C1362 The Discovery of Alonso
He caught sight of the violet gold dragon egg!
Each glint of gold and silver was an extension of his eyes, carrying his memories and consciousness.
In the heart of the little world within the Dragon Slaying Stage, where the Chronowyrm's egg lay hidden, he initially felt only a sense of oddity, which he quickly dismissed.
The force inherent to the Dragon Slaying Stage effortlessly shattered the golden and silver radiance he had slipped into, and his lack of surprise was telling.
He understood that, being a legendary Divine Artifact and a relic of that individual, it was expected to have the power to obliterate all traces of him.
Yet, what truly sent shockwaves through him, unsettling and terrifying him, was...
After the golden and silver lights had vanished, the image of the peculiar violet-gold egg unexpectedly resurfaced in his mind, causing his golden heart to clench abruptly!
A shiver then surged from the very core of his bloodline!
The shudder was, astonishingly, due to the giant violet gold egg!
Even Alonso was unclear about the origins of the violet-gold egg on the Dragon Slaying Stage. He hadn't deliberately examined the egg.
Nor could he discern what lay within.
But the quiver in his bloodline and the tightening of his heart seemed to silently convey that the entity within the egg had once caused the Shura's creator, the progenitor of their bloodline, to tremble with fear!
Fear welled up from deep within his bloodline, as though it was an innate part of him!
It seemed that their race's earliest ancestors had been hunted by the unknown entity within the egg, living in its ominous shadow.
This lesson was so deeply ingrained, etched into the very blood of their descendants!
Because he was Alonso, a true Golden Shura, he was keenly aware of this profound revelation.
Crack!
The sound of space fracturing echoed from the heavens above.
Yu Yuan looked up to see the crystalline ice screen, created by the snow bear, splintering like glass.
It then reverted into thick cold fog, swirling around the River of Swords.
The snow bear, from the far side of the Star River, had lifted the seal on this realm.
A growl, laden with frustration and warning, erupted from the impenetrable depths of the cold fog.
This warning was aimed at Alonso!
His actions had nearly harmed Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit, provoking the creature's wrath and dissatisfaction. It would no longer comply, no longer encase the area with its icy veil.
Its low growl resonated, a sound as melodious as the music of the heavens to the desperate Zhou You.
Zhou You, who had been jointly attacked by two platinum Shura, had sustained injuries in a short span of time. His swollen form now bore over a dozen gashes.
However, instead of blood, a colorful radiance flowed from these wounds.
This unusual member of the Skyreach Consortium had clearly mastered some secret arcane technique to fortify his physique. He was not only agile but also possessed immense strength!
"Hehe, much appreciated."
Zhou You chuckled dryly, sweeping his horsetail whisk through the air. Before Lollar and the platinum Shura, suddenly, there seemed to be a dozen Zhou Yous.
Lollar and the platinum Shura were momentarily taken aback, just long enough for Zhou You to slip away.
He made his way to the Star River, skirting the cold fog, with the River of Swords looming behind him.
His expression seemed amused, but his eyes betrayed no mirth—only a deep seriousness. "That was a close call. I could have been killed due to a lapse in vigilance. Alonso, I've taken note of your actions today."
Below, the seal that fractured the heavens and earth remained intact, unbroken by the "Dire Bear." Xi Quan had died without a word from Zhou You.
That was because without the seal's release, he would not gain his freedom.
He was destined to die as well...
Now, without the "Dire Bear's" assistance and back in the Star River, feeling the absence of any constraints, he knew that even if Alonso made another move, he might not succeed in defeating him.
With this newfound assurance, he dared to issue a few threats.
Although he was aware that they might not have any impact on Alonso.
Sure enough.
After issuing his threat, he noticed that Alonso hadn't spared him an additional glance, as if he hadn't heard him at all.
Even the "Dire Bear's" low growl, which sent a shock through the gathered Shura, failed to faze Alonso or throw him into disarray.
Alonso's silver-gray eyes remained intently focused on the Dragon Slaying Stage, his heart pounding with a thunderous intensity.
Lollar and the golden-platinum Shura, puzzled by the unfolding events, cast inquiring glances at their supreme commander.
Clearly, they were all silently awaiting Alonso's next definitive command.
Because the "Dire Bear" had roared a warning, they couldn't discern its specific meaning. Unsure of what had angered the "Dire Bear," they could only wait for Alonso to provide an explanation.
"Hmm?"
Ji Ningshuang, standing with her sword at the ready, forcefully suppressed the turmoil in her heart caused by Xi Quan's death. She deliberately averted her gaze from the Earth-Tethered Cage below and instead turned to look at the Dragon Slaying Stage.
Sensing that something was amiss, she sought clarification from Yu Yuan with a soft "Hmm?"
"What is that?"
Alonso was the first to break the silence, his crystal ball and silver lance suddenly bursting forth with a divine brilliance.
The light, reminiscent of water, enveloped him completely, endowing him with an aura of sanctity and authority.
"What is that?"
He raised his voice, fixing his gaze on Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit phantom.
"What did you say?"
Yu Yuan appeared somewhat bewildered, unsure of what the Shura commander was getting at.
"What is that egg?"
Alonso's voice was almost a roar.
Known for his handsome features and gentle demeanor, yet with notoriously ruthless methods, he was usually adept at controlling his emotions and seldom resorted to such outbursts.
This was uncharacteristic of him.
Lollar and the Shura who knew him well were taken aback by his roar, exchanging puzzled looks.
What had happened?
What had the Grand Marshal seen within the Dragon Slaying Stage?
Why had he lost control?
The Shura were visibly astonished, speculating among themselves and involuntarily turning their attention to the Dragon Slaying Stage.
Their eyes were eager to penetrate the platform and glimpse the world within.
An egg?
All they could see was Yu Yuan's phantom, a murky cloud of white mist, and the mere outline of a dragon-shaped mountain range.
There was no sign of any egg.
"You're mistaken; there's nothing there."
Yu Yuan's Lunar Spirit within the Dragon Slaying Stage responded with detached calm.
He then addressed Ji Ningshuang, "Let's leave this Shattered Star and return to the outer Star River. The Glimmerdrift Nebula is vast, and since we're here, it's worth exploring."
Ji Ningshuang, brimming with questions, sensed that something was amiss, something that Alonso was on the verge of uncovering.
She refrained from asking further, choosing not to dwell on it at that moment. Instead, she cast a final glance at Xi Quan's remains within the Earth-Tethered Cage, then, along with the Dragon Slaying Stage, she slowly ascended into the starry expanse.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Thousands of Stardust sword lights, refined swiftly from her acupoints and the center of her palms, enveloped her once again, creating a protective shield of swords.
After a brief respite and some quick adjustments, she managed to suppress the injuries within her organs.
While attempting to extricate herself from the Shattered Star alongside the Dragon Slaying Stage, her eyes—cold yet filled with pain—remained vigilant to the movements of the cold fog.
She feared that the enigmatic "Dire Bear" might still strike from the shadows, possibly in collusion with Alonso to impose a seal.
However, to her surprise, as she and the Dragon Slaying Stage entered the expansive Star River, the cold fog, entwined with the River of Swords, remained utterly still.
Her worries dissipated when she caught sight of Du Yuan and Yue Mu's struggles in the distant Frozen Wastes.
Whoosh!
A sword light, mingled with numerous tiny crystal shards, burst forth from her palm and vanished in the blink of an eye.
The pure ice energy, omnipresent in the Glimmerdrift Nebula, frenziedly infused the sword light, making the tiny crystals dazzle with extraordinary brilliance.
At its most radiant, the sword light abruptly disappeared.
When it reemerged, it had penetrated the interior of the Earth-Tethered Cage, triggering the residual sword force of Xi Quan's Withered Sword to unleash a strange power that pierced through the golden glow and silver filaments.
The Earth-Tethered Cage, forged by the Shura to ensnare the dragons of the Everlands, was riddled with holes by the explosive sword light, severing many of its golden and silver threads.
Alonso's expression turned icy in an instant, "So you've chosen to flee, yet you dare to strike once more. Do you truly believe you are invincible?"
