Chapter 384: The Self-Destruction of the Titled Douluo
By this point, the battle had raged for over six hours since the initial assault by the soul beasts, and casualties on both sides were catastrophic. Spirit City had transformed into a fiery, blood-soaked hellscape.
Mountains of soul beast bones littered the battlefield, their flesh and energy long since absorbed by Tang San's Dark Blue Silver Grass. Spirit Empire struggled to keep its defenses intact, expending lives at a staggering rate as both soul masters and soldiers fell by the dozens.
The death toll among the Spirit Empire's soul master ranks had reached critical levels, with losses now surpassing even those suffered before the brief rest period. Out of the initial forty thousand soul masters, fewer than twenty-five thousand remained, with lower-level soul masters serving as mere cannon fodder on the battlefield. Spirit Empire's vast army of 300,000 had also suffered heavily. The wall that had first been breached now lay strewn with the bodies of soldiers who had faced the unrelenting wave of soul beasts, and over 100,000 troops had already perished.
Still, some hope persisted for the Empire as reinforcements began to trickle in. Upon receiving word of the soul beast invasion, Qian Daoliu had immediately recalled all available soul masters, especially high-ranking ones. The first to return were the troops from the Wind Sword Sect and the Elephant Armor Sect.
The Wind Sword Sect made good time due to their exceptional speed, with every sect member adept at sword flight, and their leader, Feng Bailong, a peak-level Soul Douluo, leading the way. Renowned for their deadly attacks, they quickly proved invaluable against the soul beasts.
Among the reinforcements was Huyan Zhen of the Elephant Armor Sect, who had recently achieved the rank of Titled Douluo, largely thanks to the Empire's support. A natural powerhouse with formidable defense and physical strength, Huyan Zhen was more than capable of withstanding the attacks of ten-thousand-year soul beasts and immediately entered the fray to aid in the defense.
Other Titled Douluo stationed across the continent were also beginning to arrive, quickly closing the gap between the Spirit Empire and their powerful enemies.
Meanwhile, under Golden Eagle Douluo's guidance, warriors from Skyward Academy, including Yang Zhentian and Sword Douluo, approached Spirit City's outskirts, where they witnessed a scene of utter carnage. Soul beasts blanketed the land, their fierce energy making the terrain look like the depths of hell.
Yang Zhentian murmured, "Senior Sword Douluo, Senior Poison Douluo, the situation in Spirit City is worse than we thought. The city might be on the verge of collapse."
Sword Douluo's expression grew grim. "I never expected things to be this dire. We need to hurry."
Poison Douluo scowled. "I've seen a lot over the years, but nothing like this—such an overwhelming horde of soul beasts. It's as if Star Dou Forest has gone mad."
Sword Douluo chuckled, though his expression was tight. "Poison Douluo, don't tell me you're afraid? This might be even more dangerous than the battles that wiped out the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Poison Douluo scoffed. "Sword Douluo, I might not beat you one-on-one, but when it comes to killing soul beasts, no one does it better. After all these peaceful years, it's time to remind the world what I can do in battle."
Despite their banter, the group hastened toward the city, their flight unwavering.
On the battlefield, Qianjun and Jiangmo Douluo, though powerful, were struggling against Tang San and two ten-thousand-year soul beasts. Tang San's superior abilities, coupled with his Blue Silver Grass, made him acutely aware of Spirit Empire's incoming reinforcements. He even sensed the familiar presences of the Skyward Academy members who had once challenged him.
Frowning, Tang San grew desperate. Despite his success in taking down two Titled Douluo, Spirit Empire's forces were rallying and, with Skyward Academy's intervention, his revenge seemed increasingly out of reach.
Qianjun Douluo, though severely pressured, spat out defiantly, "Tang San, you may be a traitor, but I fought your father many times and respected him as an honorable man. You're nothing but a disgrace."
Tang San's fury ignited at the insult. "You hounded my father mercilessly, wounding him until his death was inevitable. You will pay for it."
His expression twisted, Tang San detonated five of his own spirit rings, turning his Clear Sky Hammer into a mountain-sized weapon, aiming to crush Qianjun and Jiangmo with all his strength, indifferent to the soul beasts around them.
In a last-ditch effort, Qianjun and Jiangmo Douluo each activated their ninth spirit skills, Deliverance of the Living and Enlightened Existence. Their Coiling Dragon Staffs morphed into colossal, dragon-like weapons, determined to crush their opponent. The impact of their clashing soul powers sent shockwaves through the sky, dispersing the surrounding spirit power into fine particles.
Though gravely injured, the two brothers locked eyes in silent agreement. With a thunderous cry, they flung themselves toward two ten-thousand-year soul beasts—Qianjun Douluo toward the Swift Wind Demon Wolf, and Jiangmo Douluo toward the Devil-Eyed Demon Tree.
Moments later, twin explosions rocked the battlefield as the brothers self-destructed, unleashing torrents of soul power. The massive shockwaves left two enormous craters, vaporizing countless soul beasts in the process. Their targets, the Swift Wind Demon Wolf and Devil-Eyed Demon Tree, lay in bloody ruin, grievously wounded by the blasts. The wolf was shredded almost beyond recognition, while the demon tree was left with shattered branches and a ravaged trunk.
This marked the first instance of Titled Douluo self-destructing on the battlefield, a desperate and horrific display of the battle's brutality.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Franklin1