84: Chapter 84 Fierce Battle

However, compared to the Red Sun War God from the fifth stage, which was nearly thirty meters tall and as solid as a crimson gold deity, the one appearing now was barely over twenty meters tall. Its form was illusory and flickering, its radiance dim and unstable, as if a strong gust of wind could blow it away.

The giant flame spear in its hand also appeared much dimmer, a helpless consequence of severely overdrawn power and drastically reduced troops.

In contrast, the "Mirror Red Sun War God" on the opposite side had already finished condensing. It stood thirty meters tall, solid, majestic, and radiated the same brilliant, overwhelming heavenly might as it had in the fifth stage!

The moment the two made contact, the disparity was immediately clear!

"Boom! Crack!"

With just a single collision, Lin Feng's illusory Red Sun War God swayed violently, its light dimming further, while he himself let out a muffled groan, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

The "Mirror Red Sun War God" on the other side remained as steady as Mount Tai. Its giant flame spear swept across again, forcing Lin Feng's Red Sun War God into a pathetic defense. It was completely on the back foot, relying only on residual experience and willpower to struggle on; defeat was only a matter of time.

Having lost the protective, solid formation of the Heavy Armored Spearman, Lord Su Wan and her hundred-plus elves were instantly exposed to the nature spells of the "five hundred mirror elves" opposite them.

They were also "full-state" replicas!

"Form up! Defend!" Lord Su Wan bit the tip of her tongue, using the pain to keep herself clear-headed, and commanded with a hoarse, desperate voice.

The remaining elves chanted with their dying breaths, erecting thin nature shields and waving their wooden staves in resistance.

However, the absolute disadvantage in numbers and condition turned this battle into a one-sided slaughter.

The elves fell one after another. Their emerald figures were continuously pierced by arrows, strangled by vines, and backlashed by nature spells, their screams echoing incessantly. Lord Su Wan's eyes were bloodshot, but she was powerless to turn the tide.

And what pained Lin Tian the most was the situation in another part of the battlefield.

The "Mirror Lin Yin" opposite had moved. She had no expression, only mechanically drawing her bow and nocking arrows. Not just one, but a continuous stream of ordinary moonlight arrows, like a cold metal storm, poured down upon Lin Tian!

Her target was extremely clear: it was Lin Tian!

"Brother Tian, watch out!" The real Lin Yin had issued a warning the instant the opponent raised her bow.

Her form moved like lightning, instantly pouncing to Lin Tian's side. She was no longer the elegant Saintess under the Moon, but a tigress protecting her cub.

One hand tightly wrapped around Lin Tian's waist, while the other held her bow, barely parrying the most dangerous arrows. Then, she took Lin Tian and dodged frantically within the limited space.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!" The arrows whizzed past their bodies, burying themselves into the ground and blasting out small craters.

Lin Yin's movement was still agile, but Lin Tian could clearly feel that the hand holding his waist was trembling uncontrollably.

Her breathing grew heavier and heavier, her forehead covered in a fine layer of cold sweat. Her moon-white holy robe was already soaked through, clinging to her body and outlining her slender frame, which was tense from excessive exertion.

The "Mirror Lin Yin" on the other side was in peak condition, needing to protect no one, and could output damage without distraction.

But the real Lin Yin, having endured consecutive major battles, was heavily depleted. At this moment, she still had to divert her attention to protect him, a "burden." As one waxed and the other waned, the gap widened rapidly.

"Lin Yin! Put me down! Now!" Lin Tian was both anxious and pained, his voice cracking as he tried to pry Lin Yin's hand from his waist.

"This is a secret realm challenge; we won't actually die! You don't need to worry about me, focus on fighting her! I order you to put me down!"

Lin Yin, however, seemed not to hear his command, her arm tightening even more, almost pulling him into her embrace.

All her attention was focused on dodging and predicting the arrows' trajectories. She didn't look back, her voice intermittent from rapid panting, yet carrying a kind of near-paranoid determination:

"I... I said it before... I will... protect everything about you... even if it's just... a secret realm where we won't die... anyone who wants to hurt you... I won't allow it... unless I die..."

Another wave of dense arrows struck. Lin Yin took Lin Tian in a clumsy roll to dodge, her posture no longer possessing its initial grace.

Lin Tian's heart felt as if it were being fiercely gripped by a giant hand, so painful he couldn't breathe. Looking at Lin Yin's paper-white profile, watching the corners of her lips twitch as she gritted her teeth in endurance, boundless self-reproach flooded over him like a tide.

Why? Why was it that even though he had reached Gold 1 Star, he didn't have any powerful combat skills? Why was his combat power still so low?

Not only could he not help, but he had become Lin Yin's greatest burden and weakness! If not for him holding her back, given Lin Yin's strength, even in a poor state, she might not have lacked the opportunity to maneuver or even counterattack!

It was in this moment of mental shock and intense self-reproach.

"Shh!"

A tricky moonlight arrow finally pierced through the gap in the defense Lin Yin was struggling to maintain, fiercely shooting into her left lower abdomen!

"Ngh!" Lin Yin's body stiffened violently, letting out a stifled, suppressed groan. Warm, crimson blood instantly gushed from the arrow wound, staining her moon-white holy robe and also dyeing Lin Tian's arm red.

"Lin Yin!!!" Lin Tian's eyes were splitting with rage, his vision going dark as if his heart had been pierced by that same arrow.

No longer caring about any orders or safety, he used all his strength to violently break free from Lin Yin's embrace, while shouting with a voice so hoarse it cracked: "Don't worry about me! Focus on the fight!!!"

He turned and ran desperately in the opposite direction of Lin Yin, trying to draw away the attention of the "Mirror Lin Yin," even if it only bought Lin Yin a moment to catch her breath.

However, he underestimated the speed of the arrows and overestimated his own condition at that moment.

He hadn't even run ten meters.

"Pfft!"

A cold moonlight arrow precisely pierced his left shoulder! The huge impact force sent his body lunging forward, slamming heavily onto the grass.

An agonizing, heart-wrenching pain radiated from his left shoulder. Blood gushed out like a fountain, instantly soaking half his shirt.

Lin Tian's vision blackened, his ears buzzed, and every breath tugged at the wound, bringing even more intense pain. He struggled, using his uninjured right hand to prop himself up, wanting to crawl up, but his whole body was limp from blood loss and excruciating pain.

"Brother Tian!!!" A shrill, harrowing voice came from behind. It was Lin Yin, her voice filled with boundless fear, pain, and despair, completely unlike her usual cold and aloof self.

Lin Tian managed to turn his head, only to see Lin Yin clutching her bleeding lower abdomen with one hand, her face deathly pale, crystal-clear tears streaming down her face as she charged toward him recklessly.

On the opposite side, the "Mirror Lin Yin" seemed to judge that this was the perfect opportunity for a killing blow. She stopped the ordinary rapid-fire shots and once again performed that opening stance that everyone was familiar with and terrified of. Her arms spread, and majestic moonlight began to gather and compress toward her...

It was the Silver Moon Arrow Rain! And it was aimed at the fallen, immobile Lin Tian!

No! Don't let her launch it! Lin Tian screamed desperately in his heart.

However, Lin Yin was faster than him.

"No!!!"

The moment before the "Mirror Lin Yin" released the string and countless silver streams of light poured down like a torrential storm, Lin Yin erupted with the last, most resolute strength of her life.

She pushed her speed to the limit, leaving an afterimage in the air, and instantly pounced in front of Lin Tian. Then, without a moment's hesitation, she turned around, spread her arms, and used her battered back to completely shield and embrace Lin Tian!

"Lin Yin! No!!!" Lin Tian roared, his voice tearing, tears mixed with blood blurring his vision.