The skies above the shattered Skyfire Clan glowed with the light of descending ships—sleek, black vessels shaped like ancient blades. Their engines hummed with unnatural precision, cutting through the storm clouds like predators closing in on their prey.
Jin Long stood firm atop the altar, his eyes narrowing as the fleet approached. The air crackled with the raw energy of his newly awakened power, his senses stretching out like an invisible web, feeling the subtle vibrations in the air.
The Obsidian Void Sect doesn't give up easily, he thought, gripping his energy sword.
Tempest's Wrath, the Void Beast, stood at his side, its massive form casting an imposing shadow over the terrain. The creature growled in anticipation, its golden eyes locked onto the incoming ships.
> "Companion: Tempest's Wrath. Combat readiness: 92%."
The storm above them seemed to respond to the beast's call, lightning flashing and swirling in chaotic patterns. Jin Long's body hummed with the power of the Genesis Core. His cultivation base had reached new heights in mere hours, and he could feel the connection between himself and Tempest's Wrath growing stronger. It wasn't just an ally—it was an extension of his will, a manifestation of the energy he wielded.
The first ship landed with a thunderous crash, its landing gear slicing into the earth as it came to a halt. The ramp lowered with a hiss, and out stepped a figure draped in dark, flowing robes.
Elder Varn.
The violet fire in his eyes flared as he surveyed the battlefield. "So, you survived," he said coldly, his voice carrying over the wind.
Jin Long's grip tightened on his sword, but he didn't move. The Obsidian Void Sect had underestimated him before, and they would do so again.
"You came here expecting to finish what you started," Jin Long called out, his voice steady but filled with burning resolve. "But you've made a grave mistake. This ends now."
Varn's lips curled into a smile. "You are nothing but a remnant of the past, boy. The Genesis Core is not yours to command. It belongs to the Obsidian Void Sect now."
The air around Jin Long thickened with an oppressive pressure. He could feel the elder's cultivation level—powerful, but not invincible. With the Core, Jin Long had surpassed the average cultivator. Now, with the Void Beast at his side, he was ready to test the limits of that power.
"Tempest," Jin Long whispered.
The Void Beast responded, its massive wings unfurling with a deafening roar. It surged forward, leaping with incredible speed toward the nearest ship. The ground shook beneath its heavy footsteps as it swiped at the vessel with claws that could rend steel.
Varn's eyes flashed with surprise, but he didn't hesitate. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a long, curved sword of dark energy, its blade crackling with violent lightning.
"Let's see if you can control that beast as well as you think you can, boy," Varn sneered.
Without warning, Varn dashed forward, the air distorting around him as he moved with unnatural speed. His energy blade hummed with power, the tip aimed directly at Jin Long's heart.
Jin Long didn't flinch. He stepped to the side, his feet moving with fluid grace. The energy sword in his hand glowed with a bright, ethereal light, its form shifting into a fluid, curved blade. His movements were precise, calculated, as he met Varn's strike with a counterattack.
The clash of their weapons sent shockwaves through the air, the sound of metal meeting energy ringing like thunder. Sparks flew as Jin Long's blade collided with Varn's sword, but Jin Long's technique was faster, more adaptable. His sword shifted again, arcing upward in a smooth, circular motion.
Varn's expression darkened as his sword was deflected. "You've learned the technique of the Skyfire Clan..."
Jin Long's lips curled into a cold smile. "Not just the Skyfire Clan. I've learned much more than that."
As the two continued to clash, Tempest's Wrath tore through the Obsidian Void Sect's soldiers with brutal efficiency. Its claws cleaved through their armor, and its roars reverberated across the battlefield. But it wasn't just power—it was precision. The beast fought with the same mind as its master, each strike calculated to disable, not destroy.
But despite the Void Beast's ferocity, Elder Varn was no slouch. His cultivation level was on another plane. He was fast, his energy strikes like whips of destruction, each one designed to overwhelm Jin Long.
But Jin Long was different now. The Core pulsed with power, and his senses were heightened beyond human limits. He saw through Varn's movements before they even happened.
With a sudden shift in his stance, Jin Long moved with an explosive burst of speed, his sword glowing brighter than ever. He swept low, cutting through the air like a blade through water. Varn barely managed to parry, but the force behind Jin Long's strike sent him stumbling back.
Jin Long's body surged with energy. It wasn't just the sword—it was the Core within him, channeling all its power into a single strike.
"You've lost," Jin Long said, his voice low and filled with cold certainty.
Varn's eyes widened as he realized the magnitude of Jin Long's transformation. "This isn't over, boy…"
But Jin Long wasn't listening. His blade came down in a shining arc, cutting through the air faster than Varn could react. The energy of the Genesis Core exploded outward, and Varn was forced to retreat, barely avoiding the full force of the attack.
In that moment, Jin Long knew. This battle was only the beginning. The Obsidian Void Sect would send more. And he would be ready.