With his current soul power, he had only one chance. If this strike failed, retreat would be their only option.

A sharp wind blade sliced through the air at the same time, smashing into the Crystal Bear's belly. Lily had poured out her remaining strength, both to assist and to mask the sound of Ray's approach.

For three nine-year-olds without powerful soul skills, what they had already accomplished was nothing short of astonishing.

Ray arrived.

Without hesitation, his Golden Dragon Claw tore into the bear's nape.

Kaka!

A crunching sound rang out as the crushing effect activated at full force. The Crystal Bear's neck caved in.

Ray's raw strength exceeded a thousand kilograms. Combined with the Golden Dragon Claw's tyrannical crushing power, the force was terrifying beyond measure.

Yet even so, he felt resistance.

Compared to the Horned Dragon, the Crystal Bear's hide was astonishingly tough. If not for striking its weakest point, this blow might not have been enough.

Is it over?

Raziel Phoenix stared as the thousand-year Crystal Bear toppled forward. The sound of snapping bone sent a thrill through him.

With two soul rings, he had the highest cultivation among them. To take down a beast like this… it was something worth boasting about for a lifetime.

Then—

A brilliant yellow radiance suddenly erupted from the Crystal Bear's body.

The light spread only a meter outward, but it engulfed Ray completely.

"No—!" Lily screamed.

The yellow glow crystallized Ray in an instant. His body froze mid-motion, turning rigid and translucent as he began to tip forward.

Crystal shattered easily.

If he hit the ground, he would break apart.

Even in the spirit ascension platform, the trauma would leave terrifying aftereffects. Permanent injury was not impossible.

Lily flashed beside him in a burst of silver light, throwing herself under his falling body and bracing him with both arms.

Ray's crystallized form was far heavier than before. Worse still, he was still gripping both Heavy Silver hammers.

Lily slammed into the ground under his weight. The impact rattled her mind, but she clenched her teeth and held on, using nothing but sheer physical strength to keep him from shattering.

The most dangerous moment after crystallization was right at the start. As long as he didn't break, the crystals would eventually recede on their own.

Ray's consciousness blurred. A suffocating pressure crushed his chest, sharp pain stabbing through him.

He couldn't see or hear.

But inwardly, he felt something strange.

Golden threads of energy surged out from deep within his body, weaving through his limbs like veins of light. Dark yellow energy poured into him, but the golden threads resisted it, dispersing the suffocation.

This wasn't soul power.

He had already exhausted all of it.

Yet these golden threads steadied him, keeping him alive.

"Ray! Lily!" Raziel Phoenix rushed over, panic written across his face. He carefully lifted Ray and dragged Lily free from beneath him.

Lily's eyes were shut. Her face was pale as parchment, her breathing shallow. She had been injured by the impact.

Raziel Phoenix hesitated only a moment before slapping the emergency exit button on the back of Lily's hand.

She dissolved into a ray of light and vanished.

Ray remained crystallized. There was no way to press his button.

The surrounding underbrush suddenly rustled.

More presences were closing in.

What do I do?

Ray couldn't move. Raziel Phoenix's soul power was nearly drained. If he fled now, he could escape. But Ray would be left behind, helpless.

Raziel Phoenix tightened his grip on both daggers.

Then he made his choice.

He dropped to one knee beside Ray, slowing his breathing, conserving what little strength he had left. His eyes burned with resolve.

A true man did not abandon his comrades.

His father's words echoed in his heart.

Support heaven and earth.

Face danger head-on.

Never run.

Dark green shapes emerged from the forest one by one.

Wolves.

At least ten of them.

Their fur was deep green, their amber eyes cold and merciless.

Half of them veered toward the remains of the Horned Dragon. The rest crept closer, fanning out to surround Raziel Phoenix and Ray.

Green Wolves.

Ten-year soul beasts, violent and pack-oriented. Scavengers that grew stronger by feeding on corpses.

Raziel Phoenix raised both daggers and shouted, voice ringing through the forest, "You can have the Crystal Bear! But if you come any closer, don't blame me for fighting back!"

Whether they understood him or not, the wolves paused briefly.

Not long enough.

Their interest was clearly not in the corpse.

The circle tightened.

Raziel Phoenix's heartbeat thundered in his ears.

No more hesitation.

If he wanted to protect Ray—

He had to strike first.

Raziel Phoenix slid sideways and slashed, a Light Dragon Blade flashing out as he closed in on a Green Wolf.

Pu!

The blade cut cleanly across the wolf's throat. A shrill whine burst out as blood sprayed into the air, and the body collapsed.

Raziel Phoenix didn't slow down for even a breath. He twisted his body toward another Green Wolf just as it opened its mouth and spat out a green wind blade.

He bent backward like a bow, the blade whistling past his nose. Using the recoil, he lunged forward. Both daggers swept out in a brutal cross, tearing open the wolf's throat. Before the body even hit the ground, Raziel Phoenix was already beside the next target.

A subtle flick of his wrist.

The Shadow Dragon Dagger slid across an artery.

Blood erupted.

Life drained away in an instant.

Three wolves fell almost simultaneously.

But the price came immediately.

Dozens of green wind blades screamed through the air toward him.

Raziel Phoenix dodged with everything he had, yet pain exploded across his back and left leg. His jacket was shredded, soaked crimson in seconds.

"Bastards!" he roared.

He rolled desperately, barely evading another blade, then forced himself upright and charged again, daggers flashing.

He didn't dare activate a soul skill. His soul power was nearly gone. His injured leg slowed him, every step tearing at his muscles. Cuts and bruises covered his body, blood streaming down his arms and legs.

It was pure desperation.

Yet from start to finish, he never retreated.

He kept circling the crystallized Ray, placing himself between his fallen comrade and the wolves. Light and shadow danced with every swing of his daggers as he fought like a madman, exchanging wound for wound.

Slowly, the dark yellow crystal light receded.

Ray's senses returned in fragments.

The first thing that hit him was the stench of blood.

Then he saw it.

A figure drenched in red, barely standing.

"Wooo—!"

A wolf howled as a particularly large Green Wolf leapt forward.

"I'll fight you to the death!" Raziel Phoenix's hoarse scream shattered Ray's daze.

The daggers slipped from Raziel Phoenix's hands.

The wolf slammed him to the ground, jaws opening wide, fangs aimed straight for his throat.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

A silver blur streaked through the air.

Three heavy impacts rang out in rapid succession.

The massive Green Wolf let out a strangled cry before its skull shattered, collapsing lifelessly onto Raziel Phoenix.

Dazed, Raziel Phoenix felt someone slap the back of his hand.

Darkness swallowed his vision.

Ray stood there, breathing heavily, having crushed the wolf's head with his hammer. He took in the blood-soaked ground, the fallen wolves, and the unconscious Raziel Phoenix. Lily was nowhere in sight; he immediately understood that she had already been sent out.

He pressed the emergency exit button on his own hand.

The forest vanished.

—

Light exploded back into his vision.

Ray shot upright from the metal box and shouted, "Raziel Phoenix!"

Blinking against the glare, he scanned the room.

Barbara stood stiffly nearby. Volt lay trembling weakly. Lily sat pale-faced, clearly injured.

And beside him—an open metal box.

Ray rushed over.

"Raziel Phoenix! Raziel Phoenix!"

"I… I'm fine," Raziel Phoenix muttered weakly, forcing his eyes open. "Just… sore all over."

Relief flooded Ray so hard his legs gave out. He dropped onto the floor, chest heaving as exhaustion finally caught up to him.

Alfred and Aaron stood nearby.

Aaron was visibly shaken.

Alfred, as always, was calm.

The Spirit Tower staff member couldn't hide his awe. "Geniuses… Absolute geniuses. Are you certain these children are only nine years old?"

His gaze burned with excitement, especially when it fell on Ray, Raziel Phoenix, and Lily.

He had witnessed everything.

Ray's transformed right hand, capable of killing a hundred-year Horned Dragon in a single strike and crushing a thousand-year Crystal Bear.

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