"Ming Yue!"
Hua Xiong called out her name and rushed to her. Her eyes and hand glowed as she worked to heal the backlash from Ming Yue's actions.
"Oh no, her body is spent. All of her meridians could collapse at any moment! I must act quickly!"
The energy she expended was not minor in the least. Ming Yue's body was on the verge of breaking, if not for the Eternal Heart Ring she might as well have crippled herself. In this state, not even Xue Yue could do anything.
As Hua Xiong worked hard to restore her, the battle had become a clash between auras.
Even with all fifty experts and countless geniuses of the younger generation, they could not reach Dai Mian. The power he struggled to control was dense and wild.
The beautiful sky above them began to grow dark once more, called out by the energy Dai Mian had taken.
"You're too late now!"
His faceless visage seemed almost joyful as the energy bursting from his body returned once more.
Those pushing their way through, charged forward and attacked with all their might. But Dai Mian summoned his sword and swung it. Just one swing and he brought forth a wave of black lightning that which threw everyone back.
"You're too late! You're all too late!"
Though his body was partially destroyed, Dai Mian had brought this great power under control.
He no longer touched the earth, floating just inches above as he came closer. With his sword at hand, he waved it menacingly, readying it to kill.
"You- what do you plan to do?"
The Grand Elder was the first to recover but his clothes were ripped apart, revealing a massive gash across his chest. The wound was deep and black, seeping with black sparks. Of everyone there, he took the brunt of the strike.
But it was over for them, despite Ming Yue pushing Dai Mian back, they were not strong enough to finish the task.
Dai Mian looked at him with his red gems for eyes. Despite the lack of features, you could tell that he was delighted in this victory.
"What do I plan to do? Do you think I will reveal everything? All you need to know is that with this power, I can prevent the next calamity and save the continent from destruction. Unlike the fools who chose to wait for their deaths, I made my choice to act."
Then he turned to Ming Yue's lying body, eyeing her sword.
"But first, I should gather whatever good seeds there are. You can all sit and watch quietly."
The Grand Elder suddenly felt his body shut down as he dropped to the floor, unable to move a muscle. Everyone else was the same, unable to open their mouths or move a finger. Only their eyes moved, following Dai Mian's back as he approached the young girl.
Out of everyone, Elder Xiang's eyes stared daggers into him. He struggled as much as he could but the Blade Elder could not do anything to save his young student.
"Don't you dare come any further..."
Hua Xiong turned, one hand still healing her friend, the other aimed at Dai Mian. This time, her full strength was revealed as her entire body glowed in a fiery white light. Xiao Yin and Hei Yue stood in front of Ming Yue, baring their fangs and claws at him.
"Hmph, what a sad threat" he said.
Dai Mian's sword vanished into black mist as his hand went towards Drifting Sky.
"To think, someone as measly as you could beat me down. It may be thanks to your sword but your mental strength is nothing to scoff at, managing to break out of my influence."
His fingers slowly wrapped around its handle and firmly gripped it, taking it out of the stone floor.
But this blade did not listen, a piece worked on by multiple grandmasters is no simple sword. It trembled in his hands and released a furious howl. The two gems suddenly glowed as Drifting Sky flew out of his hand and turned, pointing its blade at him.
Then the skies thundered, a bolt of lightning crashed down and it was no ordinary bolt. It was the largest and the loudest one to have come and it was not black or purple but multi-colored.
"What?!"
The Heavens had been silenced, suppressed as part of it had been stolen by Dai Mian. Such a thing could not pass, these grand forces were enraged. But that was not all, it was not just the Black Peak Mountains that began to thunder and crack, it was the entire world.
Above all three continents, the skies darkened and rumbled. The feeling of dread and horror crept up, an uneasiness that could not be shaken off. All of it originated from the Merciless Storm Peak.
Drifting Sky rung with a sharp cry, resonating with the power above.
"It can't be... So the Heavens could not wait, so be it. If the Calamity has come, then I shall face it."
Dai Mian looked up into the black clouds as multi-colored lightning shot down. Each one shattered the surface of the ground, piercing deeper into the world.
Indeed, the destruction of the world had begun.
There was chaos everywhere.
"Bring everyone to shelter! Hurry! Death waits for no one!"
"Yes, elder!"
In the Red Lotus Country, people scattered everywhere, trying to find protection for themselves and their loved ones. But those in power had to take charge and protect, among them was Meng Zhao, Ming Yue's grandfather-in-name.
His face was creased as he headed out to protect what he could.
"Activate the defenses, closes the forges! Either Rong Lu City lives or we die with it!"
In the city of crafting, the Forgelord barked out orders and the many craftsmen worked to protect their home. Walls were built up, barriers created but even then, the city trembled and shuddered under each lightning strike.
"Defend the city, all elders activate the formation!"
In Heaven's Gate, all the citizens had escaped to the Institution as a golden barrier had been erected. Among the elders working was Elder Hua and Elder Shen, the former operating a hospital for the injured while the latter took contro of defensive measures.
"What is this? Could the calamity had begun?"
The Dark Water Kingdom had already prepared defenses and for now, the situation was under control. However, Grand Researcher Ou looked out of her windows, gazing at the blackened sky. There was worry on her face as she watched the unending lightning.
As for the Demon Continent, Kong Zhi stared at the sky before looking at his army. He stood up from his stone throne and looked at his generals before yelling out.
"This is a sign! Men, we move now. This time, we will destroy the armies of Man and take what we deserve. The bountifulness they once enjoyed shall be ours! We will march into their camps! We will kill them all!"
His four generals stood up as his armies shouted out. The beasts they took control of roared out. Together, their voices drowned out the lightning as all of them took up their arms.
"No, so it has started. We are too late... Could it be? Eldest Brother has done this?"
Floating through the numerous bolts of lightning, was a floating castle, helmed by the High Council. All of their faces seemed to age even further as the shock had overtaken them. Perhaps, they should've followed their eldest brother and acted. But alas, all of them knew, the horrid thought he carried in his mind.
And as we return to the Merciless Storm Peak, Dai Mian faced the cortex of the swirling clouds. No matter how much lightning came, he was unfazed. No longer did he pay attention to Ming Yue or her sword, not even the Grand Elder and the others.
"So you've done it now! But I prepared! I've always been prepared! For the Heavens to be so fickle is such a hateful thing. Angry because I have taken your powers! That I have defied you! Is that it? Come then! I will not falter here!"