Tower of Heaven

Atlas’ body shot through the flames and created a clear line in the sky. He only came in contact with them for a few moments, but they burned through his qi protections and singed his skin.

Moving so fast made him feel an almost unbearable pain, but at the same time, the adrenaline coursing through his body. How long would he be able to ignore it? He didn’t know. Despite how it seemed, Atlas was not an invincible person who could ignore all of the damage he took until it healed.

Sure, he was able to heal fast enough to keep fighting, but did that matter if he kept getting injured? The wounds on his body couldn’t accumulate, but they were always present.

That pain only got worse for him when he landed on the ground, but he was able to take solace in the fact that he wasn’t the only one being hurt.

[Sky-Crushing Impact]

Atlas became one of many streaks in the air, but he was the only one in the vicinity, oddly enough. His body was surrounded by light as his speed went far beyond what distance allowed. Qi swirled around his body, obeying his commands exactly as he gave them.

His body landed without any deviation on its path, directly on top of the Kitsune.

Booooooooom!

Smoke and dust flew into the sky. Blood shot out of the fox’s mouth, its eyes widening in pain.

A number of cracks could be heard as its bones felt the weight of Atlas’ descent, which seemed like more than enough damage to call a successful strike, but such conclusions couldn’t be made so early.

Despite being hurt, the fox didn’t lose its vigor. It was far too used to handling pain. Its bones had been broken more than enough times for it to have become accustomed to the feeling.

BOOM!

Another ball of flame consumed the beast’s body. Naturally, it was fine, but the same couldn’t be said about Atlas. He was thrown away with his entire front side blackened, but he barely avoided burns, as he was already prepared for this moment.

The beast wouldn’t be done in by one or two good hits. He had to bring it down much more decisively.

As he prepared to charge back in, someone else beat him to the punch. A new kind of flame, a much more vibrant and red fire appeared in the world.

It formulated into a wave of hundreds of bright red feathers that charged down from the sky and rained down on the fox.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

ROOAAR–!

The Kitsune let out a sound of fury as it was forced to dodge. Feng Ziran landed beside Atlas, taking a moment to look at his state.

"Are you fine?"

"Give me a minute, and I will be fine."

"Okay."

Feng Ziran nodded and raised her hand. Her eyes glowed crimson as she willed fire qi to follow her commands.

"I’ll hold it back for now. Try to land something decisive, but again…"

"I know. You don’t want it dead."

Her reaction made it seem like she would be fine as long as he didn’t land a totally fatal wound. After seeing its actions after leaving the egg and hearing Atlas’ testimony, she had no choice but to accept that an entirely peaceful resolution was impossible.

Peace would only be an option once this beast was forced to submit. It was so immediately hostile that there was no purpose in trying other methods.

Feng Ziran shot forward and flew into the air. She controlled the flames around her expertly like someone who had experienced many battles.

Atlas was allowed to take a break for the first time since they first saw the beast egg, and he used it well. He immediately went into recuperation while he watched them fight.

Feng Ziran was powerful in her own right. She was hesitant to enter this battle because it was against a beast at the World Core Realm, but once she’d made the decision, she wasn’t going to hesitate.

Two different kinds of flame filled the air. Red and orange came together to form a mirage in the air like an ancient bird fighting against a primordial fox.

The clash between Divine Beasts had more to do with than just strength. When bloodline became an issue, several factors were added into the battle that didn’t exist when other races were involved.

Feng Ziran inherently had a weaker bloodline than the Kitsune, but her skill in controlling it and the level to which she’d understood it was much higher. Her flames were more concentrated and could do much more complex things, but its were hotter if one looked at temperature alone.

’I should also help somehow.’

Atlas took his attention away from them for a moment. Feng Ziran seemed to be doing okay, so he closed his eyes, keeping only his most necessary senses on the outside world.

There was something calling to him there, something that was screaming with the same emotions he felt inside the beast. If he could connect to it…

Meanwhile, Feng Ziran showed the world what a Phoenix could do.

[Birth of Flame]

VOOOOOM!

On one side was a beast that was attached to fire as well as another concept. On the other was a beast related to the very origins of fire itself. Feng Ziran summoned a flame that imitated the first to ever exist and attacked endlessly, suppressing its fires one by one.

The energy of Alfros catered to Divine Beast and even more to Divine Beasts related to fire, but those same flames were being forced to retreat as they felt the aura of something much greater.

Atlas still had his eyes closed, but Feng Ziran was working towards a goal that centered around him. She faced the fox’s flames, dodging them expertly in the air and attacking for one single purpose.

Because after her ceaseless barrage, its flames reached a point where they were unable to naturally manifest themselves unless the beast directly ordered them to enter the world.

The whole of Atlas’ consciousness was falling deeper and deeper into his own mind, so he was unable to see what she was doing. Only when she finished did he gain any sort of clue.

A yell broke through the cacophony Atlas had become used to.

"Strike!"

His eyes widened. He was focused on his own matters, but none of that was more important.

He wasn’t expecting her to call for him at this time, but he couldn’t ignore it. She had the fox locked in place and unable to attack. Just momentarily, its flames were completely suppressed.

No matter what he was doing, Atlas had to land an attack right at this very moment, an attack that would guarantee big damage to the enemy.

In the moment, what came to his mind was a natural instinct to reach for his sword. It wasn’t from this life, but from the last.

Atlas had never felt it before now, but his mind screamed at him that a blade was the answer.

So, he put a blade in his hand and shot forward. The rest happened like it was fated.

[Great Ravine Splitter]

He used a strange grip when he held his sickles and used them like the blades were long enough to be swords. His feet touched the ground only three times as he crossed the distance between himself and the fox in a matter of moments.

Qi moved out of his dantian and circulated through the pathways he established in his body. Through each dantian it passed, it enhanced itself, compounded itself, and became oppressive. The qi rushed like blood in the body until it reached Atlas’ palm and was expelled into the sickle he was holding.

He felt the movement of his every muscle and controlled them perfectly, pulling his arm around in a sweeping motion as he crossed the beast’s side.

All of his motions came together to enact the technique known as [Great Ravine Splitter].

And its effect was no different from what its name suggested. Atlas’ sickle blade tore through the beast’s skin and flesh, forcing an outpouring of blood out of its body.

Atlas passed by quickly enough to not get drenched, but pieces of his remaining clothing were stained in the color of Divine Beast blood.

As he stopped his movements and turned around, Feng Ziran did her part as well, rushing to the open wound and shoving her arms inside of it.

Voom!

A burst of Phoenix Flame filled the gash and disallowed the wound from healing. The same flame coagulated outside of the wound and burned the gash closed so that the fox wouldn’t lose too much blood.

Feng Ziran secured its life, but she did not secure its safety. Clear signs of exhaustion started to show on the beast’s face.

Atlas and Feng Ziran were both exhausted as well. How could they not be after fighting an enemy much more powerful than them?

However, they were making more and more progress with every passing second. They used their advantages as best as they could and fought, finally cutting into the fox they couldn’t seem to injure.

As long as they could repeat this kind of cooperation, Atlas felt like he could develop some confidence in achieving victory.

But that was only if the rest of this battle was free of unexpected scenarios.

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