Chapter 259: Biding Their Time

The black sphere clung fast to the energy source, its pulse-like vibrations growing ever more violent, warping and distorting space with a teeth-grinding creak.

Fragment-like spatial rifts spread outward like a spider's web, heralding the imminent collapse.

"What time is it, and you're still bickering!"

Zhang Cheng roared, the sound waves echoing through the crumbling space,

"If the energy source is destroyed, none of us will get out of here alive!"

The arguing stopped abruptly. Everyone stared in horror at the ever-widening spatial rifts, fear overwhelming their earlier suspicion and hostility.

Kelinda stepped to Zhang Cheng's side and gently took his arm, her deep blue eyes gleaming with steadfast resolve.

"I believe you, Zhang Cheng."

she said softly, her tone brimming with trust and reliance,

"You will definitely lead us through this crisis."

Zhang Cheng clasped Kelinda's hand in return, a warm current welling up in his heart.

He took a deep breath and swept his gaze across everyone.

"Xingling, do you know how to remove this thing?"

Xingling floated in midair, starlight flickering all around, expression grave.

"This is an extremely rare form of dark matter. I have never seen it before."

He paused, a trace of helplessness in his voice,

"Forcibly removing it could cause the energy source to collapse completely."

Despair began to spread through the crowd.

The mysterious Elf clutched the trembling little Dian tightly, while Xingyun Zhizhe lowered his head in thought, his fingers ceaselessly calculating something.

Guangming Shizhe radiated a holy light from his entire body, as if praying for a miracle to appear.

The Blue Star Guardian walked to Zhang Cheng's side and said in a deep voice:

"Zhang Cheng, we must find a way to hold off the Shadow Thief and buy him some time."

Zhang Cheng nodded, his gaze falling once more on the frantically struggling Shadow Thief. He knew there was not much time left.

"Perhaps…"

Xingji Xiake suddenly spoke up, breaking the suffocating silence.

Everyone's eyes focused on him.

He took a deep breath, his tone firm,

"Perhaps we should…"

"Perhaps we should unite."

Xingji Xiake took a deep breath, gazing at Zhang Cheng with resolute eyes,

"This is no time for infighting. We must stand together against the outside threat! I am willing to follow your command, Zhang Cheng."

These words struck like a thunderclap, detonating in the silent space.

Everyone looked at one another, complex lights flickering in their eyes.

Xingji Xiake's action was undoubtedly a crucial turning point; he had broken the deadlock and kindled the spark of hope.

"I am willing too."

Guangming Shizhe followed closely, his holy light blazing even brighter,

"To safeguard the peace of this universe, I am willing to fight alongside everyone."

"Count me in."

The Blue Star Guardian said in a deep voice, a powerful aura radiating from him.

"I'll join too."

Xingyun Zhizhe nodded, his fingers ceasing their calculations, wisdom gleaming in his eyes.

Even the mysterious Elf, who had remained silent all along, gave a gentle nod, shielding the trembling little Dian behind her.

Seeing everyone's change in attitude, a warm current surged in Zhang Cheng's heart.

He took a deep breath, his gaze firm and confident.

"Good! Since everyone is willing to believe in me, I will not let you down! Now, follow my command!"

Zhang Cheng swiftly devised a battle plan. He directed everyone to spread out and encircle the Shadow Thief from different directions, displaying formidable leadership.

He knew full well that the Shadow Thief's strength lay in his speed and bizarre attack methods, so they had to use their numerical advantage to surround him and restrict his movements.

"Xingji Xiake, Guangming Shizhe, the two of you pin down the Thief head-on and draw his attention!"

"Blue Star Guardian, Xingyun Zhizhe, you two handle the flanking attacks and disrupt his movements!"

"Xingling, you protect the energy source and prevent any further damage to it!"

"Mysterious Elf, you and little Dian stand watch and prevent any other unexpected situations!"

Everyone acknowledged their orders and moved swiftly, spreading out according to the plan and surrounding the Shadow Thief in the center.

Seeing that everyone had stopped bickering and was coordinating seamlessly, a trace of panic appeared on the Thief's face.

He had originally thought he could exploit their divisions to seize the energy source, but to his surprise Zhang Cheng had united them, and he was now the one in trouble.

"Damn it!"

The Shadow Thief muttered a curse, a vicious glint flashing through his eyes.

"Even if you join forces, you'll never stop me!"

The black dagger in his hand flickered with an eerie light, a powerful dark force gathering… "Then let's see you try!

"Zhang Cheng gave a cold snort, his gaze piercing.

Xingji Xiake's sword light cascaded like a pouring river of stars, and Guangming Shizhe's holy light transformed into blades; the two of them, one on the left and one on the right, surged toward the Shadow Thief like a tidal wave.

The thief moved like a phantom, darting amid the sword light and holy light; his black dagger traced a strange arc, barely holding off the two attackers.

"Hmph, you think you can stop me?"

The thief sneered, and the dagger in his hand suddenly erupted with intense dark energy, forming a black shockwave that knocked the Xingji Xiake and Guangming Shizhe back several steps.

"Watch out, his dark power is strange!"

Guangming Shizhe reminded, his holy light intensified, warding off the encroaching dark power.

At that moment, Xingling joined the battle.

He pressed his palms together, and a dazzling white light burst from him, colliding with the dark shockwave and producing a deafening roar.

The dark power was neutralized by the white light, and the space quivered continuously.

Zhang Cheng watched the battle closely; he noticed the thief constantly guarding his rear, as if something important was hidden there.

"Could the treasure be right behind him?"

Zhang Cheng thought to himself.

"Mysterious Elf, slip behind the thief quietly and wait for the chance!"

Zhang Cheng transmitted the command to the mysterious Elf via his mental power.

The mysterious Elf moved lightly, like a phantom gliding through the chaotic battlefield, silently circling to the thief's rear.

The thief was fully focused on countering the Xingji Xiake and Guangming Shizhe's attacks, not noticing the approaching danger at all.

The mysterious Elf timed it, and a dagger flashing with cold light suddenly appeared in her hand, thrusting sharply at the thief's back.

Caught off guard, the thief was stabbed, emitting a painful muffled groan.

"You..."

The thief turned back in disbelief toward the mysterious Elf, his eyes filled with anger and terror. He clutched his wound, his body swaying as if about to collapse.

But then, the thief suddenly let out a burst of maniacal laughter...

The thief's cackling continued, the sharp, piercing laughter echoing through the strange space.

"You think this can stop me? How naive!"

He slowly withdrew his hand from the wound, revealing a rhombus-shaped crystal shimmering with eerie violet light.

"What a show, it's only just begun!"

The crystal's glow grew stronger, a suffocating pressure spreading outward.

The Xingji Xiake and Guangming Shizhe's expressions changed, and they both stepped back a few paces.

"What is this thing?"

The Xingji Xiake asked in a low voice, his long sword emitting a buzzing hum, as if sensing a threat.

"Watch out! This power..."

Before Guangming Shizhe could finish speaking, an invisible force hurled him away, slamming him into a distant stone wall with a dull thud.

"Duo Yun!"

Kelinda cried out, looking worriedly at Guangming Shizhe.

Zhang Cheng furrowed his brows, sensing the strangeness and magnitude of the force.

He shielded Kelinda behind him and said in a deep voice:

"Everyone be careful, this power is extraordinary!"

Xingling's expression grew solemn, a hint of apprehension flashing in his eyes.

"This is... Chaos Power!"

He spoke slowly, his voice trembling slightly,

"This crystal is a fragment of the Source of Chaos!"

"Source of Chaos?"

Zhang Cheng felt a chill in his heart; he had heard that name from the Xingyun Zhizhe before, said to be the most primordial and powerful force in the universe, possessing a terrifying power that could destroy everything.

The mysterious Elf also returned to Zhang Cheng's side; the dagger in her hand still glimmered with cold light, her eyes vigilantly fixed on the crystal in the thief's hand.

"This thing is very dangerous,"

she whispered,

"We must stop him!"

The thief's grin turned even more frantic; he raised the crystal aloft, its violet light illuminating his face, making him look ferocious and terrifying.

"Feel the power of Chaos!"

He roared, the crystal's glow suddenly intensified, a massive wave of energy surged outward, forcing everyone back.

"Not good!"

Blue Star Guardian bellowed,

"He is going to..."