The eastern wall of Glory City shook under relentless assault.
Flames licked the sky as Sacred Family mercenaries and demon beasts surged forward, overwhelming the outer defenses. Cries of fear and pain echoed everywhere.
Atop the shattered barricades, Ling Tian stood tall—armor scorched, fists clenched, eyes blazing with unyielding resolve.
"Hold the line!" he roared, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Beside him, Xiao Ning'er spun her spear, her aura crackling with fierce energy. "Reinforcements are coming!" she called, though her eyes stayed sharp, scanning the field for the next wave.
Behind them, wounded guards and students rallied, drawing strength from the pair who refused to fall.
Another wave hit—a swarm of armored assassins and two Direwolf Demon Beasts barreling forward.
"Break their momentum!" Ling Tian barked.
He dashed straight into the fray, soul force erupting from his fists like thunder. Every punch sent shockwaves through the battlefield, knocking enemies aside like rag dolls.
Xiao Ning'er followed close, her spear a blur of silver fire. She struck with deadly precision, carving through the tide, her power and grace mesmerizing.
But still—they were outnumbered.
"Ling Tian!" a guard shouted, panic in his eyes. "The wall—it's collapsing!"
Ling Tian's gaze snapped to the east—where a massive breach yawned open, exposing the city's heart.
His mind raced. We can't hold this forever…
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration.
"Everyone, fall back to the plaza!" he ordered. "We make our final stand there!"
"But—"
"Trust me!" Ling Tian's eyes blazed. "We turn their numbers against them."
Minutes later, the defenders regrouped at the plaza—a wide space boxed in by ancient walls and narrow alleys.
Ling Tian's hands blurred as he laid out a series of talismans, each glowing with deadly energy.
"It's a trap," Xiao Ning'er realized, her eyes lighting with fierce pride.
He met her gaze, breathless. "We lure them in—and end it."
The Sacred Family's forces poured in, drunk on their seeming victory—only to find themselves funneled into a deadly kill zone.
Ling Tian slammed his palms together.
Boom—BOOM—BOOM!
Explosions rocked the plaza as his talismans detonated in perfect sequence, walls of flame and force tearing through the enemy ranks.
Chaos erupted—mercenaries screamed, beasts howled, the tide breaking apart in seconds.
Xiao Ning'er and the defenders charged, cutting down the survivors with ruthless precision.
Within minutes, the plaza was silent—smoke rising, bodies strewn like fallen leaves.
Victory.
Breathless, Ling Tian leaned on his knees, scanning the battlefield. Xiao Ning'er approached, her eyes shining with relief and fierce pride.
"You did it," she whispered.
We did," Ling Tian corrected, pulling her close.
Their foreheads pressed together, sweat and grime forgotten in the rush of shared triumph.
"For Glory City," Xiao Ning'er murmured.
Ling Tian's eyes darkened with quiet determination.
"And for us."