"Boom!"
A deafening explosion erupted within the cavern, followed by two more thunderous blasts in quick succession.
Ye Chuan's Nine Flames Avatar surged with raging fire as it engaged in a heart-stopping close-quarters battle against the towering armored giant.
Every clash of fists and palms unleashed energy waves powerful enough to distort the air. Cracks spiderwebbed across the cavern walls, rubble cascading down as if the entire structure might collapse at any moment.
Hovering midair on his flying sword, Ye Chuan strained to maintain the Nine Flames Avatar.
After all, avatar techniques were divine abilities—for someone at the Crystal Formation stage like him, sustaining it for even the duration of a burning incense stick was already impressive.
He could feel his spiritual energy draining at an alarming rate. Even with his Heaven-grade Foundation Establishment roots, channeling such a powerful avatar was like trying to hold back a bursting dam.
"This can't go on!" Ye Chuan immediately emptied his backpack, pulling out all the spirit stones he'd scavenged recently. The crystals shimmered with a crystalline glow before he crushed them without hesitation.
Instantly, a dazzling radiance erupted, transforming into a torrent of spiritual energy that flooded into the Nine Flames Avatar.
"Now!"
Empowered by the influx of energy, the avatar's aura skyrocketed. Blazing flames engulfed the cavern in an instant.
The scorching heat warped the air, melting the already fractured walls and turning the entire cavern into a sea of fire.
With a thought, Ye Chuan commanded the avatar to swing its fiery fist toward the armored giant.
Yet the giant didn't evade. Instead, it withstood the full-force strike with nothing but its indomitable armor.
The purple ghostfire in its eyes flared wildly, as if its regal dignity had been gravely insulted. Arcane patterns across its body ignited with blinding light, coming alive like living veins.
A mechanical wail echoed through the cavern.
The giant's massive sword erupted with violet flames, swinging down with apocalyptic force toward Ye Chuan's Nine Flames Avatar.
"?!"
The slash seemed to darken the heavens, distorting space itself to the brink of collapse.
Ye Chuan hastily raised the avatar's arms to block—but the devastating strike was too overwhelming. In the next instant, the towering Nine Flames Avatar shattered under the violet inferno, dispersing into a shower of embers.
Staring at the dissipating energy, Ye Chuan's face twisted in disbelief.
"Seriously, dude? You one-shot my avatar?"
How absurd was that?
All those spirit stones—gone just like that?
As his strongest technique crumbled before him, a wave of resignation washed over Ye Chuan.
Screw this. If he couldn't win, retreat was the only option.
He'd come back for revenge after unlocking his Chaos-Immune Physique Pro Max Edition or something.
For now—strategic withdrawal!
Just as Ye Chuan prepared to warp away, he froze. The armored giant stood motionless, as if that last earth-shattering strike had drained it completely.
A flicker of suspicion crossed Ye Chuan's mind as he scrutinized the motionless titan.
Then—a grating, metallic screech.
Like rusted gears grinding reluctantly, carrying the weight of ancient exhaustion.
The armored giant slowly raised one foot, its massive body trembling violently before collapsing like a tower stripped of its supports—crashing to its knees with a thunderous impact!
Its metallic fingers clutched the enormous greatsword, using it to prop itself up, as if clinging to the last shred of its regal dignity.
The air was eerily silent.
"Did it fall?" Ye Chuan murmured uncertainly, his flying sword carrying him down to land cautiously on the giant's motionless form.
There was no reaction—it stood as still as a statue.
Only then did Ye Chuan realize that the armored giant's final, desperate strike had not only shattered his own avatar but also drained the last of the giant's strength.
"So strong… the pressure was overwhelming," Ye Chuan whispered in awe, his curiosity burning about the giant's origins.
"What kind of existence was it in life?"
He stepped onto the giant's shoulder, crouching down to trace the countless scars etched into its armor—each groove a silent testament to brutal battles of the past.
After a moment, he withdrew his hand and declared, "Serve me now."
In the next instant, inky tendrils of chaotic energy erupted from Ye Chuan's palm, spreading like living shadows across the giant's form.
Wherever the chaos touched, the remnants of the giant's energy were devoured and assimilated.
As the dark power enveloped it, the once-lifeless armor began to stir faintly, resonating with Ye Chuan's aura.
The towering giant vanished entirely, as though swallowed by the void.
Standing amidst the shattered cavern, Ye Chuan exhaled deeply, his tense nerves finally relaxing.
Then, softly, he commanded, "Appear."
A colossal black arm burst forth from the chaotic abyss behind him, rising like a leviathan from the depths—over ten meters tall!
Ye Chuan stood with his hands in his pockets, his clothes fluttering unnaturally as he watched the enormous shadow materialize behind him.
Transformed in appearance, the obsidian-armored giant emerged from Ye Chuan's chaotic power, gripping an equally dark greatsword.
Purple flames flickered to life within the seams of its armor.
"Black looks cooler anyway," Ye Chuan remarked.
[Conversion successful]
[Avatar: Knight of the End
Realm: Transcendent (Incomplete)]
"So it's Lilith's terminology—tiers and ranks," Ye Chuan mused, stroking his chin as he examined the giant's status.
Transcendent!
Could it be strengthened with spirit essence too?
He retrieved a spirit essence from his pack, but the colossal figure remained utterly still, indifferent.
"Guess it's not interested."
Unfazed, Ye Chuan admired the sheer presence of his new asset.
Feels like even an Ultraman wouldn't stand a chance against this.
With the Knight of the End under his control, Ye Chuan expanded his spiritual sense, scanning the cavern for anything else of value.
"Hm?" His gaze snapped toward the throne—something there felt… different.
Time to investigate.
Behind the throne lay a hidden chamber, barren except for a single statue.
"A statue?"
The figure appeared to be a goddess, though time had eroded her features beyond recognition. Ye Chuan could only discern her gender by the silhouette.
"Is this all?" Ye Chuan thought gaining a knight wasn't bad, but seeing only a single statue here left him feeling slightly disappointed.
Whatever.
Take it.
Ye Chuan reached out toward the statue, and in the next moment, it appeared inside his backpack.