XIAO YAN - Master of Fate

Chapter 10: Loss and Sacrifice



Xiao Yan lay on the ground, his breath heavy and his body scorched. The Flame King's fire that once surrounded him had now extinguished, leaving deep burn marks on his skin. The excruciating pain crawled through his entire body, but it was nothing compared to the emptiness he felt in his heart. With every breath he took, he felt the loss of a part of himself—an incredibly important part.

With the closing of the Realm of the Abyss gate, the dimension faded away, and the sky, which had once been filled with dark clouds, began to slowly clear. The roaring sounds that had previously echoed now subsided, and the hot air returned to calm.

However, despite the world seeming to have been saved, Xiao Yan felt a deep loss. In his final attack, he had sacrificed more than just his physical strength and energy. A part of his soul, a part of his very essence, had been drained to close that gate. The Flame King's fire that once flowed within him now felt much weaker, and the power he once had was now only a memory.

With great difficulty, Xiao Yan rose from the ground. The sky above him now looked different—not filled with darkness and threat, but he knew that although the physical threat had passed, the journey within himself had just begun. The sacrifice he had made to close the Realm of the Abyss gate may have saved the world, but he had lost something extremely valuable.

"Will I ever be the same again?" Xiao Yan thought, his voice almost breaking with confusion. "Can I ever regain my strength?"

Xiao Yan's eyes fixed on the sky, which was now beginning to clear. However, there was no happiness in his gaze. In the distance, Zhou Li lay, his body weak and immobile. The evil he had planned had now been stopped, but at a very high cost. Xiao Yan stared at him with hatred, yet also with a slight sense of pity.

Zhou Li finally managed to get up with great effort. His gaze was empty, as if he didn't know whether he was still alive or not. He looked at Xiao Yan and gave a faint smile. "You're truly remarkable, Xiao Yan. You… managed to close the gate," Zhou Li said, his voice full of despair. "But even though you won, I'm sure you've already felt the price that must be paid."

Xiao Yan did not respond, but the determination in his eyes showed that he fully understood what had been lost. Even though the world had been saved, he felt empty, as if a part of him had vanished. The Flame King, which had once been the source of his power, now felt much weaker, and he knew that to regain his true strength, he had to find a new way to control the fire within him.

Zhou Li smiled wickedly, despite his weakened state. "You may have stopped the Realm of the Abyss, but a greater threat will come. And I'm sure, you don't even know what you've really unleashed upon this world. The power of the Flame King that you've used is the key to something much bigger than just this dimension."

Xiao Yan furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?" he asked in a low voice.

Zhou Li chuckled weakly. "I may have lost this time, but I know there is something darker and stronger than the Flame King. That power may have already been unleashed into this world, and I'm sure, only a few people could ever contain it. Whoever possesses such power will become an unstoppable ruler."

Xiao Yan felt the tension rising within him. "A greater power?" He moved closer to Zhou Li, but did not strike him. "What do you know about this power?"

Zhou Li laughed and coughed. "You'll find out, Xiao Yan. That power is the key to unlocking a deeper dimension of the Realm of the Abyss. And anyone who can control that power will have this world in their grasp."

At that moment, Zhou Li collapsed back onto the ground, unable to continue his words. His body lay weak, and Xiao Yan knew that Zhou Li would not be able to give him more information. This victory was indeed significant, but it also raised many unanswered questions.

Xiao Yan looked toward the spot where the Realm of the Abyss gate had once opened, still feeling the remnants of dark energy flowing in the air. Even though the gate had closed, Xiao Yan knew that a greater threat could be coming from elsewhere. The decision he had made to save this world had changed many things—especially within himself.

He could not allow the world to remain in uncertainty for much longer. But how could he face this new threat? What must he do to regain the power he had lost and ensure the safety of this dimension?


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