Chapter 8 - The Final Battle

Within the ancient temple, Long Tian and Long Yan walked forward. Their steps were light yet firm, each step seemingly proclaiming the fate that awaited them on the other side. The runes around them glimmered faintly, as if guiding them on their final path. The air was filled with an ancient and mysterious aura, evoking a sense of awe and unease.

Long Tian's gaze was fixed ahead, feeling an incredibly powerful force stirring within him—an unfamiliar strength that resonated with the very heavens and earth, as if he were in communion with the gods themselves. He understood that this was the true awakening of Long Tian.

"Yan'er, can you feel it too?" Long Tian asked softly, his eyes filled with both tenderness and determination.

Long Yan smiled and nodded. She too was enveloped by a divine force, one that was warm and peaceful, soothing her soul and strengthening her resolve.

"Tian, I can feel that our fates are now closely intertwined. This power will lead us to final victory," Long Yan's voice was soft yet full of strength. She knew she was no longer the same Long Yan, but had awakened as the God of Fate and Peace.

At that moment, the space ahead suddenly distorted violently, and a massive black rift appeared before them. A dense, dark aura emanated from the rift, filled with endless hatred and malice, as though it would devour everything in its path.

"Long Xie..." Long Tian's voice was low and filled with authority. He knew this was their destined final opponent.

A figure slowly emerged from the rift. It was Long Xie, but he had transformed into something far more terrifying—an embodiment of blood and shadow, a soul of death. His body was enveloped in dark and blood-red energy, and his eyes burned with hellish flames, a true enemy of all living beings.

"Hahaha... Long Tian, Long Yan, the moment has finally come," Long Xie's voice was deep and chilling. His gaze was filled with madness and hatred. "I am no longer the Long Xie of the past, but a being that transcends all. Today, you will be erased from existence!"

"You won't succeed, Long Xie!" Long Tian shouted, raising the Holy Emperor Sword. It erupted with golden light that soared into the heavens, as if heralding the return of an emperor. Simultaneously, Long Tian's body transformed, becoming more imposing, a golden halo appearing above his head, his eyes shining with boundless majesty and divinity.

"Creator—Emperor God…" Long Xie muttered, a trace of fear flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly overshadowed by his intense hatred. "Even if you are the Emperor God, I will make you fall here!"

Long Yan's form also shifted with Long Tian's awakening. Her staff became enveloped by a gentle yet powerful force, radiating a pure blue light. Her body became lighter, her eyes glimmering with a peaceful and steadfast brilliance, as if able to calm all conflict and hatred.

"Fate—the God of Peace, this is my mission," Long Yan said softly, her staff gracefully waving, and blue light filled the air, weaving into countless strands that formed a massive net, separating their powers from Long Xie's.

"We were once suppressed by you, but today, we will end you with the power of our awakenings," Long Tian said calmly. He felt the power surging within him—an imperial power of authority and creation, one that could shake the heavens and earth.

"You're so full of yourselves!" Long Xie roared. Dark energy swirled around him, forming blood-red vortexes filled with countless vengeful spirits and souls of the dead, surging towards Long Tian and Long Yan.

"Yan'er, are you ready?" Long Tian asked, looking at Long Yan. His gaze softened slightly but was filled with resolve and faith.

Long Yan nodded, her staff releasing even more dazzling light. "I'm ready, Long Tian. This time, we face this together, never to part."

They both released their powers. Long Tian's Holy Emperor Sword transformed into countless golden sword lights, soaring into the sky, creating a sea of light. Meanwhile, Long Yan's staff traced elegant arcs in the air, the blue strands weaving together, as though painting a picture of peace and serenity.

"Holy—Sword Rain!" Long Tian shouted, and the golden sword lights rained down like a storm, each one carrying earth-shattering power, aimed at the heart of Long Xie.

"Destroy—God Slayer!" Long Xie laughed madly. His dark sword swung down, the blood-red vortexes condensing into a massive blood blade, its power as if drawn from the depths of hell, meeting Long Tian's Sword Rain head-on.

The two immense forces collided violently in the air, the golden sword lights and blood-red energy interwoven, creating a deafening explosion. The space seemed to collapse in that instant, the heavens and earth changing colors, the sun and moon losing their brilliance.

The sword rain fell like a storm, relentlessly striking Long Xie, each sword tearing through his dark powers. But Long Xie's blood blade acted like a giant scythe, blocking the attacks, sending sparks and light flying in all directions.

"Long Tian! Do you really think you can defeat me?!" Long Xie roared, swinging his dark sword again and again, trying to tear apart the very space around him. His power had grown exponentially in this dark domain, and each blow sent the sword rain into retreat.

"You may be strong, but you cannot escape the outcome of today!" Long Tian refused to back down, his Holy Emperor Sword flashing with golden light, creating a barrier of light to fend off Long Xie's attacks.

"Yan'er, lend me your strength!" Long Tian suddenly called out, sensing that Long Xie's power was still growing. The battle needed to end soon.

"Understood, Long Tian," Long Yan responded softly. Her eyes gleamed with determination. She thrust her staff into the ground, and blue light spread out, forming a massive light curtain that sealed Long Xie's dark power within.

"Barrier of Light!" Long Yan's voice was like a heavenly song. The light curtain rapidly formed in the air, creating an unbreakable shield that separated Long Xie's power from the Sword Rain.

Long Xie felt his power being slowly drained, his eyes flashing with fear and rage. "Impossible! You cannot defeat me!"

Long Tian seized the opportunity. The Holy Emperor Sword erupted with unprecedented light, the divine power of an emperor shining through as he shouted, "Long Xie, this is the end for you!"

The golden light cut through Long Xie's defenses, tearing through his body. Long Xie howled in agony, the sword light piercing his heart and tearing his body into pieces. But despite the injury, his form didn't dissolve as expected. Instead, a mad gleam flashed in his eyes, and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

"Long Tian, you think this will defeat me? You're so naïve!" Long Xie laughed, his dark sword emitting a loud, piercing hum, releasing blood-red energy that forced back the golden light of the Holy Emperor Sword.

"This is impossible!" Long Tian exclaimed in shock, realizing that Long Xie's dark power had pushed his sword light back. Long Xie's power had reached an unprecedented level, as though the malice from hell itself was fueling him.

Long Xie's body, though pierced by golden light, showed no signs of mortal injury. Instead, his wounds healed at an alarming rate, as if undergoing some form of insane self-repair.

"Long Tian, Long Yan, you will die here!" Long Xie roared. His dark sword swung again, condensing into an enormous blood-red blade, its destructive power aimed directly at Long Tian and Long Yan.

"Yan'er, be careful!" Long Tian shouted, pulling Long Yan back, but the speed of the blood-red blade was terrifying, nearly reaching them in an instant.

Without hesitation, Long Yan raised her staff, and blue light enveloped her, forming a defensive barrier to block the attack. The blood-red blade collided with the shield, sending out a deafening explosion. The powerful shockwave pushed them back several steps.

"This power is too strong!" Long Yan felt her staff vibrating violently, as though it might shatter at any moment. Despite her awakening as the God of Fate and Peace, she still felt immense pressure from this overwhelming dark power.

"We cannot let him keep controlling the flow of the battle. We must strike back!" Long Tian gritted his teeth, tightly gripping the Holy Emperor Sword. The golden light began to condense once more, this time focusing all of his energy into a single strike meant to break Long Xie's defense.

Seeing Long Tian's move, Long Xie sneered. "Do you think such an attack can hurt me? Foolish!" With that, he lunged forward, dark power swirling around him, ready to clash directly with Long Tian's blow.

"Holy—Sword Rain!" Long Tian shouted, releasing his sword with an explosive motion. The golden sword light filled the sky like an unstoppable storm, each blade infused with overwhelming force, heading straight for Long Xie.

Long Xie, unwilling to yield, raised his dark sword and slashed, drawing a blood-red arc in the air. The vortex of blood energy condensed before him, forming a massive shield to block the sword rain.

The sword rain fell like a hurricane, each sword carrying the full weight of Long Tian's imperial power, striking against Long Xie's shield. The two forces clashed violently in the air, sending shockwaves that trembled through the space itself.

The shield began to crack under the assault, and with a mighty crash, it shattered. The golden sword light pierced through, striking Long Xie's body and exploding in a shower of sparks.

"Ah!" Long Xie screamed in agony as his

body was torn apart by the relentless sword rain. His dark power struggled to repair the damage, but it was no use—the strength of Long Tian's strike was too much for him to handle.

"You—cannot—defeat—me!" Long Xie roared, but his voice faltered as the light of the Holy Emperor Sword continued to shine brighter, pushing him back.

With a final burst of energy, Long Tian gathered the last of his strength and hurled the Holy Emperor Sword directly at Long Xie's heart. The sword shot forward, its light blinding and unstoppable.

"NOOOOO!" Long Xie screamed, but the sword pierced his heart, and the light engulfed him completely.

In an instant, Long Xie was consumed by the divine power of the Holy Emperor Sword, his dark essence disintegrating into nothingness. The battlefield fell silent, the heavy aura dissipating, and the once-shattered space began to heal.

Long Tian stood, breathing heavily, his eyes watching the place where Long Xie had fallen. Victory was theirs, but the cost of this battle was felt deeply in his soul.

"Long Yan… we did it." Long Tian said softly, his voice filled with exhaustion yet profound relief.

Long Yan smiled faintly, her blue light dimming. "Yes, Tian. We did. We've brought peace to this land once and for all."