mtl008 Chapter 122 The Guardian's Elegy
Chapter 122 The Guardian's Elegy
The spatial vortex was like the bloody mouth of a giant beast, greedily devouring everything around it, and a heart-pounding sense of oppression swept over. The demon god walked out of it, and every step seemed to step on Ren Xiaoyao's heart, making him almost breathless.
"This time, none of you can stop me!" The devil's voice sounded like it came from the Netherworld, carrying with it the power to destroy the world and unparalleled arrogance.
"Don't even think about it!" Ren Xiaoyao suppressed the surging blood and qi in his body. The long sword in his hand shone brightly, and he rushed towards the demon god like a flash of lightning. The ethereal fairy followed closely behind him, waving her whisk, transforming into a sky full of light and shadow, trying to stop the demon god's steps.
However, the demon god simply smiled contemptuously and, with a wave of his hand, neutralized the two's attacks. His figure flashed, and he instantly appeared in front of Ren Xiaoyao, his five fingers forming claws, and went straight for his heart.
"Brother Xiaoyao, be careful!" Xia Lin exclaimed, but it was too late to stop him.
Ren Xiaoyao only had time to sidestep to avoid the vitals, but the demon's claws still left several deep scars on his chest, deep enough to see the bone. The pain made him groan, and he stumbled back.
"You think you can stop me?" The demon god pressed on, his eyes filled with mockery. "You're just an ant, yet you dare think you can shake a giant tree?"
Ren Xiaoyao gritted his teeth and persevered, swinging his sword again and again. However, in the face of the sheer force, his attacks seemed powerless. His body was covered in wounds, his clothes stained red with blood, and his physical strength and magic power were nearly exhausted.
"Brother Xiaoyao, stop hitting me!" Xia Lin cried anxiously, tears blurring her eyes. She kept casting healing spells, but she couldn't completely heal Ren Xiaoyao's injuries.
"It's useless," the demon sneered, "your struggle is in vain..."
Ren Xiaoyao knelt on one knee, the sword in his hand supporting his shaky body. His vision was blacking out, and his ears were buzzing. The demon's voice seemed to come from the distant abyss, carrying a bewitching power.
"Give up, Ren Xiaoyao," the demon's voice coiled around his will like a venomous snake. "You can't defeat me. Your struggle is just a futile, desperate struggle. Look at you now, like a stray dog! The people you protect, the goals you pursue, will all be in vain in the end!"
The demon god's words were like a sharp blade, piercing Ren Xiaoyao's heart. Xia Lin's anxious face flashed before his eyes. He recalled the ambitions he had when he first arrived in this world, the hardships and glory he had experienced along the way... Was all this going to be for nothing?
"No, I can't give up!" Ren Xiaoyao struggled to stand up, but fell to the ground again. He felt his consciousness gradually blurring, and the scene before him became distorted.
"Brother Xiaoyao, don't listen to him!" Xia Lin's voice was filled with worry and anxiety. "You can definitely defeat him. I believe in you!"
"Believe? But I already..." Ren Xiaoyao's voice became lower and lower, his eyes filled with despair and confusion.
"No, you still have me!" Xia Lin suddenly rushed to Ren Xiaoyao, opened her arms, and stood between him and the devil.
"Xia Lin, don't!" Ren Xiaoyao's eyes were red with anger, and he wanted to stop it, but it was too late.
A hint of surprise flashed across the devil's eyes, and then he showed a cruel smile, "You overestimate your own abilities!" He formed his five fingers into claws, and with the power to destroy the world, he stabbed at Xia Lin's chest mercilessly.
"No!" Ren Xiaoyao let out a heart-wrenching roar, witnessing this unbelievable scene before him.
Time seemed to stand still at this moment, everything slowed down and blurred. The despair and pain in Ren Xiaoyao's eyes gradually transformed into a kind of determination and madness in Xia Lin's resolute eyes. He felt an unprecedented power awakening deep within him...
"Charlene, why are you..."
"Because..." Xia Lin's voice faded, a faint smile lingering on her lips. "I..." "Are you not retreating, Demon?" The ethereal fairy's voice was like the sound of nature, yet it carried an irresistible majesty and power. A flicker of fear flashed in the Demon's eyes, and then he glared fiercely at the unconscious Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin, then turned and vanished in a streak of black light.
"Because..." Xia Lin's voice became weaker and weaker, but there was a faint smile on the corner of her mouth, "I..."
Just as the demon's claws were about to pierce Xia Lin's chest, a dazzling light burst forth from Ren Xiaoyao's body. It was like a volcano, dormant for millennia, finally erupting, igniting the entire world. The demon was repelled by this force, the triumphant smile on his face instantly vanishing, replaced by a look of deep astonishment and anger.
"Impossible! How could you possess such power!" the demon roared, attacking once more. However, this time, Ren Xiaoyao's figure was like a swift thunderstorm, his sword gleaming like a dragon, and he and the demon were suddenly entangled. At this moment, Ren Xiaoyao's inner potential was fully unleashed, and each of his strikes was filled with boundless power and speed. Though severely wounded, he was like a phoenix reborn from the ashes, growing stronger with each battle.
"You are wrong," Ren Xiaoyao said, his eyes wide open, his voice filled with unyielding conviction, "You underestimated the power of humanity and the determination of the guardians!"
A flash of cold light passed, forcing the demon god to retreat repeatedly, but Ren Xiaoyao's offensive continued unabated until, finally, a sword shadow fiercely slashed the demon god's chest, sending him flying several feet away. The demon god slammed heavily against the rock wall, looking utterly miserable, blood continuously oozing from his mouth.
However, this sudden surge of power consumed Ren Xiaoyao immensely. As his strength dried up, his body trembled violently, his vision blurred, and he finally collapsed to the ground, unable to rise again.
The demon gritted his teeth, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and was about to strike back when he suddenly felt a mysterious force enveloping him from afar. Then he saw a graceful figure approaching, it was none other than the Ethereal Fairy.
"Aren't you retreating yet, Demon?" The voice of the Ethereal Fairy was like the sound of nature, yet it carried an irresistible majesty and power. A flicker of fear flashed across the Demon's eyes, and then he glared fiercely at the unconscious Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin, then turned and disappeared in a streak of black light.
Seeing this, the ethereal fairy heaved a sigh of relief. She gently approached the dying Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin, her eyes gleaming with complex thoughts.
She exerted all her might, wielding her staff and exerting the last of her divine power to teleport Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin to a safe place. As the last bit of light faded, the ethereal fairy also turned into a wisp of green smoke and disappeared into the night sky.
At this moment, the air was filled with the smell of blood and gunpowder. Ren Xiaoyao's body twitched slightly on the ground, as if making a final struggle. Beside him, Xia Lin was also dying, the worry between her brows still lingering.
The roars of strange beasts could be heard in the distance, as if foreshadowing an even more sinister future.
Meanwhile, Ren Xiaoyao lay unconscious, his brow furrowed slightly, his lips twitching as if searching for some important name... His consciousness drifted in a haze, countless fragmented images flashing through his mind. He saw the naiveté of his first encounter with the game world, the tacit understanding he shared with Xia Lin as they fought side by side, and the resolute and tragic smile of the Ethereal Fairy. He tried to grasp at something, but time and again, it slipped through his fingers.
"Xia Lin... I'm sorry..." Ren Xiaoyao's voice was as weak as a mosquito, filled with pain and self-blame. He dreamed of the scene when Xia Lin stood in front of him, and the relieved smile on her lips. His heart felt like it was being cut by a knife.
"Silly boy, what nonsense are you talking about..." A gentle voice sounded in his ears. It was Xia Lin! Ren Xiaoyao opened his eyes suddenly, only to find himself in a vast expanse of white space. Xia Lin was standing in front of him, as gentle and beautiful as ever.
"Xia Lin, are you okay? That's great!" Ren Xiaoyao wanted to stand up excitedly, but found that he was weak all over.
"Brother Xiaoyao, I don't have much time left..." Xia Lin's eyes were filled with reluctance and attachment. "Promise me that you will live well, including my share..."
"No, no! I don't want you to leave me!" Ren Xiaoyao tried desperately to grab Xia Lin's hand, but found that he couldn't touch her at all.
"Xiaoyao, my child..." The ethereal figure of the ethereal fairy appeared beside Xia Lin, looking at Ren Xiaoyao kindly, "You must remember that you are the chosen one, shouldering the mission of protecting the world..."
"No, I don't want any mission, I just want to be with you!" Ren Xiaoyao closed his eyes in pain, tears sliding down his cheeks.
"Brother Xiaoyao, you must remember..." Xia Lin's voice became increasingly distant, and her figure gradually became transparent. "I... love..."
“No——!!” Ren Xiaoyao suddenly opened his eyes, but found himself still lying on the cold ground. There was silence all around, with only the rustling sound of leaves in the breeze.
"Xia Lin? Fairy?" Ren Xiaoyao struggled to stand up, but felt sore and weak all over. He looked around, but it was empty. Where were Xia Lin and the ethereal fairy?
"Could it be... all this was just an illusion?" Ren Xiaoyao muttered to himself, his eyes filled with confusion and despair. Suddenly, he felt as if he were holding something in his hand. He opened his palm and found a crystal-clear blue crystal lying quietly there, emitting a soft light.
"This is..." Ren Xiaoyao's heart trembled suddenly, and an inexplicable premonition came to his mind. He held the crystal tightly, and a warm power instantly flowed through his body. Xia Lin's voice seemed to echo in his ears again:
"Brother Xiaoyao, you must remember..."