The sky over Hanoi was a canvas of fire. Jagged shards of massive warships fell like meteors, trailing thick plumes of black smoke.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Crimson flames and soot choked the horizon. In the heart of the Co Loa Citadel, Van Thien remained on his knees beside the Lien Chau Magic Crossbow. His breath came in ragged huffs, blood staining his chin. His hands trembled violently; that single shot had drained a terrifying portion of his life force.
He looked up. Despite the destruction, tens of thousands of warships still loomed in the clouds. Thien's gaze darkened.
"...It wasn't enough."
High above, Duan Thiet stood amidst his remaining fleet. He surveyed the wreckage of his vanguard, yet his face showed no sign of panic—only a cold, sharpened focus.
"A divine relic from the ancient world," he mused, then let out a sharp laugh. "I'm starting to like you even more, boy."
His eyes instantly turned glacial. "However... toys like that are meant to be broken."
He hoisted his war hammer, red energy exploding around his frame.
"Iron Breaker..."
He plummeted toward the earth like a crimson comet.
"—Crimson Collapse!"
In the blink of an eye, Duan Thiet was over the citadel, his hammer raised high. His target: the Magic Crossbow. If the relic fell, all hope for the battle would vanish.
Suddenly, a gargantuan shadow intercepted his path. The Golden Turtle God shifted its weight, its mountain-like shell acting as a divine shield.
BOOOOOOOOOOMM!!!!!!!!!!!
An explosion rocked the entire Citadel, the shockwave pulverizing the ground and sending debris flying for hundreds of meters. As the dust settled, there wasn't a single crack on the shell. The Divine Beast stood unshakable.
Duan Thiet recoiled in mid-air, clicking his tongue. "Tsk. That defense is truly annoying."
The Golden Turtle looked at him, its ancient eyes reflecting a deep, silent wisdom. A voice echoed through the air:
"You... do not belong to this land."
Duan Thiet smirked. "I don't plan on staying. I only came... to claim it."
Behind the safety of the shell, Thien struggled to stand. His legs buckled and his muscles screamed in agony. He looked at the crossbow, knowing that firing it again would demand a much higher price. Perhaps—his very life.
He gritted his teeth, clutching his chest. "...But if I don't fire... they will die."
He reached for the bowstring once more. But immediately, the Golden Turtle spoke: "Stop."
Thien looked up. "You have already paid too great a price."
He shook his head, his voice strained. "...It's not enough yet."
Above, Duan Thiet watched his struggle and burst into a mocking laugh. "You think you can fire that thing again in your state?" He raised a hand, signaling his troops. "Stop him!"
Like a swarm of locusts, over two hundred thousand soldiers plummeted from the sky, their energy spears leveled at Van Thien.
ROOARRRR!!!
The Golden Turtle let out a thunderous cry, releasing a ripple of cyan energy. BOOM! The first wave of soldiers was blasted back. But there were too many. Wave after wave continued to dive.
Thien tried to pull the string, but his body refused to obey. Blood dripped onto the frame. The string vibrated, yet he couldn't budge it. In that moment, the cross necklace flared with a blinding light. The familiar cyan energy surged out—but it was different this time.
It was heavier. Sharper. His body shook as if something deep inside was finally waking up.
He whispered, "...No other choice."
The energy exploded around him, creating a vortex that shook the very foundation of the citadel. He looked up, his eyes glowing with a terrifying intensity.
"8%..."
Vut!
Van Thien vanished. He reappeared mid-air, right in the center of the descending legion.
THUD! One punch, and three soldiers were sent hurtling back.
BAM! A spinning kick sent five more spiraling.
He moved like a bolt of lightning—a blur of cyan light. Every strike, every kick, sent soldiers falling from the sky. Within seconds, over a hundred invaders had been swatted down.
Duan Thiet narrowed his eyes. "His power is climbing." For the first time, he looked genuinely intrigued. "So... you were hiding an ace after all."
Thien hovered in the air, his breathing heavy but his gaze unwavering. Behind him, the Golden Turtle looked at the heavens. It knew the true battle... was about to begin.
Duan Thiet raised his hammer once more, red light saturating the air around him.
"Very well." He grinned.
"This time... I'll kill you with my own hands."