Sky Star

Chapter 32: Desperate Breakthrough

Deep within the misty forest, a fierce battle raged on, resembling a brutal fight for survival. Xiao Chen, Yun Yi, and Ling Xue were locked in an intense struggle against a ferocious demon bear. Every second felt like dancing on the edge of death.

Their stamina was draining like sand slipping through an hourglass, and sweat soaked their clothes before trickling down their faces like broken pearls, staining the ground covered in dead leaves. In contrast, the demon bear remained an unrelenting war machine, launching relentless attacks. Each swipe of its massive claws carried overwhelming force, the howling wind in its wake embodying its fury. It was as if the forest’s sovereign was defending its sacred domain against these trespassers.

Xiao Chen gasped for breath, his chest heaving like a bellows on the verge of collapse. Yet, his sharp gaze never wavered. Amid the bear’s storm-like assaults, he meticulously searched for any openings. He knew they could not endure much longer—if they failed to turn the tide quickly, doom was inevitable.

Spotting a fleeting gap in the bear’s attack—so brief it was like lightning flashing across the night sky—he summoned every ounce of his remaining strength. The stellar energy within him flared brilliantly, igniting like a celestial blaze. He roared and launched a devastating double-fisted strike. A dazzling burst of fist energy streaked through the air like a meteor, hurtling straight toward the demon bear’s throat, aiming to end its life in one fell swoop.

Sensing imminent danger, the bear instinctively jerked its massive body to the side. Though the movement was clumsy, it barely managed to evade the fatal strike. The fist energy grazed its rough neck, missing its mark but still inflicting searing pain. The beast let out an earth-shaking roar, as if thunder had exploded across the heavens. Its previously unstoppable attacks momentarily slowed, akin to raging tides crashing against an immovable reef.

Seizing this golden opportunity, Yun Yi’s hands moved at blinding speed, forming intricate seals in a dazzling display. He chanted incantations in a solemn, ancient tongue, and in an instant, a radiant net of spiritual energy descended from the heavens, ensnaring the demon bear. This time, the binding force was significantly stronger, restricting the bear’s movements like chains shackling a raging beast. No matter how it thrashed, it could not immediately break free.

“Ling Xue, now!” Xiao Chen’s urgent shout cut through the battlefield like an arrow, slicing through the tension. Ling Xue understood immediately, unleashing her power to its peak. Ice shards rained down like a piercing storm, each one gleaming like a deadly dagger. Simultaneously, wind blades howled through the air, forming a razor-sharp vortex that sliced at the bear’s tough hide. Under this relentless onslaught, deep wounds finally marred its flesh. Black blood oozed from its body, thick and foul-smelling, polluting the air with a nauseating stench.

However, the beast’s fury only intensified, as though it had transformed into an enraged demon god. It threw its head back and bellowed, the sound rolling like crashing waves. Trees trembled violently, leaves cascading like a grim rain. Ignoring its wounds, it mustered its full strength and hurled itself against the spiritual binding with reckless abandon.

A sharp crack rang out—like ice shattering—the spiritual net broke under its brute force. The bear was free once more. With bloodthirsty eyes burning brighter than ever, it lunged at the three warriors, determined to rip them apart.

By now, the trio was utterly exhausted. Their legs felt like they were treading on clouds, each step more unsteady than the last. Yet, when their gazes met, an unspoken determination passed between them—a refusal to surrender. They were like three blazing torches, illuminating each other in the darkness, keeping hope alive.

“We can’t die here. We break through—now!” Xiao Chen gritted his teeth, his voice filled with resolve. Gathering the last of his stellar energy, he shot forward like a bolt of black lightning, charging straight through the demon bear’s encirclement.

Yun Yi and Ling Xue followed closely behind, covering one another’s backs as they fled. Yun Yi deflected the bear’s claw swipes with his sword, each strike draining his remaining strength, while Ling Xue conjured ice barriers behind them, forming an icy fortress to slow the beast’s pursuit.

After a frantic sprint, a bright light appeared ahead—like dawn breaking through endless night. The sight injected new life into their failing bodies.

“There! The exit!” Ling Xue’s voice, brimming with joy, pierced the oppressive air like a divine melody.

Summoning every last ounce of energy, they dashed toward salvation, their final burst of speed fueled by sheer will. Behind them, the demon bear pursued with earth-shaking steps, its monstrous roars echoing like death’s relentless drumbeat.

But just as they burst through the forest’s edge, the beast skidded to a halt. It hesitated, seemingly restrained by an invisible force. It let out a furious, unwilling roar, like a caged fiend denied its prey. Though mere steps away, it could not advance further.

The three collapsed onto the grass, gasping for air. Relief washed over them, the joy of survival warming them like the first sunlight after a storm. Yet, they knew this respite was fleeting. The road ahead remained shrouded in unknown dangers—hidden threats lurking like beasts in the shadows.

Gazing into the distance, Xiao Chen’s eyes burned with determination. “Rest for a moment. Then we move on. The tower must be close…”

A gentle breeze swept past, as if offering silent comfort. But deep down, they all knew—the true storm had yet to come.