CHAPTER 331: BATTLE BETWEEN OLD FRIENDS

Orion seethed, frustration bubbling furiously inside his chest. His grip on his blades tightened fiercely, knuckles whitening as he strained under the immense burden of his dual sword auras.

Sweat dripped from his scales, breath labored and burning painfully in his lungs. He knew he was reaching his limit. Yet he couldn’t surrender. Not yet.

Before Orion could strike again, a powerful presence erupted suddenly from the distance, an aura so intense it forced everyone to freeze momentarily.

Eyes turned swiftly as a golden figure descended onto the battlefield. The aged Tigerkin King, his golden robes billowing furiously in the chaotic wind, landed gracefully, standing face-to-face with Valerian.

His old, scarred features were calm yet determined, his presence radiating unwavering authority and resolve.

Valerian’s playful demeanor faded slightly as he looked at the Tigerkin King with genuine interest. "You still haven’t given up, hmm?" Valerian’s voice was almost gentle, softly laced with bemusement and respect. "You’re courageous, old friend, but you’re still too young to compete with me."

The Tigerkin King met Valerian’s gaze unflinchingly, his aged amber eyes firm with quiet dignity. "Matters little," he replied calmly, voice resonating with quiet finality. "I’ve already decided. This battle shall be my last, and thus... I’ll give it my all."

Without further hesitation, the Tigerkin King closed his eyes briefly, taking one final, deep breath. An instant later, his eyes snapped open, blazing fiercely with overwhelming determination.

His powerful body trembled violently as a terrifying surge of energy erupted from within him. His mana combusted explosively, every pore of his body radiating blinding golden brilliance.

Space itself around him cracked and fractured, fissures spreading rapidly in every direction as the entire battlefield trembled violently beneath his overwhelming aura.

Valerian’s expression instantly shifted to seriousness, eyes narrowing sharply, recognizing the real threat before him. He lifted his chained scythe cautiously, its dark blade humming ominously with condensed shadow energy.

Orion and his companions gathered quickly, retreating a few steps, eyes wide with astonishment and awe at the Tigerkin King’s display of terrifying power.

"Is he... combusting his own mana?" Arya murmured, awe-struck, barely able to comprehend the enormity of what she witnessed.

"Yes," Kale replied grimly, recognizing the desperate, ultimate technique immediately. "This is a forbidden technique, a suicidal last stand. His body won’t survive it."

Orion’s fists clenched, eyes locked firmly onto the two powerful figures preparing to clash. His heart felt heavy, fully aware of the finality of the Tigerkin King’s decision.

He knew the king was prepared to die, to sacrifice everything, to buy them time and perhaps, the faintest chance at victory.

Yet, even now, the situation felt hopelessly grim. Orion looked at his exhausted friends, battered and worn down from battle, and felt his resolve tested.

He briefly considered ordering a retreat through the portals. After all, surviving to fight another day seemed wise.

But he hesitated, his gaze returning to the Tigerkin King, whose blazing golden aura shone brightly, defiant against the encroaching darkness.

Orion steeled himself. No matter how bleak, he wanted to witness such an apex battle and to show his respect to the immense sacrifice about to be made.

The Tigerkin King roared defiantly, his golden figure erupting forward like a blazing comet, the sheer speed fracturing space further as he clashed fiercely against Valerian.

Their impact shattered the battlefield beneath them, generating devastating shockwaves radiating outward, ripping massive fissures open across the terrain, scattering soldiers like leaves in a hurricane.

Valerian fought seriously now, scythe whirling dangerously as he matched the Tigerkin King’s explosive strikes blow-for-blow.

The world itself seemed to shudder and groan beneath their apocalyptic duel, their power surpassing all mortal limits.

"Is this what power at the peak of this world looks like?" Sylvia murmured in disbelief, struggling to keep her balance amidst the violent tremors shaking the battlefield.

Orion’s expression hardened further, his dual-colored eyes filled with respect and sadness. "Yes," he said gravely. "This is the price of standing at the peak."

Valerian’s calm demeanor finally fractured slightly, his eyes narrowed with intense concentration as he struggled against the Tigerkin King’s overwhelming attacks.

The battlefield quaked violently under the explosive collisions of the two apex beings. The Tigerkin King’s blazing aura raged brilliantly, its golden brilliance illuminating the battlefield, contrasting sharply against Valerian’s sinister crimson aura.

Each clash between them cracked the air itself, sending devastating shockwaves rippling across the land.

Orion watched in fascination, unable to tear his gaze from the fierce struggle unfolding before him. The sheer power the Tigerkin King wielded made Orion feel powerless, despite his recent breakthroughs.

Yet, even at this incredible peak, the Tigerkin King’s mana was rapidly combusting, his life burning away with every passing moment.

Valerian’s scythe danced fluidly, shadow and blood-red energy weaving intricate patterns around him, parrying and counterattacking with lethal precision.

He had stopped underestimating the Tigerkin King, his playful demeanor replaced by genuine seriousness.

"You’ve impressed me, old friend," Valerian called out, his voice smooth yet edged with sincerity, barely audible above the storm of their attacks. "To push me this far, truly worthy of your throne."

The Tigerkin King didn’t reply immediately, his amber eyes blazing fiercely as he delivered another explosive strike.

Valerian parried, yet this blow forced him backward, his feet sliding across the shattered ground. The King exhaled heavily, sweat and blood mingling on his battle-weary face, yet determination burned strongly in his gaze.

Orion clenched his fists, his heart tightening painfully at the sight of the proud King fighting so valiantly, knowing he would soon fall.

He had never felt such respect and sadness simultaneously. The sheer sacrifice unfolding before his eyes etched itself permanently into his memory.

Then, subtly yet unmistakably, the King’s explosive aura dimmed slightly. His strikes, though still powerful, began to slow. Valerian immediately sensed this shift, a cold smirk forming at the corners of his lips.

"Ah," Valerian remarked softly, almost regretfully. "Your time is coming to an end, old friend. It seems this is truly your limit."

The Tigerkin King roared defiantly, knowing this was his final moment. "If I must perish, I’ll drag you into oblivion with me!"

He drew every remaining fragment of mana within himself, compressing it desperately into his final attack. Golden flames erupted violently around him, the sheer density causing reality itself to fracture. With a final roar, he surged forward, becoming a blazing meteor of unstoppable power.

Valerian watched calmly, the red aura around his scythe intensifying into a dense, blood-red glow. His eyes hardened as he raised his weapon and calmly slashed forward.

The clash was instantaneous and decisive.

Valerian’s scythe effortlessly sliced through the King’s golden blaze, cleanly bisecting the mana-charged attack. The crimson slash continued unhindered, a mercilessly precise stroke that cleaved straight through the Tigerkin King’s body.

Silence momentarily enveloped the battlefield. The King’s eyes widened briefly, then dimmed, his body collapsing in two halves, lifeless before hitting the ravaged earth.

The shockwave from the King’s death surged outward, carrying with it sorrow and despair that washed over both armies.

"No!" Duke Varian shouted, horror and grief gripping his heart. His eyes locked onto the fallen King’s body, disbelief etched deeply upon his draconic features.

Valerian casually wiped his scythe, glancing toward Orion’s group with mild amusement. Seeing Valerian’s attention shift toward them, Orion immediately knew the battle was utterly lost.

"Everyone, run! NOW!" Orion roared urgently, his voice filled with urgency.

His friends, hearts heavy yet understanding the gravity of the situation, immediately broke into a desperate sprint toward the swirling portals above.

As the group desperately ascended toward their escape, Valerian turned slowly, his cold eyes narrowed with dangerous focus.

"The others can go," Valerian’s smooth, chilling voice echoed clearly across the devastated battlefield. He raised a single, slender finger, pointed directly at Orion. "But not you, little Draconian."

Valerian released a condensed beam of blood-red energy, the attack swift and lethal, cutting through the air with terrifying speed.

Orion, at the rear of his group, felt imminent danger approaching and forced his exhausted body to move faster, his draconic wings propelling him urgently toward the shimmering portal.

Arya, already inside, turned around desperately, her violet eyes wide with horror. "Brother Orion! Hurry!"

Orion reached out, fingers mere inches from safety, when the crimson beam struck. It impacted the portal directly, causing space itself to warp violently.

The gateway instantly destabilized, its once-calm surface twisting chaotically. Orion felt his body being torn from multiple directions simultaneously, a wave of intense spatial pain searing through him.

"No—!" Arya screamed helplessly as the portal fractured.

"Orion!" Sylvia, Nyss, Emilia, Elias, Felira, and Kale echoed Arya’s horrified cries, each feeling helpless as their friend’s form blurred, then vanished within the collapsing portal.