Dustin let out a low grunt as his mystical pure energy burst forth, shattering the frost encasing his arm. Using the momentum, he glided forward several yards to create a distance between himself and Lysander. His sword-wielding arm trembled slightly, and his complexion grew even paler. Lysander's evasion techniques and clone arts were simply too swift and unpredictable. There was no way to guard against them all."You've got quick reflexes," Lysander commented with a sneer, toying with the crystalline sword in his hand. "But how many times can you dodge? As long as the water element is inexhaustible within this immortal palace, my body is indestructible. No matter how sharp your sword is, what can you do to me?"As if to prove his point, the wounds Dustin had suffered from the water dragon and ice spear began to react. The lingering cold water energy stirred like a living thing, burrowing into his body, trying to freeze his vital energy and corrode his circulatory pathways.Dus

Dustin felt his body suddenly grow heavy, as if a mountain were crushing his shoulders. Even lifting his arm became a struggle.The ground beneath his feet roiled and churned, making it impossible to maintain a steady footing. Countless deadly stone spikes and rock walls closed in from all sides, sealing off every avenue of escape.Summoning the last of his true energy, his longsword erupted with a final, pure radiance. The spinning sword light formed a protective shield around him.The clash of sword aura and stone sent fragments flying, the air thick with swirling dust.Dustin's sword remained razor-sharp, each strike cleaving through massive chunks of rock. But the onslaught seemed endless. Just as he destroyed one pile, another erupted from the ground.Moreover, the crushing gravity limited his speed and strength. It made every swing of his sword a monumental effort.His face had gone even paler, and his breath came in harsh, wheezing gasps. The webbing between his thumb and

Valindra collapsed to the ground. She was encased in a pale golden cocoon of light like a moth trapped in amber.Her stunning features had frozen mid-expression, caught between shock, fury, and disbelief. Only her dimming eyes held a last flicker of awareness. Her gaze was locked onto Dustin, who was swaying on his feet, with his sword as the only thing keeping him upright.It didn't make sense to her. She commanded the earth element, and inside Immortal Palace, that power should have made her untouchable. He was clearly at death's door, yet he still managed to defeat her.Endless regret and venomous hatred gnawed at her remaining consciousness. But the sealing power clamped down like iron shackles, suppressing all her strength and fury inside that beautiful shell. Not even a wisp of divine sense could escape.Nearby, Talmor lay in a pool of blood, his shoulder pierced clean through. Through the haze of fading awareness, he felt Valindra's overwhelming presence suddenly snuffed out

Dustin took the hit, and he felt as if a mountain had crashed into him. The flame's impact shattered his barrier, sending him backward. Blood sprayed from his mouth and streaked behind him in a sharp arc.He crashed onto the white stone floor over 100 feet away, tumbling until his momentum finally ran out. Only after driving his longsword into the ground for support did he manage to kneel on one knee.The blade vibrated in his grip, its glow nearly gone. Whatever strength he'd just managed to recover was scattered like leaves in the wind. Dustin's chest and abdomen felt trapped between ancient ice and hellfire. His soul seemed to be getting shredded by countless fangs, each wave of agony threatening to drown his consciousness.Malthor's metal and fire abilities complemented each other perfectly. Their combined power didn't just add up, but it underwent a complete transformation into something far more deadly."You survived 70% of my Metal Void Slash and Soulfire Fist. That's some

"It's time for your execution, Malthor," Dustin said coldly, leveling his sword at him.Cyran swept his staff upward as the arcane sigil slowly pressed down from above, while Terraen cracked his knuckles, eager to jump in.Just when everyone thought the outcome was decided, Malthor's face twisted into an extremely unsettling smile—a blend of madness, cruelty, and grim resolve."Execute me? You think you can defeat me?" He let out a harsh, broken laugh. His gaze swept over Valindra, Lysander, and Talmor—who were either sealed away or lying severely injured nearby. A glint of undisguised greed and cruelty flickered in his eyes."To force me to use this technique... You should be proud."Before his words fell, he threw both arms wide and began chanting an ancient, sinister incantation that seemed to crawl up from the deepest abyss.As the chant echoed, the dark gold and platinum glow surrounding him turned pitch black. A surge of evil far darker and more nauseating than dragon blo