Solar Blood Masters

WHOOSH!

Raphael, Thienika, Lu Jade, Qi Fenwei, and Gastaroid materialized on a circular stone platform. It was a chaotic arrival. The air around them swirled with a blinding dust storm. They coughed, sputtered and struggled to see.

"Where… Where are we?" Raphael's massive form stumbled. He shielded his eyes with his hand.

"Damn dust! Such a pathetic greeting. This place is already pissing me off!" Gastaroid growled as he glared at the swirling sand.

He then extended his humungous arms, and those veins upon his molten hide glowed a menacing red. "MUWAHAHAHA! Prepare to be OBLITERATED, dust storm!"

BOOM!

His Solar Essence flared.

A radial blast of fire and earth energy had the air groaning before those dancing particles were blown away effortlessly!

The force of his aura created a clearing, revealing a breathtaking vista of crimson sand dunes stretching as far as the eye could see. The sky above was a hazy ochre, the sun a faint orb.

"Hmm, quite the ambience!"

Raphael's jaw dropped. "This is the 'Desolate Sands'? It's… HUGE!"

"Indeed! And those Sandnados over there… They could flay a Calamity's scales from their hide in a heartbeat! Be careful." Thienika's voice had a chilling calm to it.

"Now then. Who's up to be crushed first? Hmmm?" Gastaroid cracked his knuckles, sending another tremor across the platform as his predatorial gaze settled on Raphael.

Seeing this, Lu Jade quickly uncoiled his emerald form. "GASTAROID! We're on the SAME team now! Remember?" He wagged his tail frantically, hoping to quell those flames brewing in the Bull Mountain Demon's gaze.

Even Thienika shifted slightly, her staff crackling with a faint energy as if ready to defend those she now considered 'family', those she'd guide towards a more peaceful, yet fulfilling path.

"Relax. Relax. Hahahaha! It's too early for me to crush you, little snake. Your essences are weak! I'll savor them later, when we've claimed those delicious 500,000 years! Muwahaha! And Raphael… you too, bull. I want to savor turning your golden bones into dust!"

"Sheesh!"

His laughter had Raphael's hooves shuffling nervously, he was starting to regret this alliance. But what choice did he have?

He needed a strong team, and Gastaroid, despite his arrogance and bloodthirsty tendencies, was a 8th Layer Nightmare Calamity.

Sensing the tension, Qi Fenwei stepped forward. She spread her magnificent violet wings, sending a calming breeze as she surveyed their surroundings.

"Enough of this foolish bickering! Our objective is clear. We need to locate those Kepfu eggs, and amass them. Wasting time brawling against each other will only dilute our strength."

"She is right." Raphael nodded. "My Shadow Bats can help search for them. With their advanced echolocation and…" He was about to suggest his plan when a loud CRASH came from behind them, "What was that?!"

As they turned, they witnessed a magnificent sight.

From a large Sandnado nearby, Gastaroid was pulling a massive root. He then tossed it aside carelessly, causing the surrounding dunes to tremor!

"I can easily uproot this ENTIRE stage, and gather ALL those damn eggs. What do you say?"

He glanced at them expectantly, waiting for approval. But their silence, their disbelieving stares, had his molten eyes narrowed.

"You think I'm boasting? You pathetic insects! I, GASTAROID, am the strongest Bull Calamity in all of Yama Yaguai! Watch and LEARN!"

He was about to unleash his might, to demonstrate how a real Bull Calamity handled these Trials,

When…

WHOOSH! BOOM! BOOM!

Several powerful energy blasts came soaring towards them, scorching the air with a dreadful heat.

"Flame Pillars!"

Without missing a beat, Gastaroid reacted instinctively by summoning three massive pillars of solidified molten rock that erupted from the ground and created an impenetrable barrier around them. Those flames deflected the attacks effortlessly.

"Which weakling DARES to launch a sneak attack on ME?!" His voice thundered with rage. "Show yourself! If you can't even dent my barrier, you don't deserve to…"

BOOM! CRACK!

The barrier shattered!

It was obliterated by a single, precise strike.

A bamboo shoot, thin, yet incredibly sharp, whistled through the barrier and aimed straight for Gastaroid's lower abdomen, the location of his core.

His eyes widened. "Huh? My core?!"

He'd never revealed this weakness to anyone!

WHOOSH!

He twisted his massive form and dodged. The bamboo shoot whizzed past him, barely missing.

Then as if fate itself desired a grand entrance…

BOOM!

A colossal explosion rocked the landscape! Sand and dust billowed upwards, obscuring their vision for several heartbeats as a terrifying pressure had Raphael's hooves trembling and Lu Jade scrambling for safety behind Thienika's staff.

"That attack… It was aimed at MY CORE. Whoever is behind this, they KNOW my weakness! But who could that be? I've crushed all who know my secret… aside from Emperor Julian. The only other person I can think of is…"

A dreadful realization was settling in…

"Oh… no."

The dust cloud began to dissipate.

And then, they saw them!

Lu Ruby slithered forward with a grace that contradicted her malicious glare. Upon her back, a large Sun Cycle, crafted from purest bronze and studded with glittering rubies, glowed ominously. She wore a dark armor. She was a Nightmare Calamity, 1st layer.

Beside her, Hellphet hovered with a grin. It seemed their 'disagreement' from weeks before had been resolved. His elephant trunk swayed. In his massive hands he held a fiery shield and spear. His monstrous physique radiated a chaotic might that had the surrounding sands melting into glass. He was a 2nd Layer Nightmare Calamity.

Splinter Roc, a white peacock, elegant and deadly with his crimson tail feathers, now strutted proudly, holding his magnificent white katana; its blade as sharp as those whispers of envy from those who admired its beauty. He was a 4th Layer Nightmare Calamity.

And lastly…

"Lord Lingshi?!" Lu Jade's voice was a tremor of disbelief as they all watched a colossal bamboo turtle emerge.

Its shell was immense! It resembled a miniature mountain with a thriving grove of jade-green bamboo growing upon it. The largest bamboo stalk was in the center of his back, reaching towards those hazy ochre skies with such graceful strength!

He possessed two horns that had more ancient runes than even those tomes in Qi Hawk's library. And upon his forehead, a gem, round, smooth, and pulsing with a soft white light that illuminated those spaces his shadows couldn't touch. It was the legendary 'Gem of Knowledge', it amplified his thoughts and granted access to secrets few beings dared to uncover.

Lord Lingshi's cultivation was truly on another level, that of 9th Layer Nightmare Calamity, almost an Emperor Calamity.

"We MEET again, BULL!" Lu Ruby hissed with a venom that dripped from her fangs and splattered the ground.

It sizzled and those sand grains vanished as if her very essence was acidic, a truly terrifying yet beautiful sight to behold.

Then those eyes narrowed to deadly slits as her gaze landed on a terrified figure trying to hide behind a Golden Bull Thork's tail.

"You… TRAITOR!"

Her words had Lu Jade's scales turning pale, but before those dreadful pronouncements of sisterly retribution could take flight…

A hoof extended, blocking his emerald form from those fiery ruby-red eyes.

"Leave him be, snake. You want revenge, then you will have to go through me first." Raphael's words were firm, and his tone had her scales vibrating with more wrath.

…

"LINGSHI! So it was YOU who broke my barrier?!" Gastaroid's molten eyes narrowed as he glared at the colossal bamboo turtle. Their forms were comparable in size, but their auras, their presence... They were worlds apart.

"Hmmm, 8th Layer?" Lord Lingshi simply gaze down at him with a pitiful look. "Bull Mountain Demon, your strength has fallen. Have you been slacking off all these years?"

"BASTARD! You insult my tenacity?! DIE!" Gastaroid roared. His molten fists ignited, and he unleashed a barrage of flaming rocks. They hurtled down towards Lingshi with a terrifying speed.

"Oh, dear." Hellphet shrank back a little and shielded his head with his trunk. It seemed this confrontation would be a bloodbath.

"Don't be a coward, Hellphet. Just watch." Lu Ruby hissed. She'd heard tales about these two ancient Calamities, their rivalry, and the battles that had reshaped the very landscape of Yama Yaguai.

Lord Lingshi was unfazed by the incoming assault. He merely sighed softly as a soft rustling sound came from his shell.

"World Canvas."

From the heart of his bamboo grove, the largest stalk extended. It unfurled stylishly into a Sagewood Script, revealing a smooth, blank canvas. And upon that canvas, an image began to appear. It was black and white, depicting Gastaroid's raised fists and hundreds of boulders raining down.

Casually, Lord Lingshi summoned a massive paintbrush. It was dipped in purest white ink.

And then, he began to paint upon that World Canvas.

"NIHILISTIC STROKE!"

Each stroke was swift, precise, yet held an effortless elegance. The brush danced across the canvas, erasing the boulders one by one.

And as he erased them, the real boulders vanished!

They simply disappeared into thin air!

"How… How is that POSSIBLE?" Lu Jade's scales trembled as he witnessed this display of unimaginable power.

"What a troublesome old turtle…" Even Qi Fenwei felt a chill. That technique, its sheer elegance and simplicity was truly awe-inspiring.

"I never knew Lord Lingshi was this powerful." Lu Jade's tongue almost fell from his mouth.

"Shut it, you pathetic little brother or I'll skewer you right here!" Lu Ruby's hissed threat was met with Qi Fenwei's cold glare.

"Want to try it, snake?" Qi Fenwei unsheathe Archon and aimed it at Lu Ruby. "I'll strip you naked again. This time, I'll take your tail as a souvenir."

The reminder of her earlier humiliation had Lu Ruby's scales flaring, but before she could retort, Splinter Roc stepped forward with his grip tightening on his white katana.

"Interesting… I've heard rumors about you, Princess. They say your sword strikes are as swift as lightning. But I bet mine is faster." He pointed his blade towards her. "Want to test it out?"

Qi Fenwei, ever eager for a challenge, drew Lullaby and aimed it at Splinter Roc. "Try and find out."

"Hmm."

Lord Lingshi watched this exchange. He'd sensed something off about Raphael, a familiar energy was within that bull, but he couldn't quite place it.

He was interrupted by a bellow of rage,

"Damn bamboo turtle! I'LL make you COWER in that shell of yours!"

Gastaroid charged! His molten fist ignited and he slammed it towards his ancient adversary.

At the same time, Splinter Roc vanished! He reappeared beside Qi Fenwei, slashing downwards!

"Die!"

Simultaneously, Lu Ruby lunged towards her despicable brother with a hissing tongue, "I'm going to SKIN you ALIVE!"

"IN HELL you WILL!"

Raphael reacted instantly. He leaped in front of Lu Jade and punched Lu Ruby's head deep into the earth.

BOOM!

"Damn! How dare he!"

Seeing this act of aggression, Hellphet retaliated.

"Tyrannical Spear!"

He launched his fiery spear towards Raphael.

Thienika slammed her staff against the ground.

"Royal Guard!"

BOOM!

The air around her rippled, and Hellphet froze.

Qi Fenwei blocked Splinter Roc's katana strike, and sent him flying with a swift kick. He quickly regained his footing and dashed at her again.

"Raphael! Take the others and find those eggs! We'll handle these losers!" She spun and parried Splinter Roc's sword strike.

"Hmph. Such bold words. It seems braggadocio runs deep in Qi Hawk's lineage." Lord Lingshi chuckled softly while staring at Qi Fenwei.

"Your opponent is ME, Lingshi!"

Gastaroid slammed a fire pillar towards the turtle.

Lingshi, however, simply painted a black 'X' over Gastaroid's portrait on his World Canvas.

"Inkblade Stroke!"

Instantly, a black 'X' stroke of pure shadow energy materialized above Gastaroid. It sliced him into FOUR pieces.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

"What?!" Gastaroid's four parts stumbled backward. His eyes were wide with disbelief.

A terrifying chill had the other contenders gasping.

"He… He just… ERASED Gastaroid?!"

"Lord Lingshi is truly a terror!"

"RUN!"

They scattered in terror.

Raphael watched the encounter and his heart pounded. He couldn't hope to challenge Lord Lingshi's might, not at his current level. This old turtle was a force of nature.

He grabbed Thienika and scooped up Lu Jade. "We've GOT to get OUT of here!"

"Yes, Big Brother!"

"BASTARDS! Where are you going?!"

Hellphet, now free of the stasis, charged.

"Damn bull! You're going to PAY for humiliating me that time at my Fire Pool!"

He swam through the sky with a speed that had Raphael's hooves trembling.

"Wing Slashnado!"

Raphael lashed out.

Then after charging his Helios Sphere, he unleashed that potent blasts he'd mastered.

"HELIOS STREAM!"

BOOM! CRACKLE!

"Tyrannical Shield!"

Hellphet raised his shield. But even his defenses were no match for Raphael's power. He was flung backwards and he crashed directly into Lu Ruby who was chasing close behind. Both of them stumbled to the ground.

"NOW'S our chance! Through the chaos!"

Raphael dashed toward a group of brawling Calamities.

The scene around him was a chaotic mix of roars, shrieks, flashing energies, and the sickening aroma of blood.

A lizard-like creature, with horns and a massive tail club, slammed into a bird that exploded into a puff of feathers.

A giant scorpion with eight eyes, was pinning down a boar whose tusks were chipped and bleeding. And in the distance, a fiery, phoenix-like creature was incinerating a pack of wolves.

But Raphael's focus wasn't on them. He had a mission and a promise to fulfill. He had to find those eggs, for Grandma Thienika. And then, he'd claim those years and bring back those starlight leaves that had graced this land with her magnificent presence.

Such was the bond they shared.

While evading, he released hundreds of Shadow Bats from his wings.

"Find the Kepfu Eggs!"

They buzzed excitedly.

"YES, MASTER!"

"We'll FIND them for you, MASTER!"

"None shall ESCAPE our echolocation!"

"Fan OUT!"