Legacy World 3.20 Sorrowful Victory

The impact of BaiXue's jump created yet another crater in the ground. LongFei kept up with her movement to keep himself between MengYao and BaiXue, and he fired the largest fire he could manage. BaiXue had already made her body as streamlined as possible, so that she would go faster. However, MengYao and LongFei were still faster. In that short distance she covered between her position to FenFang's writhing body, they had exchanged enough blows to cover the forest in black and blue flames. 

A sudden burst of speed boosted MengYao and he finally appeared by BaiXue's side just as she spun in mid-air to land on her hind legs. LongFei spat out even stronger flames to force MengYao to take a detour, then speedily positioned himself between MengYao and BaiXue once again. LongFei swung his tail and the strong gale threw MengYao back into the trees. This time MengYao was driven deeper into the ground as compared to before.

SPLAT!

The sound of a body being squashed had never sounded as pleasant to LongFei and BaiXue as it did right now.

LongFei urgently and gladly rushed to BaiXue. Just as he was about to reach her, a loud explosion rang throughout the area. Flora and fauna flew everywhere along with the dirt from the ground. A pillar of black flames shot towards BaiXue again. LongFei was right in the line of fire and simply swished his tail to dispel it. This time the wind generated carried his harshness. It did not only reflect everything back. His tail moved fast enough to slice anything in its path.

On the other hand, BaiXue did not react as fast as LongFei did. Instead of rushing to LongFei to get to safety, she blankly looked down at the pool of blood beneath her feet. There were tiny mashed up bits of meat scattered everywhere. The battered pelt was far from its original creamy white colour.

BaiXue blinked her eyes in pleasant shock. /I made it?/

The loud explosion caught her attention and she looked towards the source of it. The moment she did, she got thrown off her paws. Something large pierced through her from above. This happened at the same time that LongFei turned to meet the oncoming pillar of black flames. So, BaiXue witnessed LongFei's growth in strength, before her eyes closed. /What luck.../

LongFei happily turned back to BaiXue, intending to whisk her away to safety. He was already picturing the peaceful days they would spend together. However, his face fell as he was greeted with the sight of BaiXue pinned to the ground, diagonally, through her core by a broken tree trunk.

"NOOOO!" LongFei yelled. He went onto the ground to nudge her head with his snout. "Wake up! Wake up! Live!"

"Humph." /That's what she gets for messing with FengJiao./ MengYao flew away before he would get caught by LongFei. He already achieved what he had came here for and did not want to engage in meaningless fights.

LongFei's pupils constricted. He turned back to see MengYao retreating.

"DIE!" LongFei roared loud enough to reach the heavens.

MengYao's heart involuntarily jumped in fear in response to the roar. Without stopping, he looked back to check if LongFei was chasing him. Although LongFei was not, a chill was sent down his spine, when he met the stormy rage reflected in LongFei's eyes.

Dark clouds suddenly gathered in the skies and the wind picked up harshly. MengYao found that he could no longer fly steadily. The winds were too strong. This unsettled him because he had always been able to fly through any storm, including a typhoon.

LongFei felt power building up within him. /What's the use of this power if I couldn't protect her? What's the point?!/

"Why did you refuse to believe it wasn't her?! Weren't you acquainted with that fox?! Do you not know her powers of deception?! Why?! WHY?! You must pay for your sin!"

As the last word left LongFei's mouth, several tornadoes surrounded MengYao such that he had nowhere to escape. The tornadoes picked up speed and closed in on MengYao. Soon, it spun fast enough that it would be akin to being put in a blender if MengYao got caught in any one of the tornadoes. His feathers were already slowly being shredded and ripped from his skin.

"Don't..."

LongFei froze upon hearing the softest whisper of the voice he most wanted to hear. /Am I already hallucinating?/

"You... Can't!" A very weak but desperate plea made him realise that it was real. He turned back to find BaiXue breathing fast but her breaths were shallow. She did not have a lot of time left. In his panic earlier, he had missed her very weak breaths.

"Please try to hold on till we reach back. Please." While he spoke, LongFei was already sliding the broken tree trunk out of the ground so that she would not be pinned down anymore. He sliced the exposed part of the log shorter, then curled his body around her to pick her up.

BaiXue saw that the tornadoes were still ongoing. "Forget me!"

"I won't! I don't want to!" LongFei stubbornly refused, while lifting her up carefully.

BaiXue winced in pain again before saying, "Don't kill him!" She panted for a bit before continuing, "Save FengJiao too!"

LongFei refused to stop and continued to climb higher. Only the wind around BaiXue remained a gentle breeze while everywhere else was a chaotic mess. It reflected the state of LongFei's heart. "Why?! I don't care about them! Why do you care?! He hurt you! She's no one to you! They don't mean a thin-" 

"My soul can't rest in peace!" BaiXue shouted with all the remaining energy she had, when she saw MengYao finally got sucked into one of the tornadoes. She meant what she said in more ways than one.

The tornadoes finally cleared up and the air became insanely still. BaiXue saw a broken and worn down black bird drop like a stone from a height. 

LongFei continued to fly but tears overflowed. The droplets that left his eyes glistened in the wind as he steadily flew forward. "Don't talk like you're dying. Live. I order you to live!"

"Make sure... MengYao... Makes it back..."

"... We'll reach back in no time. Stay awake!" LongFei tried to order her again but it came out as a desperate plea.

"Promise. Me." BaiXue said with great difficulty.

LongFei could feel her breaths become so shallow that it was almost non-existent now. He stopped in his flight and coiled his entire body around her to cuddle her in mid-air.

"... I promise..." LongFei's voice was so strained that it came out as a hoarse whisper.

BaiXue breathed her last. 

LongFei gently and slowly nuzzled his face against BaiXue's. Tears continued to flow uncontrollably. /Don't leave me...!/ The pain from losing her spread through his entirety and imprinted itself even more strongly into his soul. Unable to hold it in any longer, he cried out loud. A sorrowful dragon cry filled the skies and echoed across miles away.