energy coming from you..." Alex found Chang Li's ability both intriguing and terrifying—a formless attack that left no trace before striking.

"I really don't know. You know the feeling when you're familiar with something?" Chang Li inquired.

"Yes," Alex responded, intrigued.

"That's the feeling I had when I gazed at the stars in the sky at the sect ten years ago. From that day, I felt a connection to the stars that never left my mind. One day, I couldn't break through a bottleneck while training. I was furious and swung my sword as hard as I could. Nothing happened at the time, but three minutes later, the practice dummy split in half. That's when I began following my heart and ignoring techniques," Chang Li shared his remarkable journey.

"I see—" Alex attempted to reply, but an explosive force changed the course of their conversation.

Alex swiftly grabbed Chang Li and leaped away just in time to avoid the eruption.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

The spot they had stood on was consumed by a violent explosion, followed by a cascade of lava gushing from the cracks.

"HAHAHAHAHA, I SEE NOW!!! THAT'S SOME LUCKY OCCURRENCE YOU'VE GOT THERE, KID!!! SO I NEED TO ELIMINATE YOU FASTER!!!" Fyrnok's laughter echoed from where he had been sent flying.

As if that declaration were a trigger, a light shot out from the mountain, heading straight for Chang Li.

"Be careful!" Alex moved to intercept the light, but it was too swift.

Chang Li stood firm, extending his sword and closing his eyes. "[Slash]," he invoked.

But something unexpected transpired.

"YOU IDIOT, JUNIOR CHANG LI—!!!" Alex shouted, but it was too late.

Clang!!!

"Huh?" Chang Li's eyes opened wide as his sword met a clawed hand a few meters away. he could not slah it and, There was no way he could dodge in time.

Chang Li realized the arrogance he had displayed; he had sought the impossible, and now he would pay the price.

Closing his eyes, he braced himself for the impending consequence. But when he opened his eyes again...

A single word was spoken.

"Run."

And a body was interposed before

him—a body he had seen many years ago, a body he believed he would never see again in the future.

But there it was.

Alex's—no, Zhi Li's—body, impaled by the clawed hand, shielding Chang Li from harm.

Chang Li's eyes welled with tears, yet there was something different this time—something dangerous and resolute appeared in his eyes...

A volor grey enveloped his pupils.

End Of Chapter.