A deafening silence followed the final strike.
Lei Wuxian, the once-mighty Thunder General, staggered back, his body trembling as arcs of lightning flickered uncontrollably around him. His blade, once imbued with the might of countless storms, fell from his grip, clattering against the stone floor of the stronghold's central tower.
Asura stood before him, his sword still gleaming with residual energy from their fierce battle. The wind howled through the shattered windows, carrying with it the weight of an ending long overdue. Asura's breathing was steady, his body unshaken, but his eyes burned with unwavering resolve.
"You… absorbed my lightning…?" Lei Wuxian gasped, his expression a mixture of disbelief and fury. "Impossible…!"
Asura tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk forming on his lips. "Everything I witness, I make my own. Your power is now mine."
Lei Wuxian's knees buckled, and he collapsed onto one knee, his body wracked with pain. His pride—his very identity—had been shattered in mere moments. He had thought himself invincible, the embodiment of the storm. Yet, before him stood a monster beyond comprehension.
Below the tower, the battlefield roared with the clash of steel and the cries of warriors. The Sword Clan, alongside the academy's elite fighters, continued to press the attack, cutting through the Thunder Kingdom's remaining forces with surgical precision.
Lira and Shao fought side by side, their movements a perfect balance of offense and defense. Lira's sword left trails of shimmering light as she danced between enemies, each strike landing with lethal accuracy. Shao, meanwhile, fought with raw strength, his fists breaking through enchanted armor as if they were made of glass.
"We're pushing them back!" Lira shouted, parrying an incoming attack before delivering a devastating counterstrike.
Shao grinned through gritted teeth. "They won't last much longer. Asura's already taken down their leader. It's over!"
Back in the tower, Lei Wuxian coughed violently, blood dripping from his lips. He lifted his gaze to Asura, hatred burning in his eyes.
"You think this is victory?" His voice was hoarse, yet filled with venom. "You… have no idea… what's coming."
Asura remained unfazed. "I don't care what's coming. Right now, you're finished."
With a flick of his wrist, Asura's sword slashed through the air, delivering the final blow. Lei Wuxian's body crumpled, his once-proud aura flickering out like a dying flame. The Thunder General—the most formidable warrior of the Thunder Kingdom—was no more.
A wave of silence washed over the battlefield as the Thunder Kingdom's warriors witnessed their leader's defeat. Their weapons trembled in their hands. Their wills shattered. One by one, they began to drop their swords, their eyes filled with fear and resignation.
Shao exhaled sharply, cracking his knuckles. "Well, that settles it."
Lira wiped her blade clean, her gaze turning toward Asura's towering form in the distance. "He did it."
The enemy forces had been broken. The battle was over.
The academy had won.
Aftermath: The Birth of a Legend
The once-mighty Thunder Kingdom stronghold now stood in ruins, its towering walls crumbling, its banners torn and scattered by the wind. Victory was theirs, but it had come at a cost. Many warriors had fallen, their sacrifices paving the way for a new era.
Asura stood amidst the battlefield, his gaze sweeping over the remnants of the battle. He could feel the stares of his allies—admiration, awe, and perhaps even fear. He had proven himself beyond doubt, but in doing so, he had once again showcased the terrifying depths of his power.
Lira approached him, her eyes searching his face. "What now?"
Asura exhaled slowly, his expression unreadable. "We return to the academy. But this… this is just the beginning."
He turned his gaze toward the distant horizon. Beyond this victory lay greater challenges, unseen threats, and adversaries who would make the Thunder Kingdom seem like mere child's play. But none of that mattered right now.
For now, the storm had passed.
For now, Asura had once again carved his name into the annals of history.
End of Chapter 76