Chapter 103: End of Battle
Ling Yu ignored both. Her grip on her weapon tightened.
"Xian Yu," she said without looking back, "keep me alive. Heal every wound, no matter how deep. Can you do that?"
Xian Yu’s pale face was taut with fear, but his eyes were steady.
"Yes," he whispered, voice trembling but firm. "I’ll heal you. No matter what."
"Good."
The Alpha Ape bellowed again and charged.
The ground cracked with every thunderous step as the beast lunged straight for the group. Its massive fist swung like a boulder, slamming down toward the terrified survivors.
"Scatter!" Ling Yu barked.
She darted forward, faster than any ordinary human could track. Her blade flashed upward, slicing into the ape’s forearm just as the fist smashed down. Blood gushed, but the creature only roared louder, swatting at her like a fly.
The impact sent her skidding across the ground, boots digging furrows in the dirt.
"Ling Yu!" Shen Ming shouted, rushing forward with his spear. He thrust at the beast’s side, his weapon glowing faintly with the divine blessing of his sponsor. But the Alpha Ape twisted, the spear grazing harmlessly against its dense hide.
"Pathetic," Ling Yu muttered under her breath, lunging back in.
This time, she aimed for its knee. Her blade bit deep, slicing tendon and muscle. The beast stumbled with a roar, smashing its fist into the ground in fury. The shockwave sent several survivors flying, blood spraying from their mouths.
"Xian Yu!" one of them screamed. "Heal us! Please!"
But Xian Yu’s gaze stayed locked on Ling Yu. His hands glowed with warm light, pouring healing into her battered body where bruises and cuts were already forming.
"Focus on her," he murmured to himself. "She needs it most."
Ling Yu felt the warmth seep into her flesh, knitting torn muscle, closing bleeding cuts. The sensation was intoxicating, like being invincible.
[System Notification: Continuous Healing Buff applied. Recovery rate increased by 65%.]
"Good," she hissed, leaping again.
The battle raged.
The Alpha Ape swung its fists like wrecking balls, each strike shattering concrete and sending shockwaves through the battlefield. Survivors scrambled desperately, some too slow, crushed instantly under its blows. Their screams cut short, their blood adding to the stench of death.
Shen Ming fought with calculated ferocity, his spear darting in and out like a serpent. Every strike aimed at weak points, its eyes, throat, and underarms, but his attacks barely scratched the beast. Sweat poured down his face as his calm facade cracked.
"Damn it! Why won’t it go down?!" he cursed.
"Because you’re too weak," Ling Yu snapped, vaulting onto the monster’s arm as it swung. She sprinted up its massive limb, blade gleaming. In one swift motion, she slashed across its chest, carving a deep crimson gash.
The Alpha Ape roared in agony, swatting at her wildly.
Ling Yu leapt, flipping through the air, landing on its shoulder. Her dagger plunged into its neck, hot blood gushing across her hand.
But the beast didn’t fall. Instead, it slammed itself against a wall, smashing her back painfully. Ribs cracked. Blood filled her mouth.
"Ling Yu!" Xian Yu’s voice rang out, desperate. His healing light surged, flooding her broken body with warmth. Her ribs knit together, the blood in her lungs dissipating in seconds.
Ling Yu coughed once, then grinned, feral.
"That’s it. Keep going."
Xian Yu’s mana drained rapidly, but his eyes never wavered. He poured everything into her.
Minutes stretched into an eternity.
The battlefield was a blur of blood, steel, and light. Ling Yu danced across the monster’s body like death incarnate, carving wounds faster than they could close. Each time she faltered, Xian Yu’s healing dragged her back from the brink.
Shen Ming, meanwhile, grew more and more desperate. He shouted orders, tried to rally survivors, but none matched Ling Yu’s savagery. His strikes looked weak in comparison; his presence was completely overshadowed.
Finally, the Alpha Ape staggered. Its chest heaved, blood pouring from dozens of wounds. One eye was blinded, its jaw hung broken, half its teeth shattered.
Ling Yu landed before it, blade dripping. Her crimson eyes burned like fire.
"Fall," she commanded.
With a final roar, the beast raised both fists, ready to crush her into paste.
"Xian Yu!" she shouted.
He understood instantly. His last surge of mana flared, wrapping her in a glowing shield of pure light.
Ling Yu lunged forward as the fists came crashing down. She leapt into the air, blade raised high, and drove it straight into the monster’s skull.
Crack.
Boom!
The Alpha Ape collapsed, its massive body shaking the earth one last time before going still.
Then—
[System Notification: Boss Monster Defeated.
Loot Dropped: Alpha Ape Core (Elite), Rare Beast Hide, Fragmented Claw.]
The battlefield was over.
And then Xian Yu swayed. His glow sputtered out. He smiled one last time at Ling Yu, whispering, "You... you won."
Then he collapsed, unconscious.
Ling Yu caught him before he hit the ground.
Her blade still dripped blood, her clothes soaked through. But her eyes burned brighter than ever as she carried him away from the corpse of the fallen Alpha Ape.
The battlefield reeked of iron.
Blood spattered across shattered crates, broken shelves, and the cracked concrete of the ruined marketplace. The howls of the monstrous apes had long since been silenced, leaving only the ragged panting of survivors. Broken weapons clattered to the ground as trembling hands lowered them, unable to believe that the nightmare had truly ended.
But Ling Yu did not waste even a single breath in relief.
Her sharp gaze swept across the battlefield, cataloging corpses, cores, and opportunities with a cold precision that sent chills down Shen Ming’s spine.
In the middle of it all, Xian Yu swayed. His beautiful, androgynous face was pale, his lips drained of all color, sweat sliding down his delicate jawline. She saw his dedication, the way his trembling hands clutched the talisman-like staff that had become his focus in battle. He had been casting the healing power non-stop: barriers, area-wide heals, single-target blessings, regeneration pulses.