Chapter 98 – The Fifth Wall Falls
The Fifth Wall was never meant to break.
Built from ancient soulstone and reinforced by cultivator sects for generations, it stood as the last barrier between the free realms and the Hollow Rootborn.
But nothing lasted forever.
Especially not in the age of awakening.
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> CRACK!
The wall splintered — not from siege weapons, but from within.
Silver vines burst through, spreading like veins under skin.
Cultivators screamed.
Flames roared.
And in the center of it all, Vaelith walked forward, untouched by the fire.
Her voice echoed across the battlefield like prophecy.
> "You built walls instead of change. Now your heavens collapse beneath you."
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On the other side of the field—
Kai, Ayaka, and Ren led their charge.
Three against thousands.
But they weren't alone anymore.
Behind them stood the Unified Sect Alliance — fractured forces who finally united under one banner.
Kai ignited his Rootfire, and a new color joined it — a brilliant silver-blue flame.
> "We fight not to restore the old... but to build the next."
Ayaka drew her twin blades.
Ren summoned a storm from his talismans.
Then they ran. Into chaos. Into destiny.
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The battle was a storm.
Exploding roots.
Spirit swords.
Rivers of flame and blood.
Kai met Vaelith on the ruined steps of the Fifth Wall.
> "You hold power you don't understand," she hissed.
Kai didn't flinch.
> "Neither did the First One. But I'm not him."
They clashed.
Fire against void.
Root against flame.
Past against future.
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Suddenly, Vaelith faltered.
For a moment, the hollow fire in her cracked skull flickered.
> "You…" she whispered. "You're not just a bearer… you're the Seed."
Kai froze. "What do you mean?"
But she vanished before she could answer — swallowed by her own collapsing flame.
---
The battle paused.
But only for breath.
Because from the sky, three more Rootless Judges descended.
And they weren't here to watch this time.