Chapter [B3] 50 — Azure Dragon
Yang Shen struck first, rushing in with a rapid strike as Gu manifested all around him. The emperors presence lashed out, but he was ready.
Shatter. He commanded as the space between the two of them cracked, portions of the void sweeping out. Yang Shen jumped into the gaps, pulling the emperor with him as the world swirled around them.
Space moved and swirled in the gap spitting them out into the skies above Azure city, away from his castle.
Good, hed been afraid that wouldnt work. The big problem was taken care of.
The heavens above him rumbled, thunder gathering into a powerful storm, Qi swirled all around the man in front of him in a torrent powerful enough to destroy him completely. The lightning from the heavens curled around the entire area, forming a giant dragons visage in the background. Winds howled, people screaming beneath as they watched the two of them flying high up above in the skies.
Yang Shen chuckled, feeling slightly nervous about what he needed to do next. Despite having two Divine beasts under his control, this still wasnt going to be an easy task. The difference in power was still significant when one had spent centuries gathering and soaking strength from the very heavens.
Perhaps we should be thanking you, the emperor said, his words booming out with power as the heavens thundered above. You have made our task a lot easier by arriving here, handing yourself directly to us.
Yang Shen smiled. Ah dear emperor. So arrogant. Is that the arrogance of one chosen by the heavens? The beloved son, the one true inheritor. All these grand titles, Id love to see how much they truly mean.
Then watch, demon. You will only get to see it once, the emperor said, as Qi swirled so powerfully it began to glow visibly. Even a mortal would have been able to see this now. Feel the power swirling around this man.
The heavens roared high above, their power funneling into a single man, as he looked towards Yang Shen and commanded. Perish.
The world moved to make his command true, as a powerful bolt of lightning bright enough to be blinding struck out between the two of them in a near instant, striking Yang Shen dead center. A powerful explosion shook the world as Yang Shens body burned from the inside, and he began to tumble down. He laughed, feeling searing agony coursing through his body, before he commanded it as well.
Heal.
Miasma swirled around his burning body, dark flames rising from inside of him as his flesh began to mend itself and he regained control of his flight, turning upright once more. As even his clothes mended back, Yang Shen brushed the burnt ashes and dust off himself, before looking at the emperor. Thats it? Thats all the heavenly emperor has to show? Im disappointed.
The emperor frowned, changing his stance as lightning swirled around his body once more. With a single step he arrived right in front of Yang Shen, striking with a lightning powered fist that turned the night sky bright for a single moment, as the demon was flung back with a boom, slamming into the ground and destroying buildings on his path.
Yang Shen cackled even as his body was torn once more, before flipping himself over as he dug his fingers into the earth to stop his momentum, the speed of his body lit the earth on flames as he slowed down, smoke rising from him and a maniacal grin on his face.
Now thats more like it, Yang Shen replied, before kicking off the earth. Another powerful explosion shook the ground, the tremor causing an earthquake as he flung upwards fast enough to break the sound barrier, the shockwave of his movement buffeting the city and its denizens below as he struck the emperor.
Lightning swirled, magic flaring all around as the emperor blocked the strike but was flung back above the clouds.
People panicked in the city beneath, the clash of the two divinities powers enough to kill many just from its shockwaves, as the very world itself began to tear around the area.
As the emperor flew through the air from the strike, wind manifested around him, slowing his movement back as lightning bolts struck from the skies above towards Yang Shen who rushed closer with black flames burning around his body.
The emperor roared, lightning crackling around his fists as he rushed towards Yang Shen, the two of their fists meeting. Lightning and fire collided, exploding the world around them. The two warriors were sent flying back from the impact, the shockwave of the blast clearing the swirling heavenly clouds in the sky for a moment to reveal the night sky above.
This is fun, this is fun! Yang Shen exclaimed, hand broken and fingers twisted beyond recognition as they slowly began to stitch themselves. Unfortunately Im on a timeline, so I cant keep on doing this forever. Lets get a bit more serious, Yang Shen said, putting his hands together, as dark miasma began to swirl around him.
The emperors eyes widened in surprise, as he immediately recognized what was happening, and put his own fists together to counter.
Deathless Domain: Flames of Asura.
Heavenly Domain: Court of the Azure Dragon.
***
The divine beasts collided in the midst of two domains, as the world began to crack. Yang Shen watched the battle take place, the domains veering equal, yet, after all that waiting, at last, the poison began to show its effects.
His domain edged closer, creeping onto the emperor ever so slightly, and Yang Shen grinned to himself, walking closer.
The emperor frowned, sweating, as he began to push back even harder. The asura in the background moved, the two demonic divine beasts shrieking, as flames buffeted the Azure dragon, the vermillion birds claws tearing at its eyes and the white tigers jaw lunging for its maw. The heavenly domain began to crack, as Yang Shen continued to walk closer, his own domain expanding.
The emperor stumbled, breathing heavily, as he stood on one knee. The heavens rumbled in the skies, lighting striking down, as the influence of the demonic domain continued.
The emperor soon began to cough blood, looking up with sweat covering his body. Yang Shen walked up to the man, looking down, as his domain began to swallow the world.
Oh, whats wrong? Not feeling very well? He asked, eyes full of glee.
What have you done to us the emperor asked, body shaking.
Its called poison, stupid. Do you know about mercury? Its a metal, and it can be found in the western continent, where the white tiger was. Its extremely lethal even in small doses. And traditional immunity to poison doesnt work on it. But even that alone wouldnt have been enough to do the job, so I got some help. Turns out you can make it more poisonous and turn into a gas as well with some effort. And a bunch of other ways to get it inside someone slowly enough that they dont notice. In your arrogance to your absolute immunity to all poisons, you never actually even tried to take any precautions. It was almost too easy, Yang Shen scoffed.
In the background, the azure dragon roared, as the two demonic beats continued to tear through the divine beast, its domain faltering as the giant dragon crashed down, the heavens in the skies shivering, as they began to lose their influence.
You will regret this the emperor breathed heavily, eyes turning red as he looked up at the demon.
Im sure I will, Yang Shen replied, reaching down.
The Asura moved its third hand out, a chain of death extending from it. The chain spread through the domains, before wrapping around the azure dragon.
The divine beast shrieked, trying to thrash around and escape, but the vermillion bird and white tighter held it in place, as the asura began to pull the creature back.
Your immortality. The thing you so coveted. The thing you broke this world to obtain, I am taking it now, Yang Shen said, looking the emperor in the eye.
The emperor looked at the demon with shaking eyes, before his eyelids closed.
The heavenly domain shattered, as the Azure Dragon was pulled in and grasped by the Asura.
Yang Shen grinned.
The heavens rumbled in the skies, shaking with fury, yet their powers were lost. No tribulation came, as Yang Shen began to absorb the power of the Azure Dragon, looking down upon the world beneath him.
He had done it. He had finally done it.
***
Yan Yun looked at the skies, and her heart began to shake. The aura of the Azure Dragon, the eternal protection that hovered over the Azure city vanished. She saw the clouds in the skies, and felt the world changing around her as the power of the heavens began to fade. The world turned darker, Gu rising from the earth beneath her.
A cold chilling wind swept past her and a moment later, she felt something white falling from the skies. Reaching out her hand, she felt the thing, as it melted into water and realized what it was.
Snow was falling on Azure City.