Chapter 113: The Ancient Sorcerer

With each step, Li Yang felt the weight of anticipation growing heavier. He had now reached the 900th floor, and waiting to challenge him was an entity from a forgotten past, the ancient sorcerer named Xerath. The very air around Xerath pulsed with raw magical energy, giving away his formidable powers. Ares, sensing the strength of the opponent, tensed up, prepared for the ensuing battle.

Li Yang could feel the thick tension enveloping the room. With a commanding voice, he ordered Ares to be on guard. Both of them focused intensely on Xerath, anticipating his move. In a swift motion, Xerath summoned a complex magical array, which instantly entrapped Ares. With Ares momentarily immobilized, Xerath seized the opportunity to conjure a rain of fiery meteors from the skies above.

Ares, however, was quick to react. Despite the binding array, he mustered enough strength to roar, summoning a tempestuous gale. The storm winds clashed with the descending meteors, shattering them into a million sparks. But Xerath was not to be outdone. He channeled another spell, creating chains of arcane energy that sought to bind Ares further.

The battle was intense, with spells and attacks crisscrossing the arena. Every move Xerath made, Ares countered. When Xerath summoned illusions to confuse Ares, the evolved creature relied on his instincts and the bond with Li Yang to discern the real from the fake. Every time Xerath attempted to cast a binding spell, Ares responded with thunderous roars and bolts of lightning, breaking free from the magical restraints.

After a prolonged and exhausting duel, Ares, tapping into his newfound powers and the strength of the bond with Li Yang, managed to land a decisive blow on Xerath. With a surge of lightning energy, Ares overpowered the ancient sorcerer, causing him to dissipate into a cloud of ethereal energy.

Exhausted but triumphant, Li Yang approached the reward formation of this level. What materialized before him was a mysterious charcoal-black, square-shaped box, reminiscent of the enigmatic treasure he had encountered in the Infinite City's treasury. The box seemed to exude an air of profound mystery, beckoning Li Yang to uncover its secrets.

However, Li Yang decided that before delving deeper into the mysteries of the box or advancing to the final 1000th floor, he needed a moment of respite. With Ares by his side, he settled down to rest and recover, contemplating their next move.