The Cursed Throne of Yanxi

d, carrying a silence so profound it seemed to suffocate the city. Yanxi's walls stood

manned their positions, their faces set with grim determination. The Phoenix Amulet

ght. "Scouts report movement in the forests, but no s

ing our defenses. He want

t. He's using these attacks to feed his ritual. Every death, ev

we'll give him nothing. No fear, no despair. We

en beast of darkness, its eyes glowing like embers. It let out

. Yuelin raised her voice, clear and commanding. "H

-

eir claws raking against stone as they tried to climb. Archers loosed volleys

gh. "They're not invincible! Aim for thei

the glowing hearts of the creatures. One by one, the beasts d

attackers with precision. Beside him, Mei unleashed blasts of l

ng the defenses. Her voice never wavered, e

he second w

ng them were humanoid figures, their faces obscured by black

voice tight. "They're humans twisted by

t the sight. "Is there

without stopping Xuan first. They're bo

-

lit the night sky as soldiers fought desperately to hold the walls. Yue

word flashing as she joined the fray. "Fo

yielding. "We can't hold this position forever," he sa

his power. He's conducting the ritual at the ruins of the Temple of the

an, gather a strike team. Mei, prepar

-

of elite soldiers slipped out of the city. The road to the Templ

feet. The once-sacred site was now a vortex of dark energy, th

remnants of the curse swirled around him, feeding into a massive sigil

" he said, his voice dripping with venom. "Yo

en everything from me, Xuan. My family, my people, m

p me? I've transcended the mortal chains that bind you. Yo

-

res of shadow to his side, their forms writhing and ever-changing. Mei

striking at Xuan's minions. Yuelin faced Xuan dir

es relentless. "But strength alone won't save you.

ght. "Strength isn't about ruthlessness-it's about cou

ng scroll floated before her, its runes shifting as she chanted. Th

le longer!"

-

blow, forcing Xuan back. The Phoenix Amulet around her ne

"You think this trinket will save yo

and the others sprawling. The sigil beneath him b

in cried, strugg

d it into the ground, sending a wave of light cascading over the templ

ss began to consume him. "This isn't over, Yueli

n was gone, the remnants of the

-

red but unbroken. The people emerged from thei

y but victorious. The Phoenix Amulet now glowed with

voice soft but filled with d

fight was far from over. The shadows had been banished,

ss, Xuan's final words ling

-

cont