Huo Wu's figure swayed precariously. She had barely managed to stay on her feet. Her fiery red team uniform was charred and torn in many places, revealing the fair, burned skin underneath. Her once smooth red hair was singed, her pretty face was covered in black ash, and a trickle of fresh blood spilled from the corner of her mouth.
Worse still, the curse on her throat had not disappeared. A lingering aftertaste of overwhelming pleasure mixed with the tearing pain of her injuries, causing her entire body to tremble violently. She tried to speak, but only hoarse, broken gasps escaped her lips. Her eyes, at that moment, held nothing but endless pain, bewilderment, and despair. She didn't dare to look back at the tragic state of her teammates.
The entire Great Spirit Arena had fallen into an eerie silence. The smiles and laughter had vanished from the audience's faces, replaced by extreme shock and horror. Everything had happened too fast, too unbelievably. Those who were just mocking Huo Wu's singing were now as silent as cicadas in winter.
In the VIP section, Emperor Xue Ye suddenly stood up, his expression solemn. Ning Fengzhi frowned deeply, his eyes filled with worry. Bishop Salas's eyes flickered with an unreadable emotion, while Hu Yan Zhen's mouth hung open, having forgotten even to mock. He, too, was stunned by the sudden, tragic scene. It was the first time such heavy casualties had occurred in a Douhun Arena match.
"Save them!"
On Shrek's side, Jiang Zhu reacted immediately. Her Healing Scepter burst forth with a bright green light as she quickly moved toward the two severely injured and unconscious support-type Spirit Masters from Blazing Academy. Ning Rongrong also switched her Spirit Abilities to provide assistance.
"Third Ability: Defense!" A seven-colored light landed on Jiang Zhu, enhancing the power of her healing. "Fourth Ability: Life!" Another beam of light from her pagoda landed on the two fallen support masters.
With two powerful healing abilities working together, they could be saved as long as they weren't already dead. This was only possible because Ye Yin's second Spirit Ability had weakened the damage of the explosion; otherwise, a direct hit from such a powerful attack would have likely cost them their lives.
"I'm sorry," Ye Yin said, his voice carrying an awkward tone. "I didn't expect such a tragic outcome. I apologize."
It was a wholehearted, sincere apology, without any hint of pretense. He sighed softly, then raised his hand. A gentle white light shot out and landed accurately on Huo Wu, who was swaying and enduring immense pain from the backlash.
It was his First Spirit Ability: Luck. But this time, its effect was recovery, granting an eighth-level healing power that would last for over three hours.
The white light merged into Huo Wu's body. A gentle yet powerful energy quickly nourished her severely injured form, dispelling the burning pain and calming the chaotic tremors of her spirit power. It gave her collapsing body a moment of desperately needed respite.
However, this "lifesaving" recovery effect, landing on Huo Wu while she was still reeling from the aftereffects of an overwhelming climax, was like pouring a basin of warm water onto hot coals.
"Mmm… Ah…!"
Huo Wu's body once again trembled violently and uncontrollably. Her throat involuntarily let out an even longer, stranger, hoarse groan—a sound that was a bizarre mix of pain relief and physiological pleasure. Her legs gave out, and she fell to her knees with a thud. She desperately clutched at her throat and thighs, which were burning yet trembling with a sickening pleasure. Shivering all over, tears mixed with the black ash on her face and rolled down her cheeks in silent streams.
Humiliation. Pain. And that damned, uncontrollable pleasure. On top of it all was the crushing guilt and despair of seeing her teammates severely injured by her own hands. A storm of emotions churned within her.
She suddenly looked up, her bloodshot, tear-filled eyes staring fixedly at the other side of the stage.
[Resentment from Huo Wu +99!]
Ye Yin, you truly deserve to die! she thought. He even used this kind of "treatment" to deepen her humiliation!
Ye Yin met her gaze, which was filled with extreme hatred. The smile on his face seemed even gentler, perhaps even carrying a hint of harmless concern. He gave her a slight nod, as if to say, You're welcome. It was the least I could do.
This silent gesture became the final straw that completely broke Huo Wu.
"Pfft!"
Overwhelmed by anger, combined with her injuries and the immense emotional stimulation, Huo Wu suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. Her vision went black, and she fainted, her heart filled with humiliation, pain, and a towering resentment.
Blazing Academy's tragic defeat was like cold water being poured into a pot of boiling oil, causing an uproar among the remaining Five Element Academies.
In the Thunder Academy's station, the captain, Yu Tianxin of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, had a solemn expression. Huo Wu's strange singing, her out-of-control Spirit Ability, the severe injuries of her teammates, and Ye Yin's seemingly gentle but devilish apology all sent a chill down his spine.
"A curse… it's the curse again…" Yu Tianxin frowned deeply, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the table. "We all know Huo Wu's strength. Her Fire Dance Blazing Sun is enough to threaten a Spirit King. But in front of Ye Yin, she couldn't even keep her own ability stable and suffered a backlash. This curse is impossible to guard against!"
Next to him, the vice-captain, Lei Dong, whose Spirit was the Thunder Eagle, spoke with sharp eyes. "The key is that his method of casting the curse is extremely secretive. You can barely see the spirit power, and you can't feel any obvious fluctuations. We at Thunder Academy are known for speed and explosive power, but that's useless if we can't even see the opponent's methods."
"And don't forget the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's amplification!" another team member added. "With Ning Rongrong's buffs, Dai Mubai could suppress Huo Wushuang. Shrek's other members are also fighting at a level far beyond their rank. We have to find a way to limit both Ye Yin and Ning Rongrong, otherwise…"
Yu Tianxin took a deep breath. "We focus all our attacks on Ye Yin! We have to control or severely injure him as quickly as possible, at all costs! Lei Dong, your Paralysis Electric Net will be key. Everyone else will cooperate and concentrate fire. We absolutely cannot give him a chance to cast a single curse!"
Meanwhile, in the Tianshui Academy's station, the atmosphere was much quieter. Shui Bing'er, a talented girl with a cool temperament and the top-tier control Spirit, Ice Phoenix, murmured softly, "He's truly a… terrifying and contradictory person."
She could tell that Ye Yin's final recovery spell was genuinely life-saving and had alleviated Huo Wu's injuries. But the timing and the side effects it caused seemed more like a silent, calculated humiliation.
Next to her, her lively younger sister, Shui Yue'er, pouted. "Sis, that guy is too evil! His methods are so insidious and despicable! Look how badly he hurt Sister Huo Wu! If we face them, we can't let him have a chance to attack!"
Xue Wu, the calm vice-captain, added, "Bing'er, his curse seems to affect a person's mind as well. Huo Wu's singing was too abnormal to be simple interference. The question is, can our control abilities interrupt him before his curse takes effect?"
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