Chapter 357: Turning point II

As we emerged into the midst of the celestial turmoil, confusion and recognition danced in the eyes of the Deities, their gazes revealing a mix of surprise, excitement, and a glimmer of hope. In contrast, the Shades wasted no time in descending into a maddened frenzy, their grotesque auras assaulting us with a primal intensity.

With a deep breath, I drew upon the strength of my transformation, allowing its empowering aura to shield us from the onslaught of chaotic energy. Standing resolute before Breta and my siblings, I became a bastion of protection against the overwhelming forces that bore down upon us.

A torrent of monstrosities surged forward, their intentions clear as they sought to converge upon us. In the face of this inexorable tide of darkness, a profound clarity settled over me. Fear and doubt were cast aside, replaced by the unwavering resolve and unyielding pride and arrogance of a dragon challenged.

As the horde of Shades closed in, my heart beat like the steady rhythm of thunder, my mind sharp as the keenest edge. The battlefield was awash with frenzy, and yet, amidst the chaos, I found a cold calm that emboldened my every movement.

But before I could make my move, and with the battle reaching its crescendo, the Deities saw an opportunity amidst the Shades' frenzy and struck with relentless ferocity, inflicting grievous wounds upon their chaotic adversaries. It was a calculated move, a strategic grasp of the momentary advantage that would not escape their grasp.

However, the Shades seemed indifferent to the Deities' onslaught, driven by their reckless charge toward us. Theirs was a suicidal pursuit, focused solely on reaching us, heedless of the consequences.

I wasted no time, my resolve hardening like steel. With a deep breath, my three mouths converged into a unified force, unleashing a devastating combined dragon breath that tore through the ranks of abominations, creating a path for our retreat. The sheer power of the attack decimated the surrounding foes, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

"Hop back on, let's go!" With a mental directive, my siblings and Breta swiftly hopped onto my back, while Ynos found his place securely cradled in my arms. We were a united front, our bond unyielding as we faced the chaos that surrounded us.

My wings beat with newfound urgency, propelling us forward with every powerful stroke. I was determined to create as much distance as possible between us and the raging battle. The shockwaves of mana and corruption that engulfed the area were too potent, and attempting to teleport amidst this turmoil could lead us astray or into even greater peril.

For now, our best course of action was to flee, to navigate through this tumultuous battlefield until we reached a relatively stable space where I could safely execute my teleportation. Still, it was easier said than done.

"Careful!" Breta's voice rang in my mind, urgent and vigilant. In response, two radiant golden spears materialized in her hands, casting their glow upon the surrounding darkness.

With unwavering determination, she hurled both spears at a vile slug-like Shade that had cunningly tried to evade the main battle. Her aim was true—the first spear struck the beast's chest, while the second swiftly followed, piercing its head and reducing it to a mere cloud of malevolent darkness.

I heeded her warning without hesitation, increasing my speed twofold, fueled by the primal instinct to escape this encroaching danger. Thoughts of battle and confrontation were drowned out by the singular focus of getting away and finding safety in the vast expanse of the cosmic realm.

Just then, Sidus's emotions exploded with a sense of danger that was infectious, his sudden surge caught me off guard, and before I could react, his claws gripped my back with an unexpected strength, forcing us off course. A fraction of a second later, a dark blur whizzed past, narrowly missing one of my heads, and my heart pounded in my chest as I realized the close call.

I turned my attention to the entity that had attacked us, and what I saw sent a shiver down my spine. It bore a sinister presence, with two obsidian limbs resembling deadly scythes that sought to claim us. As the creature materialized before us, its skeletal head and dark, flowing robes painted a haunting picture of malevolence.

I kept my focus sharp, my instincts urging me to act, but before I could respond, Breta's divine aura enveloped us, shielding us from the darkness. Her golden light clashed fiercely with the creature's ominous energy, creating an intense standoff, and forcing the monster out of the veil of darkness.

She then unleashed her spears once again, trying to keep the relentless creature at bay. I followed suit with a breath attack, but with my focus on escape, I only used my right head to conserve energy. To my dismay, the creature was swift and managed to dodge my attack effortlessly.

Despite my urge to confront and defeat it, I forced myself to remain steadfast in my escape. I didn't halt my flight or turn back to face the foe, as I knew our survival depended on reaching safety. Deep inside, I felt a burning desire to crush the malevolent bastard, but I reminded myself that I wasn't alone in this ordeal.

"Another one!" Sidus's alert voice pierced my thoughts as he sensed another approaching threat. Reacting swiftly, he utilized his darkness mana to create a protective shield that intercepted the creature's attack. The creature emerged from the dark abyss of space, intent on causing us harm, but Sidus's quick action thwarted its assault.

His mastery over darkness mana allowed him to manipulate his own shadow, extending it like a deadly weapon to strike back at the foe. With precision and skill, his shadowy appendage claimed one of the monster's long limbs, forcing it to recoil and retreat. Sidus's shadow then seamlessly retracted, returning to its rightful place under him.

With Breta skillfully holding back one of the monstrous Shades and Sidus forcing the other to retreat, I pressed forward, navigating through the chaotic battleground, avoiding stray spells and flying past the large corpses that littered our path. But just as we were nearing the end of the battlefield, a colossal behemoth loomed before us, blocking our way.

"Brother in front!" Ynos's urgent voice echoed in my mind, drawing my attention to the formidable Shade in our path. Its monstrous form resembled that of a humanoid goat, a Minotaur, if my observations were accurate.

"Throw me at him! Throw me!" Ynos's voice was filled with a mixture of madness and anticipation. His eyes gleamed with the thrill of the battle, eager to take on the monstrous adversary head-on.