The stalemate on the battlefield lasted only a few moments. The Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger's ferocity erupted completely under the stimulation of severe injuries and excruciating pain. Its crimson eyes locked firmly onto Li Zhaoyan, radiating a madness that vowed to fight to the death! Ignoring the black blood gushing from its severed tail, its powerful hind legs forcefully pushed off the ground, and its massive body once again transformed into a black lightning bolt. With a tragic momentum as if determined to perish together, it fiercely pounced toward Li Zhaoyan! Its gaping maw opened wide, and this time, instead of a breath attack, it unleashed a dark shockwave condensed from its innate evil energy, more powerful than ever before!
Although Li Zhaoyan's Soul Power was greatly depleted, the fire of hatred in his heart sustained him. He took a deep breath, suppressing his turbulent energy and blood, and the Hundred Wood Divine Spear once again erupted with a dazzling radiance.
"Maple Dragon Strike!"
The spear shot forth like a dragon, the azure-gold dragon-shaped spear light clashing fiercely with the dark shockwave!
"BOOM——!!!"
An explosion more violent than any before occurred! The energy storm swept outward, blasting a massive crater into the ground! Li Zhaoyan grunted, forced back repeatedly by the shockwaves, the tiger's mouth of his hand split open, blood staining the spear shaft. The Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger fared even worse; struck by the residual waves of the spear light, it gained another deep, bone-revealing wound, howling miserably as it tumbled away, its aura growing increasingly feeble.
But the resilience of this vile creature was beyond imagination. Using its tumbling momentum, a dense black poisonous mist suddenly sprayed from the broken end of its scorpion tail, rapidly spreading. The mist not only possessed strong corrosive properties but also interfered with perception!
"Beware of the poison mist!" Yang Wudi shouted sharply, shaking his Soul Piercing Lance as a sharp gust of spear wind swept out, dispersing the mist spreading toward the children's direction.
Li Zhaoyan held his breath, protected his body with Soul Power, and charged into the poison mist, pursuing relentlessly! He absolutely could not give this beast any chance to catch its breath!
"Blazing Maple Forest!"
Countless spear shadows rose again, like a burning rain of maple leaves, enveloping the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger as it struggled to rise.
The Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger frantically dodged and swiped its claws to block within the poison mist, but its severe injuries had slowed its movements far from their former agility. New wounds continuously appeared on its body from the spear shadows, its black blood staining the ground beneath it black. It let out roars of unwillingness and fury, but in its crimson eyes, the madness gradually gave way to an extremely eerie, heart-palpitating calm, as if it were brewing something.
Outside the battlefield, Marco's heart pounded wildly, almost leaping out of his chest! His Double Pupil Eyes fixed intently on the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger flickering in and out of view within the poison mist, a strong sense of unease washing over his entire body like ice water! Instantly, a terrifying legend about this top-tier Soul Beast flashed through his mind—the Arena of Life and Death! That was the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger's most bizarre, most unsolvable innate ability, capable of pulling an opponent into a special space for an absolutely fair (or rather, absolutely advantageous for the Soul Beast) life-and-death duel!
"No! We must not let it use that! Once pulled in, the consequences would be unimaginable!" Marco screamed inwardly, cold sweat instantly soaking his back. He glanced at Ye Lingling, who was intently watching the battlefield with a face full of worry.
Luo glanced once more at Yang Wudi, who stood poised as if facing a formidable enemy. Everyone's attention was firmly captivated by the intensely fierce battle.
There was only one chance!
Marco silently shifted half a step back, then another half step, concealing himself within the shadows cast by Yang Wudi and the rocky cliff. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, and began circulating his Soul Power in a unique, subtle manner. The blazing Soul Power of the Azure Flame Phoenix surged through his meridians while he attempted to mobilize the newly formed, not yet fully mastered fusion power of "Demon Storm Leg"—that dark azure energy possessing both Soul Power and Mental Power traits. He knew ordinary attacks would likely fail to interrupt the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger's bizarre ability; he had to go all out and gamble! He secretly gathered all his strength into his legs, his muscles taut like a drawn bow, akin to a lurking leopard awaiting the decisive moment.
On the battlefield, Li Zhaoyan fought with increasing ferocity. Though his Autumn Maple Domain had shrunk due to prior compression, its power was more concentrated, continuously suppressing the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger's evil aura. Seizing an opening, his Hundred Wood Divine Spear shot out like a venomous dragon, aimed straight at the tiger's heart! This strike concentrated his last reserves of Soul Power and his determination to kill.
"It ends here! You vile beast!"
At the very moment victory or defeat hung in the balance!
The eerie calm in the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger's crimson eyes instantly solidified into substance! It neither dodged nor evaded, enduring the piercing spear strike with its shoulder blade! Simultaneously, it raised its head and let out a sharp, ear-piercing, un-tiger-like howl that seemed capable of piercing through spatial barriers! The remaining dark energy around its body ceased to be used for attack or defense, instead collapsing inward in a manner defying logic, forming an abyss-like black vortex before its chest that seemed to connect to the netherworld!
The moment the vortex appeared, an indescribable suction force abruptly emerged—not targeting the physical body, but directly acting on the soul and life essence! The space around the vortex began to distort, light was devoured, and even sound seemed to be cut off!
"Arena of Life and Death!!" Marco roared inwardly. Now!
His long-prepared figure shot forth like a spring compressed to its limit! He pushed "Shave" to its extreme, moving so fast he left a faint afterimage in his original spot! His target was not the black vortex, but Li Zhaoyan, who was fully committed to his final spear thrust and completely unprepared for the sudden change behind him!
"Father! Watch out!!!"
Marco let out a heart-wrenching shout, mustering all his strength as he threw his entire body against Li Zhaoyan's back.
The timing of this collision was impeccable—precisely when Li Zhaoyan's old force was spent and new force had yet to generate, his entire focus on the killing strike, just as he began to react to the strange vortex's suction.
"Ke'er?! You..." Li Zhaoyan only felt a tremendous force from behind, his body lurching forward uncontrollably. He turned back in astonishment, catching only a glimpse of his son's resolute and anxious face, and the rapidly expanding black vortex reflected in those Double Pupils!
The next moment, the black vortex, as if possessing a life of its own, violently expanded, its terrifying suction instantly enveloping Marco and the severely wounded, dying Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger!
"No—!!!" Li Zhaoyan's eyes nearly burst from their sockets as he let out a desperate roar, reaching out to grab his son but catching only empty air!
Under the horrified gazes of Yang Wudi, Osler, and Qiu Yao, Marco's figure and the massive body of the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger were yanked by an invisible giant hand, instantly vanishing into the deep, eerie black vortex that radiated an ominous aura!
The vortex then abruptly contracted and disappeared into the air as if it had never existed. All that remained was the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger's mangled body—pierced through with a wound that gushed blood yet strangely freed from the brink of life and death (having lost its soul essence)
and... Li Zhaoyan, standing frozen in place, his face drained of all color.
The forest fell deathly silent. Only Li Zhaoyan's heart-wrenching "No—" still echoed among the trees, filled with boundless terror, regret, and despair.