CHAPTER 485: CHAPTER 485 : THE FINAL WAR (8)

In the heart of the maelstrom, where the clash of steel and the roar of battle formed a monstrous symphony, the First Demon King stood. Each swing of his blade was a reaper’s scythe, carving a bloody path through the enemy ranks. Yet, a flicker of unease crossed his features. A furrow creased his brow, and he halted mid-stride, summoning a shard of dark crystal.

The gem pulsed with a malevolent light in his palm, its surface marred by a web of cracks. With a violent crack, it shattered into a million obsidian fragments, dissolving into wisps of dark energy that dissipated before his eyes. An irritated hiss escaped the First Demon King’s lips.

"Ah," he sighed, the sound laced with disappointment. "It seems that the Crown Prince has perished."

It was neither too swift nor too slow. Having him kill the Heavenly Emperor was not even the First Demon King’s main objective. All he wanted to do was corrupt the Crown Prince’s soul and break the hearts of all those who cared about him.

The First Demon King’s laughter, a chilling counterpoint to the battlefield’s din, echoed in the carnage.

Zhang Fengxi, the Supreme General was heavily injured and devastated by the Crown Prince’s agonizing death. He would never be able to drag his sorry ass to the battleground.

At least not quick enough, for General Wu Shenxia, Juhua Palace Master, would not last another day.

"Your Majesty!"

His subordinate, a bull-headed demon, rode up to him and confirmed his prediction, "We have taken over a fourth of the Human Realm. The heavenly forces are slowly losing their ground. Our allies at the Tian’an Shang Sect have successfully infiltrated the other cultivation sects, destroying those who wouldn’t comply and converting those, who were willing to join the demonic forces."

Alarmed by an eerie melody that pierced through the din of battle, the First Demon King furrowed his brow.

"What’s that?"

The cacophony of battle abruptly fractured. A tide of primal fury, a roiling mass of fangs, fur, and claws, slammed into the demonic ranks like an avalanche of nightmares. The beasts, an unholy menagerie of nature’s wrath, tore through the already-entangled forces with savage abandon.

With a guttural click of his tongue, the First Demon King launched himself from the ground, snatching his hapless subordinate by the scruff of the neck as the chaos unfolded beneath them.

"T-thank you, Your Majesty," the subordinate blubbered, shaken by the unexpected attack.

The First Demon King snapped his head up, eyes narrowing into slits as a monstrous horde surged towards him. Atop the largest beast, a figure -- a young man, to be exact, was blasting a haunting melody from a peculiar, vessel-shaped flute.

"Your Majesty, the skeletal horses!" another subordinate cried out as he tried his best to hold onto his rioting mount. "They are not listening to us! What are we supposed to do???"

The First Demon King casually spun his sword in his hand and lunged toward the young man, intent on finishing him with a single blow.

The young man, eyes wide with terror, watched as the Demon King’s imposing figure arced across the sky, his blade a glint promising annihilation. But just before the inevitable, a pillar of searing flame erupted from above, engulfing the surrounding demons in a pyre of molten ash.

"Ck!"

The attack narrowly missed the First Demon King. The demon twisted in mid-air, a snarl twisting his features as he landed on a smoldering ruin. Above him, the sky shimmered as a legion of heavenly troops descended, their gleaming weapons reflecting the infernal glow of battle.

Leading the charge was none other than Zhang Fengxi, his very presence radiating a vicious, murderous aura. "First Demon King!" his voice boomed across the battlefield, shattering the din of combat. "Your reign of terror ends today!"

"Supreme General!" Wu Shenxia cried out in a mixture of joy and surprise. "Supreme General, you are awake!"

As soon as Zhang Fengxi landed on the ground, blood started dripping from the corner of his lips.

"Zhang Fengxi!"

If Jiang Muchen were not there to help him up, the Supreme General might just lose his balance and topple to the ground.

The First Demon King immediately broke into a sneer.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" he cocked his head backward and laughed. "Aren’t you confident, Supreme General. The way I see it, you already have one foot in the Underworld. Do you think that you can beat me with empty threats?"

The ground beneath Zhang Fengxi and Jiang Muchen’s feet exploded into a shower of debris when the First Demon King launched one attack after another at them while cackling like a madman.

Gritting his teeth, Zhang Fengxi swung his spear and shot another fire pillar at the demon. The Three Realm Spear obediently complied with its master’s wish, but every single attack took a toll on the alpha’s body.

Thankfully, he was not alone.

He had all help he could imagine.

Jiang Muchen was a strong fighter. His presence on the battlefield quickly lifted the dwindling morale of the heavenly troops.

Even Huang Taichen, although still an immature brat, was no longer someone who ran from problems and hid behind his shizun’s back. He had become an accomplished cultivator in his own way.

"Oi, Sir Zhang!!!"

Bai Ling, emerging from a nearby fight, pushed Zhang Fengxi away and blocked a demon attack for him.

"Get ahold of yourself!" She hissed. "If I let you get hurt, Wei Wei is going to be very mad at me!"

Wei Wei...

Qiao Wei...

Tears of blood fell across Zhang Fengxi’s cheeks.

He had lost him again.

He was unable to protect him, the person he swore to protect and love.

Bloody tears blinded him, veiling his sight with a crimson curtain.

He could barely capture the First Demon King’s blurry figure, but his mocking words were as clear as day, drilling into Zhang Fengxi’s head mercilessly.

"Giving up already, Supreme General? Awww. What did it feel like to kill the person you love the most with your own hands?"