Chapter 242: A Plan Forms in His Mind

The silver light scattered, and a figure clad in silver battle armor, holding a light sword, stood proudly in the starry void. His gaze was like a torch, sweeping over everything around him, finally locking onto the black vortex. "Cosmic pirates' tricks—mere trifles!" Xingji Xiake gave a cold snort, his light sword dancing as streaks of fierce sword qi howled forth like silver dragons, slashing fiercely into the black vortex.

Every impact produced an ear-splitting boom, and the black vortex trembled violently under the assault of the sword qi, its expansion clearly slowing. Zhang Cheng felt the soul-tearing force weaken considerably too; he took a deep breath, striving to mobilize the remaining energy in his body, wanting to break free of the binding.

"Hold on!" Xingji Xiake's voice echoed through the starry void like a great bell. "I'll lend you a hand!" With that, he raised the light sword high above his head, and a dazzling pillar of silver light erupted from the blade's tip, shooting straight into the core of the black vortex.

This sudden aid was like a shot of adrenaline for Kelinda and Alicia. A flash of resolve crossed Kelinda's eyes as she chanted an ancient incantation in a low voice, and a pair of enormous demon wings materialized behind her. Black flames burned across her body, and a powerful force erupted from within her.

"In my name, I summon the power of demons!" Kelinda roared, her wings beating fiercely as she transformed into a bolt of black lightning, charging toward the cosmic pirates besieging them.

Alicia was also emboldened. The staff in her hand blazed with light, and emerald radiance poured forth like a tide, tinting the surrounding meteorites with a layer of green. Her magic grew even sharper, every attack imbued with formidable power of nature, making the cosmic pirates suffer miserably.

Under Xingji Xiake's powerful assault, the black vortex finally began to collapse. A massive crack appeared at the center of the vortex, and the powerful suction weakened along with it. Zhang Cheng felt the pressure on his soul vanish abruptly; he snapped his eyes open, their depths filled with the light of hope.

"Many thanks for your help, sir!" Zhang Cheng said gratefully.

Xingji Xiake gave a slight nod, but his gaze never left the black vortex. "These cosmic pirates are just underlings. The true mastermind hasn't shown himself yet," he said in a low voice. "Be careful, all of you."

The words had barely fallen when an even more powerful dark aura surged from the shattered black vortex. A colossal dark silhouette slowly materialized in the starry void, blotting out the sky and radiating a suffocating pressure.

"It's here..." Xingji Xiake gripped his light sword, his gaze like lightning, staring fixedly at the massive dark silhouette. He felt a pressure more powerful than anything he had ever experienced, as though a great mountain weighed on his heart, making him almost unable to breathe. Xingji Xiake took a deep breath, slowly raised his light sword, pointed the tip at the dark silhouette, and said in a deep voice, "No matter who you are, today, you will not succeed!" At the same time, far away on Lan Xing, the Guardian, sensing Zhang Cheng's crisis, turned his gaze toward the distant starry void... He reached out his hand as if trying to grasp something, murmuring, "Hold on..."

The dark silhouette's appearance was like a giant boulder hurled into a calm lake, sending up towering waves. That suffocating pressure made even Xingji Xiake feel a moment of palpitation. He knew this would be a fierce battle.

At the same time, the Guardian far away on Lan Xing was closely watching the battle in the starry void. He sensed Zhang Cheng enveloped by intense light, his life aura gradually weakening, and his heart was filled with anxiety. He knew he had to do something. Taking a deep breath, the Blue Star Guardian sat cross-legged, formed seals with both hands, and murmured incantations. Ancient spells echoed in the air, and a vast energy surged from within him, transforming into a brilliant pillar of light that shot straight into the sky. This pillar of light traversed the endless river of stars and finally descended upon the intense light enveloping Zhang Cheng.

Two utterly different energies collided together, emitting dazzling light that illuminated the entire starry void. The Blue Star Guardian's energy, like a gentle stream, continuously seeped into the intense light, attempting to dissolve it. This was a long and arduous process; every thread of energy injected was accompanied by enormous depletion. Beads of sweat seeped from the Blue Star Guardian's forehead, and his complexion gradually grew pale, but he still gritted his teeth and persevered, because he knew Zhang Cheng's life hung by a thread.

Kelinda and Alicia's sudden outburst caught the cosmic pirates off guard. But they quickly recovered, producing an even more powerful weapon—freeze ray guns. These guns could fire rays of extreme cold, instantly freezing their targets.

Blue rays streaked across the starry void, shooting toward Kelinda and Alicia. Kelinda reacted swiftly, her enormous demon wings beating hard to dodge the ray attacks. But Alicia was not so lucky; her speed was no match for Kelinda's, and a ray grazed her, her body instantly covered in a thin layer of ice, her movements becoming sluggish.

"Alicia!" Kelinda cried out in alarm, hastily flying to Alicia's side, using black flames to help melt the ice. "Be careful, these pirates' weapons are formidable!"

Alicia nodded, a trace of gravity flashing in her eyes. She knew this battle was far more difficult than imagined. The slowing effect of the freeze rays wiped out their advantage entirely, plunging them back into a bitter struggle.

Facing the massive dark silhouette, Xingji Xiake showed not the slightest fear. The light sword in his hand flickered with radiance, like the most dazzling star in the night sky. He knew he had to hold off this dark silhouette and buy time for Zhang Cheng.

"Your opponent is me!" Xingji Xiake shouted, brandishing his light sword and charging toward the dark silhouette.

The dark silhouette let out a low roar, and a powerful dark energy erupted from its body, forcing Xingji Xiake back several steps. Xingji Xiake steadied himself, a flash of surprise in his eyes. This dark silhouette's power far exceeded his imagination.

While Xingji Xiake fought fiercely against the dark silhouette, Zhang Cheng struggled within the intense light. The Blue Star Guardian's energy continuously poured in, making him feel his body gradually regain some sensation. He worked to regulate his breathing, attempting to reorganize the chaotic forces within him. He concentrated his mind, wanting to establish some kind of connection with the dark silhouette's power, so as to find a way to counterattack.

Suddenly, Zhang Cheng sensed a strange fluctuation coming from the dark silhouette. He snapped his eyes open, his heart jolting... "This is..."

Zhang Cheng felt a thread of clarity within the intense light, the Blue Star Guardian's energy nourishing his dried-up meridians like a gentle stream. He worked to regulate his breathing, feeling the flow of energy within his body, attempting to reorganize the chaotic forces. The disordered energy was like a runaway horse, charging wildly through his body, every impact bringing intense pain. But he gritted his teeth and persevered; he knew that only by controlling this force could he find a chance to counterattack. He concentrated his mind and tentatively extended a thread of consciousness toward the intense light enveloping him, wanting to establish some kind of connection with the dark silhouette's power, so as to find a way to counterattack.

The dark silhouette seemed to sense Zhang Cheng's intention and let out an ear-splitting roar. The intense light enveloping Zhang Cheng contracted abruptly, transforming into a massive black vortex that spun wildly, attempting to devour him. Seeing this, Xingji Xiake's light sword blazed brighter, and streaks of fierce sword qi slashed toward the black vortex, holding it at bay.

"Hold on, kid!" Xingji Xiake shouted, a trace of forced levity in his tone. "I can still hold!"

The dark silhouette, finding its black vortex blocked, increased its power output. The black vortex spun faster and faster, its suction growing stronger and stronger. Xingji Xiake gradually found it harder to keep up, but he still gritted his teeth and held on. The light sword in his hand danced like lightning, every swing accompanied by a crisp ring of the blade, dissolving each wave of incoming dark energy. Beads of sweat the size of beans seeped from his forehead, and his breathing grew ragged, but he still did not retreat a single step.

Zhang Cheng felt Xingji Xiake's strain from within the intense light, and his heart filled with gratitude. He worked even harder to control the energy in his body, attempting to find a way to counterattack as quickly as possible. He sensed that the dark silhouette's power was not entirely invincible; it seemed to have a certain weakness as well. He carefully felt the fluctuations of the dark silhouette's power, trying to find a pattern within them.

Suddenly, he sensed a strange fluctuation coming from the dark silhouette. This fluctuation was completely different from what he had felt before—it seemed more... fragile? Zhang Cheng's heart stirred, and he immediately focused his consciousness on this fluctuation, carefully sensing its changes.

At the same time, Kelinda and Alicia's situation was growing increasingly dangerous. The cosmic pirates, finding the freeze ray guns effective against them, intensified their attacks. Streaks of blue rays cut through the starry void, shooting toward them like dense rain. Relying on her agile footwork, Kelinda barely dodged most of the attacks, but Alicia was not so fortunate. Her body was already covered in a thick layer of frost, her movements becoming exceptionally sluggish.

"Damn it!" Kelinda cursed under her breath, knowing this couldn't go on. She had to find a way to shake off these pirates' harassment, or they would sooner or later be worn to death. She dodged the ray attacks while anxiously thinking of a countermeasure.

Just then, a figure suddenly appeared before them. It was a petite, mysterious Elf with long silver hair and deep blue eyes, exuding a faint magical aura. She looked at Kelinda and Alicia, the corners of her lips curving slightly upward, revealing a mysterious smile.

"It seems you could use some help," the mysterious Elf said softly, raising the staff in her hand as a strange energy fluctuation emanated from it...

The mysterious Elf's slender fingers traced a graceful arc through the air, and the gemstone atop her staff sparkled with dazzling light. A wave of warm energy spread outward, enveloping Kelinda and Alicia. The thick frost on Alicia melted rapidly, restoring her ability to move. Kelinda felt her body grow lighter, the sensation of binding vanishing entirely, filled with renewed strength.

"Thank you!" Kelinda nodded gratefully toward the mysterious Elf, then turned to face the cosmic pirates once more. The blade in her hand cut through the air, raising whistling sounds, like streaks of deadly lightning, slashing toward the pirates.

Alicia had also recovered her fighting capacity. She wielded the energy whip in her hand, sending pirates flying one after another. The two fought in perfect coordination, like two fierce cheetahs weaving through the pirate ranks, leaving devastation everywhere they passed.

At the same time, the strange fluctuation Zhang Cheng had caught within the intense light grew clearer and clearer. He sensed that the dark silhouette's power seemed to show a trace of disorder, as if a giant machine had malfunctioned, its operation becoming unstable. His heart leaped with joy; he knew the opportunity had come.

He took a deep breath, mobilizing all the energy in his body, and charged fiercely toward that thread of strange fluctuation.

"Break for me!" Zhang Cheng roared in his heart.

From within the intense light came an ear-splitting boom, as if something had shattered. The intense light enveloping Zhang Cheng dissipated in an instant, revealing the dark silhouette's true face.

It was a massive black humanoid creature, its entire body shrouded in dark energy, its specific features indiscernible—only a pair of crimson eyes radiating a chilling light.

The dark silhouette, seemingly struck by Zhang Cheng's attack as well, let out a furious roar, the dark energy on its body churning violently like boiling magma.

Seeing this, Xingji Xiake seized the opportunity, his light sword blazing bright once more, and a sword qi even more powerful than before slashed toward the dark silhouette.

The Blue Star Guardian also increased his energy output, a steady stream of energy pouring into Zhang Cheng's body, helping him resist the dark silhouette.

Even so, the situation remained dire. The dark silhouette's power was too formidable; even after taking heavy damage, it could still match both Xingji Xiake and Zhang Cheng. The cosmic pirates, though suffering heavy losses, were still numerous, and Kelinda and Alicia gradually felt themselves unable to keep up.

Zhang Cheng felt the energy in his body depleting rapidly; he knew this couldn't go on. He had to find a way to end this battle as quickly as possible.

He glanced at Xingji Xiake, who was fighting fiercely against the dark silhouette, and a plan formed in his mind.

"Senior, cover me!" Zhang Cheng shouted.

Xingji Xiake heard Zhang Cheng's voice and immediately understood his intention. The light sword in his hand swung even faster, blocking all of the dark silhouette's attacks, creating an opening for Zhang Cheng.

Zhang Cheng took a deep breath, gathering all the remaining energy in his body, preparing to launch his final strike.

Just then, a cold killing intent quietly enveloped the entire battlefield.

A low voice sounded from the darkness: "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind..."