Flames of Ambition

61: The Beginning Of End (First Part Epilogue)

Chapter 61: The Beginning of the End
(First Part Epilogue)

As the test continued, Zexel's group ventured deeper into the forest. Each step they took heightened their alertness. This part of the woods was known to be dangerously unpredictable, and the tension in the air was thick. A strong, eerie sensation enveloped them like a suffocating fog.

Something was definitely wrong.

As they pushed forward, Feng Zhengying instinctively held his wife's hand. He was determined to protect her—this girl who had become his world. But despite his resolve, he couldn’t shake off the growing sense of dread, especially when it came to Zexel. His instincts screamed that something terrible was coming.

“I don’t like this eerie feeling,” Feng Ming Li muttered, walking cautiously. “It’s too intense… it’s like someone is deliberately manipulating the atmosphere.”

“Same here,” Fan Yaoli agreed quietly.

A moment later, a thunderous roar echoed through the forest, sending out a violent wave of wind pressure that tore through the trees and ground. The group immediately activated their Qi, shielding themselves from the force as they advanced deeper into the unknown.

The winds became stronger, and eventually, they laid eyes on the source: a massive dragon with obsidian scales and glowing golden eyes, flapping its wings to generate the pressure.

“Be careful, everyone!” Zexel shouted, her voice sharp and commanding.

The group drew their weapons and swiftly moved into formation.

“Spread out!” Feng Zhengying commanded. Lightning crackled around his dual swords as the others activated their own elemental abilities.

However, to their shock, their attacks had no effect.

Worse—each strike reflected back at them.

Although they managed to dodge most of the counterattacks, they couldn’t avoid injury entirely. Several sustained grave wounds.

“I think... its power is reflective,” Fan Yaoli grimaced, clutching a wound on her leg, her clothing tattered from a close encounter.

Zexel, undeterred, conjured a massive fireball and hurled it at the dragon—but once again, the attack rebounded. She twisted to dodge, but a violent coughing fit overtook her mid-air, and she spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Zexel!” Feng Zhengying cried out, rushing forward to catch her as she stumbled.

The dragon roared again—this time unleashing an enormous black energy sphere from its mouth and launching it toward them.

“Move!” someone yelled.

The group soared into the sky, narrowly escaping as the orb crashed into the ground. When they turned to look, they were stunned.

“Look!” Feng Ming Li gasped, pointing at the aftermath.

Where they had just stood was now a deep, dark crater, so massive they couldn’t even see the bottom. A second slower, and they would’ve been erased from existence.

Acting swiftly, Fan Yaoli summoned Han Yu, her ever-lazy but powerful spirit beast. Zexel, with gritted teeth, released her own legendary beasts—White, Red, Blue, and Black. But the summoning drained her further. She coughed up more blood and fell to her knees.

“Zexel!” Feng Zhengying knelt beside her, panic etched across his face.

“I’ll be okay,” she said softly, forcing a weak smile as she touched his cheek. Another cough followed, more blood staining her lips.