Awakening the Infernal Flames

Zhang Yong and Lilith stood at the edge of the chasm, the aftermath of the battle leaving the land scarred and lifeless. The oppressive aura of the abyss lingered, but Zhang Yong's golden eyes burned with determination. Despite the heavy toll, his resolve to dominate and protect Earth's legacy remained unshaken.

"Zhang Yong," Lilith began, twirling her scythe idly, though her tone was unusually tense. "That thing back there… it wasn't bluffing. The abyss is a problem we can't ignore."

He glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "I know. But we don't run from problems—we crush them."

Before Lilith could reply, the ground trembled again, though this time it wasn't the abyss. A crimson glow lit up the horizon, accompanied by an oppressive heat that made the air shimmer.

"What now?" Lilith muttered, gripping her weapon tightly.

Zhang Yong remained silent, his gaze fixed on the fiery glow. His instincts screamed danger, but alongside it came a strange pull—something was calling to him.

As the glow intensified, the ground split open once more, and from the fissure emerged a towering figure wreathed in flames. Its body was forged from molten rock, and its eyes burned with infernal rage. The creature roared, the sound shaking the heavens as the land around it ignited into a sea of fire.

"An Infernal Sentinel," Lilith hissed, her playful demeanor replaced with grim seriousness. "They're guardians of ancient flames, remnants of the primordial chaos. Why the hell is it here?"

Zhang Yong's lips curled into a smirk. "Does it matter? If it's in our way, it dies."

The Infernal Sentinel roared again, raising its massive arms to summon pillars of fire that rained down upon them. Zhang Yong reacted instantly, his blade slicing through the flames with ease as he closed the distance.

The heat was unbearable, but Zhang Yong pushed forward, his aura flaring to counter the oppressive energy. He leapt high, his blade aimed at the Sentinel's molten chest, but the creature moved with surprising speed for its size. It swatted at him like an insect, forcing him to twist mid-air to avoid the blow.

Lilith took the opening, her scythe carving through the flames as she launched an arc of dark energy at the Sentinel. The attack struck its arm, causing it to stagger, but the molten rock quickly reformed.

"This thing's regeneration is insane!" Lilith shouted, narrowly dodging a fiery projectile.

Zhang Yong landed beside her, his mind racing. The Sentinel wasn't just powerful—it was relentless, its flames consuming everything in their path.

"I'll handle it," he said, his voice calm despite the chaos.

Lilith raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And how exactly do you plan to do that?"

"By taking what it's guarding."

Before she could question him further, Zhang Yong activated the Absolute Krishna Domain. The world around him bent to his will, the flames dimming under the domain's suppressive power. He stepped forward, his golden aura shimmering as he raised his blade.

The Sentinel roared in defiance, unleashing a torrent of fire that consumed everything in its path. But within the domain, Zhang Yong was untouchable. He moved through the flames as if they didn't exist, his blade striking the Sentinel with precision.

Each strike tore through its molten body, the domain's power preventing it from regenerating. But Zhang Yong wasn't just fighting to destroy the creature—he was reaching for the source of its power.

As he plunged his blade into the Sentinel's chest, a burst of fiery energy erupted, and Zhang Yong felt the pull of something ancient. A glowing core, pulsating with infernal energy, floated before him.

"Is that…?" Lilith's eyes widened as she realized what it was.

"The Infernal Flame Core," Zhang Yong said, his voice steady despite the immense power radiating from it. "It's mine now."

He reached out, his hand closing around the core. The moment he touched it, a surge of energy rushed through him, threatening to consume him. The flames burned fiercely, but Zhang Yong's will was unyielding. He forced the energy to submit, bending it to his command.

The Sentinel let out one final, anguished roar before crumbling into ash. The flames that had consumed the land faded, leaving only the eerie silence of the aftermath.

Lilith approached him cautiously, her gaze fixed on the glowing core in his hand. "You just absorbed the Infernal Flame Core. Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Zhang Yong smirked, the flames dancing in his eyes. "I didn't just absorb it—I conquered it."

The power of the Infernal Flame Core coursed through him, merging with the Absolute Krishna Domain. He could feel the flames bending to his will, their destructive potential now his to wield.