After a long while, the sea finally returned to calm.
The surrounding ships, scattered across the waters, bore the marks of destruction. Aetherbinding cultivators aboard looked on, their faces frozen in shock.
They had all witnessed the scene-a battle so catastrophic it seemed to tear the heavens apart. Even a cultivator as powerful as one at the peak of Solstice had been reduced to nothing but ashes.
The Iron Fist pirates suffered devastating losses, with countless dead or injured. Those who survived fled in all directions.
“Chris!”
As the sea grew quiet, Lindsay Windson snapped out of her daze. Her face turned pale, and she hurried toward the wreckage with Tanner Field.
The explosion’s sheer magnitude filled Lindsay with a sense of dread. When they finally found Chris, they were met with a horrifying sight-his arms had been blown off.
Without hesitation, Lindsay piloted a small boat, carrying Chris away from the perilous waters.
At the same time, news began to spread like wildfire.
It soon became known that Blood Iron, the Iron Fist’s deputy Hall Master, had been killed by a man named Chris.
Blood Iron, a peak Solstice cultivator, had perished without even leaving behind a body.
As word of Chris’s victory over Hartless Iron and Blood Iron spread, the entire Sunnyvale was thrown into chaos.
The Iron Fist, one of Sunnyvale’s four major pirate factions, had suffered a crippling blow. The deaths of both men were a grave loss.
—
In a heavily guarded island belonging to the Iron Fist, a chilling atmosphere hung in the air. This island, forbidden to outsiders, was a sanctuary for the dead.
The land was covered with tombstones-countless graves belonging to fallen Iron Fist pirates from over the years. The air was thick with the stench of death, and an eerie silence filled the area.
Suddenly, a deafening explosion shattered the stillness.
From a massive grave came a burst of energy, and moments later, an elderly man with snow-white hair rose from within. His body radiated a powerful aura of death, and as he walked, the plants around him withered and died.
The man’s eyes burned with rage as he growled, “Chris, you dare kill my son and my brother. I will destroy you!”
This old man was none other than Soren Iron, the former Hall Master of the Iron Fist.
Years ago, Soren had entered seclusion to cultivate, and by now, he had reached the formidable Elysium stage.
When the news of his son and brother’s deaths reached him, he immediately ended his seclusion. His mind was consumed with vengeance. Chris would pay.
—
Thousands of miles away, a narrow forest path stretched into the distance. A horse-drawn carriage sped along, driven by a teenage boy-Tanner Field.
The carriage curtains were suddenly pulled back, revealing a stunning woman inside.
“Tanner Field, are we close to leaving Sunnyvale?” she asked.
The woman was Lindsay Windson.
After the battle, Chris had managed to kill Blood Iron, but he was gravely wounded. His arms were destroyed in the explosion.
Lindsay had made the immediate decision to flee Sunnyvale with Chris. She knew that the Iron Fist would never let them go unpunished.
If they were caught, death was certain.
Tanner answered, “We’ll need about a day to leave Sunnyvale.”
Hearing this, Lindsay returned to the carriage.
Inside, Chris lay unconscious, his arms reduced to empty sleeves. Lindsay’s face was etched with sorrow as she watched over him.
An hour passed before Chris stirred.
He opened his eyes slowly, his voice weak. “Where are we?”
“We’re on the road out of Sunnyvale,” Lindsay replied.
Chris tried to sit up instinctively, but his movement stalled as he froze mid-motion.
His gaze fell on his arms-or rather, the absence of them. His face turned blank, disbelief etched across it.
Seeing his expression, Lindsay sighed deeply and explained, “Chris, a few days ago, when you fought Blood Iron, the explosion cost you your arms…”
Her voice faltered, unable to continue.
After a long silence, Chris finally asked, “Is Blood Iron dead?”
“Yes,” Lindsay replied. “He’s gone-nothing left of him.”
Hearing this, Chris exhaled in relief.
If he had paid such a heavy price without managing to kill Blood Iron, it would have all been for nothing.
Back then, Chris had unleashed the Ice-Fire Blaze, intending to take Blood Iron down with him. Losing his arms was a small price to pay for victory.
Despite his injuries, Chris’s spirit remained unbroken. Somewhere deep within, he believed he would one day regain his arms.
Lindsay grasped the empty sleeves of his shirt, tears streaming down her face.
Chris smiled faintly and said, “Don’t cry. We need to keep moving. If the Iron Fist catches up, we’re done for.”
He was right. After killing Blood Iron and Hartless Iron, the Iron Fist would stop at nothing to hunt them down.
—
A day later, the group arrived at White Shore, a border region between Sunnyvale and Amerosia.
Once they crossed into Amerosia, Chris would be safe-at least for a while.
During the journey, Lindsay noticed a change in Chris.
Since losing his arms, he had become quiet and withdrawn.
Her heart ached, but she said nothing, silently tending to him.
White Shore lay near the Celestial Peaks. Once they passed through, they would be in Amerosia.
Suddenly, Chris’s expression darkened.
“Something’s wrong,” he said gravely. “They’re coming. We need to head for the Celestial Peaks now!”
Years of surviving life-or-death situations had honed Chris’s instincts. He could sense danger before it arrived.
Hearing his warning, Lindsay and Tanner immediately urged the carriage toward the Celestial Peaks.
—
Before they could get far, shadows materialized on the path ahead.
Several figures blocked their way-Iron Fist’s remaining Solstice cultivators.
Chris recognized them instantly.
These were Iron Fist’s last few Solstice-level fighters. Soren Iron had sent them all to ensure Chris’s capture.
Faced with these enemies, Lindsay and Tanner’s faces turned pale.
If Chris had been whole, these cultivators would have posed little threat. But now, with his arms gone and his strength diminished, the odds were against them.
Lindsay and Tanner stood no chance against fighters of this caliber.
“You dare kill our deputy Hall Master?” one of the Solstice cultivators sneered. “By order of the Hall Master, we’re here to take you back!”
With that, they charged forward.