The Author's Viewpoint
Chapter 142 - Burn the Sky

Chapter 142: Chapter 142 - Burn the Sky

Making another merged element was never an easy choice.

The more elements a person tried to control, the more scattered their focus became, and the harder it was to develop them to their full potential. In most cases, it was smarter to master one powerful merge than to spread thin with two that couldn’t reach full strength. Stamina, precision, everything would suffer.

But sometimes, like now, it wasn’t about what was ideal.

Tave couldn’t use his Soul Fire freely at this moment. Not without risking exposure, not without putting himself in a worse position. So he had to adapt.

He needed an element that dealt fast, widespread damage. One that could weaken the enemy instantly and give him the opening he needed.

And Netherblaze was that answer.

The demon burst free from the burning tendrils with a violent flap of his wings, black flame still licking across his limbs and chest. His body was scorched, torn, twitching from the aftershock of the mental damage.

But he wasn’t dead, yet.

Tave moved.

He dove fast as the demon slashed upward with his spear, missing by inches.

His sword was back, wreathed once more in Soul Fire.

Tave slashed, his blade cutting through the air just as the demon tried to fly aside. The flame grazed his right wing, burning through the thin membrane.

The demon howled.

Tave didn’t stop.

He twisted in flight, dodging another swing, then surged forward, straight at his target.

In one clean motion, he drove the sword deep into the demon’s neck.

The scream that followed was sharp, panicked.

The demon’s eyes went wide as blood erupted from the wound.

He tried to retaliate, thrusting the spear forward. But Tave beat his wings hard, pulling back just in time. He yanked the blade free, leaving Soul Fire burning in the gash.

The demon reeled.

His balance broke. His body staggered in the air. Wings flapped unevenly, barely holding him up.

Then he dropped.

A wild, helpless fall through the open sky.

His wings, too damaged to recover.

His body, too broken to resist.

He plunged toward the ground, and Tave knew. The impact would finish him. And even if it didn’t, the Soul Fire would.

"One problem down," Tave growled through clenched teeth.

No time to celebrate.

He scanned the sky, eyes narrowed. The wind stung his face, but he forced his focus to cut through the sting.

Where are they...?

It was hard to track Panpan now, but Tave had seen the direction the demon had taken her.

Tave beat his wings hard, storing his sword back into the ring. It was easier to fly without it, less drag, and fewer interruptions from the wind.

He shut his eyes for a second, blinking against the air pressure.

Then. He saw them.

Far off, barely more than specks against the clouds. But with his heightened vision, it was clear.

The demon flew high, carrying Panpan in his talons like a captured prize. Her body hung from his grip, legs swaying as the wind whipped around them. She twisted, trying to fight back, but the brutal jerks of flight made it impossible. Her arms flailed, unable to reach for her bow, pinned by the crushing hold of the demon’s clawed feet.

"Come on!" Tave shouted into the wind. "Kaelira! I need more speed!"

He poured everything into his wings, forcing them to beat faster, harder. Every flap burned, his muscles straining against the pressure, but this time. It worked.

He wasn’t just flying.

He was synchronizing.

In this moment, he and the Gaia Wings were one. He could feel every pull of air, every shift in pressure. The flame inside him swirled tighter, steadier.

Still, this was close to his limit.

He knew he couldn’t hold this pace for long. His core would burn out if he pushed too far. But he didn’t care.

Do it or die.

He was chasing not just a demon, but a breakthrough.

He could feel the next stage just beyond the edge. If he kept going, if he fought harder, pushed deeper.

Gaia Master was within reach.

After pushing his wings to the limit, Tave finally closed the distance.

The demon was struggling, Panpan had been resisting the entire way, twisting and kicking, making it harder to maintain stable flight. Tave saw it clearly now: the creature’s flight path was uneven, off-balance.

He was close enough.

Now!

"Fang!" Tave shouted.

At that call, the shadow around his armor detached, Fang surged forward, breaking away from Tave’s back like a streak of darkness, shooting through the air like a spear.

The demon noticed. His eyes flared with anger.

"You bastards don’t know when to die!" he roared. "You think you can beat me up here? I’ve been flying since the day I was born!"

Still gripping Panpan tightly with his clawed feet, the demon swung out with his free arm, slashing toward the incoming wolf.

But Fang vanished, gone in a wisp of shadow before the claw could touch him.

A massive shape expanded in the sky. The shadow grew larger behind the demon.

And then. Tave struck.

He closed in from behind, flaming sword drawn, and slashed hard.

The demon yanked Panpan violently downward to dodge and began to dive, forcing her into a brutal drop.

Tave kept pace, swinging again.

The demon caught his strike this time, claws colliding with the flaming edge, sparks flying.

But then Fang returned, darting down, landing on the demon’s back with explosive force.

He bit hard. Fangs sinking into the demon’s wing.

The demon roared in pain, jerking midair.

That was the opening.

Tave twisted and drove another slash forward, straight across the demon’s face.

The blade cut deep, searing through skin and muscle. Blood sprayed across the sky.

The demon shrieked. His grip faltered. His balance broke.

The demon roared.

"YOU INSOLENT VERMIN! I’LL RIP YOU TO PIECES AND SCATTER YOUR ASHES ACROSS THIS DAMN SKY!"

His face twisted in rage, wings flapping hard as he tried to pull away, dragging Panpan violently. She twisted, trying to break free, but the grip was brutal. Her arms flailed to find balance, unable to use her bow.

But Fang wasn’t done.

He surged back toward Tave, merging with him for only a second before bursting outward again. This time sending shadow tendrils after the demon. Black tentacles snaked through the air, trying to latch onto his wings, his limbs, anything to hold him down.

Tave pushed forward.

He couldn’t use Netherblaze again yet. His core was still recharging. But he didn’t need another explosion. He just needed precision.

He and Fang split again. Two streaks of flame and shadow flying at the demon from opposite angles.

The demon turned, trying to slash at Fang. But Tave struck first.

His blade plunged into the demon’s side. A deep, clean stab.

The demon howled.

Fang slammed into the demon’s chest, jaws snapping onto his throat. Fangs sank deep.

The demon thrashed and grabbed at Fang, trying to crush him with his claws. But the wolf dissolved into shadow, darted around, and bit again from the side.

Tave didn’t wait.

He flew up, spun midair, and slashed hard across the demon’s neck.

Blood burst out. Fast.

The demon swung wildly, nearly catching Tave with one claw. Tave flared his wings and backed off, circling, still watching.

Panpan.

Her arms were shaking, pulled taut from being yanked upward so long. She was barely holding on.

This has to end now.

Tave’s eyes locked on the wound he’d opened.

Next strike.

Tave kept flying, circling the demon, searching for any gap. Any moment to strike.

Fang dashed through the air alongside him, weaving like a shadowed blur. The two of them attacked from opposite directions, again and again, splitting the demon’s focus.

Tave gritted his teeth and forced more speed from his wings. Outpacing the demon in tight bursts, cutting in close. Each time he did, he landed a hit. Shallow wounds, but they were building.

The demon’s frustration was growing. Tave could see it in his eyes. The way he jerked with every movement, the way his strikes became more wild.

"You arrogant little insect!" the demon snarled. "You fight something far beyond your reach! You’ll never defeat me!"

Then he dove. Fast.

Tave tried to follow, sword ready, but the demon twisted sharply mid-dive.

And in that moment. He threw Panpan upward. Only to catch her by the neck midair.

Tave’s breath caught.

No!

Before he could act, the demon let out a furious roar and slammed Panpan downward, hurling her toward the earth like a missile.

Her body spun violently, tumbling through the air.

"Panpan!!" Tave shouted, his strike faltering.

He dropped everything. His momentum, his angle, the fight.

He snapped his wings open wide and dove.

Hard.

The wind screamed in his ears. His whole body trembled from the speed.

He beat his wings faster.

Harder.

He had to catch her.