Chapter 162: A Game of Chance

The tension in the air was palpable, making Li Yang's heart race as memories flooded back from his gambling days on Earth. The stakes were higher now; any wrong move could cost them their lives.

As Li Yang quickly weighed his options, searching for an escape route back to their home planet, Ares' transformation became more pronounced. The creature, having fully absorbed the energy from the circle, began radiating an ominous dark aura. The once powerful magic circle began to weaken, and its luminescence dimmed as Ares' new-found darkness grew stronger.

"We're doomed if that circle disappears," Lyria said, panic evident in her voice. "Those demons won't hesitate to kill us!"

Li Yang, thinking quickly, instructed, "Grab my hand. We need to get out of here, now!" The very moment the magic circle vanished, Li Yang called Ares back and activated his invisibility earring. To the dismay of the Demon Lord, who was ready to deliver the fatal blow, the two human figures faded away.

Infuriated, the Demon Lord roared, "Seal off the entire castle! Search every corner, every shadow! They won't escape my wrath!"

Despite being invisible, Li Yang and Lyria remained rooted to the spot, their breaths shallow, and hearts racing. "We need to move," Li Yang whispered. "The earring won't keep us hidden for long."

Lyria, paralyzed with fear, responded, "I can't... my legs... they won't move." Without missing a beat, Li Yang scooped Lyria into a bridal carry, sprinting towards an exit. They soon discovered the castle's exit was blocked by a massive barrier.

Lyria, regaining some composure, remarked, "You can put me down now," her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and gratitude. Without hesitation, Li Yang led her by the hand into a nearby storage room for cover, just as the invisibility effect wore off. The cramped space forced them in close proximity, their faces barely inches apart.

Under the dim light, Lyria found herself studying Li Yang's features more closely. His strong jawline, sharp eyes, and the light sweat that had formed on his forehead from the rush. She realized, with a jolt of surprise, that he was incredibly handsome, which made her cheeks turn an even deeper shade of red.

"Why are you blushing? Did we run too fast?" Li Yang teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Brushing off his comment, she quickly asked, "What's our next move? Every exit is sealed!"

Li Yang smirked, "Remember the card we can use to return home? Now's the perfect time to use it."

Lyria argued, "But we don't have enough diamonds!" Li Yang tossed her a storage card, and to her astonishment, it contained a full set of 100 Adamantine.

"I thought you said you didn't have any?" Lyria exclaimed, slightly annoyed.

"No time for explanations," Li Yang retorted. Both of them activated their cards, and in a flash of brilliant light, they vanished, escaping the clutches of the Demon Lord.