บท 17: Chapter 47- A Meaningless War
The scene was chaotic as the activated talisman hit its mark, destroying the cage and causing the Decay Fish to scream in pain. It wriggled in the air, its body convulsing as its heart was destroyed.
But the celebration was short-lived as Master Feng let out a scream filled with anger and hatred. He glared at Juanxiu, knowing that this was his chance to kill the boy. He reached for a needle from the Decay Fish and hurled it at Juanxiu with deadly precision. But Madam Zhang Ai, ever the protector, stepped in front of Juanxiu, taking the needle in her stead.
"Zhang Ai!" Grandmaster Zhang cried out in horror as he watched his wife fall to the ground.
Master Feng laughed sinisterly. "You should have killed me when you had the chance," he said to Grandmaster Zhang.
As Madam Zhang's left arm began to rapidly decompose, a sense of dread and panic filled the air. Grandmaster Zhang rushed to her side, his heart pounding with fear as he saw the rapid deterioration of her body. Juanxiu's mind raced, frantically searching through the knowledge he had learned in the Tower of the Primordial Era for a way to save her.
With a steady hand, he unsheathed his sword made from Divine Frost Metal and swiftly severed Madam Zhang's rapidly decomposing left hand. The amputated hand writhed on the ground, still infected with the deadly toxin of the Decay Fish.
Juanxiu quickly fed Madam Zhang a dose of the Thousand Years Decoction to reverse the effects of even the most potent toxins. The color slowly returned to her face as her body began to heal. "She's all right," Juanxiu breathed, relief flooding through him.
Master Feng, with a sinister grin on his face, approached the giant Decay Fish. The others watched in horror as he stepped closer and closer to the gaping maw of the beast, not knowing what his plan was. But as he reached the mouth of the animal, he did not hesitate. He stepped right into it, disappearing into the darkness within.
As he entered the core of the Decay Fish, a dark violet energy radiated from his body. The others watched in shock as the energy spread throughout the creature, its eyes turning pitch black and its body becoming more ominous. But it was also apparent that some of its parts were quickly dissolving, a sign that it would not be long before its death.
The others could only stand there, helpless, as Master Feng had become one with the beast, assimilating with it and becoming its heart. But they knew that this would not last long as the voracious use of the animal's energy would eventually deplete him.
The battlefield was a scene of chaos and devastation. Bodies littered the ground, both human and beast. The few remaining members of the underground faction looked on in horror as Master Feng and the giant Decay Fish becomes one. The once-mighty warriors were now barely able to stand, their faces etched with worry and exhaustion.
Yi Gang lay unconscious on the ground, his body bruised and battered. Shen Fengge was nearby, his wounds severe and bloodied. Only One-Eyed Lily had the energy to still fight, her sword arm still raised in defiance.
The Medicinal Faction was faring no better. Tian Bingwen lay dead, his body twisted in a grotesque manner. Alchemist Zhou and Mao Wenlin were barely able to stand, their bodies trembling with fatigue after the wild battle against the insect Alchemist. Alchemist Li and Grandmaster Zhang, who had both been imprisoned, were unable to exert their full energy in the fight.
Grandmaster Dinggen and Madam Zhang, both injured, looked on with grim determination as they prepared to see this battle through to the end. The sense of hopelessness was palpable as the group realized that they may not survive this fight.
Grandmaster Zhang rode on the back of his giant turtle, its shell gleaming in the sunlight. The turtle's eyes were fierce and its movements were steady, providing a sense of stability amidst the chaos of battle.
Grandmaster Zhang shouted out loud, his voice carrying across the battlefield, "We are not defeated yet! We will not give up! We will fight until the end! Those who can still move, stand with me! We will show this beast the true power of the cultivators and alchemists!"
His words were met with cheers and renewed determination from the remaining members of the underground faction, as well as the cultivators and alchemists fighting alongside them. Juanxiu, filled with a sense of purpose, moved stealthily through the battle, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.
The Gloomonster, with its last ounce of energy, slammed its massive body into the Decay Fish. It hoped that its heavy body would be enough to pin the creature down to the ground. The Decay Fish inhaled the air around, creating a powerful vacuum that made it difficult for others to breathe. Lai Xiaoli was able to evade the attack by jumping off the back of the Gloomonster just before it made impact. However, the Decay Fish retaliated by releasing a barrage of needles that dissolved the Gloomonster into nothingness. Despite the valiant effort, the attack was not enough to defeat the beast and the cultivators were left to face its might alone.
The impact caused the creature to momentarily stumble, giving the cultivators and alchemists a chance to strike. They launched wave after wave of attacks, but despite their best efforts, the damage they inflicted was insignificant.
The Decay Fish quickly regained its footing and retaliated with a powerful breath attack, causing many cultivators to fall back. But the Gloomonster's sacrifice had not been in vain, as the opportunity it created allowed Juanxiu and Grandmaster Zhang to devise a plan to take down the creature once and for all.
Juanxiu, with resolve in his heart, entered the maw of the giant creature. He was followed by Grandmaster Zhang, who asked, "Where are you going lad?"
Juanxiu replied, "I will go straight to the core of the Decay Fish and detonate my explosive talisman. Perhaps that will be enough to finally put an end to this abominable creature."
Grandmaster Zhang nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. He knew that it was a good plan, but also that it meant that it would be difficult for the two of them to survive once the explosion began. The resolve on his face changed to one of determination, he will not let this kid die alone, he will be with him in this suicide mission.
Juanxiu carefully made his way through the internal organs of the Decay Fish, his feet squelching in the putrid sludge that covered the floor. The walls of the creature were slimy and slick, and Juanxiu had to hold on tightly to the handholds he had created for himself to keep from slipping.
The stench was overwhelming, a combination of rotting flesh and sulfur that made Juanxiu's eyes water. He could see the pulsing of the creature's vein inside the creature's body. He could also see the smaller organs, some of which were still wriggling and squirming as if they were alive. Juanxiu had to force himself to keep moving, to not let the disgust and revulsion take over.
As Juanxiu and Grandmaster Zhang made their way deeper into the decay fish, the stench of rotting flesh and toxins in the air became almost unbearable. Grandmaster Zhang's eyes watered as he tried to keep his footing steady, but the putrid muck that coated the creature's insides made it nearly impossible. Juanxiu could see the older man wavering, and knew that they had to act fast before the toxins in the air overtook them both.
Without hesitation, Juanxiu pulled out his last bottle of Thousand Years decoction and offered it to Grandmaster Zhang. The older man hesitated for a moment before taking it, and Juanxiu could see the relief wash over him as the potion worked to counteract the poison in the air.
But the danger was far from over. As they moved deeper into the creature, they could see the twisted, grotesque forms of the creatures that served as the decay fish's antibodies. These twisted beasts lunged at them, their jagged teeth and razor-sharp claws glinting in the dim light. Grandmaster Zhang fought bravely, protecting Juanxiu as they made their way towards the core.
Juanxiu could feel the heat emanating from the core, and knew that they were getting close. But the creatures inside the decay fish were relentless, and Grandmaster Zhang's strength was beginning to wane. Juanxiu knew that they had to act fast, or they would both be lost to the twisted horrors of the decay fish's insides.
Outside, the situation was dire. The Decay Fish was relentless in its attacks, and the cultivators and alchemists were struggling to make any significant damage. One-Eyed Lily, known for her powerful and precise attacks, was no exception. She had been thrown back by an attack from the creature, her body lying motionless on the ground.
Lai Xiaoli was whipped by the tail of the Decay Fish, her once-pristine alchemist robe now riddled with blood and damages. Du Hong and Li Jing, a duo known for their coordinated attacks, were also struggling to make any impact. Their swords were striking the creature, but it was as if they were hitting a wall of steel.
As they reached the very heart of the Decay Fish, the two cultivators were met with a sight that left them horrified. Master Feng, a former comrade of theirs, was lying there, his body connected to the grotesque veins of the creature. He was being consumed by the Decay Fish, his once-human form now twisted and distorted.
Grandmaster Zhang felt a pang of sorrow for his old friend, but he knew that Feng's desire for revenge had led him down this path.
"Feng, my old friend. I am sorry it had to end like this for you," Grandmaster Zhang said, his voice filled with sadness as he looked at the former comrade being consumed by the Decay Fish. "But revenge and fury will only result to grim end,"
Juanxiu, meanwhile, was focused on sticking the explosive talismans in crucial areas, making sure that they would take down the core of the beast and end this nightmare once and for all. The putrid stench and toxic air was becoming almost unbearable, but the two cultivators pushed on, determined to end this creature's reign of terror.
Juanxiu carefully placed the last of the explosive talismans on the core of the Decay Fish. He double-checked the placement, making sure that each talisman was in the right position to cause maximum damage. He then turned to Grandmaster Zhang, a look of determination on his face. "We need to get out of here, now. These talismans will detonate in ten seconds."
Grandmaster Zhang nodded, but as they were about to leave, they noticed that the antibodies of the Decay Fish were starting to remove the talismans from the core. Grandmaster Zhang understood that someone needed to stay behind and defend the talismans until they detonated. He turned to Juanxiu, his face filled with resolve.
"Go, Juanxiu. My time is done, it's time for the new generation to take my place."
Juanxiu was hesitant at first, but he knew that Grandmaster Zhang's sacrifice would be in vain if he didn't leave. He nodded, tears welling up in his eyes as he turned to leave. Grandmaster Zhang stood tall, ready to defend the talismans until the end.
Juanxiu emerged from the creature, covered in grime and filth, his heart heavy with sorrow. Madam Zhang Ai rushed to his side. Juanxiu then screamed with all his might, telling the people that a massive explosion will happen. Madam Zhang picked him up and took him to a safe distance.
After a few seconds, the core of the creature exploded in a massive ball of fire. The blast was so powerful that it could be felt for miles. The Decay Fish let out a final, deafening scream before it fell to the ground, motionless. The battle was finally over, and the people had emerged victorious.
The cultivators and alchemists let out a triumphant roar, their spirits lifted by the victory. Though they had sustained injuries and lost comrades, they had triumphed over the beast. They knew that there would be more battles to come, but for now, they reveled in their hard-won victory.
As the dust settled, Madam Zhang Ai looked up and asked Juanxiu, "Where is Grandmaster Zhang?" Juanxiu, tears streaming down his face, could not bring himself to speak.
Madam Zhang Ai's heart sank as she understood the sacrifice that her husband had made for their mission to succeed. She wrapped Juanxiu in a comforting embrace, tears of her own streaming down her face, as they mourned the loss of their dear friend.
Just as the Union members and cultivators were beginning to come to terms with their loss, a massive Cloud Chaser appeared in the sky, bearing the insignia of the Shaoying Empire.
A towering figure stepped out from the vessel, and spoke in a cold, authoritative voice. "From today onwards, the Alchemist Union and Cardinal City will be under the protection of the Shaoying Empire. The chaos that ensued today clearly shows that the Union does not have the capacity to protect its people."
The Union members and cultivators looked on in shock as the Cloud Chaser descended and landed on the outskirts of the city. The figure stepped off the vessel, accompanied by a large contingent of heavily armed soldiers. "You have no choice but to accept our protection. Any resistance will be met with force," the figure declared, his voice devoid of any emotion.
The Union members and cultivators were left in a state of shock and despair as they realized the reality of the situation. They had lost their Grandmaster and many other comrades, and now their city and Union were being taken over by a foreign power. The future looked bleak. It was a meaningless battle.
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