Chapter 21: Shattered Resolve

The beast's final roar was like a death knell, tearing apart the very air around Qin Yao and Lin Yao. With its true terrifying form finally revealed, the surrounding space's rune formations collapsed entirely, and the city teetered on the edge of destruction.

Qin Yao tightened his grip on his sword, feeling the overwhelming energy radiating from the beast. His hand trembled briefly before steadying once again.

"Yao Yao, this time… there's no retreat," he said in a deep, somber tone, tinged with a trace of sorrow.

Lin Yao stood beside him, her voice soft yet resolute: "Qin Yao, I've been prepared for this. Whatever the outcome, as long as you're with me, I won't be afraid."

Hearing her words, Qin Yao took a deep breath, his gaze growing firm. Slowly, he raised his sword, its glowing blade flickering like a raging flame, locking eyes with the beast's crimson glare.

Awakening Power

At that moment, the beast unfurled its wings, unleashing an overwhelming wave of dark energy as it lunged toward them. Without hesitation, Lin Yao formed a seal with her hands, summoning a brilliant white barrier to shield them, fending off the beast's initial strike.

The barrier emitted a cracking sound under the immense pressure, and Lin Yao gritted her teeth, pouring all her strength into holding it steady. But the beast's power was too great; within seconds, the barrier shattered completely.

"Yao Yao, watch out!" Qin Yao shouted, rushing to shield her as the force of the impact hurled him backward.

"Qin Yao! Are you alright?" Lin Yao cried out.

Struggling to his feet, Qin Yao wiped the blood from his lips and forced a grin. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me—I'm not going down that easily."

Just then, the beast's energy surged again. A red glow pulsed from its chest—its core and its most vulnerable point.

"Yao Yao, its core is in its chest!" Qin Yao exclaimed, his eyes narrowing. "We only have one chance; we must strike precisely!"

Lin Yao nodded, her gaze unwavering. "Alright, I'll give everything I've got to support you."

A Life-or-Death Decision

With his sword in hand, Qin Yao took a step forward, each movement a reminder of his wounds, but his resolve remained unshaken. Lin Yao gathered the last remnants of her magical energy, forming it into a pure white orb that floated beside Qin Yao.

"This is all I can give you," she said softly, her voice imbued with a determined calm. "Use it to end this."

Qin Yao held her hand tightly, his voice gentle yet firm: "Yao Yao, no matter what happens, I won't let you leave my side."

"I know," she replied with a faint smile.

The beast let out an ear-splitting roar, its energy peaking as darkness engulfed the entire space. Qin Yao didn't hesitate. He leapt high into the air, the glowing orb in tow, and charged toward the beast's chest.

As he neared the core, the beast launched a desperate counterattack, its claws nearly grasping Qin Yao's body.

Sacrifice and Miracle

Seeing this, Lin Yao made a split-second decision. Without hesitation, she infused her soul's essence into the glowing orb, propelling it directly into the beast's core.

"Yao Yao!" Qin Yao shouted, his voice filled with anguish as he saw her collapse from the strain.

The orb collided with the core, erupting in a blinding light that tore through the darkness. The beast's body began to disintegrate, breaking into countless fragments that dissolved into the air.

Simultaneously, the city's energy field stabilized, and the collapsing space returned to calm.

Landing on the ground, Qin Yao rushed to Lin Yao's side, cradling her fragile form in his arms. Her faint smile was both reassuring and heartbreaking.

"We did it… didn't we?" she murmured weakly.

"Yes, we did," Qin Yao replied, his voice trembling as tears welled up in his eyes. He held her tightly, unwilling to let go.

As Lin Yao's breath began to fade, a warm light descended from the sky, enveloping her in a gentle glow. Qin Yao looked up in astonishment to see an ancient rune formation manifesting in the heavens—a magic he had never encountered before.

"Is this… divine intervention?" he whispered in awe.

Bathed in the radiant light, Lin Yao's complexion gradually improved, her breathing steadying once more. Overwhelmed with relief, Qin Yao held her closer, whispering, "Yao Yao, I won't let anything hurt you again."

Lin Yao opened her eyes, her gaze meeting his as she spoke softly: "With you here, I'll never be afraid."

In the distance, a faint wind carried whispers of another looming threat. The ancient rune formation in the sky seemed to conceal secrets far beyond their understanding.

To Be Continued…