Chapter 271: Breaking the Siege

The wind blades vanished, and the eerie silence in the passage made everyone's heartbeat sound unusually clear.

Heavy footsteps approached from afar, each step feeling as if it stepped on everyone's hearts, a powerful pressure spreading, the air seeming to solidify.

Guangming Shizhe instinctively gripped Xingling's arm, and Xingling shivered, eyes filled with fear.

"What… what is that monster?" Xingji Xiake's voice trembled; he clenched his weapon, feeling cold sweat on his palms.

Even when facing the most vicious interstellar pirates, he had never been so frightened.

The gray-bearded elder's face turned pale as he muttered, "Impossible… how could he be here…" His words were full of despair, as if the end of the world had arrived.

The flame witch let out a scream and hid behind the Wind Speaker, as if finding shelter, while the Wind Speaker gazed into the darkness with a flattering smile, eyes filled with fanatical worship.

Zhang Cheng felt a cold aura emanating from the depths of the maze, suffocating him as if an invisible giant hand were clutching his throat.

He turned to look at Kelinda, only to see her pale face and lips trembling slightly.

"Kelinda, are you okay?" Zhang Cheng asked concernedly.

Kelinda forced calm, shook her head: "I… I'm fine…"

At that moment, a black shadow flashed by; before anyone could react, Kelinda let out a muffled groan and collapsed to the ground.

Fresh blood gushed from her abdomen, staining the floor red.

"Kelinda!" Zhang Cheng shouted, rushing to her side.

The Shadow Assassin stood nearby, his dagger still dripping blood, and sneered coldly, "Presumptuous, daring to challenge the master's authority!"

Furious flames burned in Zhang Cheng's chest, but he knew it was not yet time for revenge.

Footsteps in the darkness grew nearer, and the terrifying pressure intensified.

Xingyun Zhizhe said gravely, "Everyone, be careful; this power far exceeds our imagination!"

The ground shook violently, the maze walls cracking as debris continuously fell.

The Wind Speaker cackled, "Tremble! Despair! Before the master's power, you will all turn to dust!"

In the darkness, a deep voice sounded: "Ants…"

The Dark Lord finally revealed himself.

He was towering, cloaked entirely in a black mantle that hid his features, only two crimson eyes flashing chilling light in the darkness.

He radiated a dense dark aura, like a demon from the abyss of hell, exuding a suffocating pressure.

He merely waved his hand lightly, and a black wave of energy surged toward them like a tide.

Xingji Xiake roared, brandishing his energy sword to meet it; the blade's light clashed with the dark wave, erupting in a blinding flash.

The mysterious Elf sang an ancient incantation, summoning green light shields to try to block the dark wave's impact.

The Blue Star Guardian released powerful protective energy, forming a blue barrier that shielded those behind.

However, the Dark Lord's strength far exceeded their expectations.

The dark wave surged like a hot knife through butter, instantly shattering the light shields and barrier, forcing Xingji Xiake, the Elf, and the Blue Star Guardian to stagger back, spitting blood.

"Presumptuous!" the Wind Speaker said beside the Dark Lord, a mocking smile on his face, "You ants dare to challenge the master's authority; you must be punished!"

"Punishment? What have we done wrong?" Zhang Cheng retorted angrily, "It is you and your master, acting recklessly, harming the innocent!"

"Wrong? Your very existence is an error!" the Wind Speaker shouted sharply, "The master will purify this world, erasing all filth!"

"You're insane!" Guangming Shizhe shouted in terror, "Your master is the true filth!"

Both sides stood their ground, and the fierce argument echoed through the maze.

The Dark Lord remained silent, staring coldly at them as if watching a flock of lambs awaiting slaughter.

His crimson eyes flickered with bloodthirsty light, sending chills down one's spine.

At that moment, Zhang Cheng suddenly felt a stir in his heart; he focused his mind, carefully sensing the surrounding dark power.

He discovered that within the Dark Lord's immense power lay a tiny flaw, like a firefly in the darkness, flashing briefly.

"Everyone, listen to me!" Zhang Cheng shouted loudly, "His power is not invincible; I've found a flaw! Gather all your strength onto me!"

Hearing this, everyone turned their gaze to Zhang Cheng. Xingyun Zhizhe pondered briefly, saying, "Worth a try."

Without hesitation, they merged their individual powers onto Zhang Cheng.

Zhang Cheng felt a massive surge of power flood his body, filling him with unprecedented strength.

He inhaled deeply, mobilizing all his perception, guiding the power to coalesce into a dazzling white light…

"Now!" Zhang Cheng snapped his eyes open, the white light shooting toward the Dark Lord like a released arrow…

The white light streaked across the night sky like lightning, striking precisely the tiny flaw on the Dark Lord's chest.

The Dark Lord let out a muffled grunt, his form shuddering, the black mantle around him ripped open by the bright light, revealing dark red armor beneath.

Everyone felt a surge of joy; this seemingly simple strike had truly worked!

The Wind Speaker's face changed dramatically, exclaiming, "Master!" She hurried to the Dark Lord's side, asking concernedly, "Are you alright?"

A flash of pain crossed the Dark Lord's eyes; he waved his hand, indicating he was unharmed.

However, a clear white mark remained on his chest armor, like a deep scar, undermining his previously invincible aura.

"Great opportunity!" Xingji Xiake shouted excitedly, "Everyone, attack together while he's weakened!"

Xingji Xiake brandished his energy sword, charging at the Dark Lord once more.

Xingyun Zhizhe unleashed powerful mental force, disrupting the Dark Lord's movements.

The Blue Star Guardian and the mysterious Elf followed suit, each unleashing their strongest attacks.

Guangming Shizhe hurried to Kelinda's side to heal her wounds.

Her eyes were full of worry and anxiety, "Kelinda, how are you?" Kelinda clasped Guangming Shizhe's hand, comforting, "I'm fine, just a minor wound, no need to worry." Their friendship deepened at that moment, like a warm light illuminating the dark maze.

Zhang Cheng seized the chance to catch his breath; that previous strike had nearly drained all his strength. Xingling flew to his side, replenishing his energy.

Though wounded, the Dark Lord's power remained formidable.

He roared, an even stronger dark force erupting from within, repelling everyone.

His scarlet eyes were full of rage, staring fixedly at Zhang Cheng, as if to tear him to pieces.

"You lowly ants, how dare you hurt me!" the Dark Lord's voice roared like a howl from hell, "I will make you pay!"

He raised both hands, and dark energy coalesced in his palms, forming a massive black sphere.

The sphere exuded a suffocating pressure, as if it contained power that could destroy heaven and earth.

"Bad!" Xingyun Zhizhe's face changed dramatically, "He's about to unleash his ultimate move!"

The Dark Lord sneered, hurling the black sphere violently at the crowd…

The black sphere, wrapped in destructive energy, roared forward; the onlookers turned pale, and before this world‑shattering force, any resistance seemed futile.

At the critical moment, Zhang Cheng thrust Xingling aside and charged head‑on into the black sphere.

A dazzling white light burst from him again, forming a protective shield.

The explosion roared deafeningly, the shockwave flung everyone back, and the maze walls began to quake violently, with debris constantly falling.

When the smoke cleared, Zhang Cheng's figure wavered, yet he somehow blocked the Dark Lord's attack!

Before the crowd could cheer, the Dark Lord let out a cold sneer, "Overconfident!"

He did not retreat weakly as everyone expected; instead he grew even more ferocious.

The Dark Lord raised both hands, muttering incantations; the ground trembled, and countless twisted black vines burst from the earth, coiling around everyone's legs and binding them tightly.

At the same time, countless hideous dark creatures surged from the depths of the maze, emitting sharp shrieks and flooding toward the crowd like a tide.

Shadow Assassins darted among the dark creatures like phantoms, reaping lives, while the Flame Witch's fire blazed fiercely, incinerating approaching foes.

But the sheer number of dark creatures was overwhelming; the group gradually felt powerless, and despair began to spread.

Just as they felt hopeless, the Gray-bearded Elder flashed a mysterious smile, as if everything were under his control.

That eerie grin sparked a hint of doubt and anticipation in their hearts.

Could he have another trump card?

"No need to struggle," the Dark Lord's voice sounded like a funeral bell from hell, "You will all become my sacrifices!"

The group stared in terror at the approaching dark creatures, a shadow of death looming over them.

At that moment, the Gray-bearded Elder spoke slowly, "The game is over." He did not reveal the solution everyone hoped for, but turned and walked toward the Dark Lord…