Immortals fall one by one

Chapter - 16

Back somewhere in the depths of the cave, the Moon God and the Sun Emperor, along with a few other remaining Immortals, emerged from the perilous left tunnel. Their once nice, pristine robes now hung in tattered shreds, and their normally composed appearances were marred by grime and fatigue.

They had barely managed to escape the treacherous path, and a collective sigh of relief washed over them as they stepped into the illuminated expanse before them.

"Finally, we are out of that cursed tunnel," one of the Immortals exclaimed, falling to his knees in sheer exhaustion and relief. The mingling scents of fresh blossoms and the stench of sweat and fear filled the air, creating a bizarre and disorienting contrast.

"But we lost two of our brothers, all because of that treacherous Chen Haoyu," another Immortal growled, his teeth clenched in anger. "And till now, we have not even come across his shadow, let alone that wretched face of his."

"It is not over yet," Yueliang Shen spoke, his voice carrying wariness and the weight of authority. He surveyed the vast, cavernous space around them with a wary gaze. "We cannot be losing our men for nothing. You all need to focus," he commanded, his eyes sharp and unyielding.

"But are we the only ones here?" one of the Immortals pointed out, his voice tinged with growing unease. "Where are the others?"

"Don't tell me they..." Another Immortal's voice trailed off, his face pale as the horrifying possibility took hold of his mind.

"But they had Elder Li with them, and the Water King, along with the Phoenix Lord. How could they..." The first Immortal's face twisted in shock and disbelief, unable to comprehend the potential loss of such formidable allies.

Just then, the ground beneath them began to shake violently. Dust and debris cascaded from the roof of the cave, creating an ominous rumble that echoed through the cavern.

"Now what?" The Immortal cursed, his frustration boiling over. "Can't that bastard give us a moment of respite?"

"Did any of you touch anything?" Yueliang Shen, the Moon God, asked sharply. A stone fell towards him, but as it approached, it disintegrated into nothingness, obliterated by the powerful Qi that enveloped him.

"No, we did not," the other three Immortals, including the Sun Emperor, Ming Zhao, responded in unison, shaking their heads vigorously.

"Then what is causing this?" Yueliang Shen's mind raced, trying to decipher the source of the disturbance. But before he could delve deeper, a sudden commotion on the sides drew their attention. 

With a series of swift movements, Li Mingzhi, Feng Jun, Shui Jian, and two more Immortals leapt out from the shadows and landed heavily in front of them. Their sudden appearance was a shock, but also a relief for the Moon God and the others

"Thank the heavens, we are alive!" one of the Immortals cried out, his voice trembling and eyes glistening with unshed tears. He turned to look back, only to see that the entrance of the tunnel had completely disappeared, swallowed by the unforgiving darkness. "I am so sorry," the Immortal muttered, his guilt palpable.

"We don't have time to mourn the loss of our comrades," Feng Jun said through gritted teeth, his expression hardened with resolve. "It falls upon us now to avenge our fallen brothers and our women, to restore our honor and dignity."

"But... can we really face that cunning devil?" another Immortal asked, his voice laced with doubt and despair. He seemed to teeter on the edge of surrender, the prospect of facing Chen Haoyu appearing too daunting.

"We are already losing friends, even before the battle to reclaim the honor of our families has begun," said the Immortal who had just lost his friend moments before. His voice was thick with sorrow and regret, eyes downcast in despair.

"And we don't even know where the others are," he continued, his voice growing weaker. But before the weight of their losses could crush their spirits completely, Yueliang Shen, the Moon God, and the others materialized in front of them in a flash, their presence bringing a glimmer of hope.

"Elder Li... you all are finally here," Ming Zhao, the Sun Emperor, spoke up, drawing the attention of the newly arrived Immortals.

"Ming Zhao? Moon God?" Li Mingzhi's face lit up with surprise and relief. He let out a hearty laugh, "Hahaha! It is good that you are here. It is truly a blessing. Hahaha!"

Feng Jun, eyes steely with determination, unsheathed his twin swords. He turned to the Moon God and the Sun Emperor, his voice resolute. "Now that the two of you are here, we must not waste any more time. While we sit here, wallowing in our grief, Chen Haoyu slips further out of our grasp."

"Brothers," Yueliang Shen's voice cut through the chaos, filled with unyielding authority, "Steel your hearts and focus your minds. The true battle lies ahead, and we must face it with unwavering resolve. Together, we will overcome Chen Haoyu's treachery and restore the honor that has been stolen from us."

"We need not hurry. We have other brothers who will be joining us from the third tunnel. We should wait for them to arrive," Li Mingzhi spoke, and reminded the others of their other comrades, "With them, our collective strength will multiple many folds. And Chen Haoyu will stand no chance against..."

"Help!"

"Save Us!"

"Elder Li. Please respond!!!"

"Phoenix Lord!"

"Save us! Moon God"

"We are trapped here. There is poisonous gas, and we can't... We can't... can't..."

"We won't be able to make it Elder Li. Our revenge... If you can... Hear... Me... We hope our revenge, you will... Help us reclaim... Honour..."

But just as Li Mingzhi spoke, the Jade tokens with them which they have given to everyone for communicating with each other in case of any emergency flared to life.

The desperate pleas echoed through the air, resonating with the chilling finality of the trapped immortals' fate. The Jade tokens in their hands pulsated with a faint, dying light, as the voices on the other end grew weaker and fainter.

"Help! Save us! Elder Li... Phoenix Lord..."

The frantic cries reverberated through the jade tokens distributed for emergencies. The unmistakable panic and pain in the voices chilled the group to their core. The air around them seemed to grow colder as each cry for help was abruptly silenced. Soon, an eerie stillness settled over them; the other side had gone completely silent. No more cries, no more whispers—only an oppressive, foreboding quiet.

Li Mingzhi clutched his token tightly, his face draining of color as the distress calls filled the cavern. His voice trembled as he spoke, "It is the group from the third tunnel. They are in dire trouble."

Panic surged through the assembled Immortals. Their eyes widened with horror and helplessness. Ming Zhao clenched his fists, frustration etched deeply across his features. "We cannot just leave them to die! There must be something we can do," he shouted, his voice echoing through the cavern.

Li Mingzhi's expression was a mix of grim resolve and helplessness. He shook his head slowly, his voice cracking as he tried to maintain his composure. "They are already trapped, Ming Zhao. The poisonous gas... it is spreading too quickly. And..."

"There must be some enchantment preventing us from communicating with one another. These messages, they are from an hour back. It's too late, we can't reach them in time."

"Then what do we do?" Feng Jun's voice was edged with desperation. His hands gripped the hilts of his swords so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "We can't just abandon them," he pleaded, his eyes searching for any glimmer of hope.

Yueliang Shen, the Moon God, stood tall and resolute, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of doubt. "Li Mingzhi is right," he said, his voice steady yet heavy with sorrow. "We are already deep in the heart of enemy territory. Our only option now is to move forward. Chen Haoyu is the source of all this suffering. If we do not stop him, more of our brothers will meet the same fate."

"But the others..." Ming Zhao began, his voice trailing off as he glanced at the tokens, now dark and silent, each one a symbol of their comrades' likely demise.

"They would want us to carry on," Li Mingzhi interjected, his tone firm and unwavering. "They would not want their sacrifices to be in vain. We must honour their bravery by pressing on and putting an end to Chen Haoyu's reign of terror."

A heavy silence enveloped the group as they grappled with the weight of their decision. The air was thick with tension and the palpable sense of loss. Yet, within that sorrow, a shared determination began to kindle among them. Each Immortal felt the stirring of resolve, a burning desire to avenge their fallen comrades and to restore their honor.

Feng Jun, still holding his swords, nodded slowly, his resolve hardening. "Alright. For our fallen brothers, we move forward. But how do we proceed? Chen Haoyu's lair is filled with traps and his minions," he questioned, looking to the Moon God for guidance.

Yueliang Shen's eyes sparkled with a cold, determined light. "We proceed with caution and unwavering resolve," he declared. "We are not just warriors; we are Immortals. Our strength lies not only in our years of cultivation but in our unity. Together, we can overcome any obstacle."

Ming Zhao took a deep breath, his gaze steely with newfound resolve. "Very well. We go forward. Together. And we will avenge our fallen comrades," he affirmed, his voice filled with conviction.

Li Mingzhi stepped forward, his expression hardened with resolve. "Stay close, stay alert. Remember, we fight not just for revenge, but for the honor and the future of our people," he reminded them, his voice carrying the weight of his authority and helping the others remember who their actual target is.

* * * * *