The dust slowly cleared, leaving the ground shattered. Water surged from everywhere, like life-veins suddenly awakened.
At the center stood Bao Uyen, a helix of cyan and pink light swirling violently around her body.
The water was no longer just protecting her. It was reacting.
"…Uyen…"
Van Thien stood behind her, his breath heavy. He looked at her, his eyes freezing for a split second.
"…Not good…"
Bao Uyen didn't turn around. Her hands trembled slightly.
"…It's… it's…"
The vortex beneath her feet spun faster.
BOOM!!
A pillar of water shot straight into the sky. The wind shifted direction. The air became suffocatingly heavy.
Facing them, the three Black Slayers stood their ground. The arrogance was gone. The shield-bearer clenched his fists.
"…If we let her continue…"
The speedster materialized again, his eyes glowing a sinister crimson.
"…we'll be dragged into it."
The brute let out a low growl.
"…Then kill her now."
SWISH!!
All three lunged forward. Faster than before. Stronger than before.
"UYEN!!"
Van Thien charged forward, but—
BOOM!!
A massive punch from the brute struck him dead-on. Van Thien's body was intercepted mid-air and blasted backward.
CRASH!!
He skidded heavily across the ground.
"…Cough…"
Blood erupted from his mouth.
"Don't… come any closer…"
Bao Uyen's voice rang out.
But it didn't sound like before. It was emptier. Hollow. The water began to rise higher, devoid of order, devoid of conscious control.
"…Uyen…"
Van Thien forced himself to his feet.
"…stop…"
One second. Two seconds.
Bao Uyen slowly turned her head. Her eyes were no longer entirely her own.
"…Stop…?"
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"…But…"
The surrounding torrent roared.
"…it… it doesn't want to stop…"
BOOM!!!
The water exploded, a massive shockwave of waves sweeping across the battlefield.
The three Black Slayers were forced back. The shield-bearer slammed his barrier into the ground, but was still forced to slide backward. The speedster tried to close the distance, but a sudden vortex snagged his leg.
"…?!"
He thrashed wildly, but the more he struggled, the tighter the torrent constricted.
The brute bellowed, charging straight in.
BOOM!!
His heavy fist shattered the torrent, freeing his ally.
"This is bad…" The shield-bearer retreated. "…She's losing control…"
In the distance, Van Thien clenched his fists, his eyes trembling.
"…No…"
He stepped forward. Slow. But resolute.
"…Uyen…"
The water turned toward him, moving like a living creature.
"…Don't come near me…"
Her voice carried a crushing pressure this time.
Yet, Van Thien took another step.
"…I told you…"
He looked straight into her eyes.
"…I won't leave you… alone."
Another step. A wall of water rose dead ahead of him. One more step, and he would be swallowed alive.
"…If you take another step…" Her voice shook. "…I won't be able to control it…"
A moment of absolute silence. Van Thien smiled faintly, even as blood continued to trickle down his chin.
"…Then…"
He stepped forward.
"…let me pull you back".
BOOM!!!
The torrent crashed down. At that exact moment, the three Black Slayers ambushed simultaneously from both flanks.
"…Now is the time!"
Three directions. One target.
Bao Uyen.
The water completely broke free of control. The wind howled; the earth convulsed.
Deep beneath the riverbed, the giant crimson eye opened completely.
Inside the command module, the Red-Eyed Black Dragon smiled, staring directly at Bao Uyen.
"…That's it…"
"…shatter everything…"
"…Let me see if you sink… or stand firm."
Back on the battlefield, right before the cataclysmic torrent collapsed—
Van Thien… managed to catch her hand.
"…Uyen…"
BOOM!!!!!!!!
A colossal explosion swallowed everything.
Smoke. Water. Light. All fused into one.No one knew who was left standing.