Chapter 47: Calamity Arises

“Rooooaaarr…” A thunderous roar shook the nine heavens, and echoes of the tremendous sound could even be heard at the farthest fringes of Cang Mang Ridge. Many of the fugitives’ powerful figures were struck stiff with fear, collapsing to the ground. As for their mounts, they’d long lost command of their senses. Bodies quivering as if sieved by panic, they fell flat to the earth, continuously shuddering with fear. Terrified into immobility and fearful to cast even a single glance upwards, they frantically knelt facing the direction of Cang Huang, offering kowtows in abject terror. Back at the heart of the mountains, terrifying auras pierced the heavens and convulsed the Earth. Four mighty beings raged in mortal fury— their confrontation seeming like an echo preceding the birth of creation itself. One moment blazing infernal torrents rose to obscure sun and stars; the next, roiling dark-clouds dimmed creation’s light—then iron rods struck down through the sky. What transpired here was a clash unprecedented in savagery, such devastation that only the anchoring power of a dozen divine beast bones prevented the mountainous expanse from crumbling entirely, preserving stability throughout endless chains of mountains which, unfixed, might otherwise be unimaginably torn asunder.

From clouds roiling in the primal disorder, an avian screech rent through the nine skies, the small crimson bird screeching furiously as it engaged in fierce combat opposite its adversary. Flames surged in tandem to its rage, burning away the half of the azure dome overhead, their fierce fire radiating heat unbearable. “Roooaaaar!” A tremendous yell caused heavens and earth themselves to quake. Opposing the fiery little one was a presence possessing the ability to swallow mountains; a mighty being radiated overwhelming aural, a resurgent brilliance, commanding an ultimate ability that quelled celestial inferno power. Should a witness happen to occupy that battleground, their eyes would widen in shock; for the adversary facing Red-Fledgling here was a titanic winged beast but uttering a roar like beasts’ bellowing, shaking mountain and stream till they trembled in resonance. Without primordial relic bones anchoring those summits, surely all would have disintegrated in catastrophe.

“Hong Long!” One colossal pinion tore through skies as if an obsidian shroud overshadowed across the celestial dome. Surpassing radiance, it darkened Red-Bird’s scalding infernal blaze considerably. A couple of gigantic claws then descended in assault upon the vermilion flyer.

This vicious feathered brute attained unfathomable stature: crowding completely the skies so that merely one wing stretch evoked imagery akin ten-thousands titanic alps descending simultaneously. Its essence brimmed with blood-chilling miasmal aura that stirred terror within souls of the onlooker.

“Qiu!” A sharp scream rang as this tiny but formidable crimson sparrow soared up, confronting the looming titan. Despite minuscule physique, sheer dominance radiated from this avian; colliding full-tilt into massive talongs, resonances akin clashing metallic armor followed with scatters of sparking combustion erupting throughout. These combatants exchanged furious strokes, that titanic sky-filling winged abomination encased in heavy mist—impossible for any eye to discern body from shroud—kept its crimson eyes fixed from afar: glowing like blood-moons hanging across heavens.

“Hong!” The monstrous predator exceeded the concept of limitless dimensions; a sweeping gesture with its wings lifted vast quantities of atmosphere to the heavens where the Cang Mang Ridge’s sky teetered precariously near suffocation through compression beneath this titanic form; its assault peerless beyond compare: each mighty flap trembled the earth and echoed through all heavens in reverberation.

Yet though mighty in presence, little crimson wing struggled—bearing ancient wounds sustained during an unending protracted war against another figure carrying the formidable rod—leaving both as broken victors in mutual destruction.

“Xiū…xiū…” Blazing crimson rays sliced through cloud banks overhead, Red-Swan glowing through layers of glyph inscriptions weaving through her frame like a star-field; its crystallized beak—a jewel faceted in ruby flame, now agape emitting rays that cut across the heavens in searing torrents.

An absolute top-level treasure ability was thus revealed, these resplendent light bursts condensing into an ever-broadening formation of scalding phoenix swords, all-edged blades seething with fire-force aimed unhesitatingly towards the immense predator overhead.

“Grrroooooarrr…” the behemoth—like a roiling black-cloud, now let escape another primal roar of realization: sensing impending mortal jeopardy, the monstrosity flared wings at the vault, ascending invisibly swift into limitless blue void. In that instant, shadow clouds churn violently: fleeing toward endless cosmic depths in retreat, every iron-hard feather upon its form flashed with potent glyph energies—an ominous darkness descending in overwhelming coverage, shooting endless shafts hurtling earthward.

“Gang…gang…” Radiant bursts erupted overhead—obsidian energy beams meeting brilliant crimson swordforms in titanic metallic clashes like hailing comets colliding in terrifying cataclysms upon a deep space plane—an awe-striking cosmic-level event that echoed terror into the great expanse of Cang Huang wilderness.

“Wuwuwu…” Far off in another sky quadrant, howling tempests tore through celestial expanses. Simultaneously, an iron rod swung across heaven spanning dimensions, wielded in two giant hirsutepouched fists, clashing with an immensity of a being standing as the embodiment cosmic stability amidst an ever-heated duel reaching white-hot extremity; each time collision between titanic adversaries sounded much like primordial separation between heaven and earth—an endless surge of primordial force dispersing into all directions.

Resplendent luster flowed like heavenly omens, while that unearthed implement drifted and bobbed mid-flight through the chaotic atmosphere. The four ancient primates still refrained from seizing the relic directly—they first focused all energy in countering mortal oppositions.

Even such ancient monstrous apes, or fire-beast bovine devils dared not dare approach in presence of these formidable beings—trembling instead in hidden corners faraway, fearful to approach even a single footstep towards the battlefield.

The battle increasingly spiraled into unprecedented ferocity: The four beings inconceivable in terrifying might fought unreserved with their entire selves engaged in ruthless battle contest, emitting ominous aura piercing to the extremity, chilling the entire realm—reducing everything living to quaking uncertainty within.

Then, amidst the chaos—“Waam!”-a sudden cosmic tremble heralded a terrible gigantic claw’s entry across heavens’ plane—an unexpected assault aimed directly at tiny crimson bird’s frame. Radiant might cascading outwardly like ocean surging wave engulfed space in its approach—boundless and limitless.

This assassination maneuver stemmed from the figure standing beyond existence within the ethereal plane—an enormous entity, standing surpassingly tall with eyes glowing an eerie vivid green. Breaking formation suddenly away from the combatant opposite holding iron rod, it attacked with unreserved might straight against crimson-fledgling’s position alone, leaving none the wit to evade.

Enraged to rage, fiery-feather sparrow erupted into motion, flaring vast wings into thunderous claps sending powerful airbursts forth, violently spinning with unrelenting cyclonic fury coalecing into a red-hued vortex—a titanic tempest aimed at drawing the monstrous claws inside completely amidst scorching blaze beyond reckoning.”

Yet as one act closed mid-sky: The distant colossal avian, dived with renewed fury in synchronized timing with previous movement—swerving into position as a deadly crosscut attack aimed now against rod-wielder hidden through primordial clouds—a transversal assault so massive, its frame outshone black clouds entirely by even greater dimension, expelling waves of abyssal fog that choked ambient skies while glowing crimson eyes, blood mooned-gleaming unleashed two spear-thickness beams—gigantic constructs of condensed bloody essence piercing toward intended target front-on.

“Hong Long!” The heavens trembled violently, earth quaked beneath its tremble and suddenly the four great titans changed opponents entirely in this new moment. Each leaping towards unexpecting replacements in an instantaneous shift of battle momentum—one engaging another in bloody death struggle mid-heavenscape.

Cang Mang extended in vastness, majestic expanse—tens-of-thousands great peaks standing majestically, each one igniting in succession a grand display; scarlet sigils blazing red as blood, others void-darkness blackness, pristine white like crystal—radiating their presence across infinite expanse.

Indeed it were remnants’ relics through ancestral divine beast marrow bones holding sway over this domain’s stillness, else if but mere ripples of these battle’s energies descended down from skybound clashes alone—the ensuing devastation assured in absolute calamities.

Deep beyond outer fringes of peaks at great distance—numerous escaping champions fought hard against instinctual fear that clawed within soul. Reeling steps amidst frantic escape. The scene too horrifying to fathom entirely—unspeakable beings’ mere presence radiating aura capable immobilizing mortals entirely into prostration worship in sheer dreadfulness—a heart-sickening encounter few should witness firsthand.

Now they wished only for rapid retreat into rumored lands across ancient empire borders!

In the quiet repose at ancient Shi Village—towering Willow boughs swayed in gentle breeze while its people sensed pulses of unrest beating upon heart’s edge—remaining steady not shaken fully by primordial aura beyond. Unlike many outsiders, no trembling dread overtook their beings as clear protection held against the terrors.

“At heart of mountains, battle rages—truly I wonder the nature of holy treasure causing so much fervor.”

“I sense some great sealing force restricting all, locking landscapes together—else within the fifty-thousand li territory here—certain catastrophe awaited unbound devastation…”

Fly-Dagger and Lin Hu conversed in hushed whispers beneath shadowed branches—two souls weighed heavily burdened, fearful over how this disaster could escalate.

Suddenly an echoed cry echoed throughout skies above—descending from above came a mighty predatory aviar form covered densely in emerald scales, whose pinions glimmered radiant silver light—clear contrasting its former shade completely, heralding transformation.

“Oh! Look it’s Elder Matriarch Azure-Scaled Eagle—see she’s transformed, Emerald-Wings shifted into Silvers…”

Surprised delight expressed the diminutive speaker while eyes watched wonder-filled toward vast shape descending above.

“Jiu Jiu…” The giant fledgling forms: Golden-Eagle, Little Green and Violet Clouds squeals of excitement erupting into flurries feathered motion—they soared immediately to village’s threshold skyward in joyous greeting calls.

Emerald-scaled one indeed changed: Each wing glowed lustral brilliance—as though solid silver forged within celestial forge, exuding divine clarity. Its consumption of Lion-Dragon blood essence triggered its evolution.

It exuded palpably fearsome might, strength magnified by countless degrees. Its aura radiated terrifyingly as power soared in incomprehensible ascent!

“Huuu…” A rushing tempest announced descent as Azure-Scaled Eagle alit among grounded figures, drawing wings tight behind as fledglings swarmed joyously. Their little beaks nudging lovingly into massive plumage—an emotional familial welcome despite its fearful unrest.

Indeed this ancient predatory beast had flown hastily from those peril-littered heights—escaping the terror dwelling still in distant mountain depths—battlefield too terrifying amidst sealed regions for even this mighty being not quaking at the very prospect.

“You don’t leave Elder Azure! Hide here inside, safe with us, just for now…” The diminutive child implores, approaching forward gently toward the grand avian presence.

Other members of villagers surrounded, gathering in mutual agreement for unity. These days they forged bonds unshakable with offspring from ancient winged titans—having shared trials that once threatened to end in mutual oblivion—all now unwilling for danger to find its way back upon one they cherished so highly.

Emerald-scale one nodded consent—indeed, it came seeking shelter amidst approaching perils. The combat raged intensely in heart of distant mountain recesses; beast roared periodically, thunderous waves like cosmic tide breaking eternally across celestial and earthly levels, resonating shockwaves in terrifying intensity. And the screeching of avian cries—resonance like extraplanar divine sound—reverberated with power that could entrap hearts entirely.

This confrontation continued for days on end, without signs yet waning.

Eventually fugitive masters finally fled far back toward ancestral tribal boundaries, their heartbeats racing even now at distance exceeding miles beyond reckoning—they still felt echoes lingering deep in spirit as senseless misfortune foretold.

The deaths of Three Clan Leaders, suffering defeat at one village alone—news returned triggering seismic tremors throughout each and every clan.

Moreover the revelation—”Heavenly Jewel awakened!” coupled with news of inconceivable supreme beings locked in combat—the terror within revelation shook all into trembling panic and dread.

“This world will know chaos. None could discern its outcome.”

Thus murmured the elders from great races lost in ominous speculation.

“Please may the calamity abate quickly…” So prayed multitudes.

Back amidst depths within Cang Mang Mountains—one lustrous sacred relic danced amidst the four celestial combatants’ proximity—flying ceaselessly back and forth through their conflict as their furious struggle intensified ever further with frequent attempts to snatch that shining artifact within powerful clutches.

“Hooong!” Chaotic energy exploded outward, the glowing-white hallowed talisman propelled forcefully toward the distance, breaking clean of the mountain-veering runic arrays—those ancient treasures could no longer contain this realm.

“Awwww!” An enormous beast foot crashed forth stepping out—lifting a towering shape upright to stand amidst swirling veils of fog-shades green in iridescence, glowing eyes sweeping about before a guttaral roar broke into speech:

“This holy treasure bears paramount importance—to remain known to fewer would ensure better concealment!”

“Then, slay every witness!” growled the giant avian joining the standoff—an ominous presence coalescing through primordial fog, expanding massive wings until entire mountain ranges lay eclipsed underneath, enormous eyes gleamed like twin sanguine suns pouring waves of malevolent energy forthwards.

“Dong!” An iron rod erupted in thunder strike—as massive as entire ridges wielded amidst primal whirlwinds—wrested forward from the grip of colossal fuzzy fist of a mist-enveloped warded entity. Now swung in unbridled wrath, the bearer emanated indescribable godlike presence.

The little redbird also launched into furious assault again—a trail of flame behind it. The deific might radiated from all four entities now rendered them each as unconceivable forces of nature. As their battle resumed, the very landscape trembled with their clashing forces.

Those original relic bones now lay helpless to contain events.

“All spirits listen! Conquer every inch beneath our power!”

The glowing-eyed silhouette’s tones became sharper, chillier—an immense creature towering like mountains delivering its command amidst billowing fog.

“Proceed: Sweep away obstacles!”

The giant winged-being, whose previous utterance bore more simian tones shifted to articulate clearly now, delivering his own martial pronouncement. Twin blood-moon iridescence gazing unblinking with icy, deathly menace.

Chaos energy veiled all space, while sacred relic drifted, teetering dangerously upon being seized within rod-wielders grasp.

At this crucial moment, three remaining terrors shrieked as united entities—they surged towards this same prize with collective force; all racing toward a climactic confrontation over ultimate prize possession at once—a final, fated strike for domination amidst apocalyptic chaos!