The moment the five cultivators stepped into the Dragon Ruins, a heavy pressure spread across the entire battlefield. Even though the environment was only part of the simulation created by the system, the atmosphere felt incredibly real. The cracked stone ground beneath their feet carried the scars of countless ancient battles, and the towering dragon statues scattered throughout the ruins seemed to silently observe the new challengers.
Above them, the sky burned with a deep crimson color.
A faint wind swept through the broken ruins, carrying the echoes of distant roars that made the environment feel even more dangerous.
For a few seconds, the five cultivators stood quietly as they carefully studied their surroundings.
At the front of the group, Chen Yu slowly drew his sword.
"This place feels completely different from the other realms."
Beside him, Yan Feng narrowed his eyes as he observed the terrain.
"The pressure here is much stronger."
Long Wei from the Sky Dragon Pavilion stepped forward calmly.
"The system likely increased the difficulty to match the number of players."
Behind them, Liu Kang cracked his knuckles while gripping his heavy weapon.
"I can already feel the strength of the enemies."
Finally, Elder Song from the Azure Wind Sect looked around the battlefield thoughtfully.
"The terrain is designed for large-scale combat."
He pointed toward several broken stone walls and fallen pillars.
"Those ruins could be used for defense."
Chen Yu nodded.
"Then let's move carefully."
Just as he finished speaking—
The ground suddenly trembled.
A deep rumbling sound echoed through the ruins.
Moments later, several massive figures slowly emerged from the shadows between the broken pillars.
The Dragonkin Guardians had appeared.
Each guardian stood nearly three meters tall, their bodies covered in dark dragon-like scales that reflected the crimson light of the sky. Their armor looked ancient but incredibly durable, and their glowing eyes burned with a fierce hostility toward the intruders.
In their hands, they carried enormous weapons crafted from blackened metal.
The watching crowd inside the Cloud Mist Internet Café gasped.
"That's the Dragonkin Guardian?"
"They look even stronger than the Tyrant!"
Inside the ruins, Chen Yu raised his sword slightly.
"Five enemies."
Yan Feng nodded.
"Perfect."
The Dragonkin Guardians roared and charged forward.
Their heavy footsteps shook the battlefield.
Chen Yu moved first.
His sword flashed through the air as he rushed toward the nearest guardian.
At the same moment, Liu Kang charged forward as well, his heavy blade smashing toward another enemy with explosive force.
The battle erupted instantly.
Steel clashed against dragon scales as the two sides collided.
Chen Yu's sword struck the guardian's armor with precise strikes, targeting weak points between the scales.
Yan Feng moved like a shadow across the battlefield, his weapon flashing with deadly precision as he attacked from unexpected angles.
Meanwhile, Liu Kang fought with overwhelming power, each strike of his weapon shaking the ground as he forced his opponent backward.
Behind them, Elder Song raised his hand.
A powerful wind technique surged across the battlefield, pushing one of the guardians away from the group.
"Stay together!" he shouted.
Long Wei moved swiftly across the ruins, his silver weapon cutting through the air as he joined the fight beside Chen Yu.
Inside the computer shop, the watching cultivators were completely captivated.
"This battle is incredible!"
"They're working together perfectly!"
The Dragonkin Guardians were powerful, but the teamwork of the five cultivators quickly began shifting the balance of the battle.
Chen Yu's precise sword techniques weakened the enemy defenses.
Yan Feng exploited every opening created by his allies.
Liu Kang delivered devastating strikes that shattered pieces of the guardians' armor.
Elder Song controlled the battlefield with powerful wind techniques.
And Long Wei moved through the chaos with incredible speed, striking wherever the enemy showed weakness.
After several minutes of intense combat, the first Dragonkin Guardian finally collapsed.
Its massive body crashed onto the stone ground.
Inside the computer shop, the watching crowd erupted into cheers.
"They defeated one!"
"That enemy was incredibly strong!"
But the battle was far from over.
The remaining guardians roared and attacked even more aggressively.
The five cultivators continued fighting together, carefully coordinating their attacks.
One by one, the guardians fell.
When the final Dragonkin Guardian collapsed, the battlefield grew quiet once again.
The group stood among the ruins, breathing heavily.
Chen Yu wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"That was only the first wave."
Yan Feng nodded.
"If those were only guardians…"
He looked toward the distant ruins ahead.
"…then the real challenge hasn't appeared yet."
As if responding to his words, the ground suddenly trembled again.
A powerful roar echoed across the battlefield.
The crimson sky above darkened.
From the far end of the ruins, an enormous shadow slowly emerged.
The watching disciples inside the computer shop fell silent.
Because the creature stepping forward was far larger than the guardians.
Its body resembled that of a massive dragon, though its scales appeared damaged and ancient.
Dark energy flowed from the cracks in its armor.
Its glowing eyes burned with ancient fury.
The Ancient Dragon Remnant had awakened.
Inside the ruins, the five cultivators immediately prepared for battle.
Chen Yu tightened his grip on his sword.
"So this is the final boss."
Long Wei smiled slightly.
"Now the real fight begins."
Back inside the Cloud Mist Internet Café, hundreds of cultivators watched the screen without blinking.
Because the first attempt at conquering the Legendary Realm had reached its most dangerous stage.
And the outcome of this battle would determine whether the Dragon Ruins could truly be conquered.