While Atlas toyed with Chong, Layla held her ground against a true Qi master.
Linghu barely moved. Yet he was everywhere.
Layla launched another Gale Step, her speed doubling as she slashed in rapid succession. Each strike met only air before Linghu casually redirected her attacks, forcing her to reset her stance repeatedly.
Layla gritted her teeth.
He's not even trying.
She pivoted, stepping into Rot Qi, her blade now crackling with decaying energy. She feinted left before twisting mid-strike, aiming for his ribs.
Linghu acknowledged the attack and parried—but this time, he applied force. Real force.
The resulting shockwave tore through the battlefield, sending cracks through the ground.
Layla was pushed back several feet, her arms tingling from the impact.
He's strong. Absurdly strong.
Bao arrived just in time to witness Layla kneeling on one knee, her sword embedded in the ground to steady herself. He looked at the destruction around her, then back at Linghu, who barely seemed fazed.
"How do we fight him?" Bao asked, gripping his blade tightly.
Layla exhaled sharply, pushing herself back to her feet.
"I don't know. But we need to hold off until my father and Jiang can regroup. We can't take him alone."
Bao scanned the battlefield. Despite the brutal assault, the Ryl Trading workers were holding their ground, using unconventional tactics to keep the enemy from overwhelming them. Meanwhile, Kai's explosions continued to shape the battlefield, disrupting formations and forcing the Shengong Sect into defensive positions.
Layla's grip tightened on her sword. We just need to hold out a little longer.
Bao stepped forward, adjusting his stance beside her, his sword glinting under the moonlight.
"Then let's buy time."
Linghu barely acknowledged him, his expression unreadable. "Two against one? How unwise."
Bao smirked. "It's war remember."
Layla struck first using step one, her form vanishing for a brief moment before her blade sought Linghu's ribs. He parried with ease, but Bao followed up, his blade crashing down like a hammer.
Linghu twisted, redirecting Bao's force entirely, making him stagger for half a second. It was all Layla needed—she twirled her blade mid-air, striking with Step Two, Rushing Wind.
Linghu countered just in time and a shockwave burst outward as their Qi clashed, sending debris flying. Yet, his breathing remained steady—he still wasn't trying.
Layla narrowed her eyes. "Even now, you're still holding back?"
Linghu smiled, amusement in his eyes. "I don't need to try."
Bao's grip on his sword tightened. Layla exhaled. They had no choice but to keep pushing—because if they let up even once, Linghu would crush them.
Layla lunged first, her sword carving through the air as she activated Step Three: Gale's Kiss. A hurricane-like force surged behind her strike, propelling her blade at terrifying speed. Linghu's eyes flickered, acknowledging the shift, and with a mere pivot of his wrist, he met her attack.
The collision shattered the ground behind them. A shockwave blasted outward, sending dirt and debris flying as Layla gritted her teeth against the force of his block. Bao followed immediately, stepping into Step Four: Roaring Tempest.
A roaring gust of wind accompanied his downward slash, splitting the battlefield like a fissure in the earth. Linghu moved at the last possible second, his robe barely ruffled, as if he were dodging a gentle breeze instead of a killing blow.
Layla's heart pounded. It felt like she and Bao were throwing everything they had, yet Linghu barely seemed fazed.
Linghu finally spoke, voice calm. "I see. So this is what your generation considers 'talent.'"
Layla and Bao barely had time to react before Linghu struck.
Layla raised her sword to parry, but the moment his strike connected, an unbearable force tore through her body. It wasn't just physical—it felt like something inside her was being ripped apart.
Her knees buckled, her vision turned white, and for a brief moment, she swore she could hear laughter.
"You're pathetic" a voice whispered within her mind.
Layla gasped, recognizing it instantly—the Entity.
"Even after all this training, all this effort, you're still weak" it continued, its voice filled with mocking amusement.
"Look at you. Kneeling again. Do you really think you stand a chance against him?"
Layla's breath was going becoming erratic.
No. No. No. Not now.
She forced her grip to tighten on her sword, fighting the sensation trying to pull her apart. She wasn't going to lose—not to Linghu, and not to this thing inside her.
But Linghu was already infront of her and desperate, Layla parried at the last second, steel meeting steel with a screech that sent vibrations up her arms.
But it wasn't enough. The force behind Linghu's strike tore through her defenses, sending pain rippling through her very soul as it was yanked from her body and slammed back in.
Her vision darkened, her legs nearly giving out beneath her.
The Entity laughed. "That hurts, doesn't it? You should just let go."
Layla bit down a scream, forcing herself to stay upright.
Then—
A gust of wind howled through the battlefield.
Jiang arrived first, executing his version of the Step Two: Rushing Wind, his sword intercepting Linghu's follow-up strike. The impact sent out a concussive blast, forcing Linghu a half-step back.
A fraction of a second later, Lin Wuye struck from behind, Step Five: Cyclone's Wrath tearing through the air.
His attack landed clean—a direct hit to Linghu's back, sending cracks through the earth beneath them.
Linghu was pushed back, crashing into a tree to break his fall. Chong, however, was not so lucky. The force of Atlas's last attack sent him flying—his body limp, lifeless, landing beside Linghu like a discarded puppet.
Two minutes ago…
Atlas made a gamble. Of course he would.
His body was on the verge of breaking, but he knew if he absorbed not just Chong's Qi, but the lingering Qi from the battlefield itself, he could unleash a final attack strong enough to end the fight. But it had to be precise.
I've got about three minutes before my body gives out completely. He had calculated.
If I store up just enough, redirect it at the perfect moment to this guy, I could kill him.
And the moment arrived.
Atlas hadn't just redirected Chong's Qi—he had targeted the most vital, the most agonizing spot on his body. His final strike had been a direct hit to Chong's balls.
With a loud, comical thwack
THWACK!
Chong's breath had left him in a strangled wheeze, his eyes rolling back before his body collapsed and was sent flying across the battlefield.
Now, beside Linghu, Chong lay dead.
Atlas, panting heavily, wiped his brow and grinned. "Guess you could say that was a… ballsy move."
Still catching his breath, he dragged himself toward the others, joining Layla, Bao, Jiang, and Lin Wuye. They all looked like they had been through hell—bloodied, battered, barely standing. And so was he.
Atlas exhaled, looking at Linghu, who was already rising from the debris, unscathed despite the brutal assault.
"We need to beat that?" he muttered, motioning toward the commander.
The others, half-dead but still standing, all responded in unison.
"Yeah, pretty much."
Atlas let out a weak laugh before his face turned serious. "Alright, but let's acknowledge the obvious here—he's ridiculously strong. Probably Shen Xue level."
Everyone nodded. They all agreed.
This wasn't just a fight. This was a fight to the death.
Atlas turned to Layla. "Are we at least winning the war?"
Layla, still catching her breath, took a moment to scan the battlefield. Her gaze flickered to the Ryl Trading workers holding their ground, the Silver Lotus disciples still standing, and most importantly—Kai.
The boy's explosions had completely turned the battlefield in their favour, keeping the enemy forces disoriented and unable to regroup.
She nodded. "Yeah. Probably thanks to Kai."
Steeling herself, she raised her voice. "Everyone, fall back when possible! Regroup at the fallback location!"
Atlas cracked his knuckles, staring at Linghu, who was finally taking them seriously.
It was now five against one.