Chapter 269: Injecting Energy

Zhang Cheng's words had not yet finished when a scorching wave of heat swept in, forcing everyone to take a few steps back.

The stone walls of the maze seemed as if they were red‑hot, exhaling suffocating heat.

The air was filled with a sulfur smell that made people feel nauseous.

Cough cough… Xingji Xiake was choked by the oncoming heat wave, coughing nonstop; he struggled to rise from the ground, yet felt utterly weak.

The earlier battle with the monsters had drained his stamina; now he was as fragile as a feather‑plucked bird.

"Xingji Xiake, are you all right?" Guangming Shizhe asked concernedly, her voice trembling, clearly frightened by the sudden heat.

Xingji Xiake forced a thin smile, "I… I'm fine…" before he could finish, a huge monster swung its claws and lunged at him.

He failed to dodge; the monster's force struck him, sending his body flying and crashing heavily to the ground, blood spurting from his mouth.

"Xianke!" the others shouted, but they were powerless to help. Each was entangled by their own foes, unable to act.

Xingyun Zhizhe, while evading the Shadow Assassin's attacks, shouted anxiously, "Everyone, be careful—the heat seems to be intensifying!"

Kelinda's complexion turned pale; she felt her special ability being suppressed by the high temperature, "What… what is going on?"

The Blue Star Guardian swung his energy cannon, blasting a monster to fragments, yet he felt no relief, only greater unease, "This power… I've never seen anything like it…"

The mysterious Elf darted agilely among the monsters, sensing the destructive force within the heat wave, fear filling her heart, "This… this power is too great…"

Xingling remained silent, its surrounding radiance dimming, as if it too felt powerless before the overwhelming force.

The gray‑bearded elder stood in a corner of the maze, watching everything unfold, a complex glint flashing in his eyes.

He muttered softly, "She's coming… she's finally here…"

As the others panicked, a chilling voice echoed through the maze, "Jie jie jie… feel the fury of flame!"

In the maze's depths, a fiery red figure slowly emerged…

The Flame Witch wore a scarlet gown that seemed forged from magma; as she walked, the hem dragged across the ground, leaving a charred trail.

In her hand she grasped a twisted wand, its tip ablaze with fierce flames, like a demonic claw reaching from the depths of hell.

The witch's face bore a cruel smile, her eyes flashing with blood‑thirsty light.

"Hahaha… little ants, feel the fury of flame!" the witch's voice was sharp and grating, laced with a heart‑pounding magic.

She waved the wand, and fire serpents shot toward the crowd like arrows released from a bow.

Guangming Shizhe's complexion changed; she hurriedly gathered energy and raised a pale‑gold shield before everyone.

The fire serpents struck the shield, producing a deafening blast; the shield quivered violently, as if about to shatter at any moment.

"We can't keep this up; the shield won't hold much longer!" Guangming Shizhe clenched her teeth, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

Kelinda, anxious, tried to rush forward to attack the Flame Witch, but the Shadow Assassin clung to her tightly.

The assassin's attacks were ghost‑like and erratic, leaving her unable to find an opening.

"Damn!" Kelinda muttered, her dagger clashing fiercely with the assassin's short sword, sparks flying everywhere.

She, while countering the assassin's blows, anxiously watched the Guangming Shizhe and others suppressed by the Flame Witch, feeling helpless.

The Blue Star Guardian and Xingji Xiake were each ensnared by monsters, unable to break free. The number of monsters kept rising, and their stamina drained rapidly.

Xingyun Zhizhe evaded the flames, brows knit, racking his mind for a solution.

Xingling's radiance flickered, as it too struggled against the overwhelming fire power, appearing powerless.

The mysterious Elf used its agile body to weave through the maze, seeking a breakthrough.

Zhang Cheng calmly observed the Flame Witch's attack pattern and discovered that after each burst of flame she paused briefly, as if gathering energy.

"Now!" Zhang Cheng thought, swiftly picking up a shard of ice from the ground, infusing it with energy; the ice instantly turned into a veil of icy mist that spread through the air.

The icy mist rapidly lowered the surrounding temperature and temporarily obscured the Flame Witch's sight.

"What?" the Flame Witch clearly hadn't anticipated the turn, her movements momentarily stalling.

Zhang Cheng hesitated not at all; seizing the chance, he leapt upward… "Cover me!" he shouted, forming a razor‑sharp ice blade in his hand that thrust straight at the Flame Witch's chest.

"Cover me!" his voice echoed through the icy mist.

Xingji Xiake and the Blue Star Guardian instantly understood, fighting hard to repel the monsters before them, creating an opening for Zhang Cheng.

Xingyun Zhizhe took the opportunity to unleash a spiritual shock, disrupting the Flame Witch's concentration.

Guangming Shizhe, pleased to see Zhang Cheng's move, gritted her teeth and persisted, narrowing the shield's coverage to concentrate power on protecting herself and Zhang Cheng.

She felt a warm surge of power flow from her hand; turning, she saw the Blue Star Guardian clasping her hand, passing his strength to her.

Their gazes met, full of trust and tacit understanding.

The Blue Star Guardian, seeing Guangming Shizhe struggling to sustain the shield, ignored his own injuries, stepped beside her, grasped her hand, and transferred his power; their eyes met, brimming with trust.

The ice blade sliced the air, bearing bone‑chilling cold, hurtling straight at the Flame Witch.

The witch reacted swiftly, swinging her wand; a wall of fire materialized out of thin air, blocking the ice blade.

The ice blade struck the fire wall, producing a massive clang, ice shards and flames scattering everywhere.

"Hmph, petty tricks!" the Flame Witch sneered, her wand's glow intensifying as the surrounding temperature surged.

The others felt a scorching breath wash over them, making breathing difficult.

After landing, Zhang Cheng quickly stepped back a few paces, evading the splashing flames. He furrowed his brows; the Flame Witch's power was stronger than he had imagined.

"Impressive!" Xingji Xiake exclaimed sincerely, never having expected Zhang Cheng to devise a countermeasure so quickly and successfully restrain the Flame Witch's actions.

"Zhang Cheng truly is formidable!" the Blue Star Guardian nodded in praise, admiring Zhang Cheng's wit and bravery.

"He truly lives up to being our leader," Kelinda's eyes glittered with admiration.

The crowd admired Zhang Cheng's cleverness, cheering for him.

Yet, just as everyone thought the Flame Witch was contained and easy to handle, she let out a long howl toward the sky, flames raging wildly around her.

"Foolish mortals, you think this will defeat me?" the witch's voice dripped with contempt and mockery. "Now, let me show you the true power of flame!" She raised her wand, and a blinding blaze shot skyward…

The dazzling blaze was not an attack but… a portal materialized out of nowhere!

The others retreated cautiously, assuming the Flame Witch intended to flee.

However, what surged from the portal was not deserters but a horde of Elves wreathed in blazing flames; their faces were ferocious, they emitted sharp shrieks, and brandished fiery claws toward the crowd.

"Damn it, what the hell is this!" Xingji Xiake cursed, swinging his energy sword at a fire Elf.

The fire Elf deftly evaded the attack and, with a reverse claw, lunged at Xingji Xiake's shoulder.

"Watch out!" the mysterious Elf cried, flinging a green energy whip that coiled around the fire Elf's wrist and pulled it back.

Seizing the chance, Xingji Xiake slashed the fire Elf's head; the flames instantly extinguished, turning into sparks that dissipated into the air.

The Flame Witch looked at the chaotic crowd, laughing triumphantly: "Foolish mortals, feel despair! My fire Elf army will burn you to ash!"

Only then did they realize that the Flame Witch was not fleeing but had summoned stronger reinforcements.

They were locked in a bitter fight; the fire Elves were numerous, swift, and their attacks were not weak, completely disrupting the group's formation.

Just as they were busy dealing with the fire Elves, a melodious flute sound echoed from deep within the maze.

The flute tone was ethereal, as if from another world, carrying a hint of eerie magic.

A chill rose in their hearts; the flute seemed to herald new danger approaching.

"What is that sound?" Kelinda said, clutching her chest, feeling a flutter.

Xingyun Zhizhe furrowed his brows, concentrating on the flute, his expression growing increasingly grave.

"This is bad, the flute…" he snapped his head up, looking toward its source, "It must be…"

Zhang Cheng seized Xingyun Zhizhe's shoulder and demanded sharply, "What is it? Speak quickly!"

Xingyun Zhizhe inhaled deeply, his tone heavy: "It is… the Beast‑Taming Flute!"