"I can certainly do, but..."
"Teleport," Lolas’s voice interjected abruptly. A nefarious pawn materialized near Dong Rui, its intent glaringly ominous.
Reacting with unflinching reflexes, Dong Rui summoned a formidable black castle from the depths of the earth, its ancient stones resonating with raw power. The castle erected an impregnable barrier in the pawn’s path, defying its malicious advance.
"Knight, advance!" Liang’s thunderous command echoed through the battlefield. His black knight surged forward into the swirling maelstrom of clashing rings, its ethereal blade cutting through the air with unerring precision and ferocity as it struck the heart of the white ring.
"Knight, your turn!" Lolas countered sharply, conjuring a gray knight that materialized with an ominous shimmer. "Jump," Lolas ordered.
The gray knight leaped effortlessly over the chaotic fray, exploiting its innate ability. "Knight, jump again!"
The gray knight responded with another graceful bound, reappearing ominously close to Dong Rui.
Liang’s face grew stern, If he didn’t act now he will never have the chance.
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"Defuse!"
The gray ring, entangled with the white ring, disassembled, reconfiguring into two resolute gray pawns. One pawn entrenched itself firmly before the white ring, while the other materialized adjacent to the black castle.
"Castle, swap positions!" Desperation tinged Dong Rui’s voice. Utilizing her rock abilities, she transposed the castle to confront the knight. In doing so, Dong Rui found herself ensnared between two menacingly opposed pawns, each locked in their own fierce struggle.
"Bishop, heal them!" Dong Rui’s urgency ratcheted higher. The bishop, always on standby, deployed its healing powers, a radiant aura cascading over the weary gray pawn, restoring its vitality.
"Enhance!" Dong Rui commanded anew. Her abilities surged, infusing the bishop with heightened restorative powers.
The bishop’s aura intensified, its rejuvenating touch now extending to other allied pieces across the battlefield.
Lolas and Seni shared a grim look, their latest gambit dismantled by Dong Rui’s brutal competence and foresight.
"Knight, it’s your turn. Jump. Attack the king," Liang directed, his voice resolute as stone.
The black knight obeyed without hesitation, launching itself with blinding speed towards the enemy king. It materialized beside the king, blade poised for a decisive strike.
Lolas’s face twisted in a dark scowl as he raised his sword and swung it at the Knight with every ounce of strength he had.
"Not a chance," Liang sneered, his eyes flashing with a mischievous glint. He flicked his wrist and commanded, "Knight, Jump again."
"What!!!" Lolas gasped, his eyes widening in disbelief.
In a heartbeat, the black Knight vanished and reappeared behind Lolas, its ethereal sword glinting ominously.
"Dong Rui, now!" Liang shouted, his voice ringing with impending victory.
"Enhance," Dong Rui intoned, channeling her power to amplify the Knight’s strength. The Knight’s aura intensified, becoming a near-tangible force as it drove its blade toward Lolas’s heart. Helpless, Lolas could only watch, horror-stricken, as his plans unraveled before him.
"No!" Seni’s voice echoed in despair, her eyes wide with disbelief as defeat loomed over them.
The battlefield descended into chaos. The defeated pieces dissipated into thin air, and thorny vines shot up from the ground. Their tendrils coiled around Lolas and Seni, dragging them down into the earth’s depths, sealing their fate.
"Nice move, Brother Liang," Dong Rui said with a smile, stretching her legs now free from the stone chains that had bound her.
Liang shook his head wearily. "It’s not a complete victory. Most of our powers are nearly depleted."
Dong Rui nodded in agreement, a serious expression replacing her earlier smile. Though they had secured this win, the future battles were far from guaranteed.
"True," Liang chuckled, though a shadow of worry crossed his face. "Even if we’ve expended a lot of our abilities, the others are probably in a worse state."
"Exactly," Dong Rui said, shrugging. "Maybe luck will be on our side next time too."
Dong Rui glanced at the two imposing doors ahead and then turned back to Liang. "Will you choose this time?"
Liang’s eyes flickered with indecision. After a moment of contemplation, he shook his head.
Dong Rui grinned and looked back at the doors. "The white one," she declared.
****
Crossing the gate, they found themselves standing at the edge of an immense, sprawling maze. The maze’s towering walls soared high on all sides, composed of alternating panels of pure, inky black and dazzling, pristine white. The stark contrast between the dark and light created a striking, almost disorienting visual effect that made it difficult to discern the maze’s true layout.
The ground beneath their feet was a uniform shade of charcoal gray, its smooth, flat surface stretching out endlessly in every direction. There were no discernible cracks, patterns, or textures—just an endless expanse of cool, neutral gray, amplifying the surreal atmosphere.
Gazing upwards, they were met with an awe-inspiring sight. The sky above was not the familiar blue they might expect, but rather a deep, boundless void filled with countless shimmering stars. These celestial bodies twinkled and glimmered with a dazzling brilliance, scattered across the endless black canvas like diamonds on velvet. There was no sun, no moon, no clouds—just the infinite, starry expanse stretching on forever, casting a subtle, ethereal glow over the maze.
The maze walls seemed to extend indefinitely, offering no clear paths or exits, each turn and corner swallowed by the monochromatic labyrinth.
"A maze?" Liang’s lips curved into an amused smile.
"It seems like this is going to be the final round?" Dong Rui said softly, directing her gaze upwards. "Where do you think this place is? It doesn’t look like a secret realm."
"Secret realm?" Liang shook his head. "A secret realm wouldn’t have that many stars." His gaze shifted towards the walls and the ground. "Let alone the profound laws contained within these seemingly ordinary walls."
Once one’s cultivation reaches a certain height, their every movement leaves strands of laws in their wake. The situation in the maze wasn’t much different; the laws here were of such a high level that even Liang couldn’t decipher them.
Dong Rui took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing as she absorbed the enormity of their situation. "That means we are completely blind here."
Liang chuckled, a glint of humor in his eyes. "At least I’m not wearing any stupid costume."
They trudged onward for what seemed an eternity, but the labyrinthine maze enclosed them like an omnipresent guard, allowing no escape. Their legs grew heavy, their breaths shallow. The oppressive silence was only broken by the echo of their footsteps on the cold stone floor.
"I think we’re lost," Dong Rui finally admitted, her voice barely a whisper.
"Me too," Liang agreed, shaking his head in resignation. "But there’s nothing to do but keep walking."
Just when despair began to gnaw at them, a faint glow appeared in the distance. It shimmered like a teasing mirage on a horizon, but their weary hearts quickened with a sliver of hope.
"Do you see it too?" Liang asked, his voice vibrating with a mixture of skepticism and longing, as though even hope might be a cruel illusion.
"I do," Dong Rui replied, relief seeping into her words.
With renewed vigor, the pair hastened their pace. The glow, now undeniably real, led them to a doorway etched into a wall of inky blackness, bathed in a soft white light. The door shimmered, its surface resembling liquid metal, constantly shifting between hues like an ethereal prism.
Tentatively, Dong Rui extended her hand and touched the door. It was icy, and a slight tingle ran up her arm. She glanced at Liang, who nodded, and with firm resolve, she pushed on the door. It slid open with a gentle hiss, revealing a sight that stole their breaths.
They stepped into an enormous chamber bathed in radiant white light. The walls glistened with rows of pulsating crystals, each emitting a soft, heavenly glow. At the center sat a magnificent white throne, carved from a single block of pristine marble adorned with intricate strange designs.
Seated upon the throne was a woman, cloaked in a flowing white gown that sparkled faintly. Her long black hair cascaded like a waterfall, framing her face where piercing blue eyes gleamed with ancient wisdom.
A faint smile tugged at her lips as if she already knew the path they had traveled and where it would lead. "I have been expecting you."
Liang cast her only a fleeting glance before his eyes moved to the crystals scattered around the chamber. They glowed with an ancient, inner light, casting mysterious shadows on the symbols and patterns that lined the throne. For reasons he couldn’t quite grasp, this place felt hauntingly familiar, as though he had walked in its shadows before.
Could it be just his imagination? No, that shouldn’t be the case...
Dong Rui, ignoring Liang’s distraction, cautiously replied to the woman, "Expecting us? What do you mean by that?"
The woman’s smile widened, her eyes glinting with a knowing light. "The serpent wanted to devour the world, while the sparrow desired to transform into a phoenix. Which do you think is more ambitious?"