Chapter 378: Battle to the Bitter End
As the battle dragged on, the Spirit Empire's position grew increasingly precarious, and the fighting turned ever more brutal. Confronted with the powerful hundred-thousand-year-old soul beasts, even the Spirit Empire's Titled Douluo had to exercise extreme caution. The top five elders each faced off against one of the ferocious beasts with all their strength, yet they struggled to gain any ground.
Among the six Grand Elders of Spirit Hall, only Lion Douluo and Azure Luan Douluo had reached level 97; the others were merely at the peak of level 96, making it difficult for them to fight against the ruthless beasts on their own. The heaviest burden lay on Golden Crocodile Douluo, who was up against the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear King, Sr. Xiong, a beast with near level-99 strength. The disparity in power was obvious, and if not for Sr. Xiong relatively low intelligence and savage nature, Golden Crocodile Douluo might have been overwhelmed already.
The regular spirit masters managed to hold some advantage. Spirit Empire's defending forces numbered over three hundred thousand soldiers, with an additional forty thousand soul masters within the city. Even civilians with spirit power joined the fight; while they couldn't launch long-range attacks, they could hurl objects from the top of the walls, targeting the hundred- and thousand-year-old soul beasts below.
In the sky above, Di Tian and Qian Daoliu faced each other from a distance, neither making the first move, merely watching each other with cold disdain.
Di Tian sneered, "Qian Daoliu, the difference in our power is significant. Remember our last battle? You were completely outmatched."
Qian Daoliu replied with a calm, disdainful smile. "Di Tian, I am well aware of your strength—stronger than mine, admittedly. But remember, this is Spirit City, the legacy of the Angel Clan. Here, I wield the power of the Angel God, making me invincible."
Di Tian chuckled, "Angel God's power? As I recall, Yang Potian defeated you here. Hardly 'invincible,' wouldn't you say?"
Qian Daoliu shot back, "I heard you barely escaped with your life from Yang Potian in Skywalker Academy. For a so-called 'Beast God' to have fled in disgrace, you certainly have no reason to boast."
Di Tian's face darkened as he remembered the wound Yang Potian had inflicted on him, a wound that had taken the healing powers of Emerald Swan Bi Ji to recover. Hearing Qian Daoliu bring up that incident again, his voice grew colder. "Enough. It was Yang Potian who wounded me, not you. You've no right to gloat over someone else's victory."
Qian Daoliu let out a mocking laugh. "Perhaps, but Yang Potian is one of us—a human—and I believe it was his Asura Sword that injured you. I doubt such a wound was easy to recover from."
Di Tian's tone turned scornful. "It was a minor injury, nothing I can't recover from. Your Spirit City, however, is on the brink of ruin. Soon, it will be nothing more than rubble. You will pay the price for defying us."
After this tense exchange, both of them refocused on the battle below, observing the unfolding clash.
The situation in Spirit City was indeed dire. The soul beast forces were overwhelming, and though Spirit Empire's defenders fought with all they had, they were barely managing to hold the line. The top-ranked fighters among the soul beasts gave them a clear advantage, and if even a single Titled Douluo were to fall, Spirit City's defenses would collapse in an instant.
On the battlefield, Golden Crocodile Douluo struggled against Sr. Xiong. While he managed to hold his ground, victory was out of reach. Lion Douluo, having transformed into a massive lion, fought fiercely against a three-headed Crimson Demon Mastiff, with both sides equally matched. Azure Luan Douluo faced off against Emerald Swan Bi Ji, one of Star Dou Forest's mightiest soul beasts. Though her healing powers were exceptional, Bi Ji's offensive capabilities were limited. Without Azure Luan Douluo to occupy her, however, Bi Ji could provide her allies with formidable healing, giving the soul beast side a considerable advantage.
Battle Douluo and Demon-Suppressing Douluo wanted to assist Golden Crocodile Douluo, but each was engaged in their own desperate struggle. Battle Douluo faced a massive Gale Demon Wolf, while Demon-Suppressing Douluo fought a monstrous Demon-Eye Tree covered in numerous eerie, glaring eyes that launched relentless surprise attacks.
Each Titled Douluo on the battlefield was locked in combat with a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, barely able to hold their own. In ordinary times, these spirit masters would have had to search far and wide for even one hundred-thousand-year beast, but now they were surrounded by over a dozen of them. Meanwhile, Lightfeather Douluo, whose archery skills were crucial for support, remained behind the front lines, providing critical assistance from afar. Were it not for him, he too would have been pulled into the melee against the horde of soul beasts.
Adding to the challenge were the numerous fifty-thousand-year soul beasts, whose raw power was comparable to that of a Soul Douluo. Their sheer size and durability made them formidable foes, and their attacks against the walls were causing significant damage. If they reached the walls, the consequences would be disastrous.
As the tension mounted, with reinforcements nowhere in sight, Qian Daoliu felt an increasing sense of urgency. If the battle continued at this pace, the fall of Spirit City would only be a matter of time.
The one advantage the Spirit Empire had was the enormous Angel Statue within the city, which radiated a holy golden light. Under its influence, all human spirit masters experienced enhanced spirit power recovery and accelerated healing. The light even had mild detoxifying properties, dispelling fear and boosting the defenders' morale.
This protective blessing from the Angel God gave them hope, but against the relentless tide of soul beasts, it would take every ounce of strength and skill the defenders had to survive this grueling siege.
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