Hiyakura felt a surge of anger upon hearing Tao Yao mention dancing.
Her eyes turned red with rage, and her voice was filled with long-suppressed emotions:
"Self-centered and arrogant fool! Who wants to watch you dance?! Do you think you're something special? Always dancing, dancing, do you really think you look good doing it?!"
Her voice grew louder, almost turning into a hysterical scream.
Tao Yao's words stirred memories within her, bringing forth the night at the Conch Park.
Under the moonlight, Tao Yao's graceful dance, the cheerful music played by the conch, and the feelings she had at that time, deeply attracted by Tao Yao's stunning dance.
These memories felt so ironic to her now.
"From the first time you danced in front of me, you've been deceiving me, haven't you?"
Hiyakura said through gritted teeth, her voice full of pain and anger, "I can't believe I was attracted to your hideously ugly dance... I'm such a fool!"
With her emotions surging, the uncontrolled power within Hiyakura surged once more.
Fiery energy radiated from her, creating ripples of heat that made the surrounding air twist.
At that moment, a cold voice whispered in her ear like a heart demon:
"Kill her!"
Hiyakura covered her ears in pain, but that voice echoed directly in her mind:
"Hiyakura! What are you waiting for? The one responsible for all this disaster, the one who toyed with you."
"She's right here, right in front of you!"
"If you don't take action now, when will you?!"
The voice grew louder and more urgent.
It relentlessly stimulated Hiyakura's nerves like a death warrant.
She shook her head, trying to escape the influence of this voice, but it was futile.
Just then, Tao Yao began to walk slowly towards her.
Seeing this, Hiyakura panicked.
She was acutely aware of how dangerous her current state was.
If Tao Yao got too close, it would definitely harm her.
"Don't... don't come near me! Stay away!"
Hiyakura shouted loudly, her voice filled with fear and concern.
She stepped back a few paces, trying to maintain distance from Tao Yao.
However, Tao Yao seemed not to hear her warning and kept approaching her.
At that moment, Hiyakura's pupils suddenly changed.
Her originally gentle gaze became cold and unfamiliar, as if she had become another person.
"Don't come near me! Stupid human!"
Hiyakura said coldly, her voice filled with threat and hostility.
As her emotions and temperament changed, the surrounding flames and heat waves seemed to sense something and began to cheer.
These searing forces appeared to come to life, encircling Tao Yao.
Hiyakura completely lost her sanity.
Her hands moved uncontrolled, manipulating the flames around her.
The fire tongues danced like agile snakes in the air, sweeping in all directions.
The surrounding scenery collapsed rapidly under this violent force; the beautiful sea of flowers had turned to ashes, and the ground began to crack, forming bottomless ravines.
However, amidst this chaos, Tao Yao still resolutely moved forward.
She passed through the burning flower sea, ignoring the dangers around her until she stood in front of Hiyakura.
Then, she reached out her hand and tightly grasped Hiyakura's already cracked hand.
"But I've already got hold of you."
Tao Yao said softly, wearing a gentle smile.
In that instant, the flames wrapping around Hiyakura suddenly transferred to Tao Yao.
This fierce fire had wrapped around Tao Yao's body.
Yet Tao Yao showed no sign of retreat.
At the same time, Hiyakura's irrational pupils suddenly returned to normal.
This scene was like a magnificent oil painting.
Flames danced between the two, illuminating their figures in a flickering manner.
Tao Yao's smile appeared especially radiant in the firelight.
And Hiyakura's surprised expression was like a flower swaying in the wind.
Hiyakura came back to her senses, looking at the Tao Yao in front of her with a confused and bewildered face:
"What... what do you want to do?"
Tao Yao smiled and replied: "Didn't I tell you the secret long ago? The secret I've hidden, the ideal I wish to realize, isn't that just one?"
Upon hearing this, Hiyakura suddenly remembered something.
Her voice trembled slightly: "Is the ideal you mentioned... real?!"
Tao Yao nodded, her voice gentle yet firm:
"Of course it's real. But I'm sorry, I might not be able to change this world or do more, but if it's you, you can definitely make it better…"
As those words fell.
The flames on Hiyakura's body suddenly all transferred to Tao Yao.
The flames enveloped Tao Yao's body, but her smile remained unchanged, "Just as I thought, this way there will be no problem."
Hiyakura looked at Tao Yao, speechless in shock.
The demon fire that had tormented her and caused her unbearable pain had instantaneously shifted entirely to Tao Yao.
She completely couldn't comprehend how Tao Yao did it.
Nor could she understand how Tao Yao managed to do such a thing.
All she could see was that Tao Yao's body was wrapped in flames, yet she still maintained a calm smile.
She continued to speak:
"Hiyakura, do you know?"
"Throughout history, every time the fire fairy descends, it often comes at a bloody price, and it will also bring forth a stunning catastrophe."
Although her voice was gentle, it contained immense power, as if it could penetrate one's heart:
"But this price and disaster do not need to be borne by you."
At that moment, a long and high dragon roar suddenly resonated through the sky.
Hiyakura looked up to see a gigantic Abyss Dragon soaring from the horizon, its figure obscuring half the sky, its scales shimmering with a metallic luster in the sunlight.
At the same time.
The surrounding relic fragments began to shake violently, as if they could collapse at any moment.
Debris fell from the sky, cracks in the ground expanded, and the entire space shook.
Tao Yao suddenly pushed Hiyakura towards the approaching Abyss Dragon, the motion light and gentle.
"Alright, you should leave here now."
"Go, take your friends, return to your other friends."
"Go on your journey."
"Go finish the path you haven't walked yet!"
Hiyakura was completely stunned.
She hadn't even had time to react, and she was already safely landed on the back of the Abyss Dragon, beside her lay the unconscious Laurel.
The relic fragments were collapsing faster, and flames and smoke filled the air.
The Abyss Dragon spread its wings and flew Hiyakura away into the distance.
In the end, the last thing Hiyakura could see was this scene——
...
Tao Yao stood alone amid the crumbling relic fragments, surrounded by a raging sea of fire.
Fire danced around her.
Yet she bore no signs of pain.
On the contrary, her face showed a sense of calm after relief.
She slowly closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then began to dance.
Her movements were elegant and fluid, as if she had merged with the surrounding flames.
Every action was filled with power and beauty.
It seemed to tell an ancient and mysterious story.
Tao Yao's dance grew faster and more intense.
The flames surged and spun with her movements, forming a huge fiery vortex.
The relic fragments continued to collapse, and the sea of fire grew larger, but Tao Yao persisted in dancing.
Her dance contained endless vitality, as if announcing something to the whole world.
Finally, in a graceful spin, Tao Yao's figure completely vanished into the flames.