The night had fallen thick and heavy, like a black curtain slowly pressing down over the shattered village in the mountains.The air was choked with the scent of blood, mingled with the dampness of earth and the acrid stench of smoke, making every breath a struggle.
Twelve starstones flickered faintly, scattered across the ruins, illuminating a grim scene of broken corpses and collapsed houses.They had finally subdued the wave of low-ranking demons—but the price had been steep.Almost everyone was drenched in blood, their own and their enemies', indistinguishable.
In the center of the wreckage stood Miexing, sword in hand, blood still dripping from its blade.A deep gash marred her shoulder, bone faintly visible through torn flesh, yet her eyes were cold and unflinching, as if she felt no pain.Behind her, the Fourth Star, the Ninth Star, and others were regathering their strength, each bearing wounds of varying severity.
The Celestial Lord had not appeared.They knew—this was their battle to fight alone.
Suddenly, the ground trembled.A low, guttural growl rumbled from the distant forest.In the shroud of night, dozens of eerie green eyes began to glimmer.
These were not the common beasts they had fought before.These were the commanders of the demon clans.
Miexing lifted her gaze.Emerging from the woods was a monstrous figure—an armored demon general, towering nearly thirty feet high.Its black armor, neither true metal nor flesh, gleamed coldly, impervious to sword and flame alike.Behind it, two smaller but still formidable demon soldiers dragged massive blades as they approached.
In an instant, the Twelve Stars tensed, ready for battle.
—These creatures were on an entirely different level.
"Formation!"The First Star barked the order. His silver starstone blazed to life, and he shot forward like a bolt of lightning.
He was the one among them most skilled at frontal assault.His spear, a silver dragon, tore through the air with a thunderous roar, aimed straight at the demon general's brow.
But the demon general only tilted its head slightly and raised a hand.Boom!The spear was slapped aside, spiraling through the air before embedding deep into the ground.
The First Star staggered back three steps, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Miexing narrowed her eyes, drew a deep breath, and surged forward.Her sword did not aim for a fatal blow—it sought to find and tear at the defenses, to carve open a weakness.In a flash, she slashed at the demon's hamstring.
Yet astonishingly, the demon general moved with uncanny agility, lifting its leg clear.A sweeping strike followed, its clawed hand cutting the air like a blade.
Caught off guard, Miexing was hurled backward, crashing through a crumbling wall.Pain exploded through her chest; it felt as if her organs had been wrenched from their places.
The others attacked as well.The Seventh Star, adept at control magic, summoned a surge of thorny vines from the ground, binding one of the demon soldiers.But within seconds, the vines were torn apart with brute force.
"Too strong!" the Seventh Star gritted out, his hands trembling uncontrollably.
The Sixth Star unleashed explosive talismans, but they barely scorched the demon general's armor.The Eleventh and Twelfth Stars couldn't even get close, narrowly dodging death with each massive swing of demon blades.
The battlefield slipped into chaos.
Blood soaked the muddy ground.Bones fractured. Wounds tore open anew. Yet none of them faltered; they gritted their teeth and fought on.
"Retreat!"The First Star's voice rang out, pale and grim.
They were hopelessly outmatched.If they stayed any longer, the Twelve Stars would be annihilated.
Miexing staggered to her feet amid the rubble, clutching her sword tighter, her gaze locked on the looming black giant.
A crushing sense of helplessness gripped her.
She hated this weakness.If she were strong enough, they wouldn't have to retreat.She wouldn't have to watch helplessly as villagers died.She wouldn't have to see her comrades bleed.
She wiped the blood from her lips and turned, shielding the Ninth and Tenth Stars as they began their withdrawal.
Boom!Behind them, a boulder wreathed in dark demon energy crashed to the earth, shattering the ground and throwing up a cloud of dust.
Wind howled through the ruins, whipping blood and dirt into a blinding storm.
Even retreating was a battle for survival—every step forward felt like walking on the edge of a knife.
The First Star stayed behind to cover them.He took a savage blade to the shoulder, the wound gaping down to the bone, blood instantly drenching half his body.Yet he didn't utter a sound, merely thrusting his spear to drive back the pursuing demons.
Miexing glanced back, and the sight stabbed at her heart like a needle.
But she knew—stopping meant death.
If they failed to retreat, they would all die here.
Beneath the starry sky, twelve bloodstained shadows wove through the broken village.Their ragged, gasping breaths were the only sound left in the blood-soaked wind.
Finally, they broke free from the ruins and disappeared into the dense forest.
Behind them, the black-armored demon general stood atop a mound of rubble, coldly watching their retreat,its eyes still burning with murderous intent.
Deeper within the woods, another, even more massive figure stirred,and slowly, its eyes opened.