Ambition

The air was thick with the scent of blood and scorched earth as Zhang's breath came in ragged gasps. The pain in his muscles was unbearable, but he forced himself to focus, unwilling to let the demon or its unseen master win. His grip tightened on the hilt of his sword, determination hardening his resolve.

"We… can't let up now!" Yun's voice broke through the haze of battle, her whip slicing through the air once again, narrowly missing the demon's outstretched claw. Her body was already drenched in sweat, but her eyes burned with the same ferocity they had at the start. There was no room for hesitation, not when they were so close.

Linglong was no better. Her arm throbbed from the previous wound, but her blade continued to cut through the air, each movement precise and fluid despite the pain. "We need to end this now!" she shouted, her voice strained but steady.

The demon's laughter echoed through the battlefield, cruel and mocking. "Is that all? I had hoped for more than this."

The ground trembled beneath their feet as the demon's body shifted, dark tendrils of shadow creeping out from its form. With every movement, the temperature seemed to drop, a suffocating cold spreading across the battlefield. The demon's dark energy rippled through the air, and in that instant, the trio knew they were fighting against something far beyond their strength.

Zhang's mind raced. They couldn't afford to waste any more time. This was their last chance, but how could they defeat something like this?

His gaze drifted to the necklace around his neck. The necklace his lover had given him—the woman he loved the most. Fate had cruelly separated them, and now, years later, he still wore it, despite knowing the truth of her life. She was a core disciple of a high-ranking sect, bound to a political marriage she never chose. When the sect had discovered their connection, she begged for Zhang's life. The sect elders had spared him, but at the cost of severing their bond, forcing them apart forever.

What was this necklace? Even the sect leader of her sect didn't know its true power, dismissing it as a mere trinket. Zhang had sought answers from his own sect, only to be told it was worthless. Yet he'd never parted with it, promising himself that, when the time came, he would return it to her. But now… now, standing on the precipice of death, Zhang realized he might never get that chance. His heart wavered. Could he even get his revenge? Would he ever be strong enough to defy the powers that held him back?

But just as quickly as doubt crept in, a spark ignited deep within him. The fire of his ambition, the thirst for vengeance, flared back to life. The necklace, this mysterious relic, had a purpose he hadn't yet fully understood—but the revelation that it was tied to his revenge reignited the fire in his heart. He was not done yet. There was still a chance.

"Give me five breaths," Zhang said, his voice steady, determination once more gleaming in his eyes. "And I'll end this."

Yun and Linglong, though strained and battered, had no choice but to trust him. They prepared to buy him time, knowing this would be their final opportunity.

"Keke, little children, you think you can defeat me?" The demon's mocking laughter rang through the air as it lunged toward Zhang, its claws aimed for his throat. Its hatred for Zhang's family ran deep, though the demon concealed it behind an arrogant grin.

Yun and Linglong moved quickly, using their trump cards. Linglong consumed a pill, feeling the surge of power as she temporarily became the strongest among them, but at a cost—she'd be immobile for a full month after this. Yun sprayed poison into the air and readied her fan and whip, anxiously wondering if Yanwei would come to their aid. She couldn't afford to think about that now—there was no time.

The demon moved again, faster than before, but Zhang was ready. His grip on his sword tightened as his heart burned with resolve. This time, he wasn't just fighting for his life. He was fighting for his past, for the revenge that had been denied to him, and for the love he had lost.

"Get ready," a calm voice cut through the chaos. "The fight is about to end. And with it, the true chaos will begin."