Episode 61 – Shattered Cocoon, Broken Fate
Recap
Faizi Tian unleashed the second form of the Heaven-Breaking Sword Art against the Demon General and the demonic nest hidden within the quarry. Realizing that the Demon General's power was directly tied to the living Demon Seed, Faizi forced the battle toward its core. As shadows erupted in desperation and the quarry trembled on the brink of collapse, Faizi raised his sword, pouring all his resolve into a single, decisive strike aimed at ending the curse of the South Road once and for all.
Episode 61 – Shattered Cocoon, Broken Fate
The golden blade descended like judgment itself.
Light swallowed the quarry, erasing color, sound, and shadow in a single blinding instant. The runes carved into the stone walls shattered as if made of glass, unable to withstand the purity of Faizi Tian's Qi. For a brief moment, everything froze.
Then came the scream.
The black cocoon convulsed violently, its surface cracking as veins of golden light tore through it. Thick tendrils of shadow lashed out wildly, thrashing in agony as the Demon Seed within fought to survive. The ground split apart beneath it, and a shockwave blasted outward, throwing debris and dust high into the air.
Faizi Tian stood at the center of the storm, his sword buried deep into the cocoon's core.
"End," he said quietly.
With a final, deafening shriek, the cocoon shattered.
Fragments of hardened shadow exploded outward before dissolving into smoke. The soul energy trapped inside burst free, flooding the quarry with countless flickering lights. One by one, the villagers collapsed as the draining stopped, their souls returning to their bodies like lost flames finding their way home.
The Demon General staggered.
The moment the cocoon broke, its aura plummeted. Cracks raced across its bone armor, and the shadows clinging to its body began to peel away like rotting skin. It roared in pure fury and disbelief, clawing at the air as if trying to grasp the power it had just lost.
"No… my seed… my future!" it bellowed.
Faizi Tian pulled his sword free and turned slowly.
"You built your future on stolen lives," he replied coldly. "It ends here."
The Demon General charged in madness, abandoning all technique. Its movements were heavy, unbalanced, driven by rage rather than control. Faizi Tian met it head-on. His sword flashed once, twice, each strike precise and merciless. Without the Demon Seed's support, the Demon General's strength collapsed rapidly.
A final clash echoed through the quarry.
Golden light pierced through the skull mask, straight into the Demon General's core. The massive body froze, shadows draining away as its form began to crumble. Its roar faded into a hollow whisper before the armor shattered, collapsing into lifeless bone fragments.
Silence followed.
Dust settled slowly as the echoes of battle faded. The quarry, once soaked in corruption, felt strangely empty. The oppressive darkness lifted, replaced by a faint warmth carried by the returning souls.
Faizi Tian exhaled deeply. The golden light around him dimmed, leaving behind exhaustion that crept into his limbs. He quickly moved among the fallen villagers, cutting their bindings and channeling gentle Qi to stabilize their breathing.
They were alive.
As he straightened, a faint tremor ran through the ground once more. From the shattered remains of the cocoon, a small shard of dark crystal lay exposed, pulsing weakly with residual demonic energy.
Faizi Tian narrowed his eyes.
"This isn't over yet," he murmured.
He reached down and wrapped the shard carefully, sealing it with his Qi. Whatever secrets the Demon Seed had carried, they might lead to something far greater — and far more dangerous.
With the villagers safe and the quarry cleansed, Faizi Tian turned toward the South Road, knowing that this victory was only the beginning of a much larger storm.
To be continued in Episode 62 – Echoes Beyond the South Road