North of Tianheng Mountain, two terrifying forces clashed, unleashing a storm so violent it tore the world apart.
Trees bent sideways under the gale. Flames, hail, and shards of rock scattered chaotically through the air.
BOOM!!!!!
A deafening explosion rang out as Azhdaha was forced back half a step, while Morax was hurled hundreds of meters away.
"So strong... such a powerful opponent..." Morax panted heavily, wiping the sweat from his brow.
But Azhdaha had no intention of letting him rest. He opened his abyssal jaws wide, unleashing a tidal surge of immense power.
In an instant, a colossal sphere of water roared toward Morax.
Morax swiftly drew a longbow and shot it apart in a flash, bursting the sphere and sending torrents of water crashing onto the ground.
But that was exactly what Azhdaha had been waiting for.
"ROAR!!!"
His mountain-like body reared up, then slammed down against the earth with overwhelming might.
BOOM!!!!!!
Lightning and thunder tore through the air. From the dragon's horns erupted two massive bolts of violet lightning.
Morax's pupils shrank sharply as he saw the drenched earth beneath him. His shield had just been shattered—there was no time to raise another. Instinctively, he shot upward into the sky.
Yet his body stopped abruptly in midair.
Looking down, he saw a giant hand of stone clutching his ankle.
Morax froze, and in the next instant he was flung down like a ragdoll. The wet earth was already charged with Azhdaha's lightning.
Arcs of purple thunder coursed through his body, leaving him stiff and numb.
"This is bad..."
BOOM!!!!!!
A massive fireball plummeted from the heavens, slamming directly into him.
Morax tumbled across the ground like a skipping stone, bouncing seven or eight times before crashing into a tree and finally stopping.
His clothes were torn to tatters, his face scorched black.
Since meeting Elliot, this was the first time Morax had lost to anyone—and such a crushing defeat at that.
He never imagined that this massive, seemingly clumsy beast could wield the power of five elements!
Even surpassing Elliot!
This battle had been a brutal lesson.
...
"Are you alright?" Azhdaha approached slowly, step by step.
"I'm fine, I'm fine... You're so strong—much stronger than I expected," Morax replied, gritting through the pain as he propped himself halfway up.
"It's not that I'm extraordinary. The ancient dragon gave me eyes to see this world. Without them, I could hardly strike anyone flying above me."
"If you'd gained those eyes earlier, you'd be even stronger."
"I dare not wish for so much. I am already grateful enough that the ancient dragon gave me sight."
At those words, Morax pushed himself to his feet. He extended his fist toward Azhdaha.
"Next time, I'll be the one to win."
Azhdaha blinked in surprise, then lowered his head to touch it against Morax's fist.
"I'm not so easy to defeat."
"You're only the second to ever defeat me."
"The first was the ancient dragon?"
"Yes. He is my elder brother, and the strongest in this world. You couldn't beat him either."
Though Morax had lost, his pride was unshaken.
"The ancient dragon is really that strong...?" Even Azhdaha was shocked. He had thought Elliot and Morax were about equal in strength. Yet Morax claimed Elliot was far stronger.
"If he's worthy of being my elder brother, then what do you think? Why don't you fight him yourself?" Morax said with rising excitement. He genuinely wanted to see Elliot and Azhdaha clash.
After all, it was undeniable that Azhdaha was stronger than him now.
"Even with five elements at my command, I still couldn't defeat him?"
Azhdaha's power came from drawing directly on the Ley Lines.
In truth, he could absorb all seven elements, but the Dendro and Anemo powers were too weak to be worth the effort.
With Geo as his inherent element, he had also absorbed Cryo, Pyro, Hydro, and Electro from the earth's veins.
Such strength far surpassed most gods, who could only wield one or two elements.
"Not only could you not defeat him—you might even be felled in a single blow."
"Then I must spar with the ancient dragon."
Losing to Elliot he could accept—it was natural to fall before a god that strong. But Morax's taunt, saying he might be defeated in just one strike, was more than enough to ignite his pride.
...
"You want to fight me?"
A calm voice cut in. Elliot appeared at their side without a sound.
Azhdaha's body stiffened. He hadn't even sensed his arrival.
"Morax said you could fell me in a single blow. I'd like to see it for myself," Azhdaha explained.
Proud as he was, Azhdaha reserved honorifics for only one being—Elliot. Morax, in his eyes, hadn't yet earned the right to be called the Geo Emperor.
"Brother! That move—the one you're teaching me, Starfall, Heaven and Earth as One! Quick, show it to Azhdaha!" Morax's eyes shone with anticipation.
"You're certain you want to fight me?" Elliot asked, turning to Azhdaha for confirmation.
"Yes." Azhdaha nodded firmly.
"It's already here." Elliot lifted his finger toward the sky.
Azhdaha followed his gaze. The heavy clouds above glowed as though wrapping around the sun itself, radiating blinding brilliance.
As he stared, lost in the sight, his entire body shuddered.
From beyond the clouds, a colossal, meteor-like cube of stone came hurtling down.