Dragon Kingdom Arc Chapter 13: The Sacred Armor of the Martial God

“Hahaha...”

“Over the years, you have made considerable progress, but compared to me, I am a true S-rank Martial God. Though A-rank and S-rank differ by only a single letter, I am one of the Ten Guardians of the World Serpent—‘Scarlet Lotus of the Flames.’”

“Little sister, I must admit you’ve grown much stronger. Against other S-rank Martial Gods, you might have won.”

“But you’re facing me.”

“Watch closely, little sister. This is what a true S-rank Martial God looks like.”

With a fierce shout, her voice echoed through the empty air, reverberating through every inch of space. Her body trembled lightly with the roar, as if shaken by an invisible force. The soul of the Martial God quietly awakened within her, beginning to gather into a dazzling radiance.

The old armor gradually peeled away from her body, each fragment bearing the scars of past battles and trials. Meanwhile, a new armor slowly formed beneath her skin, shimmering with a mysterious and brilliant light. This was more than mere armor—it was the outward manifestation of Elune’s inner strength, a symbol of her unwavering will and her solitary yet proud spirit.

A mighty power flowed into Elune’s body like countless streams converging, surging through her veins as if ready to break all fetters and propel her to the pinnacle of strength. Driven by this force, Elune’s body gently rose, as if supported by invisible wings, floating midair.

As the old armor completely fell away, her wounds miraculously began to heal, each scar vanishing at a visible speed, replaced by newly born skin that emitted a faint, luminescent glow.

“Heh...” A deep, powerful cry echoed in the void, igniting the surrounding air as the temperature soared like the fierce midday sun in summer. As the heat spread, the ground beneath her feet lost its former moisture, cracking dry, while tiny grains of sand grew scorching hot under the invisible oven, each telling the tale of blistering heat.

Elune’s armored form resembled a living volcano, with waves of searing heat roaring from within, spilling out indiscriminately in all directions, creating rippling waves of distorted heat. Wherever they passed, grass withered, water sources dried up; even the air seemed to ignite, crackling with explosive pops. This power was both primal and wild, casting an unprecedented sense of oppression over all living things nearby.

In this unbearable heat, Aishi struggled for breath, each inhalation like swallowing flames; her throat felt parched to the brink of cracking. Her skin flushed red under the scorching waves; sweat poured down like rain, evaporating instantly upon contact, leaving scattered salt stains that painted mottled patterns on her skin. The surrounding air seemed to freeze, heavy enough to suffocate, and the omnipresent heat waves acted like invisible chains, binding her tightly within this blazing hell.

At this moment, Elune was no longer an ordinary S-rank Martial God but a true pinnacle S-rank Martial God in every sense.

She deeply felt the surging immense power within her—the blazing flame that seemed to reach the core of all things and ignite the world. This power made her feel unprecedentedly strong yet stirred a complex mixture of emotions in her heart.

Elune’s voice softened, low and lingering like a candle flickering in the night breeze: “Master, I have indeed grown stronger, but the price of this power is the loss of many things I once cherished. Having inherited your supreme strength, my heart now bears an indescribable sorrow.”

All living beings around fled in panic before this infernal aura capable of scorching the skies and boiling seas. Only Elune stood steadfast in her armor, resolute and unmoving.

Her figure, bathed in roaring flames, appeared even more magnificent—as if she herself had become the embodiment of power: fearless, solemn, and like a goddess of fire.

Aishi gasped: “This... this is the Sacred Martial God Armor!”

Elune laughed heartily: “Hahaha... You actually recognize the Martial God Sacred Armor.”

“The Martial God power armor has three tiers: the initial Martial God Battle Armor, the Martial God Sacred Armor, and the Martial God Divine Armor.”

“To date, only seven people in this world possess the Martial God Divine Armor.”

“So, those ranked S among Martial Gods aren’t truly S-rank in the ultimate sense.”

Aishi’s heart brimmed with boundless awe and admiration, yet not a trace of retreat. She knew well that only through trials of storm and rain could one forge true strength.

---

In her heart, the radiant glow of Elune’s Sacred Martial God Armor served as a guiding beacon, illuminating her path ahead. She silently vowed to pursue that sacred and inviolable armor relentlessly, training tirelessly to steadily elevate her power.

Aishi clearly understood the vast chasm separating her from Elune, but this realization did not breed fear; instead, it strengthened her conviction.

She chose to face the challenge head-on, stepping forward bravely. No matter how arduous or thorny the road ahead, she would never give up lightly.

To her, the Sacred Martial God Armor was not just a symbol of power but the ultimate test of a warrior’s will and faith. She believed that only when Martial God power transformed into unyielding armor, reaching the legendary status of the Sacred Martial God Armor, could she break free from the shackles of A-rank and charge toward the summit of S-rank Martial Gods.

The path ahead might be fraught with difficulty, but as long as there was light in her heart, there would be a way beneath her feet. She would greet every challenge with fearless courage and carve her own legend with sweat and effort.

Recalling her past—seeking powerful opponents for battles, each fight making her stronger and more mature—though years had passed, and she had thought herself capable of matching Elune, she now realized she was still unable to overcome her. Yet, Aishi pressed on, growing braver with every battle.

She spun her wrist lightly; the sword gleamed like a silver dragon leaping. Then, under her will, the crimson blade instantly transformed into a blazing thunder spear, flickering with an ominous scarlet glow. Taking a deep breath, her entire strength seemed to converge at the spear’s tip, aiming at Elune’s glowing Sacred Martial God Armor, unleashing a full-power strike.

The spear tip cut through the air, trailing a dazzling red light like a thunderclap ripping the sky—a harbinger of destruction and breakthrough.

This strike was Aishi’s final, all-out effort. She yearned to pierce Elune’s seemingly impregnable armor and prove her strength and determination.

Yet, the moment the thunder spear met the sacred armor, an indescribable backlash exploded forth like a mountain collapsing or waves crashing back, shattering Aishi’s assault.

This force was both cold and mighty, filling Aishi’s heart with a flicker of dread.

She realized Elune’s defense was far more complex than it appeared—every ounce of power cleverly converted into a counterattack wave, engulfing her offense. Aishi felt a sharp pain in her chest before being blasted back several meters.

“So strong, this Sacred Armor... Could it be? Have all my efforts been in vain?”

“No, my heart remains steadfast. I firmly believe in the path chosen by Aheng and me. Just because of these setbacks, shall we surrender? Would I still be myself then? Thinking back, all those enemies we faced harbored deadly intent against us. Though none could compare to Elune, every clash brought us to the brink of death, only for us to be reborn in blood.”

“Yet... all this time, my sole motivation to push forward was to become strong enough to one day end Elune myself and avenge my master. Now, to face death beneath her sword—how can I accept this? I refuse to submit...”

As Aishi sank, nearly drowning in despair, a figure quietly appeared, steadying her form. The youth’s face was resolute, eyes shining with unwavering light.

“Xier, never speak of giving up.” The youth’s voice was deep and inspiring, like the rising sun gently piercing the heart, bringing endless warmth.

He slowly extended his right hand, within his palm a blazing yet soft light gently swirling, as if containing all hope and courage in the world.

Aishi’s eyes widened in disbelief as she gazed at the youth.

A gentle, jade-like smile curved his lips as he whispered, “Xier, I am here to help you.”

Aishi frowned with concern, “But your injuries...”

Ye Heng waved his hand lightly, a hint of unruliness and confidence in his smile: “It’s nothing. I’m tough. This minor wound is just a small hiccup on my journey. Even with only partial Martial God power restored, it’s enough to handle this.”

Aishi asked in confusion, “Could it be...”

Ye Heng nodded: “Yes, that very move.”

---

Ye Heng’s eyes gleamed with resolute confidence. He nodded gently, and as their eyes met, a silent resonance passed between them. The light in his palm grew ever more brilliant, like the rising sun—warm yet formidable.

Aishi gripped her sword tightly; the crimson blade trembled slightly in her hand, as if anticipating the coming battle.

“Ready, Xier?” Ye Heng’s voice was low and firm, as if performing a sacred rite.

Aishi drew a deep breath, nodded softly, her eyes shining with unshakable determination. They stepped forward in perfect harmony. The ground beneath them seemed to tremble slightly; the surrounding air tensed abruptly, like the calm before a storm—oppressive yet filled with anticipation.

Suddenly, the light in Ye Heng’s palm burst forth like dawn breaking, transforming into a brilliant beam that intertwined with the sword’s gleam in Aishi’s hand. The two lights wove together in the air, painting a breathtaking scene.

At that moment, even heaven and earth seemed moved, silently witnessing this magnificent alliance of power. The whole world was immersed in an indescribable awe.

---

Elune quietly watched the young couple before her. As a renowned top-tier Martial God, she never expected to be so easily sidelined by these two juniors, as if her presence was insignificant. A surge of displeasure rose within her, and she was about to strike, to teach these fledglings a lesson—to show them what respect and true power meant.

But in that split second, Ye Heng moved. With a light tap of his finger, a blindingly fierce light shot from his fingertip like a meteor tearing through the night sky, carrying overwhelming power aimed directly at Elune.

Even Elune’s expression grew serious, her eyes sharp as she sensed this attack was no ordinary strike. The contained power was enough to exact a heavy price on anyone who underestimated it.

Yet Elune was no one to surrender easily. Facing the sudden onslaught, she did not flinch. Instead, her form trembled as her armor seemed to solidify around her—a symbol of her martial prowess, honed through countless battles.

She charged into the dazzling light like a fearless lion, determined to defend her dignity and honor.

In an instant, a deafening roar filled the air as the searing light clashed violently with Elune’s armor, erupting in a blaze of sparks. The raging energy tore the air apart, creating a chaotic zone.

This was not only a contest of strength but a collision of wills—terrifying yet thrilling, evoking both fear and cheers.

---

Elune looked at the two of them. As one of the top Martial Gods, she was shocked by their blatant disregard for her. Just as she prepared to reprimand the presumptuous couple, Ye Heng suddenly pointed at her. A scorching beam shot from his fingertip straight at Elune. Her eyes pierced sharply, sensing the immense power within the strike.

Yet she did not retreat, bravely charging toward the light. A thunderous explosion echoed as the light collided with her armor, bursting into intense brilliance.

Elune felt a tremendous impact, violently flung back several meters. Shocked, she stared at the young man before her, a rare sense of crisis welling up in her heart.

---

Elune: “Unexpected! You two have given me quite the surprise.”

Her voice carried a trace of incredulous shock. Her steps staggered, dust swirling from her hurried movements. The air seemed to freeze, leaving only the sound of her heavy breathing and the approaching footsteps of Aishi and Ye Heng closing in relentlessly.

“What a magnificent Martial God fusion technique!” Elune murmured again, her gaze fixed on the increasingly radiant figures ahead.

Ye Heng and Aishi moved with seamless grace, weaving through the air as if united as one. Her eyes locked onto Ye Heng with determination. “I understand now—this is our mission.”

Drawing a deep breath, she tightened her grip on her sword. “Crimson, fight by my side!” Aishi shouted.

Her voice echoed with a certain magic. Ye Heng smiled faintly, standing shoulder to shoulder with Aishi. Both radiated a fierce heat.

Elune watched them, a flicker of doubt crossing her eyes. She could not fathom what power these two young people possessed to dare challenge her.

Yet, as Aishi and Ye Heng charged forward, she instantly felt unprecedented pressure. Their attacks carried boundless might, quickening her heartbeat and hastening her breath.

Panicked, Elune swung her life sword wildly, desperately defending against their onslaught. Each clash brought searing pain, but she did not yield. Throughout the fierce battle, Aishi and Ye Heng demonstrated astonishing strength and coordination. Their attacks and defenses were perfectly timed.

Though powerful, Elune gradually felt overwhelmed by their combined assault. She realized this was their true power at last.